Sunday, March 14, 2010

Jewel & Blaire

Naturally, for my very first 'written' & not 'transferred' blog on this site, I would write something about myself, for somewhat of an introduction.  I am involved in multiple musical projects, some permanent, and some only temporary.  Some are full time and others are only part time or when needed.  This particular one that I am writing about today is my primary musical project.  It is the only permanent & full time project that I have at this time, besides myself and my own music.  Let the article begin:



The name is Jewel & Blaire.  Two sisters of the Restaneo family, originally from Pennsylvania & New York, have moved to the West Coast to peruse a music career.  Formally highly active in Broadway, they are seeking a commitment in the music industry where they can travel with their band and perform full time.  With such lengthy resumes in the entertainment industry already, these girls have ample credentials & experience to hoist them exactly where they want to be.  The girls have created their own production company, Damsel Media, and since the creation, they have done nothing but skyrocket.  The Damsel Media team has been working non-stop with the turn of the new year, and have successfully completed one full-length independent music video 'Your Highness' and two low budget videos, 'Keep Up' & 'Freakout' thanks to associates at California State University Los Angeles.  Scott Carlson (manager) as well as Chris Restaneo (mom) have managed to book a three week upcoming tour on China, as well as other locations in discussion.  The girls have been persistent in their performance ratio, and have just recently had a debut at The Key Club in Hollywood, as well as many other local venues.  Behind the scenes of Jewel & Blaire however, lies the musical skeleton of the girls' lively music.  Mike Kim on drums and percussion is definitely a special aspect of the band that Scott Carlson & the Damsel Media team can only describe as "kick-ass".  His personality, sense of humor, comfortable energy, and exceptional talent has equipped the band with the power and driving beats that pump pure energy through the music and any crowd who is present.  Chris Norwood, next in the Damsel Media team, is currently the bands' lead guitar player.  As if his good looks and mysterious attitude isn't enough, "shredding with pure sexy" may be a phrase used to describe Chris as he rips away on his Gibson, giving just enough flash with a mix of melody to top of the Jewel & Blaire experience.  Though talented enough already, to shake up the musical entourage comes award winning keyboard & synth artist, Corey Waters.  Corey has worked with such artists as Ace Acevedo, Johnny Strat & Project Wavelength, and The Black Eyed Peas.  Known as 'the fastest fingers in the west', Mr. Waters assimilates the band with his sugary, spicy, and oh so nicely crafted keyboard & synth work, outstanding the band with its experimental sound.  Completing the masterful quadruplet on bass, with his classical pizzicato expertise, Nick Kline drives the band with an eloquent but edgy bass tone.  Jazzy with smoothness, yet poppy with slap, some may only describe him as "The Kline".  With some background on the band, we now move to another exciting side of the DM team.  Cinematographer & Film Maker Daniel Williams and his team work hand in hand with the girls to write, direct, and film pilots, ready for the pitching to all mainstream television production studios.  People such as Jon Park, Victor Trevino, Brandon Forbes, Danny Tieger, Mitch Holleman, and Kevin Herrera are all essential characters in the adventure of Jewel & Blaire's short skits.  The film team at Damsel Media has just recently completed their second professionally funded, independent music video 'Chameleon', and is currently in post production.  Damsel Media Photographer, Rachel Ringwood says that, "...it is truly a life changing environment."  Only time will tell what the future holds for Damsel Media.  As of December 2009, The 'Your Highness' EP is now available on itunes.  Jewel & Blaire will be performing at the CSUF Rally on March 19th of 2010, and at 6 Flags Magic Mountain on the March 29th of 2010.  Come out and support Jewel & Blaire!  They have come so far with their passion for entertainment, and as many predict, this is only the beginning of their revolution.

For details/information visit:

                           For Booking: (818) 515-7624 (Nick)                        


Saturday, March 13, 2010

Medical Neurology


I think it's funny how just a simple song can make your entire attitude change. I think it's fascinating how you can hear a series of composed notes together and they will trigger a particular memory from your past, from then which will force your brain to release particular chemicals throughout your entire body, forcing you to feel a certain way...reacting to the stimuli in your brain caused by the song playing. Your neuro-transmitters send signals to your auditory cortex which is instantly transferred to your pre-frontal cortex, thus recalling your emotion. How complicated is that?
Yet we process hundreds of trillions of different neuro- sensory impulses a second...all flowing through our nerve endings. A single human being proves the simplicity of trillions of neurons flowing from our dendrites in the depths of our cells, all the way through the our axons and to our terminal branches and directly to our brains, ALL in the matter of milliseconds. Our neurotransmitters and receptors NEVER stop firing. Though all of this is scientifically proven, people still have the audacity to question their self worth? Or could the question of self worth just be another strange, questionable chemical reaction within the brain? Could EVERYTHING be scientific? Humoring the idea that this is truth...could we conclude that the brain questions itself and it's own power?
Think about that one for a while...but while your thinking, remember that no matter what way you feel about it...it's just another chemical reaction happening in your head :)

Just kidding guys. Although this is true, feelings were designed to genuinely express our individual feelings. Every individual, brain, and heart is different. That, in fact, is the most beautiful and unimaginable part about it. Through all of this complexity, though the same system, each unit is different in their own way and each chemical reaction is interpreted and channeled differently. The challenge of life is mainly if YOUR chemical reactions are accepting and willing enough to accept the chemical reactions of others.

I want to talk about a little something called MAO.
This is an acronym for Mono-Amine Oxydase.
This one little enzyme in your brain can make or break your personality.
Lots of MAO...you are suddenly a crazy, spontaneous, carefree risk taker.
Little of MAO...you are a calm, occasionally boring home body.
Pretty incredible huh?
Anyone ever seen the movie Crank?
Well in the movie, he was poisoned with a synthetic that slows his heart rate completely.
Basically like a super-ultimate benadryl.
He takes Epinephrine, which essentially is MAO.
That really intrigued me for a while...until I learned about this...

Two different chemicals. One for males and one for females.
Females: Oxitocin
Males: Dopamine

Listen up men!
OXITOCIN IS YOUR BFF
Oxitocin produced in females is a chemical that assimilates BONDING and creates a feeling of desire. Starting from a simple touch to the ultimate power, intercourse.
When a woman is touched and it is desired, the oxitocin released will create feelings of bonding for you, and she will desire to be with you more and more, as long as it continues. This can also increase the sex drive of a female. This explains why women who don't desire sex, don't desire it because they don't get it, and women who do desire sex, desire it because they DO get it. This also explains why a beautiful girl who you see as an angel, will be with a douche bag guy and keep going back to him again and again and again and again.

Dopamine...is quite another story.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that has an outcome that involves endorphins and feelings that associate to other memories and feelings. For instance, when a man has sex for the first time, the dopamine will enable his memories to recall on that exact moment, and recall his feelings and desire them. Very much a male version of oxitocin. However, things involving dopamine can go very wrong.
Picture this: YOU are on your way to have sex for the first time. Your girlfriends parents aren't home. However, there is a risk factor that her father MIGHT come home, catch you both, and kill you with his 12 gauge he keeps in his pants at all times. This risk factor produces MAO in your brain, which increases your adrenaline ABOVE it's original height limit. You successfully have amazing sex without getting caught and you leave.

The dopamine produced in your brain may not only recall the sex and pleasure, but the adrenaline and high amounts of nervousness and MAO as well. Thus, your recall of your first time is ALWAYS going to be associated with the feeling of adrenaline and anxiousness, even though you guys never got caught in the act. This can potentially cause a young man to be unable of having a truly satisfying sexual experience without experiencing the adrenaline and MAO increase.

In reality, the dopamine is the reason for your feelings when you hear that certain song or composed set of notes somewhere, and it reminds you of that one special time. So next time music triggers your memory, just blame it on the dope!

These are some interesting thoughts for your brain to chemically react to :)






Music, In 4 Of Its Finest Forms.






"We're going down,
& you can see it too.
We're going down,
& you know that we're doomed.
My dear, we're,
slow dancing in a burning room
Don't you think,
we oughta know by now?
Don't you think,
we shoulda learned somehow?"






"There ain't nothing strong enough,
to keep me away from you
.
There can be a wall of fire
ten feet or higher,
I would just walk on for you.
Where there once was only room for one,
Wherever there will be two.
That's why I drive alone all this way for you,
To you, For you"




"All the streets, glowin,
Happen to be just like moments, passin,
In front of me so I hopped in, the cab and,
I paid my fare see I know my destination,
But I'm just not there...
In the streets"



"And it takes no time to fall in love.
But it takes you years to know what love is.
It takes some fears to make you trust.
It takes those tears to make it rust.
It takes the dust to have it polished"



Definitely 4 of the current top musical influences on me.  Of course there are many more that I can name, but at this moment I just want to focus on these four individuals.  All so different, but all so similar.  Personality wise, it would be a hell of a party.  This is just a short blog to admire their musical talent.  

John Mayer
David Ryan Harris
Kanye West
Jason Mraz



She's Just Not That Into You.


Alex: Hey, Kelli Ann. Uh, did I get any calls?
Kelli Ann: Since you asked me 11 minutes ago, no, not a lot of phone traffic.
Alex: [obsessively checks phone for signal]
Kelli Ann: Oh, my God.
Alex: What?
Kelli Ann: What's her name?
Alex: Who?
Kelli Ann: The girl... Alex.
Alex: There's no girl.
Kelli Ann: You can't hide it, man. I know strung out, and YOU are strung out.
Alex: Please...
Kelli Ann: This is amazing. You can't focus. Right? Jumping every time your phone rings? Checking your e-mail a hundred times a day? Wishing you could write songs?!
Alex: [laughs]
Kelli Ann: No...feeling the need to bring up her name in random conversations! It's always the same and it has happened to you, my friend.
Alex: Shit...
Kelli Ann: Welcome to my world, asshole. Let me get the door.



Funny thing...2 very close friends of mine have had this conversation in the past month, and I had it with multiple friends of mine just recently. Not many people take this into consideration, and I will undoubtedly be disagreed with on some level, but I completely stand my ground on this matter and truly believe it to be truth.

In theory, as expressed in the movie "He's Just Not That Into You", women can be overly analytical and at times, crazy. It also depicts men to be (somewhat) materialistic, sure, and always thorough, with a conclusion to the movie saying that love itself can change anyone and can make you do things that you never thought you'd do or aren't used to doing. Being a writer and a critic, I am saying this in a roundabout and general way, this is not a blog to analyze the movie, Kwapis, or any of the writers personally, but a blog to express a personal opinion, which I will get to now:

In my opinion, in my experiences, conversations, understanding, and input of others...I have concluded that, in the umbrella of "love" and all that it possesses...MEN, or a MAN will take a heartbreak MUCH harder than a woman. Now women, before you lose your pants (not in the literal fashion), please let me express that I am NOT saying that you do not feel heartache or get hurt. Women definitely DO get hurt and heartbroken, I am simply saying that a man will take it 10x harder than a woman, in most cases. There are exceptions, this is simply a rule (of opinion).

Lets analyze this. Women (naturally) are more emotional than men, and more in-touch with their emotions. This allows an easy flow of love, care, and well-being of others. Remember how your mom made you feel when you skinned up your knees? It is easy for women to be freely loving and compassionate, where it may be difficult for most men. Men are built upon a complex of testosterone, where they are more aggressive, sexual, and visualizing. Disregarding all exceptions, this is a general rule.

BUT...and really think about this...THANK YOU PERCY SLEDGE
When a man LOVES a woman, he can't keep his mind on anything else. He'll trade the world for the good thing he's found. If she's bad he can't see it, and she can do no wrong. He'll turn his back on his best friend if he put her down. When a man loves a woman, he'll spend his very last dime tryin' to hold on to what he needs. He'd give up all his comfort and sleep out in the rain if she said that's the way it ought to be. When a man loves a woman down deep in his soul, she can bring him such misery. If she plays him for a fool, he's the last one to know. Lovin' eyes can't ever see. - Percy Sledge.

Now, to quickly quote the movie...in a LITERAL WAY. LADIES...THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENS...WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT...
We literally can NOT focus. We get confused and do/say stupid shit, constantly. Every time our phone rings/vibrates, we CHECK it. We go out of our way to check it, in fact, we check it almost constantly. About every 10 minutes we make sure that we haven't missed your call, text, email, etc. We get nervous and anxious. We ACTUALLY DO try and write songs...but we musicians actually succeed ;) And yes...we most DEFINITELY try to bring up your name in random conversations. We find out what your perfume is...and we will go a little out of our way so we can hit up Sears, and smell it quickly, then leave. Ben Deignan once said, "My heart, it bursts when I just speak your name". That is exactly correct. We will do things to intentionally think about you, even though we can't stop thinking about you in the first place. FOR EXAMPLE...we will look up songs with your name in them, and listen to them over and over, in context or not. We will start to see your name in random places, like billboards, freeway signs, and books, even if they aren't even there. If we hear your name on a TV show as a character or something, we will slightly smile and they will become our new favorite one on the show. We become very, very analytical. We can't help but be overly analytical...and it sometimes can KILL us. We dissect little things, phrases, gestures, texts, etc. We become COMPETITIVE, and in someways, jealous. And contrary to what you have may heard from other men, hell yes...we do play with your head. We know how to get your attention, make you want things, and desire. We usually can not take hints...but that strongly depends on your hint skill. Some girls just suck...but really. We really DO like sappy love songs. We pretend our pillow is you at night time, and we snuggle with it and kiss it. And yes...our minds run absolutely wild.

Now, I COULD ramble on about these little things for hours, but let's get to the meat. When men LOVE...they really do LOVE. A man becomes deeply in touch with his emotions when he feels a BURNING DESIRE to do so. When a man see's something that he wants...he goes for it...and when he gets it, he is ultimately victorious. If a man gains something worth more than GOLD and DIAMONDS (the love of a woman, whom he really loves) and then LOSES it...he will be absolutely crushed. He will make a FOOL of himself trying to get her back, or he will retreat and run from the situation, insecure and depressed. Often, it is a mixture of both. Women (in a roundabout way) are used to their emotional side and interacting with it, thus being more equipped to deal with the loss, since it happens more. When a man is emotionally scarred, it is like walking into a battle zone naked (in the literal English, and Latin) Ever wonder why every cowboy country singer is singing about beer, rodeo's, horses, drinking, and LOSING WOMEN. Why every pop/rock star sings about sex, drugs, rock, and running away with their girl, and never coming back. Why every rap/hip hip star sings about bitches, hoes, money, sex, cars, and THEIR BOO. I am just keeping it real ladies...when men fall...they fall hard. When is the last time that you saw a girl hung up on a guy for 6 months - a year? (No, Twilight does not count. Edward Cullen is fictional, and will never love you). NOW, when is the last time that you saw a guy hung up on a girl for 6 months - year? I understand that all answers may vary, but in a GENERAL & ROUNDABOUT analysis...the majority is not many woman hold on for that long...and if the love is genuine, a man will.

In conclusion...ladies...watch what you say. You may not know it, but men who love DO listen. We listen almost too much. We hear everything you say (unless your talking DURING the game, while we're working, or if you completely do not have our attention at the moment), besides this, we LISTEN CLOSELY TO YOU. We hear your feelings and want what is best, but being a man is about making decisions that sometimes you MAY not like, but are for the better. This is not ALWAYS correct girls...you gotta keep us in check too! That's why we need you...women are perceptive, understanding, and loving. We need ALL of those qualities from you in order to TRULY make good decisions. There are some BAD break up lines too ladies...you should know them. What men DO NOT WANT TO HEAR: "I think we should be friends". That one sucks...I've heard it. "I just can't do this anymore". How original is that? I've heard that too. How about you just write my damn life into a screenplay? better yet, I'll do it for you, thanks. "It's not you, it's me". Although this may be true...you can be a little LESS VAUGE. You can explain it to us, unless you really don't have ANY intention of being with us. Just TELL us that it is over so we're not waiting. What some women don't realize...MEN WILL WAIT. We really do...sometimes years. You need to be specific with us. Do you have ulterior motives? Is there someone else? Are you just bored? Let us know.

ALTHOUGH...definitely stand your ground ladies. Once you tell us this, we will go nuts and say LOTS of things to you. They will contradict themselves. This is due to the fact that we are broken, and we aren't used to this feeling. We aren't as in-touch emotionally as you are, so we do not know how to handle heartache...so we go nuts. Every guy is different, but nuts all the same. But STAND YOUR GROUND. If you are finished, be FINISHED and give us CLOSURE...or we will FIND closure to satisfy ourselves. Don't play with our hearts...because that will not only hurt us worse, but also make us resentful and bitter. Got to keep it real ladies.

This is NOT AT ALL discrediting women and their emotions...their are PLENTY of douche bag guys out there...I know too many of them, and I am sorry. But ladies, take this as an encouragement...their ARE nice guys out there who will love you truly and unconditionally. Do not think all men are selfish, horny pricks. It is not true. But just understand that men really ARE fragile on the inside, and yes...you do drive us insane. This has been a public service article from Nick Kline to you :)

Regardless of my beliefs, I'd love to hear from you & yours! Send feedback to nkline7624@verizon.net. That goes for ALL of my blogs, I'd love to hear from you. Thank you.

Good Morning Los Angeles

Though in reality approaching evening, I figured the title well suits in occasion.  Today I have started a new blog.  The primary priority of this one is to simply talk about my viewpoints in the world today and all that it endows.  I am first going to paste over a few blogs from "Confessions of an Impressionist" that I feel are also applicable for this one as well.  New things happen every day & new things are discovered in each passing moment. A media-based compilation of articles to document my personal  new things & discoveries, at any given moment, in this very moment.


This is my outlet to keep up with a world who tries to control, 
conform, and compromise our innermost being.