Greetings!

If you have been wondering what’s up with the Astronauts and haven’t heard from us in four long chilly months (We live in NYC.)… rest assured we haven’t VAPORIZED into the atmosphere!

Here’s what’s happening on the AoA front in a nutshell…

IN
THE
STUDIO:

Bradd and I are teaming up with our long time friend, producer, and musician EXTRAORDINARE Ivica Simatovic. Over the past few years along side working with AoA Ivica has worked with musical shining stars such as Wyclef Jean, Brazilian artist Jair Oliveira and Ricky Martin as his musical director. He’s also done remixes for Pink.

The special news is Ivica has joined the AoA forces as Astronaut #3 and we are so ——————- PSYCHED!! Together we are working on some HOTTTTTTT new powerful tracks for our up and coming album to be released later this year.

Just to name a few:

“Woman of Substance”
“God is a Musician”
“Power of Soul”

We will be meeting with television luminaries including Emmy award winning producers in L.A. in regards to a concept we have for a television show based on one of our songs. Don’t want to give too much away but we will keep you posted as things develop…

New Tracks!
New Astronaut!
New Year!

AoA is B-A-C-K!!

BEHIND
THE
SCENES:

Bradd and I have been involved with opening a new vegetarian cafe called Bhakti Cafe in NYC’s East Village designing the interior and helping it blossom. It’s got a cool mix of vintage India meets funky eclectic East Village. We also run a boutique hotel bed and breakfast called Sanctuary Guest Suites located in the same vicinity as the cafe.

Both projects resonate with our world view-vision melding the East Village culture with vibrant spirituality. With a little BLESSING from the gods we can translate seemingly non-musical experiences into extraordinary melodies and lyrics sharing our story with you and connecting on a HEART level, which is…

THE ONLY PLACE TO BE Y’ALL!

Peace, spiritual prosperity and much love,

India / AoA

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Dear AoA Cosmonauts ,

Thank you for coming all this way, which I liken to traveling from the North Pole of cyberland to reach our blog page. The major cyber highways can be a crazy trip but HERE you are!

Whether you got here through simple (never simple) chance or have been following AoA for some time it doesn’t really matter because we are thrilled / honored to have you!!!

Feeling all warm and fuzzy with appreciation, AoA would like to SHARE a bit of NEWS with you!

We are on a JANGO (www.jango.com/music/astronautsofantiquity) and ReverbNation (www.reverbnation.com/astronautsofantiquity campaign and have been receiving some great RESPONSE ranging from a healthy growing fan base to a high number of ORGANIC PLAYS and visits to our website www.astronautsofantiquity.com.

We are from NYC and have been getting a multitude of plays from there ranking #30 in the electronic / lounge charts which is great considering this is worldwide and how challenging it is to get a following playing live in this city. That being revealed we LOVE New York. It’s our HOME. We WILL continue to play live there once our new album is finished / RELEASED in 2011.

We welcome as one of our new Jango fans CC Sabathia, pitcher for the NY Yankees! Nice work CC last night by the way! He just led the NY Yankees to a stunning playoff victory against the Texas Rangers.

Because he just became our fan we are boldly guessing that our music helped inspire and empower him. SWEET!

May it do the same for YOU!

Be well and prosperous both spiritually and materially. Be WISE and GENEROUS with your earthly possessions. Remember you can only bring your love on board when it’s time to say good-bye.

~ Luv from India

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THESE days as an artist in the pursuit of world domination or just dreaming of quitting your day job, self-promotion is practically mandatory. Due to the utter magnitude of the task at hand it’s no wonder that sometimes we FANTASIZE about having a multitude of arms like the great Goddess Kali, each hand holding a mystical weapon that destroys any impediment on our path towards success in the MUSIC INDUSTRY.

OF COURSE there is the earthly way of doing things, that is working with a skilled promotion team who know their way around in vast cyberspace and terrestrial territories. You need someone who can lead you through the maze of marketing yourself to help create your brand and build your true blue fan base, the ones who really BELIEVE in your music.

We had the PLEASURE and good fortune to work with Miles High Production based in Los Angeles for our “ROCKET SCIENCE FOR DUMMIES” 2009 release. Chip Schutzman is the founder of MHP and did an impressive job of empowering us. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry from RADIOHEAD to Barbra Streisand. Through Chip’s expertise we landed on the top 20 internet radio and college radio 2009 year end charts for the US and Europe.

This is Chip basking in the HOLLYWOOD sun looking cool wearing our tee! Don’t forget your sunscreen…

~ India

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What does MADONNA, NILE RODGERS and Tom Silverman from TOMMY BOY Entertainment have in common? Other than being uber-successful in the music industry during the 80′s-90′s and beyond, they were all present at the New Music Seminar in NYC which was held at Webster Hall for two days this week. MADGE showed up on a vintage film that Nile so affectionately shared with the audience while he told his story of how he met her in the 80′s club scene and how they ultimately worked together.

We were really impressed with Nile’s vibe and natural style. He appeared unaffected by his major musical icon status. His signature is scrawled across an amazing array of music from Madonna, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Diana Ross, Duran Duran to name just a wee few. He was voted “Top Producer in the World” in Billboard Magazine.

Tom Silverman, the founder of Tommy Boy Records, now known as TOMMY BOY ENTERTAINMENT is the co-creator of the NMS. He and a bunch of panelists including SPRINGSTEEN’S Little Steven sat on the stage, living room style deliberating on how to become a pop star in this time of almost impossible DIY promotion.

For two days we listened intently, networked and participated in the mentoring sessions directed within small groups for a mono-on-mono feel. In between we took a few long breaks to dine at this amazing raw food restaurant, QUINTESSENCE in the East Village.

You can get the full skinny on the NEW MUSIC SEMINAR NYC @ http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/07/22/how-do-you-make-a-pop-star-a-new-music-seminar-panel-tries-to-figure-it-out/

~ India

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This post is dedicated to a rare, unusual and delightful individual who passed from this world two days ago. He was a transcendental madman, a fireball and visionary. He was found in his tiny room coined the “cave” early in the morning after a leaky gas canister took his life.

PLEASE READ ON…

Far off in an exotic, mysterious and spiritually charged ancient village called Vrindavan (land of Krishna) two hours from New Delhi, India lived a wonderful monk and musical genius by the name of Aindra. For 25 years he dedicated practically every waking hour conceiving and singing beautiful melodies dedicated to the Divine on his harmonium, a bellowed organ-like keyboard instrument. He was famous around the world for his kirtans, an ancient spiritual practice of devotional singing accompanied by musical instruments. In Vrindavan, trying to fulfill the deepest desire of his spiritual teacher Srila Prabhupada, he successfully established the 24-hour temple kirtan, non-stop singing of the maha mantra in dedication to the divine couple Radha Krishna. Maha means the greatest. Mantra means to deliver the mind from suffering.
He inspired bhakti (yoga of devotion) yogis and thousands of others from all over the globe to follow in his musical footsteps and perform congregational kirtan in their own town or city, temple, yoga center, festival…
You could say he is the founding father KRC, Kirtan Resurgence Collision.
If you practice yoga you might have experienced some time in a kirtan. It’s a powerful movement coming your way no doubt with Aindra leading through the hearts of those who believe in his vision of giving everyone a chance to experience a magical world beyond this earthly one. Chant, dance and be happy!

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We are tickled pink and pleased to announce that Astronauts of Antiquity are featured on femmusic.com listed as one of “5 Artists Who Are Attracting Our Attention This Month”. Check us out @ http://femmusic.com/home.htm

Other note worthy A.O.A. news:

We have seriously upgraded our shop page to give you an even better breezy, happy purchasing experience.

Thanks for your support…Stay tuned, stay cool, stay inspired!

~ India

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Recently we heard Erykah Badu perform at the Roseland Ballroom here in NYC. It is a beautiful, eclectic venue architecturally! The room was packed with collective enthusiasm as B, myself and our lovely friends, Mario and Laurie stood crunched in the back on our tippy toes to catch a glance of the star and her band over the multitude of heads.

Erykah is and always will be the consummate artist ignoring the herd’s version of what is suppose to be commercial in popular music. She reaches for the outer limits with grace, irreverence and honesty. You really do believe her when she sings, “ don’t want nobody sitting next to me”. Luv the moody blues hookability!

I am wondering though in the beginning of the show why Erykah took so long to come out on stage as the band kept playing the same riff over and over like a needle stuck in vinyl. If it was meant to build a healthy tension / desire to see the goddess of soul it didn’t work, at least for me. It was annoying but admittedly quickly forgotten as the diva slipped in front of her mic and sang her first buttery note.  From there and into the evening we took an audiolicious tour of Erykahville. Oh yea, her band is hot. Only the best.

I’ve heard she is coming out with an album of jazz standards soon.  Really looking forward to that!

~  India

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We have recently been focusing on the art of writing a well-crafted song that is simple, memorable yet has emotional and spiritual depth. It is definitely an art form, as it is a challenge to condense a personal reflection/ observation, emotional state and an underlying theme of transformation into 3 and half minutes. We’re up for the challenge. Sometimes it feels as if the Muse is favoring you – that’s how it seems to be unfolding for us now. The song ideas are pouring out with a clarity and fluidity that is touched by the forces of inspiration. We’re just a humble conduit, and it feels real good. We’ve got about 14 songs written. 3 songs’ basic rhythm tracks have been laid down by our live band, and we’re working on fine tuning the arrangements and production with Taylor Ryan, our keyboardist and producer from the last record, “Rocket Science for Dummies”. “You Can Never Fail” has a almost “Rocky Raccoon” minimalist vibe with a haunting sing-a-long catch phrase that reminds us not to be so hard on ourselves in the process of life’s ongoing lessons. It’s written about someone we know who has long cultivated the self- sabotage habit (haven’t we all to some degree?). We are extremely excited about a song we’re currently working with producer Ivan Simatovic (“Soup du Jour” from the last record), entitled “Woman of Substance”. It’s got all the elements we love – the Peter Gabriel/Sting depth and texture, Sade and Erykah Badu soulfulness, Zero 7 / Bjork chill-out pop oddness and Thievery Corporation groove based eclectic-ness. Stay tuned boys & girls, you won’t be disappointed…….
~B

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We are having some magical moments in the recording studio! Time passes in a different fashion when you are in your creative head. I find it amazing that what started as a simple catchy phrase has turned into our first cut for our new
album.

I’ll track the lead vocals soon. For the next few days I study, like an actor my role and relationship with the lyrics and how to make them come alive through
the melody. I see it now…my arsenal…lots of Singer’s Saving Grace throat spray on hand, gallons of hot tea; dimmed lights for ambience and cell phones do a disappearing act. The invisible curtains open and I reach into the “no mind zone”. It’s time to f#%@(*$% sing! Hopefully by the blessings of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of the arts and music I will find my mojo and let it all out. I guess that statement is my prayer too.

Thinking of all of you who listen to our music and support AoA …this one is for you!
~ India

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Welcome to our new AOA Lounge – the latest updated website 4 Astronauts of Antiquity 2010. We simplified things, removed some of the flash elements to

make it more search engine friendly, added more of an interactive use-ability, redesigned a killer logo and look, keeping it stylish and electro-loungey for your listening and viewing pleasure. We also added a dedicated web page for our last release – www.rocketsciencefordummies.com.
We are indebted to the wonderful graphic artfulness of one Jesse Chase from Vitamin J Designs.  He has been a real pleasure to work with through all the back & forth discussions and varied changes that this site has undergone in the last few months. He also brought on board Bob Lugowe from Relapse Records to assist us in marketing across the great digital divide. Bob has been awesome, making cutting edge informed recommendations to assist us in independently promoting our music.

Check us out on Jango.com, (voted in the top 5 of new music sites), and on Amie St., one of the top independent music download sites on the web.

Take a browse through the site, relax in the AOA lounge and let us know what you think — >

And while you’re at it sign up for our mailing list and newsletter and get a free AoA mp3!
~B

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