EPK – MEKA NISM – The Day Fell (single) (2021)
Single Title: The Day Fell
Release Date: September 30, 2021
Label: Apex Arts Music
Distribution: Vydia
For fans of – Full Band: Evanescence, System of a Down, Avatar, The Cranberries, Halestorm
Solo: Tori Amos, Dresden Dolls, Siouxie and the Banshees, Florence and the Machine, Jewel
Facebook.com/MekaNismBand | YouTube | Instagram.com/mekanismband
Mekanismband.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify
Single Pre-Save – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mekanism/the-day-fell
Meka Nism is a musician known for her alternative metal band, her passionate solo acoustic performances along with international and multi-dimensional collaborations.
Today, she shares “The Day Fell”, a new single crafted from an honest moment of vulnerability in the chaos of life during the Covid pandemic. Written on piano during quarantine in the summer of 2020 while experiencing the extreme decay of all stability of “normal” life, this song is Meka Nism’s acknowledgment of both the fear of loss and genuine gratitude for the enduring human spirit.
“It’s the fragile inner reflection of the destruction, with a refusal to crumble. A welcoming of the 5th dimension and a hopeful higher perspective into our morphing reality,” Meka states.
“The Day Fell” is a metalhead’s raw attempt at telling the truth about how we feel during these very unstable times. It may be a more gentle expression than we usually see from Meka Nism, but it’s the reason we know that she reveals truth in her songs. This recording demands attention to fully breathe it in, with gorgeous violin by Michelle Jones, guitar by Raziel, engineering by Erik Emery, mixing by Jeremy Klein, all overseen by producer/ Apex Arts Studios owner Shana Ballard and of course, written and performed on piano and vocals by Meka Nism herself.
Whether aggressively or delicately, there’s no mistake that Meka Nism wants to rock the essence of our souls. Listening to “The Day Fell” will reach into the depths of the heart and shine some much-needed compassion into our darkest shadows.
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“Meka, is an absolute star with a spine severing growl and a strong melodic vocal that easily surfaces as the capstone of this band. Considering the past and present singers that set the stage for this like Ann Wilson, Amy Lee, and Lzzy Hale, it is clear that Meka has stepped up to fly this particular banner. Girlfriend can sing, people. And from watching the video the band has recently released, featuring the title track from their five song EP “The War Inside,” she simply seems to own the performance space, born to be there, willing to travel at glorious speeds letting you ride shotgun with a smile plastered across your face.” – Keith Clement/ Metalheads Forever
“Did anyone order a soul crushing, female fronted metal band?” – Idobi Radio
“While there’s a distinct modern metal feel to Meka Nism, the key to what makes their sound more unique and engaging is the pool of influences that they draw from…they have managed to find their own style within it – one that you will have a hard time forgetting once you hear it. A band that could easily find themselves on the rise as word starts to get around.” – Dead Rhetoric
“All in all, this is an impressive effort. The songwriting and playing are years beyond a band that isn’t signed to a record deal, and you would never realize that this is an independent release as the production value rivals any major label offering. If this EP is any indication of what Meka Nism is capable of, I am really looking forward to when they release their first full-length album.” – Grande Rock
“What would happen when you lock Arch Enemy and Lacuna Coil in the same room and force them to record an album? Well, you’d probably get something like Florida residents Meka Nism.” – Merchants of Air
“They experiment with melodies, dipping their toes in and out of a pool of sounds and influences. Then, they combine these creative expressions with the most important element of their music: the message. Meka Nism doesn’t just deliver thrashing tunes; it seeks to deliver listeners from their own wars inside. ” – Shockwave Mag
“A little bit of keyboard, a thumping drum beat followed by roaring riffs leads into the blazing hot title track. A track that mixes modern metal with operatic style scope. That element comes from the incredible range on singer Ms. Meka. She can go from huge soaring melodies to heavier shouts and screams in an instant. Incredible.” – Games, Brains & A Head-Banging Life
“After listening to “The War Inside” several times, I wonder why I did not have this band on my radar before. Meka Nism plays heavy metal / hard rock at a very high level. For me it’s THE newcomer of the year.” – Metal Heads Forever Magazine
“If you have no picked up this EP yet, run and do so immediately. ” – Down South Mag FL
“In closing, I would just like to say that it is a gross misunderstanding that this band has not been picked up and signed. I could easily see them attached to Century Media or Roadrunner Records. The music world, hell, the metal world needs to be exposed to Meka Nism, and their incredibly talented and soulful lead singer, Ms. Meka. Rating: 8/10. ” – I’m Music Magazine
“It’s honest, heavy and packed full of some of the most amazing elements of metal music infused with some of the most versatile, controlled and distinct vocals in metal music today.” – Yesterdaze News
“Meka Nism bodes themselves to be major players in the metal game with their crushing sound, their moments of sounding equally brutal and equally beautiful in the same token, and tell stories that will make fans of European/power metal quite happy. This EP gets an 8 out of 10 rating from Madness To Creation just for the pure talent and prowess that they possess.” – Madness To Creation
“Meka Nism is a band to watch. ” – Sonic Cathedral
“Lead singer Ms. Meka is intriguing and quite compelling, both visually and with her vocal range, and the guys in her band provide the perfect vehicle for the artistic vision that they’ve managed to create together.” – I’m Music Magazine
“This band is simply what is needed in this world. I truly cannot get enough of this band and the music. Their second album “The Shift” is a work of art. The EP takes you on a journey through so many levels of brilliance in metal and rock. ” Metal Unrated
“They are an exceptionally talented 5 piece, fronted and founded by Meka, whose vocals are just mesmerizing…I feel like I can say a lot of the same things about a bunch of the songs, yet all the songs are very different. For the most part, they are all dynamic, they build and drop, they’re powerful, diverse, melodic, and heavy. You can feel the passion as well throughout, and that is often something hard to capture on a recording. The musicianship is top notch in all aspects…Easily one of my favorites of 2015. It blew me away like few things do anymore.” – The Last Exit (EP review “The Shift: Anthems For A Revolution” (2015)
“Full of energy, this band never fails to strike a chord with everyone sharing the stage from the audience. Meka’s vocals are the antithesis of the ever-present smile on her face that lights up the room. This lovely woman genuinely smiles with her eyes. The entire band is simply memorizing. Meka Nism is one of those bands that must be seen live. Don’t hesitate to meet them either. All of them are engaging, genuine and make you feel like the rock star! ” – Metal Nexus
“Orlando’s metal/operatic band, MekaNism performed songs which included “From Out of Nowhere” and “Mekamorphosis,” which got the crowd hyped for their set. Ms. Meka, with her melodious sound and great enthusiasm, was so engaged and energized throughout the performance. The rest of the band was bursting with the same energy and truly put on a memorable show.” – (Live Review) Monkey Goose Magazine
“From Palatine, Illinois to Springfield to Austin and now Green Bay, Meka Nism has taken on the United States with such a vengeance and an all-around great perceptive on life. I mean, come on, their trailer caught on fire and the entire band was still in high spirits to kick ass every night when they performed before Avatar….Every time I go and travel to see Meka Nism, it is so worth it.” – Unrated Magazine
” Meka Nism combines the sounds of nu-metal, progressive rock, with a touch of symphonic flair and art rock showmanship. Fronted by “vocal artist and shaman” Ms. Meka takes the shaman moniker very seriously: her onstage look resembles a tribal shaman, with makeup on her face in harsh, bold lines; her outfit resembling something out of a Mad Max movie, and holding a shamanic wand in one hand, and a microphone in the other. It’s a very cool look that complements the powerful musical sound quite well.” – Script The Darkness
Single Title: The Day Fell
Release Date: September 30, 2021
Label: Apex Arts Music
Distribution: Vydia
Track Listing
1. The Day Fell
Single Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Meka Nism (vocals, piano)
• All songs written by: Meka Nism/ Michelle Elizabeth Strier
• Produced by: Apex Arts Studios/ Shana Ballard, Meka Nism/ M. Strier, Erik Emery
Engineered by Erik Emery, featuring Michelle Jones on violin and Raziel on guitar
• Mixed by: Jeremy Klein
• Mastered by: Jeremy Kelin
• Member of BMI
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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. Everyone had been experiencing enormous change during the pandemic of the past couple of years. Meka Nism wrote The Day Fell on a piano at a friend’s house after many losses including an emergency plumbing incident that caused temporary homelessness. A piano ballad written in a moment in between. Which is appropriate because this is a single in between other releases coming and a reinvention of the band as a whole and Meka Nism herself as an artist, performer and soul having a human experience. She plans on releasing a wider range of music in the future very much in the metal genre but Not stopping there.
2. Meka Nism is a trained Shaman/ spiritual life coach/ tarot card reader bringing esoteric and mystical themes into her music for Empowerment and Inspiration to Transcend previous limitations. She is working on what it means to experience music as a medicine or tool of epic transformation.
3. Meka performed over 150 shows in Japan as solo Artist, Origami Girls and Performance Art/ Experimental Opera Singer/ Butoh Dancer.
4. Meka is starring in the Central Florida Witches Ball on Saturday, October 16th at fire fury Barnoness Alto. This rock musical and festival is a charity event to raise money for Transfiguring adoption.
5. Meka also makes other appearances in performance art/ musical collaborations such as the Creature Cabaret for the Creative City Arts Project and the Orlando Fringe Festival.
Meka Nism is an Alternative Metal singer, performer, artist and shaman who creates and collaborates on music, art, shows and experiences meant to empower, inspire and expand the consciousness of those who witness and participate.
Meka Nism was formed initially as an experimental, acoustic, and goth rock project called Meka Nism and Her Rusty Tears with members including Florizel Dennis and Brain Manowitz (vegan Black Metal Chef). Meka grew up into the Orlando rock scene as guitar player for Orlando punk legends “Dirty Barby” (having played CBGB’s) and founder of goth metal cabaret band “Angel Autopsy” (appearing at Florida Music Fest). Florida based Hidden Records quickly noticed her as being a unique talent and put her on their independent label. In 2006, “Mad to Love” was the first album recorded by Meka Nism and her Rusty Tears. The album was recognized as an exceptional artistic achievement of great beauty and passion. “Break,” the second track from the album, was the WINNER of the Songwriter’s Showcase of America’s (SSA) Best Experimental Song of the Year – 2006. Meka was also SSA’s Solo Artist of the Month – January 2007. Explosive with enthusiasm, Meka made an impact on the Central Florida music scene as well as enchanting audiences around the US with her expressive dark humor storytelling acoustic set, in areas like Southern California, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and more.
From 2007-2010, Meka lived and toured across Japan having played over 150 shows as solo acoustic artist Ms. Meka Nism and as J-Pop/ Rock duo Origami Girls with partner/bassist Yukari Ikeda. Meka was able to experience life and culture while playing shows in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo, Kobe (Going Kobe Rock Fest )etc and also studying Japanese Butoh dance, Buddhist Meditation and more. Yukari and Meka also made a television appearance on Kyoto Television playing their popular song,”Origami Beat”. Their Horror Release of “Zombie Grrrls” and “Samurai Ghost” was celebrated with a Zombie Movie and Zombie Prom at Urbanguild in Kyoto on Halloween 2009. They took drummer Eri Takeda on tour in Florida with them in Jan. 2009 as noted by the Orlando Weekly.
The movement to create a full metal group to support the soaring vocal range and intensity of Meka Nism began when she returned to the US. In March of 2013, the debut EP “The Dance at the End of the World” was released as the band’s first collaborative collection of songs as a band. The theme behind the EP was based off of a world that was destroyed, desolate and in dismay. It was meant to uplift spirits to a higher potential out of negative situations and to bring them to light. Meka Nism also released their first music video for the single “Bring the Sun Back” (With partial lyrics in Japanese) in October of 2013. Meka Nism’s debut EP “Dance at the End of the World” was proof that new sounds, new excitement and new frontiers have not only been explored but have been claimed as her own unique voice in the music industry.
After touring and playing numerous shows in Florida and in the South East, opening for Mastodon at the Kink Festival, and headlining a House of Blues show, Meka Nism began the journey to start “The Shift”. The EP was successfully funded by a Kickstarter campaign back in 2014. Brett Hestla, former bass player for Creed and vocals for Dark New Day, was chosen as the producer and recording began back in October of 2014. “The Shift” was released on May 1st with a massive CD Release show at the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida.
2015 was a big year for the band in that they toured for a month with platinum award winning band, Trapt, all across the mid-west and east coast. Meka Nism also played the Texas Showdown Festival in El Paso, Texas, opening for the likes of The Offspring, Limp Biscuit, Grammy Award winners – Body Count, iwrestledabearonce and more. Followed by a tour across Texas with Otep. They released two music videos during this time “Mouth of God,” and “From Out of Nowhere,” to celebrate their impressive LIVE show performance and their enthusiasm for their fans. Meka Nism “Live from Machine Shop,” is also available as an album for the capture of their onstage presence.
In 2016, Meka Nism got the opportunity to tour with the Swedish power-house and one of metal’s biggest up and coming bands, Avatar. The two bands wrecked havoc across the east coast and mid-west before ending in Minot, North Dakota. Upon returning home, Meka Nism was named Orlando’s #1 Metal Band according to the Orlando Weekly and was chosen to headline the local stage at the 3rd Annual Kink Festival opening for Evanescence, Hellyeah, and InFlames.
In 2017 they were given the slot to open the main stage at WJRR’s Earthday Birthday 24 with the likes of Alter Bridge, Sevendust, Nonpoint, and more. They traveled in the fall to Lubeck, Germany to record the EP, “The War Inside” with world renowned producer and engineer, Lasse Lammert and documented some of the experience to share with their audience. While in Germany they played at the Breeding Festival in Flensburg.
The 2018 release of “The War Inside” had a great media response from the Metal press Internationally. They had a successful listening party at Park Ave CDs hosted by WJRR’s SupaDave and opened for Joanthan Davis(Korn) at The Plaza. The three music videos to support this release from director Jim Doughetry showcase the energy, theatrical presence and Shamanic themes behind Meka Nism’s music. “The War Inside, “ “Trailblazer,” and “Black Sky,” are each a celebration of visual aesthetic with spiritual consciousness featuring performers like Masami Koshikawa and Lady Cimorene of Phantasmagoria. Both of whom Meka herself enjoys creating Performance Art experiences with, including the Creature Cabaret, Hoodstock, Orlando Fringe Festival, and Creative City Project. Meka also opened Earthday Birthday 25 by singing our National Anthem, as a significant honor in her career.
2019 started out rocking with openeing for Stabbing Westward at the House of Blue then doing some shows from the South to Northeast States with a festival appearance at Metal in the Mountains in West Virginia and another at the Millennium Music Conference/Showcase in Harrisburg, PA. They ended the year with the most epic show headlining at the House of Blues and opening for Grammy nominated band Death Angel.
Though 2020, everything changed for us all, Meka started the year in Los Angeles attending NAMM and her first attendance to the Grammy Awards as a Governor of the Board for the Florida Chapter of the Recording Academy. She took the time to study Theta Healing while getting her Spiritual Life coaching certificate and started a podcast called Ascended Heart Navigators with friend Nataraja. Meka began working with Apex Arts Studios in North Hollywood, CA and studio owner/executive producer Shana Ballard. They are collaborating on the release Meka Nism’s heart healing project starting in September 2021as well as plan to continue her innovative force in the metal community with a new full length album for 2022.
Discography:
2018 – The War Inside
2016 – Meka Nism Live at Machine Shop
2015 – The Shift: Anthems for a Revolution
2013 – The Dance at the End of the World – Meka Nism
2007 – Mad to Love – Meka Nism and her Rusty Tears (dark acoustic)
Shared Stage with:
Evanescence, Avatar, Mastadon, Jonathan Davis, Saigon Kick, Stabbing Westward, Gojira, Gemini Syndrome, September Mourning, Trivium, Alterbridge, Thrice, Death Angel, Nothing More, Body Count, The Offspring, Iwrestledabearonce, Sid from SlipknotTours and Festivals:
2019 – Metal in the Mountains – West Virginia
2018 – Earthday Birthday 25 National Anthem Orlando, FL
2017 – WJRR’s Earthday Birthday 24, BreedingFestival (Germany)
2016 – tour with Avatar US
2015 – tour with Trapt, tour with Otep
2015 – SXSW, Kink Festival, Texas Showdown (El Paso, Tx)
2014 – Kink Festival – Orlando, FL
L – R: Danny Arrieta (Guitar), Bobby Keller (Guitar), Meka (Vocals), Nick Colvin (Drums), Jarret Robinson (Bass)
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