13 HANDS

13 HANDS

short version

long winded
version

(read with a slow, dramatic
Will Ferrel/Ron Burgandy voice for maximum effect)

First the earth cooled.... then the dinosaurs came...then cave people showed up and created the first instruments to "rock out" and create music. It began with sticks and bones to clack and shake, drums were made out of animal hides and then eventually they discovered their inner Neolithic Pavoratti potential through loud grunting, yells and vocal expressions that sounded like classical symphonies.... at least it did to them.

Then one day a child was born unto them.... in swadling cloth and covered with lots of hair....reddish, auburn hair. He was named DALIEN. (Day Lee Un) He belonged to an Irish clan south of the Donegal Bay. This wonderful little "tribe-ling" demonstrated an amazing early aptitude for music and composing....but sadly, he just couldn't get a tan; as that is a typical Irish curse of having "lily-white", "lobster-boy", skin pigment.

Not letting "the tan factor" stop him from his creative pursuits, he continued developing his craft and musical skills by joining a band with fellow tribe members and performing around his village and for surrounding clans to entertain them. He was no stranger to having a work ethic as he pursued music and creativity by the night and learned to hunt, fish and build huts with his father by day.

But then one ill-fated evening, tribe members assembled on a hill to execute a wintertime ritual, that resembled what some would call a modern day form of sleigh riding. It was that night that life changed for DALIEN,..the man who one day would be called 13 HANDS.

His sled crashed....head trauma ensued....and his immune system took a turn for the worse. His father tragically passed in a plane crash a year later sending poor DALIEN into a whirlwind of HELL.... Everything came to a screeching halt....he gave up on music and regular visits to tanning salon.

DALIEN's life path was thrown off course...or was it? For the next 20 years he faced and overcame the ravages of Chrons' disease, Jaundice, Epstein Barr, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Seliac Disease and a host of other wonderful, intestinal holiday packages delivered to his immune system.

With music still on the backburner, he met 27 wise elders in alternative medicine to guide young DALIEN on his 20 year journey across the barren wastelands of our troubled health care system and onto wellness... and we would be remiss if we didn't take a moment to bow to his old, trusty friend, a Juiceman Juicer and his committed yoga practice of over 18 years.

The rest goes like this....He's alive and well today, a Grammy nominated artist, serves as a Yoga Professor in NJ, sound healer for autism and brings health education and music services to schools, hospitals and other related venues.... He's outside the box and that's how he rolls.

The irony is DALIEN discovered his true path by being knocked off the one he thought he was on... only to come full circle later.... And to come back to the world now, at the turning of the tide.

He is a Messenger and an inspiration......and he's here to Shine on

13 HANDS contemporary sound is a cross between David Grey, Damien Rice, Pink Floyd and various World music styles. Additionally he plays over 20 instruments from various cultures, including Native American flutes, African and Indian percussion, Balophone and Hang drum that are incorporated into both contemporary, world and meditative/healing music..... and of course CHANTING AND SOUL SINGING rooted in the tradition of Hindu Chant, Native American and Shamanism.

His career spans 5 records, touring, and anti-hunger work. He has shared stage with Laurie Anderson, Tuvan Throat Singers from Tuvo (outer Mongolia), RUN DMC, Marjorie Fair, Paula Cole, Ani DiFranco, OURS, Krishna Das, Shyamdas, Dave Stringer, and WAH! (Kirtan artists).

In 2006, the 13 HANDS CD, The Johnny Introspective, was selected and placed onto the 1st round Grammy nomination ballot by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Committee in the following categories:

Category 6 - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
13 Hands - Big Lie

Category 78 - Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
13 Hands - The Johnny Introspective
Arranger: Daniel McBride

2009 INTERNET MUSIC AWARD NOMINATION
FOR EXCELLENCE IN INDEPENDENT MUSIC & CREATIVE VISION