Almost ready

My recordings and masterings are done. I've got the covers... Well, let's burn that thing!

Okay, I've already sold some CD's to people who couldn't wait. Have to send some covers around! heheee

I'm looking for an opportunity to sell them on the internet. It's not easy to get a credit card in Switzerland, and I need one. But till then, you can order them from me. Just send me an E-Mail to: info@ravens-nest.ch or send me a message to ravenmackay@myspace.com

I'm workin' on an animation-short-movie to my collab song "Viktor". The first 6 seconds are done (48 pictures). So, it'll take a while till I'm ready to upload it. That are the news for today. HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

2/10/2010 or the day when you'll be immortalised!

I'm workin' on my last two songs for the album. Respectly I'm finishing a recording till christmas and waiting for my last collaboration! There will be only 3 collabs on this album. I cannot wait for everyone and everything.

The day of release is February the 10th 2010. What a magical date.

There are 12 songs on the longplayer. Including an Intro and two bonus tracks.

As you may know I had a lot problems with recordings. A broken computer, a broken guitar, songs that don't work out or doesn't fit to the other songs. So 5 or 6 songs won't come on this album. And I had problems with some collaboration partners. As I said before, I cannot wait till someone's got time, if someone promised me he'll finish it in time. And I asked no one to help me out. However, I'm almost sadisfied with my songs. The cover is also done with the booklet and inlay. I have to master the tracks in January and give my coverwork to the copy-shop.

I will put the CD on some online shops, but I'm not sure if this will work out till February. But you can order the album from me. I'll send them post free all over Switzerland.

Swords & Knifes XI - Persian Dagger

This horse headed dagger is probably from Persia. I'm not really sure. There are very similar daggers also on the Philippines. There was also a cape at the scabbard, but was lost somehow at a house moving.
The grip is of wood and the scabbard is also of wood with a leather cover.
Blade length: 24 cm (9.5")
Overall length: 36 cm (14.2")


I'm thankful for every more informations about this dagger. As usual write me an e-mail at: info@ravens-nest.ch

New at Facebook

After a hot discussion at a German music blog, I've decided to carry out a test.
The blogger, and I think music coach, claimed that Facebook is a way better networking place to get fans as MySpace. This guy gives tips for musicians, but I totally disagree in this case.
I think MySpace is the best place for musicians. I met so many great people at MySpace. And how to become fans at Facebook if you're an unknown or barely known artist?
I like the MySpace layout. I can make my own layout. I don't like the Facebook layout. I can present my music and me at MySpace way better as at Facebook.
After I commented the blog some guy replayed me immediately, and a hot discussion was not to avoidance.
So I decided to make my Facebook fanpage. I do not believe to get any real fans at this page. Of course friends will join this page and maybe some friend's friends. But real fans?
Let's see what happens, but I don't think to get at least 100 freinds together.
Have a look and join if you like. xD

Raven's Facebook Fanpage

Swords & Knifes X - Fantasy dagger

This flame-bladed dagger is actually a letter knife.
I get this one from a friend because of my unicorn with wings tattoo.
There's a unicorn head as a bommel with a brass grip. A wing is used as the cross-guard.




Overall lenght: 27 cm (10.6")
Blade lenght: 17 cm (6.6")

I have no idea what this dagger stands for. It looks a bit like Frodo's string sword from Lord of the Rings. So may we call it an elbish dagger.
The grip and the scabbard is very cheap made, but well manufactured.

Overall length: 25 cm (10")
Blade lenght: 15 cm (6")

Swords & Knifes IX - Viktor's sword

This is the accurate Underworld replica movie sword.
Viktor's sword is also one of my favourite swords.
Viktor, played by Bill Nighy, is one of the Vampire elders who kills his own beloved daughter Sonja, who's in love with a Lycan (werewolf) slave. Viktor will be killed by his stepdaughter Selene a few centuries later with his own sword.
This one in not the licensed movie sword but it's a specific reproduction.
The 37" sword with a 26" stainless steel blade comes with a leather wrapped handle and Viktor's crest. It includes a free custom built wooden display plaque.
The sword is well balanced.

Swords & Knifes VIII - Hussars sabre

This is an original hussars sabre from the 18th century or even older. It was used in battles and is no replica. The grip is rebuild because it was lost at excavations. The hussars cavalry was created in Hungary in the 15th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries hussars were raised by most European army's.

The blade lenght is 70 cm (27.5") and the handle is 14 cm (5.5"). So the overall lenght is 84 cm (33"). The grip is made of wood and probably was original of wood and was rotten in the ground.
This sabre valued something around 5000 $

Swords & Knifes VII - Claymore

This piece is of course one of my favourite swords. I call it tenderly my toothpick. (Because it's so "small".)
The gaelic name for this sword is claidheamh mòr, what means big sword. As I said a toothpick! :-)
It is a two-handed Scottish Highlander sword. The Claymore is still used by the Highland regiments of the British Army. It was used in the clan warfare and border fights with the English.
This sword I own is certainly a replica, but the original sword was used by Highland clans of the late 15th and 16th centuries. It's replicared from a surviving museum piece.
It was original carried slung on the back.
This Claymore is of high carbon spring steel, with a leather covered grip.

Blade length: 120 cm (47")
Handle length: ca. 33 cm (13")
Overall length: 153 cm (60")
Weight: ca. 5lb
Value: around 125 $

Swords & Knifes VI - Roman decorator sword

The helmed soldier represents the pride of ancient Rome.
Blade lenght: 84 cm
Overall lenght: 104 cm
A cheap made in Italy sword. I get it with the Templar sword for a good price.

Swords & Knifes V - Templar Sword

There are upteen Templar swords. I have not much informations about this one, yet.
The cross detailed sword symbolised the faith during their crusades. This replica of the thrusting sword is probably made in Italy.
Blade lenght: 89 cm
Overall lenght: 116 cm

Swords & Knifes IV - Kukri

The Kukri or Khukuri is a Nepalese and Indian knife. This one is a mini jungle Kukri from Nepal.
Blade lenght: 16.5 cm (6.5")
Overall lenght: 23.5 cm (9.25")
The design is centuries old and the blade lenght is actually 12"/15". The Kukri traditionally hold two small knifes called karda and chakmak.



The karda is for skinning and the chakmak for sharpening the blade and starting fires.
The notch at the base's called cho or kaudi.
The scabbard is of wood and a leather covering, and a chape at the end.
The grip is also of wood with a pommel cap at the end.

Swords & Knifes III - Swiss bayonet

This is a Swiss engineer bayonet M1914; from the armory Elsener Schwyz with the number 642086. This one has a sawback and it's a very rare piece. It fits to the 1896 and 1911 repeating rifle.
Todays price of this bayonet is around 450/500 US$.
Size of the blade is 50cm (20"), and the grip with cross-guard is 14cm (5.5").
Most M1914 bayonets I found in the Internet have damages at the blade. This one is in best condition.
The grip is of steel and wood, the scabbard is of metal, and the bracket is of leather.
Year of construction is early 20th century.

Swords & Knifes II - Tizona, Sword of El Cid

This was my first sword. I found this piece in scrap metal when I was 9 years old. My parents were not happy about my new achievement. I loved swords already as a tiny little girl. My first "sword" was carved of wood from my dad when I was around 6 or 7 years old.
The name of this sword is Tizona and it's El Cid's sword. Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar known as El Cid Campeador, who was a Castilian nobleman and was fighting the Moors in Spain. The original sword is 103 cm long and 1.1 kg. My sword is 77 cm (30"). The blade is 62 cm and the grip with pommel is 15 cm long.
The Tizona is Spains most cherished relict and it's exhibited at the Museo de Burgos. The original sword is dated 1002.

Image via Wikipedia

Swords & Knifes I - sawfish sword

This piece is around 150 years old. It is a very rare piece and not easy to find. There is a smaller one, very similar to that one in the historic museum in Bern, Switzerland. This sword's origins are  probably from Indonesia (or Malaysia).

The blade descendes from a sawfish. The crossguard and the grip are of metal. The size of the blade is 58 cm (22.83") and the grip is 16 cm (6.3").
Indonesian people also used a very smaller sawfish sword for rituals.
The sawfish is today under protection of species!

By the way, they've also used a sawfish sword in Pirates of the Carribbean - Dead Man's Chest in 2006

I have no idea how much such an old sawfish swords costs and I have not more informations about this sword. I'm thankful for every information. (info@ravens-nest.ch) I'll also visit the Historic Museum in Bern in a week or two to found out more about that sword.

New songs up!

I've finished some of my songs and uploaded them on ReverbNation, MySpace and Last.fm.
One's called "Tunes Of War", please read also my blog entry at MySpace; and the other songs called "The Pain In Me".
Actually I just wanted to upload four songs at MySpace, but I had so many positive feedbacks for "The Pain In Me", I had to upload it on MySpace, too.
I've deleted all the songs at MySpace and uploaded the two new songs and re-uploaded "Soundtrack Of Your Life" in a better quality.
I'm still waiting for my collaboration songs.
What else? I'm pretty into fractal art since a few weeks and I'll make a clip to one of my songs later this year.
So check out my new tunes!
Cheers

Apophysis

I love fractal art. I found this program called Apophysis accidently when I was looking some photoshop artworks. Someone asked how he could make such awesome fractal arts, and the artist recommended this open source program. It's astonishing how many options you've got with Apophysis. It's not easy first but after a few hours you get into it. I download it two days ago, and these are my first results, yet. You should look out for professional users. I'll post a video from YouTube to show you the possibilities. Visit also my Portfolio to see my artworks. I hope you like them. Have fun! All 5 pictures (c) 2009 by raVen MacKay! The YouTube video is NOT made by me!

Promo Video

I've uploaded my first Video on YouTube. It's a promo video to my upcoming album. The original song called "Viktor", a collaboration with the amazing Mindmovie, but this is an exclusive promo-version shortcut. The original song is different to the promo-version.
Please feel free to comment and rate the video. It's my first try to make a video so it's nothing special.

Latest news

The album cover voting doesn't flow as it should. We receive a lot of e-mails which one people like most, but they don't vote! Only 19 votes, yet. But we've got e-mail votes most for the vampire one and some for the stone one. So over 50% are for the vampire cover. We'll run the voting 'till end of this month, so you still have the chance to vote, but VOTE on this page: Raven's Diary
After a lot of requests and advices, she'll make the trousers darker.

Ravens workin' on two collaborations at the moment a bit pressurized. 6 Songs are done yet. Her goal are 14 songs 'till end of this year.
Look out for the MySpace page next month. It'll become a new character apposite to the new CD. Raven's also looking for an opportunity to make a video to one of her songs, and maybe also a little advertizing for the CD.

CD News!

The Album cover voting is running! I made over 20 album covers and picked my personal favourites out. The album title changed to "IMMORTALISED". Is shorter and fits better to the music. Immortalised stands for eternity and immortality. Even if an artist dies, the soul will live on in the music.
You can vote for your personal favourite cover 'till November 30est 2009. Everybody can vote once a month, over here:
VOTE!

As many of you know, I had much problems with my computer and consequently with the recordings. I couln'd finish the last song I was workin' on, so I have to record it again! I bought a better and much faster computer and spend the week with updating my new PC. It was a lot of work!

Vote for YOUR favourite Album cover!

As you know I'm workin on my 4th solo CD! It's a bit different as the older once. Date of release is early next year. Have a listen to the Songs and tell me what album-Cover you like most! Please leave your mail-address, we'll pick a random winner out. The price? A free copy of the album!

 Name: Vampire

Name: Guitar

Name: Stone

Name: Skull

Which CD would YOU buy?
	Vampire
	Guitar
	Stone
	Skull
pollcode.com free polls

Updated

The English news blog and Raven's Diary are updated and modernized. After a lot of errors for the Diary's aspire template, Raven managed the html for blogger. We also added a retweet widget to both blogs. Twitter is the present and future network. Therefore has Raven activated her Twitter account after one year again.
The German news-blog is still obsolete, but we'll work on it, too.
Raven's next albums title will be redefined. "Dead White Rabbit In The Bin" is way too long for an album title and if people don't know the backgrounds, they'll find it a bit ghoulish.

Album cover

I'm workin' on my album cover right now. Didn't liked the first piece. I have a few ideas and you can vote for the best cover. I don't know yet how to do it, but the winner gets a free autographed CD!
I'm not sure about the CD title, but I think I'll keep it!
I'm also workin' on some new songs. I'll have some guest artist on this album, so let me surprise you!

New layout...

My english news got a new layout. I'm a bit disappointed 'coz it's a bit too big for my homepage, but I think it looks way better than the old one! Maybe I'll find a way to shrink it to the homepage size.
I've also uploaded some new artwork to my gallery. I'm workin' on a zombie/demon army. I haven't worked on new songs for a while. I've got a few ideas and started already to record some tunes, but I didn't had the motivation to work on them for a few weeks. I was also a bit busy with some other things in life.

Looking for a band!!!

Hey everybody!
I'm looking for a band. No beginners, with gigs; ambitious and motivated. No fights and deceit in the band.
I'd like to play a lot styles, so I don't care if you're a metal, hard-rock or rock band.
For example: Disturbed, SOiL, Dope, Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Rammstein, Creed, Nickelback...
NO COVERBAND!

Send me an email to raven@ravens-nest.ch subject: "BAND"

ReverbNation

As you know, I signed up at ReverbNation! It's a quit good site for musicians, fans or even labels or manager! You can sell your music, find new fans and listeners, get more gigs and a mailing list for your fans.
Here I've got some widgets and links for you. Enjoy!