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America's Wild Horses Inspire Byron Metcalf and Jennifer Grais' Epic Percussion and Voice-Driven Album THEY WERE HERE

album art image of They Were Here

They Were Here by shamanic practitioners Byron Metcalf and Jennifer Grais is an epic, sacred and emotionally evocative masterwork celebrating the grace, tenderness, and intense tribal power of America’s wild horses.

New Music from the two Shamanic Practitioners Debuts High on Radio Charts, is called "Phenomenal, Primal" in early reviews, and slated for soundtrack placement.

...a unique shamanic adventure – a freedom ride of soaring potential and along the way they are held gently and safely in the arms of Mother Earth...”
— Frank Saizan Owen

PRESCOTT, AZ, USA, February 16, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In what has evolved as a divinely timed collaboration of transcendent musical energies, shamanic practitioners and multi-talented artists Byron Metcalf and Jennifer Grais have joined forces to create They Were Here, an epic, sacred and emotionally evocative masterwork celebrating the grace, tenderness, and intense tribal power of America’s wild horses. They Were Here is set for worldwide release February 16, 2018 on Metcalf’s independent label, Dr. Bam’s Music.

They Were Here debuted this week at #10 on the NACC Charts, and at #6 in Journeyscapes' radio's Top 25 in January; Journeyscapes music reviewer Candice Michelle commented, “Within just the first two minutes of hearing the piece, I can tell that the rest of what lies ahead on this album is going to be phenomenal. Byron lends earthy, polyrhythmic percussion that envelops the listening space, while Jennifer’s invocation-like vocalise feels both transcendent and primal in nature – as if seemingly carried by the wind.”

They Were Here evokes the magic and majesty of our wild horses--and the bonds we share with them on various levels. While paying homage to the eternal spirit and mystical healing abilities of these treasured (but quickly disappearing) icons, the two also use what poet and friend Frank Saizan Owen calls their “unbridled sonic journey” to illuminate and discover the deeper forces behind the fascinating connection horses have with humans.

From the opening bars of the title track incorporating the sound of actual hooves on the ground amidst a hypnotic ambient soundscape through the glorious, healing elegy “Song for Solo” (reflecting on Jennifer’s recently departed white horse), They Were Here weaves a deeply-grounded yet blissfully ethereal world infused with polyrhythmic drumming, didgeridoo and orchestral synth-scapes (co-composed and arranged by 45-year Nashville studio veteran Ron Oates).

Driven by a deep sense of respect for “Horse” as healer and rhythm maker, tempered by sociological and political concerns about the ongoing extinction of mustangs from the American West, the seven-track, hour-long recording is, to quote the eloquent words of Saizan, is “a unique shamanic adventure – a freedom ride of soaring potential and along the way they are held gently and safely in the arms of Mother Earth...(with) riveting, heart-rending vocal pieces that seem, all at once, part of the ancient past of our deep ancestors and our present-day challenges on earth.”

To help facilitate the project, Byron and Jennifer conducted a successful Kickstarter campaign which raised over $17,000 (from pledged $12,000 goal). The five-minute video sharing the origin and thematic content of the project intercuts a discussion by the two artists with snippets of music from the album and beautiful, dramatic footage from documentary filmmaker James Anaquad Kleinert’s upcoming film “Disappointment Valley: A Modern Day Western” which documents the plight of wild horses, public lands and the current conflicts that will affect America’s future generations. The film will, in turn, feature selections from the album.

They Were Here marks a creative reunion that Byron had been longing for since he and Jennifer first recorded and performed with Steve Roach in 2004. The award-winning ambient electronic artist and producer invited the two to be guest performers on his album Fever Dreams II. Roach later asked them to perform with him at that year’s International Transpersonal Conference in Palm Springs. Knocked out by the singer’s achingly beautiful vocalizations, Byron – a world-renowned tribal/trance drummer - often used the track “Opening the Space” in his work as a transpersonal healer.

One of their favorite songs on the album is “Song for Solo,” the breathy, ambient and soulfully-poignant elegy to Jennifer’s longtime horse companion that continues to help her “connect to what’s important in my heart. It reminds me that despite loss, there is still magic in the world, and allows me to connect with the good things in the Universe.” The two balance the gentle grace of that piece with the hypnotic tribal intensity and soaring vocalizations of others like “Opening To Freedom” and “Run,” the expansive 14-minute journey at the core of They Were Here. This track begins with the real-life sounds of galloping horses that Byron ultimately fuses with his explosive drumming and Jennifer’s joyful, heaven sent/heaven bound vocalizations. Another track that captures the ambitious intent of the project is “Soul of Mestengo,” which is Spanish for “Mustang.” Jennifer’s vocal channeling of the ancients, combined with Byron’s deeply meditative drumming, lets our imagination run wild on the plains with these majestic creatures.

“Working closely with Byron on They Were Here was like finding a soul brother who I connect with on very deep levels and who understands my spiritual connection to horses,” Jennifer says. Byron adds, “When Jennifer steps in a studio, she owns it. It was an honor to work on this album with her. It defies categorization, it’s fresh and different and I light up every time I listen to it.”

Later this month, Metcalf is scheduled to present as part of "Power of Shamanism: An Online Summit to Partner with the Spirit World to Accelerate Healing and Transformation" a free summit beginning on February 26 and continuing through March 7, 2018. (http://affiliate.soundstrue.com/SHhW)

Learn more about the artists and their music at byronmetcalf.com and jennifergrais.com.

Music Links-
Bandcamp: byronmetcalf.bandcamp.com/album/they-were-here
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/they-were-here/1298115811
Amazon: a.co/f2nk2Bi

Contact Info-
Label: Dr. Bam’s Music, bam@byronmetcalf.com
Publicity: Beth Hilton, THE B COMPANY, +1(310) 560-8390, bethhilton@theBcompany.com
Radio Promotion: Sherry Finzer, RS Promotions, (602) 903-0348, sfinzer@rspromotionsus.com

Beth Ann Hilton
The B Company
310-560-8390
email us here

THEY WERE HERE - Byron Metcalf & Jennifer Grais - Album Sampler

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