SpaceJunky shares real life success with Second Life residents by Delaynie Barbosa
June 11, 2008
Space Junky on Acid Planet
One of components of Second Life is its ability to bring real-life experiences to people all over the world via a 3D space. Beyond the residential, commercial, and role-playing sims lie real-world spaces. MySql, Ciscos, IBM, Harvard University, Sinead O'Conner,and the late, great Kurt Vonnegut have, or in the case of Vonnegut, had a Second Life presence. Additionally, some people get their fame through their use of SL. Consider Nyte Caligari, Nephilaine Protagonist, Aimee Weber, or any of the other well-known content creators.
One of the latest Second Life success stories is that of the virtual band, SpaceJunky. If you haven't heard of SpaceJunky, then you're not living your Second Life to the fullest. Experiencing a Space Junky concert in-world is one of the best examples of SL's potential. The band plays their music via media stream; there are light effects and dancing, and the singer, Shakti Cianci, interacts with the audience.
She talks to fans, not at them. A SpaceJunky concert is the next best thing to a real life concert, and many in SpaceJunky's Alphacrew group know it; the band regularly fills sims when they perform in-world. Listen to the metaphysical-cum-popstar sounds of Planet 7, New Religion, or any other of the band's mellow but poppy songs, and it's easy to understand why they have become so popular.
The amazing thing about SpaceJunky is that although the three band members are native Australians, life took them in three different directions, thousands of miles apart. Shakti Cianci lives in the United States. The guitarist, Zaphod Rahja, remains in Sydney, while drummer, Zavier Corleone lives in Malaysia. Despite distance, the band pulled together an independant album, Resident Alien, which sold out through the band's distribution channel, cdbaby.com, over Christmas.
Using SL, the band spent much of 2007 touring in-world. The capacity of SL to bring people together from all over the world helped catapult the band to success. However, much band's success in SL lies in real-life experience. Each band member has a list of notable achievements working with acts such as Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, and country singer Steve Azar.
Recently, Cianci took a 10 day retreat with High Tibetan Lama, Chongtul Rinpoche. She spent her time learning an ancient Tibetan energy healing system from a 7th century manuscript. Clearly, Space Junky is hitting the big time.
The band's most recent break came when CNN dispatched an in-world reporter to interview them. Sony's Creative Software division picked up on the story and offered Space Junky fans a chance to participate in the band's success.
I have seen heard space junky music in SL but have NEVER seen or heard of them playing live in SL. The wording is quite important here, because what they do is broadcast a CD inworld and there is live commentary between songs - but it is NOT a live performance. I am not suggesting Space Junky are not good at what they do, but they are not playing live and that is a VERY important issue - especially to the MANY people that DO play live in SL. It tends to confuse residents when they read about live performances, and end up going to what is a broadcast, or a tribute band, playing a CD and dancing on stage to scripts. Just hoping you can be a little clearer about what is live music and what is a broadcast.
Posted By:
tommy cult | Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:03 PM
@ Mr Cult...
No where in this article is it mentioned that SpaceJunky plays "live". You OBVIOUSLY misread THIS article or misinterpreted it in some fashion or another. They don't misrepresent anything. They simply provide a good nights entertainment. I like what they do, and am entertained at their shows. It is a show they put on; nothing more, and for people to piss, moan and complain about "they are not live", that's fine. I would MUCH rather hear/see them simulating a real life concert, than listen to a good portion of what you probably call "live musicians", who are American Idol rejects that sit at home in their bedroom singing into the 5 USD microphone plugged into the back of their computer... Drop it already.. The world moves on...
Posted By:
Anonymous | Friday, June 13, 2008 12:26 AM
As a live music venue owner, I've met both Shakti and Bella in world and found them to be wholly up front about the nature of their show. They do not put it forward as a "live" performance and their promo material makes very clear that it is not a "live" performance.
If there is anything misleading in this article, it's on the part of the author, who obviously knows that Shakti is the only member of SpaceJunky present in SL (to my knowledge, none of the others even have an avatar), but persists in talking about "the Band" achieving success in SL. It's much more accurate to say that Shakti and Bella have achieved success in SL. The rest of the band was long gone before this success was achieved.
Posted By:
Ticious | Friday, June 13, 2008 03:23 AM
Hi annon - Ermm..yes I did misinterpret the article...the part that said "The band plays their music via media stream; there are light effects and dancing, and the singer, Shakti Cianci, interacts with the audience.
She talks to fans, not at them. A SpaceJunky concert is the next best thing to a real life concert, and many in SpaceJunky's Alphacrew group know it"
My mistake for taking that as the BAND not PLAYING music - but I do understand how ambiguous text can be. I dont believe I ever said the Band misrepresented anything, I just thought the article was worded poorly...and...from another angle, no where in the article does it say the music streamed into SL by a Space Junky band member is not live. Again... I have no issue with the band at all, or their music, but did I apparently misinterpret what what was written in the article? yes I did. :)
Posted By:
tommy cult | Friday, June 13, 2008 08:39 AM
Hi Tommy,
I guess I could have clarified that SJ broadcasts their show via CD rather then live; however, in the flow of writing some points must be left out. If you went to the CNN video clip as suggested, the reporter there found room to clarify the point. However, the light effects are live, as is the way the avatars move, and Shiakti's interaction over the media stream is live as well. Is that live enough for you?
As an ex manager of Sunbelt live performance where Space Junky has played 2 times ( 1 year ago ). I'm pretty impressed with them, sure for me it was obvious that they had the potential to rise, and now we have to results. They are cool, they have awesome songs and they are creative.
They worked a lot and now for sure they have their share of sucess.
Cheers SJ
Posted By:
naima aya | Monday, June 23, 2008 03:08 AM
;)
