Recommended MP3.COM Sites

MP3.COM is a service that allows musicians from all around the world to post audio files of their music for listening and download. All you need is a computer equipped with an mp3 player (I highly recommend Sound Jam). and you can access more than 500,000 songs for free. There is also no charge for musicians to post their files and if enough people listen to an artist the artist actually gets paid.

Since putting my own music up at mp3.com in December, 2000 I have spent quite a bit of time exploring the thousands of sites put up by other artists. With over 500,000 songs there's bound to be a few turkeys, but I have also found some incredibly wonderful music. On this page I provide descriptions of my favorite mp3.com artists and links to their pages. Check back from time to time, as I have no doubt that further explorations will lead me to additional audio gems.

Oh, one more thing about mp3.com. If you want to preview a song before downloading you should click the "Lo Fi Play" link. In order to properly play the "Hi Fi" link you need a high speed connection. So check it out, be adventurous (it is often a good idea to disregard the genre descriptions for the songs, as they are not always accurate--I've even found stuff I liked under the "Easy listening" category!), enjoy the music, and let the artists know that you like what they are doing. Happy listening!

Not Applicable

NA is really just one person, a young woman named Courtnee, who lives in Washington. She creates her music using two computers. She does the instrumental tracks first, then improvises vocals on top of that. This gives her music a wonderfully spontaneous feel. It's quite beautiful stuff.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/3/not_applicable.html

Ganimead

Another solo performer, John lives in Florida. He plays really cool atmospheric electronic music. He gains extra points on the "cool meter" because he uses an ARP Axxe synthesizer.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/156/ganimead.html

Malang Cisshkho

Malang Cisshkho is from Africa (I think) but he currently lives in Finland. He plays an African instrument called the kora, which is something like a lute. This is very cheerful and melodic music. I love listening to this guy when I'm just waking up in the morning--puts a positive spin on the whole day!

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/139/malang_cissokho.html

Terry Riley

This guy is a living legend, considered by many to be the father of modern minmalist music. His composition In C is a classic in the genre. There are a couple of pieces at this site which are collaborations between Riley and John Cale, founding member of The Velvet Underground and himself a living legend. This music is too good and just too damn IMPORTANT to pass up!

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/30/terry_riley.html

Bayonet Bingo

One of my first discoveries at mp3.com. Electronic music mostly. Check out "The Ballad Of Alexander Hamilton"--it had me in stitches and will do the same for you, unless you just don't have a sense of humor.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/23/bayonet_bingo.html

Chukimai

She's one of my very favorite mp3.com artists. I think she's Japanese, but live in The Netherlands. Her music crosses genres and defies description. it is at once accessible, yet full of surprises as well. A number of pieces at her site are collaborations with other mp3.com artists.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/124/chukimai.html

basque

This NYCNY band consists of a bass player and a female vocalist--that's it! Dreamy, haunting, beautiful music.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/30/basque.html

Steve Roach

Another "big name", Roach has been at the forefront of electronic music for some 20 years or more.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/140/steve_roach_ambient.html

X-Space

Abstract eletronic music, sometimes with a jazzy flavor, from Illinois. Relax, fix up your synapses and enjoy this music!

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/6/x_space.html

Tapani Suomela

Delightfully quirky, oddball stuff from Finland. Tapani was the first person to feature my music at an mp3.com station so I went over and checked out his site. I loved it and yo will too, unless there's something seiriously wrong with you.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/15/tapani_suomela_and_friends.html

Kayla Schmitz

Another of my favorites, Kayla is a second grader who, with a little help from her dad, creates wonderfully out there electronic music. Check out her music then drop her a line and tell how cool it is. It is important that kids who display such creativity at such an early age be encouraged to continue with their artistic endeavors.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/122/kayla_schmitz.html

Johnny Asia, Guitarist From The Future

That moniker says it all! The things this guy does with a guitar, well you just have to hear it to believe it. Johnny takes his instrument to places where no guitar has gone before!

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/13/johnny_asia_guitarist_from_the_future.html

Terrorist Consumers

Actually, there's just one consumer, a rather happy looking fellow named Sören Groth, who live in Sweden. Sören was one of the first people to drop me a line after visiting my site, so I went over and checked out his. Really cool psychedelic/electronic music.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/14/terrorist_consumers.html

Sandhya Sanjana

She's trained in Indian classical singing, but she crosses the boundaries of culture and musical genre in such a natural way that she makes it seem easy. Living proof that music is truly a universal language, Sandhya is one of the most ubiquitous artists at mp3.com--you'll find her collaborations with other artists all over the place, and that is good news.

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/99/divya.html

School Kids

More creativity from the younger generation, this is a group of 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-graders at Anne Darling Elementary School, in San José, California. You'll find all sorts of music here, from classical to out there polyrythmic experiments. Looks like our future is in good, creative hands!

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/64/school_kids.html

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