DIGITAL DREAMS

TJ's latest project

2011-01-27T11:07:00.003Z

TJ has put his long-running electropop project Digital Dreams to rest.

Thomas, who now lives in the UK, has found a new vocalist and the duo is working on their debut album.

Find out more about it HERE

Female vocalist still wanted

2010-11-29T02:46:00.003Z

After rave reviews for TJ's 2009 release "TJ - Painted Dreams" the artist wasted no time and released yet another brandnew album. "TJ - Love Letters From Cyberspace" saw the light of day excactly 1 year after the Painted Dreams release.

The new album is less anaolgue and the reviews are even better!! Check it out here!

In short, TJ is alive and kicking.

The artist has now moved to Birmingham/England and is still looking for this elusive new female vocalist - fingers crossed

TJ to be interviewed for electro online magazine

2009-09-01T00:47:00.002+01:00

TJ met with Dani Kammler from Neuweltmusic.com and a CD review and interview will follow soon

TJ brandnew to FACEBOOK

2009-08-18T23:42:00.003+01:00

TJ is now on FACEBOOK - become a friend

It's a girl - congratulations

2009-08-13T00:15:00.002+01:00

Photoshoot 1994, Franca Pettrich and Thomas Janak a.k.a. Digital Dreams

Franca Ludwig (born PETTRICH), the original vocalist of Digital Dreams, gave birth to baby girl Jasmin on August 9th 2009 at 3.20p.m. - The girl is healthy, weighed in at 3650grams and 53cm and both mother and baby are doing fine.

Congratulations!

More nice words!!

2009-07-27T12:41:00.000+01:00

Thomas! I listened to your CD Painted Dreams FINALLY today and absolutely LOVED it! I cannot believe how talented you are and how wonderful it made me feel - where can I tell the world about this absolutely fantastic music? I love it!(Tina Volpe)

"Ear Candy" brilliant review of TJ's new CD

2009-07-26T23:00:00.000+01:00

What transforms this from being a run-of-the-mill Singer/Songwritery record – and many of you will know my natural aversion to such work - is the incredibly deft orchestration which turns the, no doubt, worthy proselytising and the dangerously possible risk of self conscious introverted dreariness into pretty groovy music.

So, if you’re like me and just want your ear candy to provide a stunning background to your hopeless existence, you can rest assured that this one makes the grade and is well worth the effort to obtain a copy. You may even find yourself teetering towards paying some attention to the lyrics – I’m ashamed to admit that I’m leaning in that direction myself!

July 2009, Abi Rhodes Zig Zag Wanderings

Was dies von den herkoemmlichen Vom-Laufband-Kommenden Singer/Songwriter CDs unterscheidet, und viele von euch kennen ja meine natuerliche Abneigung dagegen, ist die unglaublich geschickte Instrumentierung, die diese, zweifelsfrei preisverdaechtig bekehrende, verinnerlichte Duesterlichkeit in recht gute Musik verwandelt.

Also, wenn ihr so seid wie ich und moechtet, dass ein echter Ohrenschmaus den Hintergrund fuer eure hoffnungslose Existenz bietet, dann koennt ihr beruhigt davon ausgehen, dass diese CD genau dem entspricht und es ist es sicherlich wert hiervon eine CD zu erwerben.

Vielleicht macht ihr euch sogar die Muehe um bei den Texten genauer hinzuhoeren – ich muss zugeben, dass ich das auf jeden Fall tue.

Juli 2009, Abi Rhodes Zig Zag Wanderings

Female vocalist wanted

2009-06-21T17:28:00.002+01:00

With the new TJ CD out now I can feel the urge again to collaborate with someone. Looking for experienced female vocalist to revive DIGITAL DREAMS.

Contact me

TJ-Painted Dreams OUT NOW

2009-06-21T17:22:00.002+01:00

The brandnew CD "TJ - Painted Dreams" is out now. You can check the album out on www.tj-music.com, where you can also purchase it for only Euro 10,-

20% of all proceeds go directly to the animal sanctuary ASH in Kiltegan/ireland

CD release date

2009-06-07T01:04:00.001+01:00

The official release date for the new album "TJ-Painted Dreams" is JUNE 9th 2009

CD release date further postponed

2009-05-28T15:38:00.002+01:00

Sadly, Vanessa Monaghan of MMI, in charge of the production of "TJ-Painted Dreams" is still in hospital after a bloodcloth in her leg caused her severe distress. TJ will be visiting her in hospital next Tuesday - we will keep you posted.

2009-05-14T12:40:00.001+01:00

FREE CDs to be won - TJ's latest album "Painted Dreams" will be finished at the end of May/beginning of June. 5 copies are to be won for 5 people. Just answer this question: What is the name of Thomas Janak's animal welfare related radio show? The first five will win an autographed copy of his new album!!

Answers must be send to: t.janak@gmx.de

Winners will be announced here soon (hopefully)

Digital Dreams Best Of Review from a German music magazine - just in

2009-05-11T21:04:00.002+01:00

In the latest edition of the Rock Musiker the 2008 CD release "Digital Dreams - The Best Of" has been reviewed:

"Thomas 'TJ' Janak truly is an old master of electronic pop. This collection deals with the years 1991 - 2008 and 'TJ' deliberately leaves the sound of the songs unaltered. A nice souvenir for all his fans and very recommendable to all electropop beginners as Digital Dreams proofs a good spheric teacher".

Thanks for the review. It sure is nice to be appreciated

And another one ...

2009-05-07T00:30:00.003+01:00

As announced, TJ's new solo album "Painted Dreams" will be released in just a few weeks. Another TJ album will follow in September 2009.

"TJ - Forests Of Life" has been recorded in 2003 and contains of instrumental music for meditation / trance /chill out.

During a recent initiation in yet another shamanic healing art TJ's spiritual guides came forward and asked TJ to release the album.

And that's exactly what TJ will do. The recording has been fully digitally mastered, the cover is currently worked at and three bonus tracks, also from 2003, were being added.

Watch this space

TJs new solo album to be released this month!!!

2009-05-02T23:29:00.002+01:00

TJs new solo album "TJ-Painted Dreams" will be released before the month of May is over. The album will be a fully analogue sounding album, which TJ recorded in his Studio during September 2008 and March 2009. The album will be available on the Digital Dreams (TJs dance/trance/techno project of the 1990's) myspace page. More outlets will be announced soon. Watch this space for upcoming information

Latest Update

2009-04-25T18:26:00.000+01:00

Check out TJs latest music project HERE

Zwei Freunde on myspace & blogger

2009-02-18T00:54:00.003Z

TJs CD project ZWEI FREUNDE are now on both myspace and blogger - please go and check them out!

CD Project

2009-01-22T14:05:00.005Z

While still writing and recording for his next TJ solo album, TJ has now started a German language based CD production with his old pal Thomas Racz. The project is currently titled "Zwei Freunde" (Two Friends). The album will be entirely recorded in Germany. During a two day session in January 2009 the two Thomas's recorded two tracks. Recording will commence in April 2009

Thomas Racz from DAS EXPERIMENT

January 2009 in Langen/Germany - first recordings for a new CD

The Future

2008-12-11T23:58:00.004Z

Thomas "TJ" Janak is currently working on his next TJ Album "Painted Dreams", to be released in Spring/Summer 2009.

In January 2009 recordings for a German language album with his friend Thomas Racz, better known as DAS EXPERIMENT, will begin.

With works on the TJ album halfway through TJ puts his long-term project Digital Dreams to rest, realising that it has had its day and it is fair to say that DD has achieved quite a lot while alive and kicking. It is this very history that kept musicians away from it as the pressure of achieving new things seem pretty high.

a new beginning - musicians wanted! Get in touch

His latest idea is to gather up a few musicians with a love for electronic music and form a new band, called NEON!

There will be a NEON blog soon - this Digital Dreams blog is now officially closed!

Video up

2008-11-29T11:53:00.001Z

Although heavily out of sync in places (will have to be re-edited by soundtrack productions), TJs new video "Forever" is a joy to watch and to listen to. Check it out here

New Instrument

2008-11-19T11:24:00.001Z

To ensure first class sounds TJ has just added the Korg EMX 1 to his sensitivity studio.

Videoshoot Pics

2008-11-17T19:34:00.002Z

Picture from the "Forever" Videoshoot.

More pics up on the myspace page

Ciara ....

2008-11-17T11:42:00.001Z

... won't return to Digital Dreams. The post of a frontwoman for the very special Digital Dreams remains open. Get in touch with us if you're interested HERE

Videoshoot!

2008-11-10T19:22:00.001Z

TJ and Director Dan Rooney from Soundtrack Productions got together today and filmed footage for TJs new track "Forever" around the Blessington Lake. The location is also the location where the pics for the new TJ album cover were shot and the video will be edited and up on myspace and the official DD Blog in a bit over two weeks - we'll keep you posted.

Ciara Hodgins to return to Digital Dreams ...

2008-11-10T19:21:00.001Z

...hopefully.

TJ has recorded with quite a few vocalists since Ciara left the band and has also commenced recording for his solo album 'TJ - Painted Dreams' to be released in autumn 2009.

Some new songs would be perfect for Ciaras voice and TJ texted her last week, offering her a second shot to be the vocalist in Digital Dreams (the next Generation).

Ciara told TJ on the phone that she was delighted to be getting a text from him. As it turned out Ciara regretted her decision to have left DD and was just too embarrassed to call TJ.

TJ and Ciara are meeting up in about two weeks' time to discuss the future of Digital Dreams.

Both parties have expressed an interest to pick up where they have sort of left it and to continue working on the LUNAR ECLIPSE CD.

Fingers crossed - we'll keep you posted!

Modern Music Workshop to be continued

2008-11-04T11:04:00.002Z

The workshop on Modern Music Production will be continued for another 5 weeks due to phenomenal demand.

1. Self publishing of music – how to do it, what is a “press kit”?
2. Drum machines and “groove boxes”
3. Technology – cables, microphones etc. what is needed for what
4. Rock versus pop – why they aren’t willing to co – exist
5. Music as therapy – what is out there and hasn’t it always been therapy of some kind?

It does take place every Monday evening between 8pm and 9.30pm at Whitechurch Library, Taylors Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

TJ is delighted that the course goes well as he believes in sharing skills and enabling others to go on and experience the buzz to be involved in music making.

New (and better) studio up and running

2008-10-29T14:13:00.002Z

TJ's Sensitivity studio has moved from Dublin to Ballymore Eustace, just outside Blessington, in the Irish countryside.

TJ will work on a new solo CD to be released in 2009 and is also interested in collaborating with others

Bad News AGAIN

2008-09-12T00:13:00.002+01:00

Just when we thought we had good news about the new vocalist - BANG and it is all over. Due to family responsibilities and time constrains Ciara informed TJ today that she can't commit to being in Digital Dreams.

Since this is the second time within a matter of weeks that Digital Dreams is "voiceless" TJ has now decided to NOT continue the project.

In accordance to Ciaras wishes the songs will be removed.

Our sincerest apologies to all for raising high hopes for a new Digital Dreams album.

The wait is over - new vocalist found

2008-09-10T00:04:00.004+01:00

Digital Dreams founder Thomas "TJ" Janak and his new found DD frontwoman Ciara Hodgins @ TJs Sensitivity Studio

After Caitriona Moran decided to leave Digital Dreams Thomas "TJ" Janak searched for a new female vocalist. After numerous sessions with singers TJ is proud to announce that the wait is over and that a new singer is found.

Her name is Ciara Hodgins (31), who is not only a singer but also a songwriter.

Ciara and TJ have already recorded three new tracks, possibly for the planned album "Lunar Eclipse".

Further recordings at TJs Sensitivity Studio will commence shortly.

Three new tracks (two with Ciara and a new instrumental) are uploaded on the podcast on the upper right hand side of this blog.

Modern Music Workshop Finalised

2008-09-02T11:30:00.002+01:00

MODERN MUSIC WORKSHOP
5 consecutive Tuesdays, 8p.m. – 9.30p.m. @ Whitechurch Library

1. 30.09.08 Song writing – we will be listening to songs new and old and analyze how they are constructed. We are also exploring “what works” (in this day and age) and why.

2. 07.10.08 The voice as an instrument – this evening explores the voice as an instrument and how it has been used traditionally and changed and altered through technology. We will explore the terms “sampling” and try out a “vocoder”. With a little luck we may even have Irelands only counter tenor Graham Joseph Norton as a guest.

3. Music and the computer – Digital technology plays a big role in 21st century music production but to be honest even the so called “unplugged” sessions are controlled through amplifiers and mixing consoles. We will be talking about “drag and drop song writing” and the pros and cons of computerised music.

4. Synthesizers and Keyboards – have been great tools since their inception in the early 1970s. Their heyday is over since the 1980s, or is it? You can all try out a modern synthesizer and we shall explore its use in modern music.

5. The history of modern music – We will have touched on it already but intend to go a little further by using examples of modern music and older songs and times.

--------------------------
Time and interest permitting I would probably commit myself to give a further 5 weeks to this in 2009 where the following topics shall be explored*:

1. Self publishing of music – how to do it, what is a “press kit”?
2. Drum machines and “groove boxes”
3. Technology – cables, microphones etc. what is needed for what
4. Rock versus pop – why they aren’t willing to co – exist
5. Music as therapy – what is out there and hasn’t it always been therapy of some kind?

* - subject to change

Thomas Janak

If you want to get involved book NOW by calling 01 - 493 72 18

Caitriona to leave Digital Dreams

2008-08-16T00:28:00.003+01:00

Caitriona informed TJ today that she is leaving Digital Dreams. This truly is a case of musical differences and I wish her all the best in the future - TJ

She wrote on her myspace page

Hi all,

Just a heads up... I have chosen to part ways with Thomas Janak, my music partner of Digital Dreams.

The reason is simply musical differences which have become apparent whilst working on the album. We are musically different - too much so to successfully work together.

I have become very fond of Thomas during my time working with him. He is an extremely talented musician and a pleasure to be around.

I wish him the best with finding a new singer. Digital Dreams are still very much alive and kicking. I am just no longer part of the line up.

I wish Thomas and the new singer every success for the future.

Love,
Caitriona
xx

TJ book now audiobook as well

2008-08-14T15:15:00.001+01:00

TJ's book about his career from 1980 - 2005 is online for quite a while and can also be listened to via odiogo.com. Listen to it here

Listen up (again)

2008-08-13T02:05:00.001+01:00

The BLOG about Digital Dreams' studio is now also equipped with the odiogo (listen to your preferred news feed) widget.

Viruses!!

2008-08-04T14:56:00.004+01:00

Digital Dreams really appreciate anyone who is visiting our myspace page and our respective facebook pages. There are warnings out about new viruses that might invade your own computer while accesing our or any myspace/facebook page.

Please make sure you have a working virus scanner and a working security system for your computer(s).

So far Bebo (and we aren't on Bebo as a band) and blogger are not affected. We will update this blog just as we will continue to update our myspace page. Soon our official website will be up and running again, which will make things a bit safer.

We obviously do need your support via myspace etc. BUT please make sure your computer is protected against any attacks.

Update

2008-07-28T19:05:00.002+01:00

Caitriona just got back from Africa. She told TJ that she wrote quite a few new songs. So has TJ. TJ is heading for the States next week and recordings should be commencing in September. All is well with Digital Dreams and although October as a CD release date is definitely out the window, the next album will come!

Myspace Problems - again!

2008-07-12T00:39:00.002+01:00

Our apologies to all our myspace friends and visitors. We are currently unable to access any of our myspace pages. This goes on for a good few days already and we don't know wether myspace knows about these problems and when they'll be sorted.

LISTEN UP!

2008-07-07T20:26:00.001+01:00

To make things more exciting you can now HEAR the posts thanks to odiogo. Just click on the listen now button, which you will find over each post.

NEW REVIEW

2008-07-07T18:20:00.002+01:00

Abi Rhodes ZigZag Wandering has just reviewed the "Best of Digital Dreams" CD:

Here’s a collection of compositions by German born Irish resident Thomas ‘TJ’ Janak recorded over the last 20 years. On my first listen the wide variety of styles covering that time period agitated me quite a bit as there seemed to be a lack of cohesiveness in the album. But subsequent hearings have allowed me to appreciate this variation as a positive rather than a negative. A compilation can only very rarely be heard as a concept album in the true sense of the term and it should not be listened to as one – which had been my initial mistake.

Without going through the 18 diverse tracks one-by-one, which I do not intend to do, it’s quite difficult to compose a definitive descriptive commentary on the compilation. I will say, though, that this CD is full of wry humour and exciting rhythmic settings which will repeatedly cause you to sit up, pay attention and then want to listen again. Plus it’s always great to hear the German language used in electronic compositions – it seems a totalling natural pairing.

Thanks for the review - we appreciate it!

New technology

2008-07-06T00:58:00.005+01:00

In real "fair trade" manner TJ brought his V-Synth back to the dealer and came home
with a new Korg R3 and a Korg Kaosspad. The next CD is going to sound stunning with all the 21st century technology and the analogue feel of Digital Dreams.

Due to unforeseen circumstances TJ and Caitriona couldn't meet as planned this weekend to commence recording. Recordings may not happen for some time now due to summer breaks. Please be patient with us.

The Korg R3 - Synthesizer/Vocoder, the latest addition to the ...

... Sensitivity Studio, together with the new Mini Kaosspad.

Modern Music Production Workshop

2008-07-03T10:58:00.002+01:00

Being an award-winning songwriter, TJ has been asked by the Whitechurch Library, Rathfarnham, Dublin to give a workshop in MODERN MUSIC PRODUCTION.

The course will run on five consecutive tuesday's and will cover the following topics:

01. 23.09.2008 Songwriting skills
02. 30.09.2008 The voice as an instrument
03. 07.10.2008 Music and the computer
04. 14.10.2008 Electronic music - synthesizers & keyboards
05. 21.10.2008 The history of modern music

Exact times and costs have not yet being fully finalised. Watch this space for updates.

Out of town

2008-06-25T00:48:00.002+01:00

Caitriona and TJ recorded a new track today titled: "Out of town". TJ also purchased a "new toy" today - Roland SH32 and has commenced composing.

Soon both Caitriona and TJ will be out of town working with their respective charities over the months of July and August. Hopes are still high to have the album finished by October.

electrOpera

2008-06-17T11:55:00.006+01:00

There is talk that TJ will join forces with classically trained countertenor Graham Joseph Norton later this year to create "electrOpera" - classical music enhanced with 21st century electronics!

Loose ideas are floating around at the moment with regards to the actual music that needs to be picked for this project. There will be live gigs and possibly an audio recording of some sort provided it all goes ahead and gets funded.

PRE Digital Dreams Pics

2008-06-14T23:16:00.002+01:00

New pics (actually very old pics) are up on our myspace page. Check out our "Pre Digital Dreams" folder there.

This picture here shows Thomas aged 13 (1980) with his first organ.

To be continued ...

2008-06-10T23:32:00.003+01:00

TJ and Caitriona aka Digital Dreams met again today to schedule dates for further recording sessions. Today's meeting was also a chance for TJ to play new tracks to Caitriona.

While both Caitriona and TJ are very busy over the next few months with their respective charity work and music projects, the pair is determined to keep on recording in order to realise their ambition to release the new album "Lunar Eclipse" in October 2008.

to be continued ...

Airplay and kind words

2008-06-07T08:40:00.005+01:00

The one and only Thommy Coombes talked to TJ and played Digital Dreams' "Can't help myself" during the wrap party for the Digital Hub FM. Coombes especially praised the brilliant sound quality of the recording.

TJ also met a gentlemen who'd won a copy of The very best of Digital Dreams CD who was delighted with his price and also liked Digital Dreams' web presence.

TJ, ARCADIA host Paul Graham and station manager Paul Dunne during the wrap party on June 6th.

Email list signup

2008-06-02T15:59:00.003+01:00

UK, Canada and US fans can now signup to our email list. All other countries pls email DDMAIL to info@tj-music.com

1st Best of CD review

2008-05-28T19:22:00.005+01:00

4 out of 5 stars!!!

Published today on www.musician.ie

Digital Dreams - The Very Best Of

This CD is a potted history of the musical career of Thomas “TJ” Janak from 1988 to 1996, with some new bonus tracks bolted on. It’s an electro pop production containing 18 tracks and spanning the entire lifecycle of the Digital Dreams project. The albums themselves had top 10 success in the DRMV charts. TJ notes on the sleeve that there are some quality issues with some of the songs, and made the decision not to re-master so as to keep the authentic sound of the original tracks. I’ll mention a little about the recording of the tracks on the album later.

The album itself is beautifully presented, with a collage of press cutting adorning the insert and a proper full-size jewel case.

Vesicula opens the album, with a driving rhythm and hints of the riff from the Knight Rider T.V. show. There is some German spoken word on the track, which I was completely unable to decipher, so I’m sure I didn’t get the full effect of the song. The whole track is based on a descending four chord pattern, but there is enough variation in the arrangement to keep it from getting stale.

“Der Teufel” is a hoot – Imagine Kraftwerk covering the Shamen’s “Ebeneezer Goode” after ingesting some very strong hallucinogens. “Ich bin Der Teufel” (“I am The Devil”), TJ cackles manically over a burbling techno arp line, with satanic synth choirs belting out in the background. Musically, it is a little sparse, but it is a very interesting experimental piece. I only wish I understood more of the dialogue.

Murder Mystery samples the narrative from a Sherlock Holmes interactive DVD – I hope he got clearance for the samples!

Free Your Mind is possibly the most overtly commercial track on the album. A stop-start arrangement utilises some luscious pads and bell sounds in the slow sections which contrast with the hardcore beats and super saw lead of the up-tempo section. TJ struggles with the vocal line here, and I’d have pictured a female vocal smothered in reverb to mesh with the music.

Take Me Higher sees Digital Dreams carving a typical slice of 90s euro pop, in the mode of Army of Lovers, and is again very commercial. The male and female vocals overpower the music a little, and the male and female tracks aren’t always exactly in sync, but the arrangement is satisfying and it would have been quite at home in the charts of the early to mid 90s.

Heaven is TJ’s take on the Robert Miles sound, complete with the offbeat bass and the piano melody. He uses a phasey modulation on the drum track to create movement, and this takes me back to happy times in the chill out room of my favourite club in the early 90s.

Con Course Theme is an ambitious attempt at a movie soundtrack which then segues into a rhythm which is almost Bollywood-esque, and then the track morphs to a 140bpm dance track. Remarkably the track never feels schizophrenic and the metamorphosis of the track is very fluid. It’s got the big string sections, solo woodwinds and explosions of timpanis. The solo instruments reveal their synthetic origin, but in general the track is very well implemented, and possibly my favourite on the album.

Stylistically and sonically, the album meanders quite a bit, from the experimental outtakes like Hi-tech Hero (a hip-hop idea complete with funky drummer loop and that Insane in the Membrane sample) to Dicke Backe (a techno track with some sort of circus music as a melody, which made my ears bleed). It’s a good retrospective of the sonic palette of dance music in the 90s. Much of the material is a little light in the high frequencies, in an audio-cassette kind of way. Perhaps some of it was recorded on an 8-track? I decided to investigate, and asked TJ to explain the process behind the recording.

It turns out that the earliest Digital Dreams release was recorded from a Korg M-1 and Commodore Amiga straight to 4-track. I’m betting these are the tracks lacking in high end. After that, the project upgraded to 8-track recording before graduating to using professional studios. These days TJ is primarily using analog synths and recording them to a dedicated 12-track digital recorder, using a PC only for the mastering stage.

It will be interesting to see where the next album takes TJ. I would like to see him collaborate with a female vocalist. Coincidentally, when I browsed my way to http://www.myspace.com/digitaldreams2008 to check out his online presence, it appears he has teamed up with Caitriona Moran, who appears (I assume) on a track featured there called “Can’t Help Myself”. She has a great soulful voice and is the perfect foil to TJ’s understated musical accompaniment. More of this please!

It would also be interesting to see where he could go if he added some guitars to the equation. As a member of the small but elite club of hardware synth aficionados, he’s probably aghast at the idea!

Squibs, www.musician.ie
The review will also be up on www.wusikmagazine.com shortly.

Charity gigs ...

2008-05-28T09:58:00.001+01:00

... bands playing charity gigs to support that or the other has come under fire and bands have been abused to do "anything" to increase sales.

Digital Dreams members Caitriona Moran and Thomas "TJ" Janak are individually supporting numerous causes out of the goodness of their hearts. Since DD hasn't sold high volumes of their work we feel that we are not doing anything out of selfishness and we want to highlight what we're doing in the hope to inspire some of you to do the same.

Digital Dreams as a band has supported Artists against Terror (2001), Concert against poverty (1995 & 1996), Help save our pizzeria (1996,)HIV/AIDS help (1999) and Caitriona travels abroad this summer to build houses/schools for AIDS orphans, while TJ continues to support animal welfare and rights both as a volunteer in shelters and by giving free talks as well as via his radioshow.

Many artists do and have done a lot in the past and even if that helped to increase sales and raised their profiles - they still supported those who have less and we feel it is worth doing it.

PODCAST

2008-05-20T00:22:00.001+01:00

See the box on the right hand side? That's a podcast that contains of some of the songs we've recorded recently. Please DO NOT download them.

LUNAR ECLIPSE CD - 1/4 recorded

2008-05-19T14:38:00.000+01:00

The next Digital Dreams CD "Lunar Eclipse" is in progress. Due to illness and work related delays the album is only finished to approximately 1/4 as we are aiming for a full blast, full-length 70 minutes release to offer our listeners an album that's worth listening to over and over again.

We are still aiming for a release in October this year. So far, TJ has composed and recorded well over 60 songs for Caitriona to choose from and to write musical melody and lyrics to.

The setup has never been better and the recording will be fully digital.

This being the first Digital Dreams CD in 12 years and also the debut album for "the new Digital Dreams" TJ and Caitriona, we want this album to be more than anyone could ever expect - something we can be really proud of and something we fully believe in.

TJ's unique approach to writing songs and Caitriona's hauntingly beautiful vocals have been described as "stunning" (George Mulcahy, Radio DJ) and we hope the album will be equally as stunning.

So please bare with us while we're finding our feet. We have scheduled to meet and (hopefully)record together again in early June.

Problems with MYSPACE

2008-05-19T12:43:00.001+01:00

www.myspace.com/digitaldreams2008 - the official DD myspace site

We are currently experiencing major technical difficulties. While anyone can still access and view our myspace page, we cannot access our HOME site at all, meaning that we can't answer emails, approve friends or write blogs etc. - myspace has been informed via email.

No idea how long it'll take to get that sorted.

Check out the pics on our myspace page

2008-05-11T21:33:00.000+01:00

Check out newly uploaded pictures on our myspace page.

Especially the ones in the "Live in the 90's" folder, where you will find never before released pics of Digital Dreams' very first gig at the F63 in Offenbach, January 1994 as well as shots from a performance at the Musikmesse Frankfurt (1994).

Releases

2008-05-10T22:21:00.000+01:00

Thomas "TJ" Janak's career is now in its 28th year and this year's "BEST OF Digital Dreams" CD has brought new interest to all past releases. Now you can check them out one by one:

01. Digital Dreams - German Groove (1990)
02. Exzess - Technological Age (1992)
03. Digital Dreams - Hitech Systems (1994)
04. Digital Dreams - Vesicula (1996)
05. TJ - Pure Love (1997)
06. TJ - Darker Than Black (1999)
07. TJ - Midnight Dreamer (2000)
08. TJ - Eternity (2002)
09. TJ - Sensitivity, The Very Best Of (2005)
10. Digital Dreams - The Very Best Of (2008)

On E-WAVE on May 2nd

2008-05-03T20:13:00.000+01:00

The show in full swing

Answering Questions

E-Wave host George Mulcahy (right) with "Mr. Digital Dreams" Thomas Janak

Before the show. TJ checks the Internet for updates

Caitriona was out sick and TJ had to go it alone. The show went very well. The new track "Never Enough" went down a storm and lots of people were trying to win one of two BEST OF albums that were raffled off during the show.

More pics up on our myspace site

Digital Dreams on "Arcadia"

2008-04-19T22:56:00.000+01:00

Digital Dreams promoted the BEST OF CD and new material on The Digital Hub FMs music magazine show "Arcadia" on Friday, April 18th between 11p.m. and midnight. Show host and producer Paul Graham proofed to be an inquisitive, witty and charming presenter.

Caitriona Moran

Digital Dreams on a friday night

"Arcadia" host and producer Paul Graham

Next DIGITAL DREAMS appearance: Friday, May 2nd 9p.m. on "E-Wave" on NEAR90FM on 90.3fm or www.nearfm.ie

Digital Dreams on Club Cheol

2008-04-15T22:25:00.000+01:00

Caitriona and TJ on "Club Cheol" on Near90FM in Dublin

"Club Cheol" hosts/producers Nina and Aoife

Digital Dreams' new material "Can't help myself", "All I want is you" and the instrumental "Lunar Eclipse" was showcased for the first time ever. Nina and Aoife gave the BEST OF CD a good spin.

Pictures will be up on our myspace page.

Successful Recording Session

2008-04-09T23:52:00.001+01:00

Digital Dreams in Thomas's Sensitivity Studio

Caitriona and Thomas have just recorded two beautiful tracks: "All I Want Is You" and "Can't Help Myself", which will premiere on Near90FMs E-WAVE on Friday, 11th April 9p.m.

New lyrics are up on the Digital Dreams myspace page together with a new slideshow and new pics.

Did you know ...

2008-04-06T13:37:00.001+01:00

... that www.tj-music.com runs on a co2-free server, meaning that it actually is 30% more energy efficient than regular websites. The same goes for Thomas' animal healing related site www.holisticanimalhealing.net

Radio Alert!

2008-04-03T09:42:00.000+01:00

Digital Dreams are on The Digital Hub FMs "Arcadia" later this month, which makes a total of three radio appearances this April:

01. 11.04. 9p.m. E-Wave on Near90FM
02. 15.04. 4.30p.m. Club Cheol on Near90FM
03. 18.04. 11p.m. Arcadia on The Digital Hub FM

BUY NOW

2008-04-03T08:33:00.001+01:00

"Digital Dreams - The Very Best Of" CD is available via paypal - please buy it now. It is a great album that features highlights of an interesting career. Many of the songs on the album are taken off albums that went into the top 20 of the DRMV charts back in the day, so you're getting great value for money.

It is only EURO 10,-

First radio appearance

2008-03-29T00:01:00.000Z

Show host George Mulcahy (centre) with Digital Dreams

In the studio

Digital Dreams just returned from their very first radio/media performance on Near90FMs "E-Wave". During the show George played three songs from the Best Of CD as well as our 2006 recording "Who" as well as "Stay", a song that Caitriona recorded with another musician before getting involved with Digital Dreams.

E-Wave show host George Mulcahy was so delighted to talk to us and to be able to play our music that he invited us back for April 11th 2008 where we will air our first new song since 2006, which in fact we are going to record at the Sensitivity Studio on April 7th and 8th.

Digital Dreams will then return to Near90FM’s "Club Cheol" show on Tuesday, 15th 2008 at 4.30p.m.

Radio Alert!

2008-03-20T10:43:00.000Z

DIGITAL DREAMS will be on Near90FM in March and April! Check our myspace page for dates. Of course, you can listen in worldwide!! (www.nearfm.ie)

New Pics from the SENSITIVITY STUDIO

2008-03-16T23:12:00.001Z

I just spent all day re-arranging and re-wiring the equipment that makes up the Sensitivity Studio and it looks sooo much better now, don't you think? More pics are up on the digital dreams myspace site.

www.tj-music.com - revamped

2008-03-15T13:41:00.000Z

www.tj-music.com is currently being revamped. Check here for TJ and here for Digital Dreams

Digital Dreams - The next Generation

2008-03-09T19:43:00.000Z

Digital Dreams 2008

We're proud to announce that the very successful dance music project Digital Dreams has been revived.

Thomas Janak joins forces with vocalist/lyricist Catriona Moran and with a little luck there might be a new CD out around X-mas 08 at the latest

MySpace

2008-03-06T01:23:00.000Z

We're on myspace now !

Best of - tracklisting and full cover

2008-02-18T23:42:00.001Z

CD PAGE 4 AND FRONT COVER PAGE

WRITING ON CD SURFACE

DIGITAL DREAMS - THE VERY BEST OF INLAY TEXT

DIGITAL DREAMS - THE VERY BEST OF TRACKLISTING

Digital Dreams - The very best of

2008-02-02T00:21:00.000Z

Digital Dreams - the very best of ... soon to come

20th anniversary edition - In 1988 Thomas "TJ" Janak changed the name of his electropop project "Travel Direction" to DIGITAL DREAMS. DD, only in existence from 1988 - 1996, managed to release three albums:

1990 - German Groove
1994 - Hitech Systems
1996 - Vesicula

and recorded a lot of songs that ended up in their archive.

Digital Dreams made it big. Their albums reached the top 10 (twice) of the DRMV charts, their songs ended up on films and computer games. They performed in a high-security prison, a star trek convention and in front of 6000 people sharing the stage with the legendary Temptations and the band was listed among the TOP 10 of all unsigned bands in Frankfurt.

Thomas moved on in 1997 and pursued a solo career that earned him a number 1 record, TV, Radio and Videopromotions and a songwriting award from VH-1

Now, it is time to honour DIGITAL DREAMS and their contribution to the history of music with a Best Of album.

The album will consist of 18 tracks with songs from all album releases, previously unreleased material and 3 BRANDNEW TRACKS.

The CD is dedicated in its entirety to Thomas's best friend Michael Seib, who passed away in 2006, way before his time.

Soon to come

Listen

2006-11-03T12:23:00.000Z

You can actually listen to all the songs from the triple CD release: "The Big Indie Comeback" # 2 here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/bigindievol2 - you can always purchase the CD as well :-)
ENJOY

Listen to the music:

How Many times?

Mind Travelling

The Day I Met You

IF YOU ARE A MUSICIAN AND DUBLIN BASED WHY NOT HELP REVIVING

DIGITAL DREAMS

1997 - 2006

2006-11-03T01:01:00.000Z

The last nine to ten years Thomas "TJ" Janak was alive and well with all his solo releases under the pseudonym "TJ".

He appeared on TV and Radio and many magazines over the years, received rave reviews, his 1997 release went straight to # 1 @ the DRMV charts and in 2005 his song "How many times" won an award for excellence in song writing from VH-1. He wrote songs for others and a girlband he managed came # 1 in their categorie. He performed in cool places and even organised the "Artists against Terror" event in November 2001, supported the AIDS help has been called "A musical whiz - kid". His voice has been compared to Bryan Ferry and in November 2006 "How many times" was re-released on the sampler: "The Big Indie Comeback Vol. II" by Oxfordshire based recordlabel MATCHBOX. In total he released 5 CDs using "TJ" as a pseudonym and he won not only a lot of respect but also a few fans and friends over the years.

One reason for letting Digital Dreams "die" was the storm of technobands in the mid 1990s which did electronic music more harm then good. Now, with bands like "Faithless" or "Lamb" around he feels there is hope for electronic music and it is about time to go back to the roots and deeper into the 21st century ...

1996

2006-11-03T00:54:00.000Z

In 1996 Thomas and Franca performed in a high security prison and the final Digital Dreams release: "Digital Dreams - Vesicula" saw the light of day.

Thomas and Franca split up for good in 1996 and Thomas decided to put Digital Dreams to rest. The "Vesicula" tape nevertheless was co-produced by Frank M. who wrote songs for artists like Hot Chocolate and Johnny Logan and the release contains very fine pieces of music.

1995

2006-11-03T00:49:00.000Z

1995 saw the team split up and there were a few gigs with a different line up including a performance in front of 6000 people at the "Hessen wird 50" Festival before Thomas and Franca continued DD together into 1996 ...

1994

2006-11-03T00:41:00.000Z

1994 was a year to remember for the band. The 1994 release: "Digital Dreams - Hitech Systems" climbed to # 4 @ the DRMV charts, the band ranked among the TOP 10 unsigned bands in Frankfurt and a performance at
a Star Trek Convention earned them a short TV appearance on SAT.1

Digital Dreams 1994

1993

2006-11-03T00:38:00.000Z

Thomas and Franca started working on new material for a future album to be released in 1994 as well as working on a live show to match the power of the music

1992

2006-11-03T00:34:00.000Z

1992 saw the release of "Exzess - Technological age", a collaboration between Thomas and Armin Schwarzfeld. The album contained of 16 tracks and received rave reviews.

During the making of the album Thomas met female vocalist Franca Pettrich with whom he continued as Digital Dreams from 1993 - 1996.

1991

2006-11-03T00:28:00.000Z

Digital Dreams promoted the album all throughout 1991 and Thomas started re-recording some of the songs "properly" as the 1990 release: "Digital Dreams - German Groove" was mainly a demo album.

Thomas teamed up with keyboardist Armin Schwarzfeld again with whom he had played in a band called Spirits of Soul back in 1985 and the duo decided to work on a collaboration album to be released in 1992 ...

1990

2006-11-03T00:17:00.000Z

In 1980, Thomas "TJ" Janak started writing songs as a 13yrs. old boy in his native Germany. After being in different bands he went solo in 1987 with "Travel Direction" which he renamed DIGITAL DREAMS in 1988.

Initially Digital Dreams wrote songs as soundtracks for future computergames but in 1990 released a 4-track demo album titled: "Digital Dreams - German Groove".

The album manages to reach #16 @ the DRMV charts in Germany and the song "3002" was taken as a soundtrack for the Commodore(TM) C 64 game: "Teldor IV - Auf der Suche nach dem Irgendwas" as well as for an independent short film titled: "Auf Sie haben wir gerade noch gewartet".

The record label HDN released the song "Goucho", also taken from the German Groove on a sampler titled: "Blowing a Kiss" in 5 countries.

The woman on the cover was Thomas´ first wife, who only appeared on one song on the album.