OCLS Podcast

Dubbed by Elmore Magazine “one of the more promising young names in folk music today,” John John Brown featured at this Melrose in the Mix session.

Mississippi-born singer-songwriter Beth McKee's roots music rides the idyllic backroads of soul, gospel, blues, folk, pop, and rock. She performed with her Funky Time Band at our May Melrose in the Mix live recording session.

Orlando band Artefacto blended nuances of alternative rock, pop and electronic music, performing a clutch of powerful songs sung in Spanish during the opening session of the 2019 Melrose in the Mix season.

Singer-songwriter Ka Malinalli was the Melrose in the Mix featured artist in October, performing a mesmerizing solo set of new original material in the traditional Trova style.

Guitarist and Executive Director of the Timucua Arts Foundation Chris Belt arranged a gathering of some of Orlando’s finest classical guitarists for our December 2018 Melrose in the Mix. Featured with Chris Troy Gifford, Eladio Scharron and Sam Desmet.

Moody Sunshine visited the Melrose Center as the September Melrose in the Mix featured artist, performing a number of her sad girl/boy songs for an attentive audience in the Audio Studio. For more information on the Melrose Center visit visit http://tic.ocls.info/

With famous admirers from Jimmy Webb to Lucinda Williams, North Carolina-born singer-songwriter Terri Binion has long been a beloved fixture in the Orlando music community. Her critically-acclaimed 2016 album The Day After the Night Before was hailed as a collection immensely personal songs that spoke of inspiration and heartache, delivered with beauty and honesty. Backed by Tony Macaluso on upright bass and Greyson Charnok on guitar, Terri brought her captivating style to the Melrose Audio Studio for our July Melrose in the Mix live recording session.

The Alafaya Branch hosted its 3rd Annual Romance, Wine & Chocolate event on Friday, August 31, 2018. Featured keynote speaker was New York Times Bestselling author Kristan Higgins.

Orlando-based emcee extraordinaire E-Turn brought her indelible lyrics and style to the Melrose Audio Studio for the July Melrose in the Mix session. She was backed by Orlando area musical collective Leisure Chief, who will lent their funk, soul and jazz fusion-influenced sound to create an electrifying session. For more information on the Melrose Center visit visit https://www.ocls.info/melrose.

Brooklyn-born, Florida-based indie hip-hop artist EyeQ was the featured performer at our June 2018 Melrose in the Mix session, combining his wide array of musical influences with his love of anime to deliver a powerful performance inside the Melrose center Audio Studio. For more information on the Melrose Center visit visit https://www.ocls.info/melrose.

A popular story of how Orlando got its name says a soldier, Orlando Reeves, was killed at Lake Eola during the Seminole War to prevent him firing a warning shot to his fellow soldiers. Some people claim this is a myth. Richard Lee Cronin, Historian and author of FIRST ROAD TO ORLANDO will discuss the origins of this story and whether it's fact or fiction - or a little of both.

Hungrytown is the musical and married duo of Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson. They have released two highly acclaimed CDs, Hungrytown (2008) and Any Forgotten Thing (2011) and have toured throughout the US, Canada, Europe and New Zealand. Rebecca has a reputation for crafting classic, instantly memorable songs, weaving modern themes into traditional song structures and Ken is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist as well as a talented producer and arranger. Their latest CD Further West was released in 2015. For more information about Hungrytown, please visit hungrytown.net.

Alternative-folk singer-songwriter Weston Howard was the featured performer for the December 2017 Melrose in the Mix session, recording original material with full backing band in front of a full studio audience.

Enjoy a performance of inspiring music by local solo handbell artist Marie M. Loeffler. To learn more about Marie, visit belldancer.net.

The Melrose Center celebrates Hispanic Heritage month by bringing the South American folk and rock n’ roll sounds of indie band Leo Aether to the Melrose in the Mix live recording session. This special edition of the series features music sung in Spanish and varied instrumentation as performed by this versatile band. The session was engineered by Melrose Audio Production Instructors Drigo Garcia-Salas and Chase Steele. For more information on the Melrose Center visit visit http://tic.ocls.info/ El Melrose Center nos trae los sonidos del folclor Sur Americano y rock de la banda Leo Aether para una grabación en vivo en la serie de Melrose in the Mix en conmemoración del mes de la Hispanidad. Esta edición especial de Melrose in the Mix es cantada en Español y muestra gran variedad de sonidos e instrumentación presentada por esta versátil banda. La sesión fue grabada por los instructores de audio producción Drigo Garcia-Salas y Chase Steele. Para mas información acerca de el Melrose Center, visite http://tic.ocls.info/

Vellamo delights audiences with their traditional Finnish folk pop. Enjoy a captivating performance of Finnish and English folk songs you won't soon forget.

  Listen as the Melrose Center Audio Team discusses the challenges of recording a live performance at our Melrose in the Mix events. This is the first in an ongoing series where the team will discuss the session and the technical details involved in recording our artist. Each episode in this series will deal with a different genre of music. In our first episode we discuss recording the entirely acoustic folk group, "Swamp Sistas".

Psychopaths are callous, exploitative individuals with blunted emotions, impulsive inclinations and an inability to feel guilt or remorse. What makes them this way? Dr. Berit Brogaard, author of The Superhuman Mind, discusses the possible causes of psychopathy. Content may not be suitable for all audiences.

Wilderness by its very nature, has inherent risks. Karianne Rivera of the Florida Conservation Corps, a division of the Florida Park Service, will discuss how to stay safe while hiking or participating in water activities around the state. Know what to do if an injury occurs while you're enjoying all the natural beauty our state has to offer.

Mary Bush Shipko, author of Aviatrix: First Woman Pilot for Hughes Airwest, discussed her ground-breaking work in a male-dominated field in 1976, as a woman airline pilot. In this clip from the talk, she speaks about how she got her start flying planes for Hughes Airwest.

Uncover the Sunshine State’s crucial role in Elvis Presley’s life and musical career. Award-winning broadcast journalist and historian of Florida’s popular culture, Bob Kealing discusses his new book, Elvis Ignited: The Rise of an Icon in Florida.

Award-winning broadcast journalist and historian of Florida’s popular culture, Bob Kealing will discuss his book Life of the Party, about the charismatic businesswoman, Brownie Wise.  Ahead of her time, Wise was the driving force making Tupperware into a household name, but was written out of the Tupperware history.

Discover all the native wildlife and plants that Florida has to offer! Karianne Rivera of the Florida Conservation Corps, a division of the Florida Park Service, will provide fun facts about rare and endangered species in our beautiful state. Learn how to stay safe from some of our more dangerous inhabitants like snakes, alligators, and poison ivy.

CIA Veteran T.L. Williams will speak about his career at the CIA, the real life of a spy, and how it influences his writing of spy thrillers. Mr. Williams unfolds a chilling and highly conceivable scenario in his latest novel. This fast-paced spy thriller revolves around a plot by the Chinese government to seize the edge on global power by undermining the U.S. economy by launching persistent, aggressive cyberattacks on America's banking system.

Hear the Balalaika Duo, Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov perform Ukrainian, Gypsy, Jewish, and Russian music and dance. Balalaika Duo?s performance?s feature live music performed on accordion-garmoshka, guitar and balalaika, singing, and dancing.

In this episode, we are proud to have had the opportunity to interview Dennis Martinez Program Director of Mix 105.1 and 101.9 AMP Radio in Orlando. We discuss how a major radio station operates, ratings, programming, talent, and more.

Minority groups are growing at a fast pace and as a result, Hispanics are no longer a sub-segment of the economy. They are emerging as a powerhouse of economic influence. Hernan Tagliani, Hispanic communications expert and author of The Hispanic Market for Corporate America. How to make your brand culturally relevant, discusses what you need to develop a strong and successful multicultural strategy. For more information, please visit http://hernantagliani.com/.

Jackson Pearce, co-author of Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures, on the Sunshine State Young Reader's Award list for third to fifth grade, reads from and discusses her book. Pearce is the author of The Inside Job and The Double Cross, both for children, and Sisters Red, Sweetly, Fathomless and Cold Spell for teens.

Hear Canadian acoustic duo Naming the Twins. Naming the Twins is the harmonizing guy-gal duo of Robbie Smith and Kathleen Glauser whose sound is a little bit like Peter, Paul & Mary if one of the fellows took the night off, a little bit like Simon and Garfunkel if Art was a girl. Complimented for transporting their listeners back to the heyday of folk music, their original songs are a blend of Americana & Canadiana styles, and for fun they love putting their stamp on familiar favorites. For more information about Naming the Twins, please visit http://www.namingthetwins.com.

Having a small backyard flock of chickens is a growing trend in metro areas. Getting started with your own backyard chicken coop can be daunting, but the end result is rewarding. Pet Care Professional Laura Helseth will share her experience, tips, and will answer your questions.

Nourish your skin, hair and body from the inside out with ancient Indian Ayurvedic beauty techniques with certified Holistic Health Coach, Shahnaz Nensey. An afternoon of beauty and wellness with organic skincare products that can be easily found in your kitchen using essential oils, herbs and spices will be demonstrated. The information found on this video is for educational purposes only and to empower people with knowledge to take care of their own health. We disclaim any liability if the viewer uses or prescribes any remedies, natural or otherwise, for him/herself or another. Always consult a licensed health professional should a need be indicated.

Author, screenwriter, actor, and script consultant Allen Gorney provides tips for keeping your characters' dialogue intriguing and natural. Allen currently teaches in the MFA program at Full Sail University. The 2017 OCLS Writers Conference took place on January 21st, 2017 at the Orlando Public Library. For upcoming programs, visit https://www.ocls.info/writerscorner.

Writers get their questions answered by author and literary agent Lucienne Diver, literary agent Saritza Hernandez, editor Racquel Henry, and editor and blogger Laura Helseth.

Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, Amy Christine Parker, and Lucienne Diver talk about how to rebel against expectations to find balance between writing and your personal life.

The Orange County Library System brought author Sharon M. Draper to read from and discuss her book Stella by Starlight on January 26, 2017. Draper is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award and the New York Times best-selling author of Out of My Mind. The event  was sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Sharon M. Draper read from and discussed Out of My Mind, the Sunshine State Young Readers Award winner for 2011 for both elementary and middle grades on January 26, 2017. On the New York Times bestseller list for two years, Out of My Mind is the story of brilliant and witty 10-year old Melody Brooks who can't speak or walk due to severe cerebral palsy. Draper has won numerous awards for her children's and teen fiction; she is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Awards, has been the National Teacher of the Year, and received the Margaret Edwards Award for lifetime literary achievement from the American Library Association. The event was sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

This is part 2 of 2 in our series - Networking Advice for Surviving the Entertainment Business. In this episode we talk with  Chris Goyzueta, a manager, live show professional, instructor, podcaster and more.  Chris works as an instructor at Full Sail University and host's a podcast of his own "Making It with Chris G.".  Chris does a great job helping us to shine a light on how to be successful from a business perspective.

This is part 1 of 2 in our series - Networking Advice for Surviving the Entertainment Business. In this episode we talk with our in house social media guru Marko Torres. Marko shines some light on how to use social media effectively and appropriately. We also discuss individual platforms and how to use each one best.

A great many behavioral problems in dogs can be prevented with proper care and training. If you have a rescued dog or are planning on getting one from a local shelter or rescue, Todd Campbell, owner of South Orlando Dog Training, would like to inspire you to train your rescue the right way with no force and no pain. He will educate you on new reward based training methods that will make your new furry friend love to be with you and obey you. A well trained dog becomes a well-adjusted dog.

Fall and winter is the best time of the year to grow vegetables in Central Florida. In an informative presentation by the Gardens’ Director (and avid vegetable grower), learn how to grow armloads of vegetables for your family without chemicals and weeds. Based on seven years of intensive testing in the Leu Gardens’ vegetable garden, discover what to grow and which varieties grow best in fall and winter.

In this episode we explore the definition of music and composition. We discuss how these boundaries are being pushed in Orlando and the truly unique role the Timucua Arts Foundation is playing in creating an excellent community for our local music scene. Our Special guests: Christopher Belt, Executive Director of the Timucua Arts Foundation and Jeremy Adams a local Orlando composer and musician.

Five hundred years ago, Juan Ponce de León landed on what he believed was another Caribbean Island. In honor of the Pascua Florida, or Easter Sunday, he named the “island” la Florida. In this fascinating talk, historian J. Michael Francis explores the legacy of Ponce’s voyages to the peninsula, exposing the many myths that dominate popular perceptions about the Spanish colonization of Florida. He’ll also examine the lives of the many forgotten protagonists in 16th-century Florida, as Europeans, Africans, and Indians forged a New World.

The topic of this episode revolves around building and investing in your home project studio. Chase, Jonathan and Leo discuss the differences in their own workflows and studio setups. We cover topics ranging from acoustics and gear to studio layout and vibe.

The topic of this episode revolves around the concept of stereo recording techniques. We also had the opportunity to interview Ryan See, an Audio Artist at EA Tiburon in Maitland, FL. Ryan provides insight into what it's like to work as a sound designer for games.

Poet and musician Leo AEther performed with Ka Malinalli (Kattya Graham) and Juan Burgos at the Chickasaw Branch as part of the Library’s weeklong participation in Outside the Lines; celebrating creativity and innovation in libraries. Leo recited original poetry and performed original music. Fue una tarde llena de música y poesía en la biblioteca de Chickasaw con el cantautor y poeta Leo Aether. AEther presento musica de su extensa discografía y lecturas de su libro de poemas Gaviotas de Papel. El comparto el escenario con talentosos musicos locales Ka Malinalli y Juan Burgos. Este evento fue parte de Fuera de las Líneas, una celebración de la creatividad y la innovación en las bibliotecas.

Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. Please enjoy highlights from her Q&A session to celebrate the release of her newest book, Up in Flames.

Local musicians performed acoustic sets for the Library’s Outside the Lines kickoff event. Enjoy a wide range of music from folk to pop, including performances from Uke A Ladies, Nicholas Roberts, and Shaun David Williams. The Orange County Library System participated in Outside the Lines, a nationwide celebration of creativity and innovation in libraries.

Architectural historian Christine Madrid French explored the history of the all-concrete Orlando Public Library, designed by John Johansen in 1966 with a 1986 addition by local architect Nils Schweizer. The library is one of the foremost examples of Brutalism in Florida.(32:02)

Former Assistant State Attorney Jeff Ashton, prosecutor for the Casey Anthony trial, answers questions about the trial and his new book, "Imperfect Justice," at the Orlando Public Library on November 21, 2011. (16:06) (mp4 video format; iPhone and iPad compatible)

Han Yuzhen, hand balancer from Cirque du Soleil's Dralion, visits the Orlando Public Library to give a demonstration of her incredible talent. (3:00)

Enjoy these highlights from the 2011 Teen Battle of the Bands at the Orlando Public Library! Featuring Death from Above, The Jazz Admirals, The Jama Duo, and Insane Reaction. (16:01)