Music is ‘the art of combining sounds'. Nowadays this ‘art' includes several interesting facets, beginning with, or example, song composition. Composing is not a mechanical action that you easily program. You have to be ‘inspired'. After composing a song, the music arrangement and instrumentation has to be well thought out. The next phase is interpretation and multi-track recording. Lastly, comes the equalizing, mastering and final editing phase

The visually creative stage begins when the musical content has been resolved. This stage includes the graphic design involved in producing the CD cover and website and CD distribution. I enjoy participating in all these different stages that, as is evident, allow the author to take part in the whole project.

Ideas inspire songs and songs inspire ideas. The title of each song is relative to the ideas that it inspires and that can, of course, vary in each person according to their personal tastes and background.

On this CD, guest musician José Luis Rey, participates on keyboards and collaborated on some of the arrangements and improvisations.

As far as technical details, professional level, 24-bit resolution, digital recording was used. Appropriate software was used to process the audio and real and virtual sound effects. Thanks to the Boss VF-1 Processor, the guitar acquires a very unique sound. The keyboards play a very important role and, in some of the songs, help to create a musical ‘atmosphere' typically heard in symphonic rock.

The music on this CD was not made to be judged solely for its commercial value. It is not meant to satisfy a market that imposes mediocre, immoral or destructive styles of music just for the sake of making money. This CD is an artistic expression that I hope to share with those who, today, are a minority but, nonetheless, are able to keep good music alive. Listening to “The Northern Lights”, will prove to be a discovery and will put the imagination to work because the melodies suggest images, memories and experiences.

“The Northern Lights”, the name of the CD and the title of one of the songs, refers to a natural phenomenon called “Aurora Borealis”. This dazzling light show is created by nuclear explosions that are produced both on the sun's surface and within its interior. These explosions let loose huge quantities of gas into outer space at speeds that reach, according to some, up to 4,000,000 kilometers per hour. When these gases arrive at the outer border of the earth's magnetic field, charged particles are trapped and attracted toward magnetic poles that, after colliding with nitrogen molecules and oxygen atoms, produce an impressive and majestic exhibition of lights. Of course, I don't expect to cause the same impact as nature would, but the title defines well the concept of the CD. You will be able ‘to see' and feel this music. _____________________________________________

“The Rock”. It makes us think of immutability, permanence, consistency. The rock remains throughout the millenniums as a witness of its surroundings. The rock survives; we find it every time we seek it out for pleasure, for refuge from a storm or as relief from a blazing sun. The rock means trust and survival.

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“The Final Triumph”. Regardless of each person's individual belief system, evidence shows that throughout human history a constant battle has existed between good and evil. Many think that this fight also occurs in the invisible realm among spirit creatures. Either way, this track evokes the desire and hope of a ‘final victory' where good completely eliminate the forces of evil. The song has a symphonic-rock feel and is built around guitar arrangements that create a special atmosphere. Among these arrangements, there are victory voices, sounds of Minimoog and Taurus-like bass pedaling that lend a characteristic sound.

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“The Trip”. This trip is not monotonous nor just another to come. This is a trip filled with adventure, a trip to discover the unknown and explore new paths. A trip bound for a place where all animal species live freely without the threat of human colonization. Let's let the imagination do the rest. This track is made of the following key parts: A prelude, a main melody, a secondary melody and a guitar solo.

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"Crystalline”. Crystalline is pure, transparent, uncontaminated and transmits peace. It is not about a physical place but rather deals with ‘sensations' that each can adopt as his or her own qualities. This song is soft, smooth jazz-style, with a clean guitar sound that has just a bit of reverberation. The song slowly increases in intensity, adopting a fusion-like style toward the end. If you listen carefully, you can perceive several musical arrangements that have been incorporated.

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“The challenge”. In life, challenges present themselves in every moment. Challenges put to test and develop our aptitudes and abilities. It's all about a personal conquest and the resulting sense of achievement. This song inspires a positive challenge that is finally met and resolved. At the beginning, the song is pure fusion and, at the end, is combined with a smooth jazz melody.

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“Simple Things”. The pleasure of life is in simple things. For some, the search for happiness is eternal and for others it is so prolonged that, when they realize the value of simple things, they are left with little time to enjoy them. A smile, a caress, a look, a beautiful landscape, to be with our loved ones…What more? This song is jazzy with some excellent piano and keyboard solos by José Luis Rey. .

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“I Am With You”, is a smooth song, jazzy, with a moving melody that transmits trust and friendship. It leaves the sensation that, in difficult moments, we always have someone to count on that offers their support. The piano solo, by José Luis Rey, evokes a deep emotional feeling and is accompanied by acoustic bass. An intense guitar solo finishes it off. .

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“Asunta”. My mother's name. She passed away on November 21, 2005. She died right when I was working on the final stages of this CD. I decided it would be better to hold off on its release in order to include this song dedicated to her. She was a very special person with outstanding qualities and won the affection of all those who knew her. She had a great sense of humor and the capacity to be optimistic and positive in the face of adversity. She possessed huge artistic talent which she left aside in order to devote herself to humanitarian works, among which stands out sharing the message of hope that she learned by studying the Bible. This is message speaks of a day when the dead will be resurrected in a paradise that will be restored throughout the entire earth, a hope that sustained her during the last days of her life. If a melody should be heard on that day, Asunta already has hers. In her honor, this song is available, without charge, in the “download” section. .