Steve Niles | Horror Writer

Monica Richards & Steve Niles Release "NAIADES" New CD with 32 Page Art Book

Monica Richards & Steve Niles Release "NAIADES" New CD with 32 Page Art Book

LOS ANGELES, CA - February 22, 2012

Singer, musician Monica Richards is releasing her brand new CD, NAIADES, featuring guitars and bass by horror writer, Steve Niles. Sold directly from http://www.monicarichards.com, NAIADES features a 32 page hardcover board book packed with original artwork from some of today's most renowned artists.

Niles and Richards have known each other since the early 80's harDCore punk scene. Steve Niles, best known for works such as 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre, Simon Dark, Mystery Society and Batman: Gotham County Line, also played in early Dischord Records bands, including Gray Matter and Three. Monica Richards got her start as one of the earliest female singers in D.C., fronting Hate From Ignorance, Madhouse, and later, Strange Boutique. Currently, she is best known for her work in the critically acclaimed darkwave act, Faith and the Muse. Monica released her first solo album, the electro-tribal Infrawarrior, in 2007. She has also sung live with Conflict and the anarcho-punk collective, Anima Mundi. Art: James O'Barr

As a writer, composer and singer, NAIADES adds new elements of Monica's tribal style to harder rock anthems and neoclassical soundscapes. With the addition of Niles's raw style, NAIADES creates an all new level of expres- sion in both sound and vision. NAIADES, named after mythological Greek sea nymphs, is full of amazing under- water scenes and sea creatures. Richards and Niles actually sent rough mixes to the following artists to give them inspiration as they worked.

Art: Bernie Wrightson

 

 ARTIST ROSTER

(*Exclusive Artwork just for NAIADES):

*Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing, Creepshow)

*James O'Barr (The Crow)

*Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin, The New Mutants)

*Miran Kim (X-Files, Deadtime Stories)

*Kelley Jones (Batman, Sandman)

*Nat Jones (Death Dealer, 30 Days of Night)

*Menton 3 (Silent Hill, Monocyte) *Chrissie Zullo (Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love)

*Andrew Mangum (Grimm Fairy Tales, American Wasteland)

*David Ocampo (Colorist with Andrew Mangum) Milx (Silver Surfer, Wake the Dead)

*Jordie Bellaire (Colorist for Hellraiser, Planet of the Apes)

*Don Bishop (Traditional Artist)

*Cathy Ashworth (Traditional Artist)

*Jim Neely (Anafae) *Lee Kelly (Abstract Artist)

*Daniele Serra (Fade to Black, Teenage Timberwolves)

NAIADES TRACKLISTING:

1. Naiades

2. Pride

3. EndBegin

4. Armistice

5. Alaric

6. Scylla & Charybdis

7. The Mighty

8. Nereides

9. Lureinlay

10. The Strange Familiar

11. Tail of Two

12. We Go On

MUSICIANS ON NAIADES:

Steve Niles: Bass & Guitars, Chad Blinman: Drums, Steven James: Guitars, Marzia Rangel: Cellos, Paul Mercer: Violin & Violas, Davis Petterson, Chandler Rentz: Additional Percussion

Co-produced, Mixed and Mastered by Chad Blinman@ The Eyesocket, Boston NAIADES © & p Elyrian Music/BMI - 2012

Buy the Album: http://www.monicarichards.com/merchandise-CDs.htm

Buy the download from my site: http://www.monicarichards.com/downloads_mp3.htm

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/naiades/id494394687

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Naiades/dp/B006W7UWOY

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naiades/dp/B006WLHDWE

You can even sample a FREE SONG "We Go On" here:  http://www.reverbnation.com/monicarichards

Thank you all so much for supporting indipentemnt artist!

DIY!

-Steve

  Art by: Bill Sienkiewicz

Changing Views on Piracy

Or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote about online comic piracy. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’ve changed my mind, but I think my views are starting to evolve. At the very least, I think I’m less worried.

Last week Neil Gaiman and I had a friendly exchange about online piracy on Twitter (Read The Beat arcle including it here). I made my points, showed him my blog about Pieces For Mom, he made his points about people discovering him because the only way readers could find him was online. I could see how it had benefited him.

The point that all those downloads I see on my work do not necessary equate with lost sales is a good one, and who knows, maybe they will read something online and then go buy more. For Neil it seems to have worked. For me, I honestly have to say I don’t know.

What I quickly realized was Neil and I have had completely different experiences with the exact same thing. That tells me the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

I’m by no means shifting to a pro-piracy stance. I still think stealing is stealing and we all know in our hearts when we are stealing.

I grew up in a music scene that lived and died by the cassette tape. We made tapes, swapped them, traded but never sold. And usually, first chance I got I’d buy the vinyl because I wanted to hold that fucker in my hands and I wanted to support these bands. 

So, maybe that will happen here. Maybe the sample and buy model will work.  Right now I know I’d rather appeal to the hearts and minds of people out there who want work like mine to continue. Since the rise of SOPA/PIPA I have become very wary of legislation attempting to control what we see and do on the internet, so for now I’m not going to worry about piracy so much and put my faith in the people instead.

Always thanks for reading my rants. You guys are the best.

-Steve

For those of you who want to fight, here's a baby bunny.