The Synthetic Zen Website

Hawke (2007)

Welcome to The Synthetic Zen website

I began playing music as a child, with a few piano lessons around 79-81 (9-11 years old), picked up the guitar in 1988, and have been picking up many other instruments and computer composing music since, and performed as various coffee shops and venues in Utah and Washington.

From 2004-2006 I had an Internet radio show through NEKKID Radio out of Santiago, Chile.

From March 2006 to June 2007 I had two FM radio shows with KYRS Thin Air Community Radio in Spokane, Washington, USA.

(2004)

I originally started broadcasting over the Internet back in March of 2004, thanks to www.nekkidradio.com giving me the opportunity and training that eventually allowed me to be able to get into "real" radio in addition to Internet broadcasting. I will be forever grateful to the NR family. I quit broadcasting with NR the end of November 2006 because of family/time issues that I had to decide between KYRS or NR, I could no longer continue doing both.

The Synthetic Zen is the name of both the show and the music.
The Synthetic Zen Show is where I play an eclectic mix from thousands of songs in my playlist several times a week, and had live performances periodically as well on KYRS 92.3 FM.

(2009)

Synthetic Zen is one of the names for my "band" when based on my compositions and performances. I've used other names when performing with others. Sometimes performing live, playing Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Native American wood flute, Djembe African drum, electronic music, harmonica, Indian sitar, mandolin, Irish whistle, Middle-eastern Ney, didjeridoo, computer/electronic music, and some vocals. Compose and play classical, blues, rock, folk, world, and experimental music.

Moved to Spokane in 2004, working towards getting to know the local musicians, and hope to have them perform both live and recorded shows both at my home studio and "on location" with my laptop and wireless and broadcasting equipment in the near future!

Recordings of my own music date from 1989 and continuing onward. So far created several CDs worth of music. Some of it is quite terrible, others almost bearable. The quality and style varies considerably from composition to composition. What is interesting is the broad and usually conflicting feedback I get on who likes which pieces. What one person considers "crap" others enjoy greatly. Generally my instrumental music is better than my vocal music, but I'm trying to get better at the vocals. ;-)

I am constantly learning and experimenting and trying new things. Some efforts are obviously in imitation of others ("the highest form of flattery" some would say), and others more unique and much in the form of "experimental" music.

(2010)

For the broadcasts I cover a wide range of music and musicians. On some shows, I take requests from my online playlist consisting of thousands of songs (5,260+ and climbing). I've burned most of my CDs, but it takes much longer to "Burn" my tapes and LPs to mp3.

I generally prefer to play new age, "world", classical, and meditative music that you usually can't hear anywhere else, as well as selections from my huge collection of Dead Can Dance, J.R.R. Tolkien inspired music, and many other groups that play a wide "world music" and "experimental music" variety that you won't hear anywhere else.

Each show is usually 2 hours long.
The "standard show format" is typical as follows:

Format option 1 is a more "mellow" format, including mostly:
The show is split into 4-5 segments each about 30 minutes:

• The first half hour is rock, pop, techno, dance, trance, punk, funk, humorous and other very "upbeat" music.

• The second part of the show starts to get a little mellower with classic rock, jazz, upbeat new age, and LOTS of blues.

• Midway between the 2nd and 3rd music segments I've recently introduced a new segment called "Tech Talke With Hawke" and/or World News and the Digital Frontier. I discuss and explain various technologies, digital rights, risks, and other issues, both as a monologue and in dialogue with those posting questions in the Chatroom or via Instant Messaging or postings on my forums. I am considering making this an entire 1 hour show eventually for just Tech Talk.

• The third part of the show (my favorite part of the show) I play music from around the world including Celtic, Gaelic, Finnish, Japanese, Native American, Indian, Inuit, Hawaiian, African, East Asian, Spain, South American, Turkish, Russian, Middle-eastern, and many other styles.

• The final part of the show I play classical, new age, meditative, opera, trance, and ambient music as well as the "World Music" listed in the previous section.

• I also (sometimes) cover some of the latest Science Fiction & Fantasy information on movies and events.

• I sometimes give a summary of weather in various areas.

• I also provide Internet Weather (Hacker/Worm/Virus attack) reports as well.

• I also give considerable information and commentary on Technology news, ideas, technologies, rights and privacy issues. I've been working with Information Technology since 1981, and I am an active member of EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation www.eff.org) and 2600 (The Hacker Quarterly 2600) for many years.

• There is commentary when applicable on various topics.

Note, not surprisingly, you should know that "Doctor Z" is not a real doctor (yet), but merely a "stage" name adaptation for promotional reasons. ;-)

You can email me at drz@thesyntheticzenshow.com. You can reach me by Instant Messenger of your choice:

• ICQ: 335-222-863

• AIM: syntheticzen

• Yahoo: synthzen

• Alternate Yahoo: thesyntheticzenshow

• MSN: z@synthzen.com

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