The Wisdom of Tyler Conta: 2012

Big Meadow Sessions // Nelly Kate

I love music. I love video. I wanted to find a fun way to combine these 2 loves other than trying to create the typical music videos you see on TV...or at least used to see on TV. I mentioned it to a few friends who have some of the same passions, they started talking, and together we came up with a great idea.

That idea is the Big Meadow Sessions.

Big Meadow Sessions started in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, where we all met each other. "Shenandoah" is the Iroquois word for "Big Meadow" so the name is a perfect way to tell some about us while giving tribute to an amazing place. Big Meadow Sessions has now created the seventh video in a series of videos. Please enjoy the video and the music.

This episode of Big Meadow Sessions was released a few months ago, and it as definitely one of my favorite shoot days EVER! Taylor and I got together with our cameras and gear, met up with Wes Swing and Nelly Kate, and shot 2 episodes in a day. This episode features the incredible Nelly Kate using a looping pedal, vocals, and some cello from Wes to create a hauntingly beautiful track. We set up and shot this video in their friend's place, in what used to be an old barbershop, but currently it is being converted to a bakery. Well, for us that day it was a stage for some incredible live performances.

Enjoy Episode #8 of Big Meadow Sessions.

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Boxwave - Broad Street Grease

A few months ago I did a photo shoot with an incredibly unique and insanely talented local Richmond band. We went to the top of a parking deck that has a FANTASTIC view of downtown Richmond and shot some photos for their promotional purposes. They've used them for flyers, Facebook, press kits, and also for part of their brand new album, showing the band together. I even did a few videos of these guys a little while before that, as they performed a live show downtown. Now, they have released their first album together, an instrumental duo of bass and cajon (box) that is something you have not heard before but you will definitely love. John (bass) and Brad (cajon) are a couple of great guys who make some great music and were kind enough to ask me to do just one more photo shoot for them: their album cover.

"Broad Street Grease" by Boxwave was released in early April and is a fantastic album that will keep your head bobbing and your feet tapping the whole time you're listening. So get check out Boxwave here or download their album on Amazon or iTunes.

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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Big Meadow Sessions // Wes Swing

That idea is the Big Meadow Sessions.

This episode of Big Meadow Sessions was also released a couple of months ago, and it as definitely one of my favorite shoot days EVER! Taylor and I got together with our cameras and gear, met up with Wes Swing and Nelly Kate, and shot 2 episodes in a day. This episode features the amazing Wes Swing playing a tune of his from his "Through A Fogged Glass" album using a looping pedal, mandolin, cello, his vocals, and some incredible creativity. We set up and shot this video in their friend's place in what used to be an old barbershop but which is currently being converted to a bakery. Well, for us that day it was a stage for some incredible live performances.

Enjoy Episode #7 ofBig Meadow Sessions.

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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Big Meadow Sessions // Cocaine Mortgage

That idea is the Big Meadow Sessions.

Big Meadow Sessions started in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, where we all met each other. "Shenandoah" is the Iroquois word for "Big Meadow" so the name is a perfect way to tell some about us while giving tribute to an amazing place. Big Meadow Sessions has now created the sixth video in a series of videos. Please enjoy the video and the music.

This episode of Big Meadow Sessions was released a couple of months ago, it got a great response from the viewers, went up on a few sites, but now it's time to add it to the website! Cocaine Mortgage is a DJ collective consisting of multiple artists whose bases of operation are in NYC, Chicago, DC, while still playing in other big cities as well. For this video the whole gang got together in Harrisonburg, VA for a Homecoming Reunion show at Clementine. It was a sold out crowd, just like last year. The night was crazy...absolutely crazy...all thanks to the music and beats of the incredible Cocaine Mortgage.

Enjoy Episode #6 of Big Meadow Sessions.

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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SotM: 3/11/12

Here's yet another Song of the Moment tune. This one comes from a band who recently put out their 4th EP in 3 years. This most recent EP was released on Valentine's Day and this tune comes from it. I recently heard this song paired with a video for a 5k that I'm going to run soon in July in Richmond and I CANNOT wait to run it and take video/photos while I run it...just be patient...you'll see it when I'm done. Anyways, here's the song. It's a good one. Enjoy!

Song of the Moment 3/11/12
On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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SotM: 3/10/12

I've been rocking out to this song for several months but I haven't made it a SotM song. Sorry about that. Here it is now.

This track comes from a talented young guy from Scotland from all the way back in late 2006. It's a cool song because it's a true story and personal experience of Paolo Nutini. He was dating an older woman but one day when we finally admitted he was only 18 she told him it wouldn't work because he was too young. Women.

Now enjoy this tune that for some reason YouTube refused to let me embed so here's the link:

Song of the Moment 3/10/12
Jenny Don't Be Hasty by Paolo Nutini

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SotM: 2/29/12

Happy Leap Day everyone! Or if you don't celebrate this pagan holiday celebration of Leap Day William...then happy February 29th.

This tune comes from a NYC artist that I first heard last February 14th with "Flying Overseas", was amazed by him, but didn't give him a Song of the Moment tune for some odd reason. I love almost all of his stuff and if you haven't listened to his stuff before you definitely need to check him out. So here he is, an artist that I think is absolutely going to blow up soon, so check it now!

Song of the Moment 2/29/12
Why Even Try by Theophilus London ft. Sara Quin

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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SotM: 2/28/12

When I first heard this song several weeks ago I honestly thought it was Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros coming out with something new. I listened a little closer and could tell it wasn't them. I HAD to know who it was. I'm glad I figured it out because this band RULES. This song comes from an Icelandic folk band that released this song in the US a month ago and it's been doing quite well. So, if you haven't heard this song...just click play. Enjoy today's SotM!

Song of the Moment 2/28/12
Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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SotM: 2/26/12

Here's another tune for you music lovers out there.

My last Song of the Moment jam ("Don't Stop") was in September and was released as a single by this band in January of this year...it's a great song so don't be afraid to look in the blog archives for it. But this band's first single was released in 2010 yet didn't really hit big until early-ish in 2011 and was one of the most overplayed songs of the year. It's a good song but WOW I couldn't stand to hear it for a while there. This song of theirs is another great tune, with a weird music video, and I hope you appreciate it for not being "Pumped Up Kicks." You're welcome.

Song of the Moment 2/25/12
Helena Beat by Foster the People

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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SotM: 2/25/12

My dear friends,
I apologize for the long time it's been since I have posted about music. I've been blogging a decent amount recently but it's mostly been about my recent photo and video works. I was really trying to make my website look more professional and all that but I'm going to be redoing my website soon enough to allow me to blog about whatever I want AND also have posts about my video/photo work. So enough talking...welcome back to the Song of the Moment!

This tune comes from a talented musician that I knew nothing about until a couple months ago. Check out this song from his August 2011 album. Enjoy!

Song of the Moment 2/25/12
Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye (ft. Kimbra)

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Recently Published Photos & More

Here are just a few images of my recent work, published online for RVA Magazine, published in print for an ad for the Tobacco Company, and more :

To see the whole post for Open Stage Night click HERE

To see the whole post for Richmond Music Review click HERE

And then I got a photo published in print, used for an ad, for the Tobacco Company Restaurant in Richmond, VA

Other than that, my photos have recently been used for Christmas cards (BEAUTIFUL family), a photo contest (WINNER), and upcoming save-the-dates for a wedding! I hope you enjoy my photo work, thanks for checking it out!

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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TEASER // BMS with Cocaine Mortgage

Since October this video has been in the works. It's a lengthy process to edit certain videos and this one needed some time to get everything just right. It's SO close to done now, just need to run it by the rest of the team, and the artists themselves, and then it's good to go! So for now we decided to make a short teaser video, sort of like a movie trailer, just showing you what you need to get ready for with episode 6 of the Big Meadow Sessions. Check it. Cocaine Mortgage TEASER video for their episode of Big Meadow Sessions. Enjoy.

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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Clay Everett Longboarding

Recently, I was contacted by a great friend of mine saying that his brother is a talented longboarder. They said they wanted to make a video of him, possibly see about sponsorship, and be able to showcase his skills and abilities. So, we got together, planned out a budget and the timeline, and filmed this fantastic video in multiple locations. It's got a story behind it, a search for the perfect place to longboard, following him the whole way on his journey. Enjoy this video of the incredibly skilled Clay Everett longboarding.

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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Big Meadow Sessions // Jeff Spain Jr.

That idea is the Big Meadow Sessions.

Big Meadow Sessions started in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, where we all met each other. "Shenandoah" is the Iroquois word for "Big Meadow" so the name is a perfect way to tell some about us while giving tribute to an amazing place. Big Meadow Sessions has now created the fifth video in a series of videos. Please enjoy the video and the music.

Meeting Jeff Spain Jr. happened exactly the same as it did for our last band, Boxwave. In October I met a few great people while I was in downtown Richmond. They all had a love for music, art, and Richmond itself. That night I took a few photos of some of the musicians playing on stage and talked to some of them afterwards about their music. Jeff Spain Jr. really stuck out to me due to his powerful vocals and simplistically beautiful guitar playing in certain songs. Jeff is an incredibly skilled musician, a great guy to be around, and was a great person to shoot this video with. His laid back attitude, coupled with his passion for music make this one of my favorite episodes. He even toughed it out and played when it was about 40 degrees outside, in December, in Richmond, in some crazy back alley in Carytown. What a trooper...thanks Jeff! Now go ahead and check out the new video. Enjoy Episode #5 of Big Meadow Sessions.

If you wish to leave comments or check out older posts: www.tylerconta.blogspot.com

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