Rave Reviews (Thanks Everyone!)

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ABILITY TO SHARE AND CREATE INTERESTING AND MOTIVATING STORIES USING CONTENT AND MEDIA FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES, plus to review the past and move into NEW creative storytelling experiences and relationships.

These reviews cover film & television professionals with whom I have worked as an originator, creator, developer and producer of stories; live, streaming and podcast interviews conducted on my Blog Talk Radio channel; interviews printed in the arts section of a newspaper serving Orange County, NY, and by website design clients. 

Here we go...

"I have worked with Val on two projects now, and each time I have been blown away by Val's connection with and dedication to the material. She was an integral part of the development of each project and brings her heart and soul into the creation of any project she works on. This has made her an absolute joy to work with, and a person whose friendship, vision and creativity I cherish. I highly recommend Val as a solo contractor, team member and content creator, and would work with her again in a heartbeat!"
-- Sameera Steward, Producer, Constellations Entertainment

"Valerie Michele is an innovative, professional and strongly driven individual with a sound grounding in business strategy, and the flexibility to consider new ideas. Valerie trusts concepts born from genuine talent and works well with her business partners to create the best possible solution for the project."
-- Jacob Larch, Writer/Editor/Script Doctor

"Our team was lucky to find Val a few months ago and she has been a wonderful asset ever since. She is driven and optimistic, and her personality has helped to fuel the rest of our crew. She has also been instrumental in finding us some key players who have been essential in moving our projects forward. I would recommend Val to anyone in need of a dedicated team player or a truly amazing friend. Thanks again, Val, for all your hard work!"
-- Sarah L. Taylor, Creator/Writer/Producer, "Blood Lines"

"...the interview with Luciana Souza was incredible. I loved the dialogue on parenting, grief, spiritual practices, music..."
-- Claire Milam, Spiritual Coach

"Fantastic job."
-- Barbara Sobel, Sobel Promotions

"Beautiful music, wonderful conversation, all around inspiring and energizing program. Thank you!"
-- JD Flaten, Publicist, Media Owls

"Thank you!!! I had a great time being on your show!!! -- Georgie Porgie, A Billboard Magazine Top 10 Dance/Club Artist of the Decade

"You have been doing an amazing job with your interviews/shows. I'm so impressed with what you've done."
-- Paddy Noonan, Founding Partner & Musician, IMRadio

"Wow!" Val. The radio show was so amazing! Thanks so much!
-- Tonya Marie Faris, Songwriter, song featured as a healing dedication

- "Excellent and informative interviews. I enjoyed the show very much. Joel Juan Qui is a beautiful expression of healing through his education and music. Val and Barry, great show!
-- Daniel Zazueta

 

"Val, thank you for posting the great [audio] interview with Linda and Jacqui at our show opening . . . I'm glad your interview got into some of the more contemplative and spiritual aspects of why we do what we do."

-- Karl Leitzel, "Far & Near Horizons" Group Exhibition World Tour from the International Plein Air Painters (IPAP) and Landscape Artists International (LAI), Founder of LAI

"I was glad to meet you at Musikfest, and later, thrilled with the wonderful job you did. You are an excellent writer, photographer, and interviewer all rolled into one: quite a combination."

-- Ann Whipple, Publicist, Musikfest

 

"Thank you for your great interview. You did a great job." @ The 110th Anniversary of Downing Park

-- Jean McGrane, City Manager of the City of Newburgh, NY

"Thank you so much for all the space and time you took with the article. The interview is great and Mystique did a great job with the photos. Can't thank you enough. You should also know that several people have already phoned me to say they read and enjoyed the article."

-- Mary Ann G. Neuman, Photographer, "Somebody's Sister" Series

“Your organization of materials, attention to detail and intelligent approach is unique, refreshing and MUCH appreciated. It makes all the difference!”
-- Don Devine, President, Devine Design

"Wow, the interview went really well. I enjoyed hearing the artist's responses, and found out a little bit more about each artist I had not known before. Thank you for all your support!"

-- Virginia Walsh, Director, Ann Street Gallery

"I'm finally home and have been meaning to call and THANK YOU for the wonderful feature you did on me."

-- Judi Silvano, Jazz Vocalist/Composer/Producer/Educator

"You are (as they say): "No joke". I thank you for lending your genius to the mass of positive good going on in the city of Newburgh right now. The article helped to give wonderful insight into who I am as a candidate for city council."

-- Marge Bell, Owner, Newburgh Artisans and 2007 & City Council in Newburgh, NY

"What a treat to have you with us and conduct such a powerful interview. Thank you for posting the live interview! I've added it to my blog so others can listen and find your site . . . What a wonderful job you do."

-- Linda Richichi, Tour Director, "Far & Near Horizons" Group Exhibition World Tour and Plein Air Painter

"I just wanted to say thank you ever so much for the fabulous job on the article! It was an absolute pleasure to see such a great spread and the company so well represented. I appreciate your efforts and hard work!"

-- Stacey Hawkins, President and CEO, Time Savor Gourmet, LLC

"Val, thanks so much--what a wonderful job."

-- Brian Burke, Owner, Downing Film Center

"You need to clone yourself -- doing a great job covering so many events and really focusing on the personalities behind them!"

-- C. Kippy Boyle, Divisional Manager, San Francisco International Gift Fair

 

"Your new Web site looks and FEELS great--open, inviting and very informative."

-- Eleanora Amendolara, Sacred Center

 

"The pleasure has been ours . . . I was singing your praises last night while showing off the website and clicked on your site to show people who you are . . . I am very happy!"

-- Sharron Miller, Executive and Artistic Director, Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts

 

“You have an extraordinary company! The level of work you do is very, very high---"over my head" for design work, innovation & concepts, etc.-- a very different area of our industry than I'm in! But you truly have a great and exciting company!”

-- Marc Frankel, President, Hudson Valley Mac

BlogTracks: Getting To Know Peace

Click on the links for a multimedia experience of sight and sound.
 
Getting To Know Peace (In Honor of Jesus, The Prince of Peace: Happy Birthday!)

Image Credit: Huffington Post

“I AM happy to be at peace today.” I wrote these words as a status post on my Facebook profile page (Val Oliver) on Friday, August 5, 2011. These eight words generated the largest response I have ever received (except for notices about the death of family members).

People who rarely reply to anything I post either had a comment or simply “LIKED” it. I know how much I value peace, how much I am willing to give peace a chance in the midst of living life during these times of uncertainty about the future. Evidently, from the amount of responses to my post, people want to get on the peace train  and stop living life in wartime as the days accelerate. People wonder how I can be at peace and have a smile on my face so often.

In my personal experience, peace is the balance of opposites merged together that transform to become something new. It’s like the old saying that opposites attract  and those two hearts can beat as one . It’s recognizing that both have a right to exist because it’s the nature of how this world is created. Everything in life has an opposite or complimentary energy form: up has down, in has out, hot has cold, dead has alive, good has evil, black has white, love has hate, fear has faith, and Democrat Maria Shriver has Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger (Well, they did have their share of marital bliss). The point is that two opposing forces can co-exist in the same space. Have you ever experienced a beautiful sadness?

What is it like when two opposing forces merge to create something new? It’s peaceful. Oddly enough, I experience it the most when other people and situations around me are off balance. Peace can also be accepting who you are and where you are, and who they are and where they are without judging any of it. Peace can be in those mind, body, physical and energy spaces where you accept what you can’t change (others), change what you can (you), and have the wisdom to know the difference. I put a premium on peace in my life, and choose to continue to support myself and others who invest in the same choice.

Music artists: Jane Olivor, John Lennon, Juris, Michael Jackson, Norah Jones, Stephen Bishop, Talking Heads, The Who, U2, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)

As the disabled child Tiny Tim says in the book, "A Christmas Carol", written by Charles Dickens: "God bless us, Everyone!"

All My Life - Song That's Dedicated to Reach 4 Freedom: Heal Child Abuse Music Project

"All My Life" is a song dedicated to the intent of the another one of my blogs. The song is about unrequited love and love feelings.

The Reach 4 Freedom: Heal Child Abuse Music Project is a component. of The Healing Artist Studio Project. Simply read the description at the top of this blog to learn what it's all about.

"All My Life" is one of the songs dedicated to this project, and has been recorded in a number of versions as you will see when you view the post: it has all the songs on my profile page at ReverbNation.com. It's been in the Top 10 in the Jazz category a number of times in the NY/NJ/CT/PA area . . . Learn more about the song and play it at the Heal Child Abuse Music Project blog.

Magical Music Moments: Nataly Dawn & Dawn Kallevig (Her Mom) Singing "Wild Horses"

Credit: FanPop.com

Simply magical. Love these tears in my eyes. It's like I'm hearing it for the first time. I'm so grateful for Nataly Dawn posting this video of her and your mom singing together. The ties that bind and endure. Dedicating this to Lisa Renee Andrews (my former business manager & friend who was murdered last year after Thanksgiving, and whose birthday is today).

Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones - Nataly Dawn & mom (Click Link)
In case you were wondering where I learned everything I know. My mom and I did this piano vocal arrangement of Wild Horses. She's an incredible pianist, arranger and vocalist (and mom). When I was growing up we would sit at the piano and do this all the time. It's because of her that music is such a huge part of my life.To support my music: http://www.patreon.com/natalydawnWild Horses - by The Rolling Stones - performed by Nataly Dawn and Dawn Kallevig
Posted by Nataly Dawn on Thursday, November 5, 2015

Nataly Dawn uploaded a new video: November 5 at 7:51pm ·
In case you were wondering where I learned everything I know. My mom and I did this piano vocal arrangement of Wild Horses. She's an incredible pianist, arranger and vocalist (and mom). When I was growing up we would sit at the piano and do this all the time. It's because of her that music is such a huge part of my life.

To support my music: http://www.patreon.com/natalydawn
Wild Horses - by The Rolling Stones - performed by Nataly Dawn and Dawn Kallevig

Support Nataly and her music!

"All My Life" is #1 on the ReverbNation Local Region Jazz Chart!

"All My Life" (Nu-Jazz) has remains #1 on the ReverbNation Local-Regional Jazz Chart, the Top 200 on the National Jazz Chart, and the Top 500 on the Global Jazz Chart! Thanks to everyone who keeps playing and sharing this music that is part of the Reach 4 Freedom: Heal Child Abuse Music Project--an energy generating project dedicated to healing child abuse in the world. ♥ IMAGINE. THEN ACT.

PLAY "All My Life" (NuJazz, Briarus arrangment)

Cupid's Hunt 2013 | Lady Venus | VALentine

It's Cupid's Hunt 2013! Looking for love in all the right places! This is one of those places as part of the 6th Annual Cupid's Hunt Collaboration Podcast.

For this year, I decided to continue the theme I began with Kokopelli in 2012: Venus is the planet of and our Lady of Love. Love (like ladies) come in a variety of personalities, so this music podcast reflects as much of the diversity and variety of love in music as I could fit into this love menagerie.

Do visit the official Facebook page, learn more about the project, listen to all the love mixes, and plan to submit yours next year in 2014.

Get ready . . . Cupid's arrow is pointed at you and I'm letting it fly!


Playlist

1. Creator's Parrot Theme/Oh Venus! | Valerie Michele, Neil Alexander, Frankie Avalon

2. Hear My Call | Jill Scott

3. Love On Top | Beyonce

4. Love On Top (Do Over) | Beyonce

5. I Will Survive | Gloria Gaynor

6. Don't Rain On My Parade | Barbra Streisand

7. Try A Little Tenderness | Otis Redding

8. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. | Aretha Franklin

9. Want It Bank | Deborah Jordan

10. Lady Like | Amber Ojed

11. This Girl | Tom Davis featuring Junior Bear

12. Wreck | Mieka Pauley

13. The Lady Is A Tramp | Lena Horne

14. Along Came Betty | Quincy Jones

15. Luck Be A Lady | Frank Sinatra

16. Lady Marmalade | The Fabulous Pink Flamingos

17. Lady Love | Lou Rawls

18. Where Can I Go Without You? | Carol Weisman

19. Dusk Till Dawn | Philip Clark

20. Blues In the Night | Lainie Kazan

21. Come To My Window | Melissa Etheridge

22. I Will Always Love You (Valerie Michele Mix) | Dolly Parton & Whitney Houston

23. Creole Lady | Jon Lucien

24. Because of You | Tony Bennett & K.D. Lang

25. Home To Myself | Melissa Manchester

26. Creator's Parrot Theme/Oh Venus! | Valerie Michele, Neil Alexander, Frankie Avalon

AWARDED TOP BLOG BY PSYCHOLOGYDEGREE.NET

The Reach 4 Freedom: Heal Child Abuse Music Project was awarded TOP BLOG for Child Abuse by PsychologyDegree.net in November 2010. Reach 4 Freedom is featured as one of the top blogs among 25 selected this year. Here's what PsychologyDegree.net had to say: "As a website dedicated to helping people consider a career in psychology, we only provide the best information available.  Whether it's a resource that helps you understand a child abuse victim, or how to best interact with an adoptee, we provide support for those seeking to obtain this information.  This is why we've featured your blog, as it is one of the best to teach our readers."

Thank you, PsychologyDegree.net for recognizing and supporting global service via music to heal child abuse by generating energy for answers and solutions.

Val's Song "All My Life" Dedicated to Healing Child Abuse On New Album

"All My Life" is a song written by yours truly (Valerie Michele Oliver) that was produced and re-mixed by music artist Briarus on the ccMixter service. I posted the original song on ccMixter after learning about the service through Creative Commons, the nonprofit organization that licenses the work of artists so that people can collaborate on, re-use and share creations. Briarus remixed the song in ambient and nu-jazz genres. READ MORE . . .