Greetings, earthlings!
Hope this newsletter finds you in good spirits. Despite the world being on fire (literally and figuratively), we can still find solace in good music, art, friends, and all the beautiful things life has to offer.
Sorry to start on such a dark note.
First off, on behalf of Stratospheerius and myself, our hearts go out to all the people who lost their homes in the tragic LA fires that took place in January. One such person is our good friend, Rich Mouser. Rich was the engineer who mixed and mastered our “Impostor!” Album. He is a brilliant engineer whose resume includes artists like Tears for Fears, Wheezer, Dream Theater, and Spock’s Beard. Rich lived in Altadena and lost his home and his legendary recording studio, “The Mouse House,” where some of our favorite albums of the past three decades were created. His daughter started a Gofundme to help Rich recover some of his lost equipment so he can continue making beautiful records and rebuild his life. Please consider making a donation.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-dad-rebuild-his-musical-legacy
You can also donate to the artistic community through https://musicares.org, an organization run through the Recording Academy to help musicians. They are currently focused on artists based in the LA area affected by the fires.
New Stratospheerus Video “Voodoo Vortex Part I”
Our latest video is from our song, “Voodoo Vortex Part I” from our “Impostor!” Album. This is an instrumental song with a seventies vibe, inspired by some of my electric violin heroes, like Jean-Luc Ponty, Jerry Goodman, and Eddie Jobson. The seventies was heavily populated by innovative electric string players who paved the way for guys like me. The video includes AI footage generated by Robert Minsk, combined with still shots of Stratospheerus taken by Jody Gianni and performance footage from our album release back in December filmed by David P Levin. Enjoy!
And please SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, if you haven’t done so already.
“Outrage Olympics” video featured in two film festivals!
This is the first time one of Stratospheerius’s videos has been recognized by the film industry!
Our video for “Outrage Olympics,” which came out a few months ago, will be featured in two international film festivals; “Independent Shorts Awards” in LA and the “North Film Festival” in NYC. The video will be shown on the big screen for the North Festival, followed by a Q&A with myself and director David P. Levin, this coming Thursday Feb 27th at 2 P.M. at the Producers Club Theater:
358 West 44th Street, New York, New York 10036 United States
For more information, please visit
https://www.thenorthfilmfestnyc.com/screeningschedule
https://independentshortsawards.com/finalists-january-2025
Joe Deninzon strings featured in Super Bowl DoorDash commercial
I was psyched to have my string work featured on a recent DoorDash commercial, which aired during the Super Bowl. I recorded all the violins, violas, and chin cello, in collaboration with my longtime colleague Aaron Paul Low. The commercial features one of my favorite comedians, Nate Bargatze.Check it out!
Prayers for Kansas’s Ronnie Platt
My good friend and Kansas bandmate, singer Ronnie Platt, has been diagnosed with Thyroid cancer, forcing us to cancel tour dates through the end of March. We hope too be back in April and are taking time off while Ronnie recovers from his surgery and as we look for a possible sub until Ronnie is able to tour and sing again. Sending him our prayers and healing vibes.
https://people.com/kansas-frontman-ronnie-platt-shares-thyroid-cancer-diagnosis-11683217
Please check the KANSAS WEBSITE for tour updates.
International Press
Four months after its release, our new album, “Impostor!” continues to make waves around the world! With rave reviews, multiple critics’ “best of 2024” lists,” air-lay on 120 stations nationwide, and 3 months (and counting) on the Relix Jamband Charts!
We are blown away by the overwhelmingly positive response and are grateful for the love people have shown for this music. It makes all our efforts worthwhile.
Here are some recent international reviews, which you can punch into google translate:
Here is an interview I recently did with some students in Portugal who are learning English and interviewing musicians.
I was honored to be included in this recent article by my friend, violinist and educator Julie Lyon Lieberman!
The Violin: A Cherished Instrument Across Time and Genres | World Music Central
International Distribution
Attention, European fans! Stratospheerius is happy to announce that we recently signed a deal with Burning Shed distribution in the UK and Just for Kicks Music in Germany for our CD, “Impostor!” You can now order the physical CD directly from those sites and avoid expensive shipping costs associated with the US.
Carry on!
-JD
