Ethnic, Instrumental

Husband-and-wife tandem Dan and Cristina Handrabur make up what is Weed!

The latest release from Weed contains many nuggets of musical works with ambient singer Cristina Handrabur that lends her beautifully distinctive vocals to songs on 'Visionary Sessions'. Both ( Dan and Cristina Handrabur) were both born in Bucharest Romania before each moved to live in Geneva. Dan began playing violin and is classically trained musically while garnering a scholarship to study at the Conservatoire de Geneve at the young age of sixteen (16) years old. Cristina began singing also at an early age in her teens with credits on many albums and placements of her music on many soundtrack CD's. As Weed, they blend ambiance, psychedelia, trip-hop and electronica elements into their own unique musical blend and top it with Dan's great playing styles and with Cristina’s distinctive vocals.

Oddly, Weed have been flying under the radar when it comes to music in mainstream world. People are now fast becoming more familiar with this act, and especially those listeners that are fans of Morcheeba, Lemon Jelly, The Cinematic Orchestra and Jazzanova. Fans of triphop in general and electronica music band will love this new album entitled 'Visionary Sessions.' This latest release does sound like an old formula in a modern era, and those that love music with a modern and sophisticated lounge feel to it, this is an album for you.

Earning a set of Technics DJ'ing at the landmark Club 58, Weed adapted the use of a Korg synthesizer and a Roland beat box. The new reality of composing and producing electronic music along with adding Cristina's soothing vocals, make up quintessential Weed. That overall sound is something that automatically makes the entire album accessible to all listeners. The combination of Dan's playing and Cristina's vocals makes them sound like they did the day they met to collaborate as one. The dreamy vocals and trip hop sound is what carries the band. And, the ability to produce sophisticated beats with flashy chords is what makes that cutting edge overall sound.

There is no doubt that we will hear certain songs be used on TV montages and in advertisements, and the band has already been placed in at least four Soundtrack (Suddenly Naked, Guilty, Free Enterprise & Bruiser) CD's to date. Drawn together by similar tastes in music and artwork, Dan and Cristina fell in love literally, and musically. After Dan moved with his family to Toronto, Canada (shortly after his graduation), a year later, Cristina joined him, and they married each other while they also they collaborated on music in Weed. Having relocated to Canada, they both quickly became known among a new electronic music community and have had great successes in large American cities like Detroit and throughout the entire United Kingdom. Their overall ambient sound is actually described as being more than the Industrial sounds any major populated city is more associated with today.

After the participation of many projects over the years (Outersanctum, Floatpoint, Vuemorph, Mere Mortals, Off And Gone, Weed), the duo has since returned to their native home in Romania to settle in a mountain village, and label head (Sunset Jazz Recordings) Don Lichterman, pleaded with them to allow the company to release this latest CD (Visionary Sessions). (Don) Lichterman says that “seeing them around horse drawn carriages, wooden stoves, secular traditional customs and lots of fresh air, the home of Outersanctum Studios is a goldmine of music and most of all, these guys play so well together; they compliment each others great talents.” (Don) Lichterman also says that “Dan continues to produce albums, tour all over in Europe and hopes to be able to travel to India to learn the techniques of Indian violin playing as well as the sarangi, an ancient, almost rudimentary stringed instrument with a distinctive sound.”

Cristina Handrabur says that “in the last years since we moved from Bucharest, we are enjoying a more natural life, growing our own vegetables and herbs, making our own wine, visiting and discovering new sacred places(where European civilization first started), forest trekking, experimenting and finding inspiration for new artwork.” (Don) Lichterman says that “this overall situation is a great recipe for success and most of all, they need to be heard big time.” He (Don Lichterman) ends by saying that he “will give them (Cristina and Dan Handrabur aka Weed) the most viable chances to be placed and they will have the most viable way to be heard by anyone in the world.”

The 'Visionary Sessions” twelve (12) CD is in stores on march 3rd and the new video of the song, “Truth Love Spirit“ is in all video outlets beginning this week. The full length CD is made up with the following beautiful sound recordings:

1. Visionary Sessions
2. Ace
3. Blessed (Proceed Without Caution)
4. Fields Of Love
5. Aloft
6. Finding My Way
7. Follow Me
8. Make U Feel
9. Omen
10. Path Of Rose Petals
11. Peace Mantra
12. So Hi
13. A Sigh Becomes A Thousand Trees
14. Truth Love Spirit

Sunset Jazz Recordings / Sunset Classics & Jazz (SC&J)
A world renowned jazz record label with old school styled and modern day smooth jazz artists signed to the label and with DJ's, Electronica, House, TripHop Music artists on its roster. Featuring the old school traditional Sunset Jazz Recording artist Woodcock Group, Electronica artists Dreamdoktor, DJ Zevzek and Weed, along with the guitar aficionado and genius Steve Tilelli along with avante garde sounds and new age artist, Store Thousands. The label also features great jazz artists on the Lounge Party CD.

Hip Hop artist leaves you Wanting More!
When you think of Hip Hop music, the ideology of the Dancehall boom is a natural blend in styles that should come to mind.

Rapping, dancing, talking, chanting, and rhyming lyrics on rhythmic tracks is a natural ingredient on any hip hop album set. The sounds of the old school songs by the likes of Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson, The Drifters and Fats Domino coupled with modern day Dancehall sessions by the likes of Beenie Man, Movado, Sean Paul, Shaggy and Damian Marley infuse what is Kapital A and most notably, is what is laid down on his latest CD entitled, Why Not: Special Edition.

The full length 20 song album has extreme flair that dramatically grows the art and style combining both formats in its complexity. Rather than raps and shouts, the melody and color are what make up this great set being released this week at Don Lichterman's Sunset Urban label. Kapital A's music ingrains that colorful flair in those melodies in every song all the way through the entire CD which is set underneath the red-hot lyrics.

Kapital A began playing at neighborhood parties and at festivals throughout Ohio and in Jamaica while incorporating and introducing these two huge influences while laying the groundwork for what would become Rap/Hip Hop fusion with a Dancehall style. Today HipHop, coupled with Dancehall music and even what can be described as a Reggaeton style have carried itself across the globe into America and into Jamaica to bring together new fans of both genres. "Hip Hop has gone through many stages of growth with many sub-formats and sub genres which is the not only the beauty of it, it is also the fine line of it” says the head of Sunset (Urban) Don Lichterman. “As an Indy label, releasing Hip Hop music into what is a wide opened field and while garnering the roots of the deep culture from before say it when it became commercialized into the mainstream is key, otherwise we are competing in a field of major recording artists with a ton of money behind its marketing push and as a matter of fact, most of rap and hip hop today is all based on how much money is behind it” explains (Don) Lichterman whose latest hip hop artist is a releasing a CD that has received rave reviews since setting up its release this month (January 2015).

"In reality and in my opinion with regard to the music industry, the early to mid-90's was one of the most creative periods of growth into the mainstream marketplace for hip-hop music," states Don Lichterman, who' was working at MCA (Records) back then while Indy Labels like Interscope and Geffen were breaking HipHop bands in huge ways and “from nothing to something” which is “our (Sunset) business model” today.

"Hip hop music today is basically Pop Music today and we are not competing with it on that level and with what are artists that are on the THREE (3) or FOUR (4) major labels,” Don Lichterman expresses himself more about the landscape of the HipHop format and genre today. "And, by adding that so called Jamaican flair and by incorporating what are great lyrics with colorful melodies is a thrill to me rather than working straight up pop Rap and this guy (Kapital A) is underground and Indy, but he is also very melodic with his music which makes it very easy for me to work!"

“The other thing I love is working anything with added value and therefore selling a 20 song CD for say $9.99 a unit is great for the label," Don Lichterman ends the conversation by reiterating the Why Not: Special Edition CD is a bargain with 20 songs on a full length and extended CD set.

1 Intro
2 Kapital A
3 Fix Ya Face
4 Aint That Funny
5 En Fuego
6 Lookin At Me
7 What It Is
8 Same Window
9 So Many Problems
10 Nod Ya Head
11 Every Word
12 Warreeyaz
13 U R Fam
14 Talkin Bout Me
15 Ran
16 I Am
17 Doe Rae Mi
18 Fly Away
19 Um Um Um
20 Fallen Angels

The album is in store on January 20th and will be available at any place that sells CDs and that allows plays with Streams along with paid Downloads. The song Warreeyaz is also placed on the Tropical Party CD being released in February (2015) and two videos (Warreeyaz and Doe Rae Mi) are being worked, serviced and are now available at all popular video outlets (VEVO, YouTube, WhoTune, Pure Volume, VHX, Amazing tunes, Amazon, Grammy 365, StereoKiller and NoiseTrade)

Sunset Urban
Featuring Multi Platinum selling recording artist Gina Thompson, the up and coming artist, Kapital A and featuring compilation CDs like How Weed Won The West and the HipHop Party CD, Sunset Urban is one of the fastest growing Indy Labels.