New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Rock 'n' Roll careers can take their toll on musicians, and with his intimate new album, Micki Free seems to say "Let's slow down for a moment, breathe, relax and chill out." Free's long career as a guitarist, solo artist and band member (Shalamar, Crown of Thorns, American Horse Trio featuring Cindy Blackman-Santana, Micki Free Electric Blues Experience) led him to this place of reflection and a new Native American flute-based album that combines his rock roots with spoken word and healing intention.
Today, Mysterium
Music of Hanover, PA releases the album - titled Native American Flute as Therapy - which will be distributed by IDLA Associated Label Distribution under the label's new exclusive worldwide distribution agreement with the distributor. The album is available at most digital music sites including Google Play, Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and Amazon.
Free was in the midst of producing the album when he heard of his friend Prince's death, which added an entirely new level of emotion to the album. One of the songs celebrating the soothing effects of the lavender herb was renamed "Lavender Kiss" in his honor. The flute music is enhanced by percussion and keyboards, and each song is introduced by Free's sultry voice. Some may view his spiritual approach to the album as a perfect bridging of his eclectic musical and spiritual worlds.
The album's soothing song titles include "White Candle Light", "The Healing Bath", "Lavender Kiss", "The Native American Flute as Therapy", "Positive Energy", "Feet & Toes", "Essential Oils", "Jasmine Rain", "Sacred Sage", "Heart Release (Peregrine Lane)", "
Down By The River" and a bonus track titled "Heartbeat Meditation Yoga Mix."
The album was written, produced, arranged and performed by Micki Free, with a few exceptions noted on the track list. It was recorded at Ocean Soul Studios in Tennessee, with
Paul Brown contributing as keyboardist and Co-Producer, and includes his inspiring wife April Brown, who makes a stunning flute duet with Micki free on the track "Sacred Sage." Trisha Bowden, founder of Mysterium Music, executive produced the album and lends backup vocals.
Speaking from his home in Sedona, AZ, Free said, "The Native American Flute as Therapy is my best Native American flute work to date...there is no doubt in my mind that my partnership with Trisha Bowden and Mysterium
Music has inspired me to new heights. Spiritually, I have changed and I feel renewed; the entire album takes us on a positive spiritual journey: me, my Native American Flute and the listener.
He continues, "I am 'super-charged' to share the original songs I've written; I feel blessed and excited to share these blissful songs in hi-quality audio formats, and in my upcoming concerts!" Free, Brown and Bowden will perform songs from the new album at Retreat from Cancer hosted by "Say Yes to Hope.org" in Canton, TX, November 11-13, 2016.
Free recently played several concerts in support of the new album, including Morongo Casino, The Micki Free
Experience show at Anton's in Austin, TX with
Brother Paul Brown, Kenny Gradney and
Peter Young; a performance at Loyola Marymount University's groundbreaking "Yoga Day" on
September 19, and debuted the new album live in a sold-out concert at Old Town Center for The Arts in Cottonwood AZ; Free also performed a sold-out fundraising concert for The Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff AZ on October 8th.
Free's work is unique in its range, from his serious blues-rock chops to his uniquely authentic approach to Native American Flute, percussion and vocals. Authenticity imbues the music on The Native American Flute as Therapy, which pulls from his Comanche/Cherokee heritage; Free is adopted by LaNora Parker, great granddaughter and direct descendant of Quanah Parker, the great Comanche Chief).
Free's life as a rocker always drew media attention, but he became well- known to a younger audience in 2004, when his manner of dress and appearance during the late '80s (and that of Prince) was parodied by Dave Chappelle in his Chappelle's Show sketch "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: Prince: Uncensored." The skit is included in many "Top 10 Best" comedy lists, and according to BILLBOARD (4/25/16) it was viewed over 600,000 times within days of Prince's passing, generating new interest in the long-term friendship between Free and
Prince followed by appearances on ESPN, VH-1's Unsung Heroes, The Undefeated, VladTV, and many more.
Over the past four decades, the GRAMMY® Award winner, three-time GRAMMY nominee, and five-time Native American
Music Award winner's eclectic muse has inspired him to find an artful cultural balance between the rock world and new age music as a renowned guitarist and flutist.
Originally inspired by Jimi Hendrix, a teenage Free picked up the guitar for the first time, setting a multi-faceted course with musical destiny that would alternately embrace and conquer the distinct worlds of rock and roll, pop/R&B and Native American flute music.
As a young performer, he was discovered by
Gene Simmons as a member of the Illinois-based band Smokehouse, and opened for KISS, Ted Nugent and REO Speedwagon; later, in 1984, Free joined funk-soul group Shalamar, and eventually launched a solo career and several bands. Along the way, he has performed and/or recorded with Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones,
Diana Ross (who also managed his career),
Janet Jackson,
Little Steven Van Zandt (Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band), Prince, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top),
Carlos Santana, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Cheap Trick, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) and more. For Free's full biography, visit https://www.mickifree.com.
Native American Flute as Therapy is the latest addition to an instrumental music catalog that includes The Sun Chase, Free's first love song flute album written about his trials, hopes and loves through his travels on Native American Flutes; Sedona Free, written about the "sacred spiritual red earth" and Native American ancestors/peoples of Sedona, Arizona; and Comanche, which he dedicated to his family and the Comanche tribe.
For additional information, concert dates, and music, visit https://www.mickifreenativeamericanflute.com/ and https://www.MysteriumMusic.com
Wholesale and online distribution requests for the album may be directed to Tim Shove of IDLA Associated Label Distribution at tim.shove(at)idla(dot)ca; the suggested retail price is $16.98.
Radio will be serviced by Mysterium
Music and Dark Idol Music, LLC., via e-mail request to: mickifree2(at)gmail(dot)com
Media review copies, interviews, and bookings:
New Age/World Genre: Beth Ann Hilton, m: 310-560-8390 or BethHilton(at)TheBCompany(dot)com
Bookings for Micki Free: cherokeefreesagency(at)gmail(dot)com
Links:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/album/native-american-flute-as.../id1157775170
Amazon - https://amzn.com/B01M1KDN4O
Track List:
1. White Candle Light
2. The Healing Bath
3. Lavender Kiss
4. The Native American Flute As Therapy*
5. Positive Energy*
6. Feet & Toes*
7. Essential Oils
8. Jasmine Rain
9. Sacred Sage*
10.
Heart Release (Peregrine Lane)
11. Down By The River*
12. BONUS MIX: Heartbeat Meditation Yoga Mix
All Songs Written, Produced, Arranged and Performed by Micki Free (except *otherwise noted); "
Down By The River" written by Neil Young.
