As you know, we all have a path in life. You should also know that the path isn't always as smooth as we would like it to be. Often times we encounter bumps or other things that may slow us down on our journey. Some folks are really good at recognizing these bumps and quickly figure out a way around them. While others get caught up in names, faces, and details that allow these bumps to slow them down or even prevent them from continuing.

The team at Acoustic Fuel believes in the power of music and its ability to help us through such obstacles. Have you ever had a bad day and the "right" song started playing on the radio and your whole attitude changed? It has happened to all of us at some point or another and the team at Acoustic Fuel is determined to put together a collection of songs and other motivating audios that are designed to take us from one state of mind to an elevated one.

From now on, we will be asking our visitors to tell us about situations that they encounter on their journeys that slow them down or prevent them from going any further. We refer to these as "road blocks" and will be suggesting songs that fit the situation and that will empower our visitors to get over or around them.

So if you are experiencing a problem and would like for us to recommend a song that can help you through, contact us. We'd love to help!

Acoustic Fuel's Daily ReFill is a daily posting featuring audio that is meant to refill your mental tank. Featuring Lyrics To Live By (Powerful quotes from Artists and Speakers) and Music To Live By the (Instrumental Music), the Daily ReFill is just what you need to get your mind, as well as your body, going.

So check back every day for new Daily ReFill's. It's audio that takes you where you want to go.

In case you didn't know, each week we send out what we call "The Daily ReFill". Basically, it is our weekly newsletter that highlights great lyrics from some of our best artists. Now, why we call it the daily and not the weekly, I just can't remember. But, essentially, we pull out the most powerful line in a given song and use that as our subject line. That way you can get the most "potent" part of the message of the song, even if you don't acutally have the time to read the entire piece. So, you can look at it like your "inspirational lyric of the day", or of the week for that matter:)

This month, in honor of Black History Month, we are featuring some of the most uplifting songs that deal with not only the African American experience, but the entire African diaspora. So stay tuned...

If you already get "The Daily ReFill", please let us know what you think. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you don't, you can sign up to receive it right in your mail box by filling out the following form.

Sign up for "The Daily Refill"

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

This is the day when we take time out of our busy schedules to stop and let our significant others know just how much we love them. From the FTD Flowers to the cards from Hallmark every February 14 we find different ways express ourselves to that special someone. But, if you are one of those people who are having trouble expressing yourself this Valetines Day we recommend listening to “ I Like the Feeling” by Burke Ingraffi, it will definitely give you some ideas of how to express yourself in the most simplest of ways.

I Like the Feeling
Burke Ingraffi

We'd like to hear from you regarding your musical lifestyle and invite you to take our site survey. It will only take 5 minutes and it would help us to better serve you.

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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." - Plato

Are you a muscian or record label and would like to be featured on AcousticFuel.com? If you think you've got music that would fit our style of programming, we want to hear from you. Remember we only promote audio that is motivating, uplifting, empowering, and without negative imagery.

To find out more, click here.

Yesterday, February 27, 2007, seemed like a stressful time in a stock broker's life. All over the news there was mention of how bad the stock market had performed for that day. So to all of the people in the financial world in need of some relaxation to help de-stress from Tuesday's plunge we recommend listing to “Fern Grotto” by Doug Hamer. A soothing sound that will relex your mind, body, and soul.

"Fern Grotto"
Doug Hamer

Press play to listen:

"Hitori" Part1: Intro

"Hitori" Part 2: Groove

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Goh Kurosawa. He was performing down at the famous Santa Monica Promende and had drawn quite a huge crowd. If I can recall, he was playing solo flamenco guitar or a mandolin or some other sexy instrument with strings. But, the guy was mesmerizing and I knew I had to book him for an Acoustic Fuel show.

He played that guitar like a piano and even beat on it like a drum! He made full use of what he had to work with and then some. I've never heard so many notes coming from an instrument like that - and all the while he was as calm as a cucumber, very mellow, very chill, but very ENTERTAINING! The music was so relaxing and definitely inspiring.

Over the years, we stayed in contact over the email. And finally our paths crossed again and I got the opportunity to interview him before he went on tour overseas. Here is a part of our conversation...

***

Enterprise: Tell me about your background in music.

Goh: Both my mother and grandmother used to teach music in school in Japan. My first instrument other than my voice was the piano. During high school I took the roll of the director/conductor for a guitar & mandolin orchestra, and then finally came to the guitar to learn how to produce a beautiful sound out of the instrument just as I began my studies as an undergraduate. It was during this early stage with the guitar that I also became fascinated with the improvisational aspect of jazz and flamenco of Spain. However the underlying inspiration of my music comes from Asia where it all started for me first.

Enterprise: How long have you been playing?

Goh: I have been playing guitar for a little over ten years.

Enterprise: What are some of your earliest memories of music?

Goh: Perhaps my mother's voice.

Enterpise: Who are some of your inspirations?

Goh: Musicians (such as Egberto Gismonti, Astor Piazzola, J.S. Bach, Paco De Lucia), family, friends, and people in general.

Enterprise: Explain the power of music.

Goh: This is different for each of us, and is very personal. Although the power is not tangible, it has the possibility of moving us in the deepest manner just like the words of a well written poem.

Enterprise: Describe the type of music you do.

Goh: "A unique blend of jazz, rock, Western classical music, infused
with Asian soundscapes alongside Balkan rhythms."

Enterprise: Explain the type of effect you have on your listeners at a gig.

Goh: This depends on the event quite a bit. I do not have a set program, and there is much improvisation that takes part in the creative process. However, one thing I always make effort to do is to give something to the audience that they will be able to take back with them. We go out, and we come to be a part of the experience in hope to receive positive energy in return.

Enterprise: What is your mission as a musician?

Goh: To remind myself and others of the beautiful things about our blue globe. A good example coming from me would be long black hair of a Japanese Beauty, which may be quite strenuous to find these days; however not impossible because they are still out there.

Enterprise: What is the story behind "Hitori"?

Goh: In 2005, I was invited to an international festival in Mexico where I was initially expecting to go to with my brother, Kai Kurosawa (Warr & bass guitarist), who performs with me in Sharp Three (www.sharpthree.com). When I found out that the festival was only going to have me "alone" (or, "hitori" in Japanese) rather than the two of us, I decided that I needed a solo guitar work that was going to be lively, exciting, and most importantly groovy without the help and support of my brother who is a groove machine, or anyone else but myself alone.

Enterprise: What's next for Goh Kurosawa?

Goh: This March/April '07, I will be doing my first solo tour of Japan & Taiwan. Let me have fun with that first, and then I will move on to the next.

For more information on Goh, you can visit him on the web at www.happysad.org/goh.

What state of mind would you like to travel to?

Relaxed?
Listen to "Requiem for the Magi" by Peter Hawkes



Creative?
Listen to "Rain Dance" by Joseph Moore



Empowered?
Listen to "Life isn't Easy" by Julia Keenan



Peaceful and Loving?
Listen to "Heartbeats" by J. Curtis Reed



Energetic?
Listen to "Love in a Mason Jar" by Chillin Room

No matter how you may feel, music can always improve your state of mind. And the best part about it, is that there are no harmful side effects and you can fill up on it as much as you like.

And remember, you can always listen to these and more great audios on our AF Radio. Located on the top right of our page.

"Lazy"
Chewy

Have you been working hard and feel as though you deserve the right to lay in bed all day today and do absolutely nothing? Well if that is the case, "Lazy" by Chewy is just for you.

Feeling stressed? No worries. As always we have just the thing to help you to relax. Winter Moon by Rhonda Lorence. So push play, close your eyes, deep breath, and exhale. Repeat as needed.

Winter Moon
Rhonda Lorence

For the past 15 years, April has been designated Stress Awareness Month. During this month, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country unite to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.

Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.

So, we intend to do our part in this movement by featuring songs that will help you to RELAX.

But, you can always check out A CALM PLACE on Acoustic Fuel Radio streaming 24/7. It's music that is "good for you" and will definitely help during TAX TIME!

In recognition of Stress Awareness Month, the team at Acoustic Fuel has collected some very important information on how stress can effect our health.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;

* 40% of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful;

* 25% view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives;

* Three fourths of employees believe that workers have more on-the-job stress than a
generation ago;

* 29% of workers felt quite a bit or extremely stressed at work;

* 26 percent of workers said they were "often or very often burned out or stressed by their
work";

* Job stress is more strongly associated with health complaints than financial or family
problems;

* 80% of workers feel stress on the job, nearly half say they need help in learning how to
manage stress and 42% say their coworkers need such help;

* 14% of respondents had felt like striking a coworker in the past year, but didn't;

* 25% have felt like screaming or shouting because of job stress, 10% are concerned about
an individual at work they fear could become violent;

* 9% are aware of an assault or violent act in their workplace and 18% had experienced
some sort of threat or verbal intimidation in the past year;

* 65% of workers said that workplace stress had caused difficulties and more than 10
percent described these as having major effects;

* 10% said they work in an atmosphere where physical violence has occurred because of job
stress and in this group, 42% report that yelling and other verbal abuse is common;

* 29% had yelled at co-workers because of workplace stress, 14% said they work where
machinery or equipment has been damaged because of workplace rage and 2% admitted
that they had actually personally struck someone;

* 19% or almost one in five respondents had quit a previous position because of job stress
and nearly one in four have been driven to tears because of workplace stress;

* 62% routinely find that they end the day with work-related neck pain, 44% reported
stressed-out eyes, 38% complained of hurting hands and 34% reported difficulty in sleeping
because they were too stressed-out;

* 12% had called in sick because of job stress;

* Over half said they often spend 12-hour days on work related duties and an equal number
frequently skip lunch because of the stress of job demands.

Additionally, we have also put together some calm and relaxing songs to help you deal with your job stress. So, this week we recommend Phillip Martin's "Good Day at Work" for your listening pleasure. This easy listening melodic groove will definitely take you to A Calm Place.


"Good Day at Work"
Philip Martin
Destination: A Calm Place

Press play to listen

"Take Off"
Yoko K.
Destination: A Calm Place

Press play to listen

About the Artist:
Born in Nagano, Japan, Yoko began the classical study of piano at the age of three. Having moved to more than ten places across Japan, Yoko studied the clarinet, saxophone, drums, and voice, and eventually started to sing in jazz venues and clubs at the age of sixteen. After moving to the United States on her own, Yoko has collaborated with producers worldwide such as T-Kolai in Sudan/US (Asahra Music), Light 4 Lines in Japan (KhaiMar Music), Holmes Ives in US (Ova Records), and Dalminjo in Norway (Deeplay Music), and performed in venues such as Club Five, Bar Nun, and DC9, and several art galleries.

In February 2005, Yoko faced the sudden loss of an important person in her life. It was this shock, ironically, which seems to have unlocked her innate potential as a composer and a producer. Ever since, she continues to write music everyday. Nicolas Laget, the founder of Asahra Music, once described Yoko as a "healer." "The definition of a healer," Nicolas says, "is such that ¡V only through healing others, she is able to heal herself."

Yoko is also keen on utilizing her music as a way of raising awareness of cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Her ongoing projects include the community art project "Amahoro.net" which features the narrative of 1994 Rwanda Genocide, and collaboration with Gigi McKendric "Call for Conscience" for the crisis in Darfur. Yoko currently lives in Washington DC, USA.

Click on the AF Radio to hear more inspirational audio located on the top right of our site

"Take Off"
Yoko K.
Destination: A Calm Place

Press play to listen.

In recognition of Stress Awareness Month, the team at Acoustic Fuel has collected some very important tips for stressed-out taxpayers.

* Avoid last minute stress by filing early. I know it's a little late for this one, but I had to include it!

* If you have "formaphobia" like I do, invest in a good tax software program. It makes it a lot easier.

* Breaking the job into smaller tasks has really helped us avoid last minute stress.

* If you really don't know what you are doing or have any questions or need forms, check out www.irs.gov for help.

* Listen to some relaxing music and "Take Off" to A Calm Place with this ambient groove by Yoko K. - the perfect accompaniment for getting through this stressful process.

Click on the AF Radio to hear more inspirational audio located on the top right of our site

This life is fast paced. It seems as though we spend so much time getting it done now we often pass up opportunities to stop, unwind, and take in what's around us.

So if you are in that busy bee mode let us help you to stop and smell the roses for just a few moments with "Slowing the Ride" by Angel Foss. You will be surprised how refreshing, relaxing, and beautiful it can be.

"Slowing the Ride"
Angel Foss

Press play to listen

"The only nice thing about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others." - Doug Larson

Title: Imperfection
Artist: Adrianne Lenker

Press play to listen

Hello to all. We have decided to change around our AF Radio a little. Now, each week we will feature 20-40 minutes of a certain destination.

We hope you enjoy our new format. And if you need to fill up on other audio you can also visit our 5 destinations on the located on the right hand side of our page.

-Team Acoustic Fuel

In Recognition of Memorial Day

Title: Still Touching Me
Artist: Jan Linder-Koda
Destination: A Calm Place

Press play to listen

Verse
Sitting alone on a mountain
Taking in the view
The summer breezes touching me
Catching all my thoughts of you

And did I just imagine
The angels say your name
In the rhythm of the day

Chorus
Still touching me
Still touching me

Verse
Thinking of a time gone by
Walking in the sand
You talk to me with that look in your eye
And I know you understand

And did I just imagine
In the rustle of the trees
Sweet memory

Chorus

Bridge
Here on my window sill with the notes on my guitar
Sending you the melody wherever you are
And did I just imagine the angels say your name

You will always have to live with yourself, and it is to your best interest to see that you have good company -- a clean, pure, straight, honest, upright, generous, magnanimous companion. - Orison Swett Marden

Title: Love Again (The Other Side)
Artist: Danan Healy

Press play to listen

Are you at that point in your day when you feel like nothing seems to be going right and you are the only one who thinks it's a big deal? Do you feel like you are about to blow a head gasket from dealing with idiots? Well it sounds like you need to take 5. So sit back and relax with some calming music such as "Just One Kiss" by Nardi. And if you find yourself needing to fill up on more relaxing music to help you de-stress visit our A Calm Place section. It's all audio that takes you where you want to go.

Title: Just One Kiss
Artist: Nardi

Press play to listen

We have decided to try something a little different in this post. Normally we feature a song and talk about how that song can help get you through your day. Well this time around we want to hear from you. Let us know what the featured song is good for or how did you use it in your life to improve your mood.

Feel free to leave a comment or send us a email. Either way we would love to hear from you.

Title: "A Time To Remember"
Artist: Christopher Paul

Press play to listen

"An upright posture and a few relaxed breaths can make a great difference". - Jack Kornfield

Title: High Barbary
Artist: Anne Roos

Acoustic Fuel wants to dedicate "Fairwood" by Daivd Malmberg to all those people who are just about to hit the hay, but need a little something to help them get a good nights rest.

Title: Fairwood
Artist: David Malmberg

Press play to listen

Team Acoustic Fuel came across this article on babycenter.com titled Seven reasons babies cry and how to soothe them. One of the soothing techniques mentioned was to let the baby hear rhythm such as your heart beat, white noise, or soothing music. So, for those parents having trouble getting their baby to calm down, try filling them up on some relaxing audio from Acoustic Fuel.

Title: The River Runs
Artist: Ronnda Cadle

Press play to listen

Take some relaxing music with you with Acoustic Fuel's AF To-Go Digital Download Store located here

Music and Massage Therapy

Combine the use of massage therapy and relaxing sounds such as "Floating" by Ken Bonfield to help relieve stress and tension. Learn more about massage therapy at the American Massage Therapy Association.

Title: Floating
Artist: Ken Bonfield

Press play to listen


Take some relaxing audio where ever you go with Acoustic Fuel's AF To-Go Digital Downloads.

Soundscape: an acoustic environment or an environment created by sound. - wikipedia

Everyday people use music to create their own soundscape. One of the best examples Team Acoustic Fuel likes to use is using music to relax after a tough day at work. We all have these days and when we think about going home and relaxing our vision usually involves things like a glass of wine and some relaxing music, a hot bath and some relaxing music, or relaxing in that favorite chair and turning on some relaxing music.

Music can accompany almost any method you use to get to that Calm Place. So if your are looking to create a relaxing environment, create a soundscape with relaxing music such as "Heartstrings" by R. Kane. It will take you where you want to go.....

Title: Heartstrings
Artist: R. Kane
Destination: A Calm Place

Press play to listen

What do you listen to when you need to get motivated or to relax?
What do you listen to in the morning, on the drive home, or at night?
What do you listen to when you are studying or working out?
Basically, what do you listen to throughout your day, to get you through your day? And why?

We would love to hear from you!

Feel free to post comments or email us.

I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.

George Eliot
English Novelist - (1819-1880)

"Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune."

Kin Hubbard 1868-1930

Even though classical music may not be as popular as todays Pop, Rock, or Rap music. Classical music may just be the music of choice when it comes to managing the mind, body, and spirit. There have been tons of studies done such as classical music and early childhood development, classical music while undergoing surgery (reducing the need for anesthesia), and classical music while studying just to name a few. All of which show how classical music can have a positive impact on a persons well being.

So Acoustic Fuel wants to take this time out to acknowledge the genre of music that has been scientifically proven to help, heal, and inspire.

Title: Long's Peak Sonata 2nd Movement
Artist: Patricia Holmberg
Destination: A Calm Place, Creative Commons, Utopia

Press play to listen

Over the weekend Acoustic Fuel got spammed really bad with a emailed titled "Relax and take the time to.." And even though it was very annoying it gave us the idea to make it a post topic and feature the track "Warm Wind" by David Feder to help to do just that "Relax and take the time to (fill in the blank).

Title: Warm Wind
Artist: David Feder

Press play to listen

Acoustic Fuel's Mainstream Mix:
This week we are featuring a mix of R&B, Jazz, and World music that will take you to A Calm Place.

Click here to listen to Acoustic Fuel's Mainstream Mix

Title: Bandy Bandy
Artist: Zap Mama

Title: Love Theme From Blade Runner
Artist: Vangelis

Title: Punch Drunk
Artist: Sade

Title: Sunny - Part I
Artist: Les McCann

Title: Let's Get Lifted Again
Artist: John Legend

Title: California Dreamin'
Artist: Queen Latifah

Title: All Around
Artist: Bebel Gilberto

Acoustic Fuel is looking for music for its Follow Your Dreams Digital Compilation. We are seeking music that fits the theme of following your dreams, reaching for success, believing in yourself, etc. We have named Sonicbids as our exclusive submission provider. To learn more about this compilation please click the Soncibids link below.