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Kalistani Major History - Printable Version +- Particracy Forum (https://forum.zanz2.dev) +-- Forum: In Character (IC) (https://forum.zanz2.dev/forum-6.html) +--- Forum: Newsfeed (https://forum.zanz2.dev/forum-7.html) +---- Forum: Hall of Continuity (https://forum.zanz2.dev/forum-36.html) +---- Thread: Kalistani Major History (/thread-169.html) Pages:
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RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 ![]() Neveras Alt-Folk Guitarist Jorgenson drops first LP 12-track outing for VDR includes songs from earlier EP Vrassa City, Vrassa July 17, 4903 ![]() Donnie Jorgenson plugs in to bridge Alt-Folk with Alternative Since the arrival of Joanie Yeardly more than a year ago, the Alt-Folk scene in the Western Districts has been in a sort of slow-motion explosion. Besides Yeardley, a handfull of new musicians have begun recording primarily in Vrassa City, and have been receiving national airplay at an ever increasing level. "I think that maybe the Alt-Folk movement has sort of come of age," said Donnie Jorgenson, the Hutori born Neveras Virtuoso who toured the Republic last year in support of Yeardly, and has now finally released his own debut LP, titled "Jorgenson". "I think people are ready for some more low key, quieter music that they can just listen to, but which still rocks." The Alt-Folk style borrows as much from Alternative as it does folk. Says Jorgenson: "Well, I grew up on that Kalistani Alternative sound. It's literally in everything, in hip hop, in electronica, in rock, in reggae, and even to some degree in pop... That adjective characterizes the music of this Republic. The ability to kinda experiment with the way songs are structured, it doesn't have to be just verse chorus verse, you know, it can be different. Plus, I can also play so many more interuments in Alternative than I could if I was just doing mainstream music. I think Kalistani audiences sort of demand it, in fact that their music is sonically and structurally interesting, its such a different thing than what other countries are doing." Jorgenson has been called a Virtuoso, mainly due to the precision and the skills he exhibits on the guitar, and the fact that he recorded all the instruments for the record. But Alt-folk is firmly rooted in folk music styles too. "Joanie (Yeardly) certainly typifies more of the folk aspects, I think than I would," said Jorgenson. "I say that because her music starts out with her on the guitar. It is always an acoustic guitar and it is always a rhythm guitar, like you could hear around a camp fire or something. She really has a lot of passion in her voice, and I think that is key for her. For me, I sort of switch that relationship between the voice of the human and the guitar. My guitar is to my music the way Joanie's voice is to hers, and my singing is like something anyone can do. But in this way they are both music of the people, of the folks, and I think they attract audiences because these two kind of styles play off against one another." Along with Yeardly and Jorgenson, other alt-folk records are being released by VDR, who has seen their profile raise dramatically in the past year around Yeardly's success. One album which will be out in late August is by a Dulnerstaad based keyboardist named Jennifer Stepanov, whose also draws from the folk traditions, but produces elaborate and lush compositions which she herself plays. "Stepanov's voice is like a staccato violin at times," said Jorgenson. "I met her at VDR when I was finishing my sessions and she was just coming in. I was blown away." Stepanov and Jorgenson will play at an alt-folk showcase in High Bong in September, along with other folk musicians, and it is rumored that Yeardly will reunite with her touring partner for the show. "It'll be a great show, a real cool way to send out the summer." Donnie Jorgenson's debut Album, titled "Jorgenson" on VDR is released this week, and is expected to do well. His first single, "If I Were You" is already on the air on Radio 1, and you can watch the video here. RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 ChengherRares1 Wrote: RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 Auditorii Wrote: RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 ![]() Premier of the Republic Welcomes Economic progress with Zardugal and Lodamun Launches talks with Yingdala over Steel Kaliburg, Ananto August 1, 4904 ![]() Premier of the Republic George Jackson touts vindication of Government Policies following busy summer Over the course of this summer, the Republic began working on a number of important economic and security deals which signals the vindication of the Premier's policies. "We have demonstrated that economic nationalism, that economic policy which promotes the interests of our Republic, without regard to existing regimes and institutions, which are designed to protect status quo powers rather than middling nations like Kalistan, can nonetheless prove successful," said Premier of the Republic George Jackson. The successful season began with the willingness of Yingdala to begin to discuss outstanding steel issues with the Republic. "The Celestial Empire in Indrala has agreed to tentative talks," said the Premier, "which we think likely to lead to a formal accord on steel production and pricing in the world's market. It is up to other steel producers if they want to join our accord or not, but I think the goal will be a gradual ramping down of production in both the Republic and in Indrala to allow the price to recover, and then to use our combined market share to ensure that both member states benefit from our production of steel. Cooperation rather than competition should be the name of this game, and together, we can demonstrate the limits of market orthodoxy in the world. This is the goal, but we are not quite there yet." The news with Yingdala was very quickly followed up by a decision by Lodamun to work with Kalistan to finally resolve a 600 year problem, that being the lack of a rail link between Addisjah in Northern Vrassa, and Newport in Lodamun. "We began a railroad crossing of the Jah River six centuries ago, but ended the project at the border due to Lodamese reluctance to respect the national sovereignty of the Republic," said the Premier. "Those days are over, it would appear, as the Lodamese Government appears ready to finally provide the Republic with a rail head south of Newport, to link both road and rail between our two Republics. This will signal a new era of prosperity and trade between our two Republics, and will finally allow people to visit across the River without taking an airplane." The project to complete the transit links will occur over the next couple years and the Republic will begin building a bridge once the Lodamese Rail link is established on their side of the border. Finally, there is interest in the Kalistani market and in economic cooperation between Kalistan and Zardugal. "A new Government in Zardugal has expressed an interest in working with Kalistan on cooperative economic matters, and has visited us this summer to kick off discussions that will lay the foundation for trade and cooperation," said the Premier. "We will be sending Trade Minister Michelle Martinez back to Zardugal this October to begin working on an economic treaty guaranteeing fair trade between us two as well as establishing a basis for trade between our two countries. We do know that Zardugal is interested in the steel crisis between Kalistan and Indrala, and it would be entirely possible that Zardugal could be an important partner in any agreements on production and pricing that Kalistan and Indrala may arrive at, but we are also curious about the foreign made goods that Zardugal has to offer that we could bring in to the Republic and sell to the people of this nation. These talks are ongoing and the next round will be in Zardugal when Comrade Martinez travels there to continue discussions." In all this season of high level talks between the Republic and other nations of the world serves to boost the Republic's profile on the world Stage. "As other nations go into eclipse, the Steel Crisis has brought attention to this corner of the world, and has shown at the very least that a nation which stands entirely outside of imperialist and militaristic alliances, can nonetheless play an important role in the conduct of international Affairs," said Premier Jackson. "It often feels that Kalistan is punching well above its weight class, and in a sense, courting contacts in Hutori, avoiding sanctions in Dolgava, resolving ancient disputes with Lodamun, and re-opening the possibility of links with major players like Indrala and Zardugal ensure Kalistan a seat at the table, and elevates our status as a major independent nation in Terra. This is a development we welcome and hope to continue to carefully foster." RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 ![]() Yeardly: "I will not be travelling to FOMAT" Stepanov is selected by Listeners to Represent Kalistan in FOMAT Dulnerstaad, Ananto August 15, 4904 ![]() Kalistani listeners select Jennifer Stepanov following Joanie Yeardly's withdraw from Contest Dulnerstaad Keyboardist and singer-songwriter Jennifer Stepanov has been selected by listeners of Radio 1's FOMAT poll to represent the Republic. The remarkably soft spoken pianist was at a loss for words when she was informed. "I have no idea how I will represent the musical heritage of this Republic," said Stapanov. "Personally, I voted to send Red Tone back there. It's more their kind of contest." Her single, "How Can I?" easily cruised past other entries to take top honors in the Radio 1 FOMAT Poll. The vote for Stepanov solidified after presumed favorite Joanie Yeardly, who has led the Alt-Folk movement in Kalistan immediately declined to participate in the contest. "I can say this about FOMAT," said Yeardly. "It's pop music, and I am not going to do pop music. It's fine for everyone else, but I am trying to keep my feet here in the Republic and it really doesn't make much difference to me what international audiences think of my music." As she continued, she also informed audiences that Donnie Jorgenson wasn't interested in participating or being nominated either. "I will not be travelling to FOMAT. Jorgenson and I will be on tour in Vrassa somewhere when FOMAT happens, you can count on it." Yeardly then enthusiastically endorsed Stapanov. "If you REALLY want the best, you gotta send Jennie (Stepanov). I honestly have never met a funner, funnier, more talented musician in my life, and I know Jorgenson. People should send her, because she will make this Republic proud." To this end, Radio 1 began testing Stepanov's VDR single "How Can I?". The song got an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences, who praised Stepanov's vocals, and her use of nonstandard instrumentation. "Its something like anti-pop," said Stepanov of the song last April when it was released to very limited fanfare. "We have tried to completely deconstruct the normal verse chorus verse chorus bridge chorus format of the pop song, as well as building the strength and the force of the music throughout. Jorgenson himself was very helpful in the arrangement of the strings, and I gave him co-writing credits on this song. It was a lot of fun to make and takes stuff that artists like Joanie and Jorgenson have been doing and kinda carries it forward a little bit." During the FOMAT nomination Poll, Stepanov's single "How Can I?" came in an easy first in votes. "Her song is very pretty and also interesting," said one fan, while another praised its production "It certainly will not sound anything like the other entries. And her voice is so pleading and so longing, it speaks right to my soul..." Stepanov's voice has been described as a staccato violin by some, and as "soft and smooth." She beat out 15 hip hop, hard rock, ska and reggae acts, but no other artists who perform Alt-Folk competed against Stepanov. "I think the fix was in," said DJ Chuck Ignacio. "I think the Folksters decided who they wanted to win, and all jumped completely out of the competition, so she would be the only one even remotely associated with Alt-Folk competing. She was, I suppose, the last artists to say 'Not it'. And so, she is it, and she made her victory look easy." Stepanov now prepares to travel to Vascania for FOMAT XV in a little more than a year and a half. "Meanwhile," said Stepanov, "I don't even have an album out. I get so freaked out about recording a whole record, because I believe that an album should make sense... It's not just a collection of songs. It is supposed to say something, and to this date, the four singles I've given to VDR and the collection of my own music is not in a singular and focused direction... They're just songs, and if I just put a bunch of music together, that would be the same as me giving you a box full of like a hair brush and a piece of candy out of its wrapper and a wishbone and a key to a lock that nobody remembers or uses anymore... that kind of thing. It makes no sense, it is all just junk." She is proud of the fact that her song has been named to represent the Republic though. "I suppose someone has to do it, and so it might as well be me. I will go there, I will do my best, and I hope we can make some people feel something with this music," said Stepanov. "The song is quite personal. I am not going to say who it is about: That is for me. But I wrote this song a couple years back, and I still don't even think that person knows who they are. But that is fine. I am fine with that. And I will treat this song as something that any person in the world can relate to, not for like a mass media thing, but for a personal reason. Everyone knows what I am talking about. Maybe they will not suffer alone." You can hear the single "How Can I?" by Jennifer Stepanov here. RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 Liukupukki Wrote: RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 ![]() President of the Republic Harold Phipps-Bennots to retire in 4907 Socialist Party looking to Endorse Coalition of Workers Candidate Kaliburg, Ananto August 4, 4905 ![]() President of the Republic Phipps has served the Republic since 4893 The President of the Republic, Harold Phipps-Bennots has announced that he will not seek re-election in the 4907 general Elections. "I am ready to retire," said President Phipps, who is 83 this fall. "As a caretaker President, I have worked closely with the Premier and his cabinet, and feel it is now time for me to stand aside and hand the reigns off to a younger Comrade." The Socialist Party of Kalistan, who has ruled the Republic as a single Party state for more than a generation, thanked the President for his dedication to his office and to the Republic. But it also signaled its willingness to open the Government up to the newly organized Coalition of Workers, who have expressed their desire to run for President. "We are looking into restoring the Powersharing Agreement which governed Kalistan for Centuries," said Socialist Spokesperson Anita Grefsheim. "This arrangement, called 'The Separation of Powers Doctrine' said that the President and the Premier should not be from the same Party, that the Head of Government should go to the Largest non-Presidential Party in the Governing Coalition, and that the Cabinet should proportionately approximate the Composition of the National Assembly. Combined with a restored Presidential Prerogative, that would mean that the President would most likely be from the Coalition of Workers, and the Cabinet would be led by the Socialists." While it is clear that there are points of agreement between the Socialists and the Coalition of Workers, as demonstrated by a recent spate of bills proposed by the zero seat CoW, and passed with Socialist Support, it is likely that the Socialists will agree to share power with the Coalition of Workers, and will help them become a viable second Party to the degree that this is possible in the Republic. "One Party Rule essentially relegates the National Assembly to a fiat institution," said President Phipps. "Weekly, I meet with the Premier, we discuss our joint agenda and then he passes it in a series of measures which rarely draw much notice. Policy runs smothly in a one-Party state, but our ideas also become stale. Democracy is the curative to this, within institutional limits, of course." Unlike many ephemeral Parties which have graced the Republic throughout our nation's history, the Coalition of Workers appears to have adopted a favorable attitude toward Kalistani institutions and have not set out to immediately destroy them. "The respect for the Institutions of Socialist Kalistan has spoken very highly for the Coalition of Workers, in our opinion," said Grefsheim. "Anything can be done while honoring the historic and the ancient institutions of our Republic, while dismantling them wholecloth from the word go is what alienates the Socialists from those who take that approach. As long as those institutions remain in place, or if they need to be revised, the primary institutional Party in Kalistan has buy in, there is nothing else that will necessarily exclude our cooperation." Grefsheim was clear that the Separation of Powers was an ancient tradition, as was the Presidential Prerogative. "But these have not been utilized in hundreds of years," said Grefsheim, "due to ignorance, or impossibility. The Socialists believe it is possible to restore these traditions as well, and hope the Coalition of Workers will work to provide a candidate who is willing to cooperate and share power. We believe Comrade Small can be this person at this moment, and we are prepared to endorse him in the coming elections." Grefsheim also said that the SP reserves the right to pull back the endorsement, and will do if the Candidate, who is new to the Kalistani Political Arena, veers too far away from a commitment to Kalistan's Institutions or Kalistan's Workers. "Protecting the positive slant of power toward the workers in this country is important to the Socialists, and we believe it is also important to the Coalition of Workers. We can certainly support them in their efforts to improve the lives of the workers of the Republic, but of course, the moment they turn their backs on the workers is the moment that we part ways. We hope Comrade Small has this in mind as he campaigns with the Party's support, for the Presidency." Time will tell about the restoration of the Separation of Powers Doctrine, but currently the President himself looks forward to retirement, and the Socialist Party looks forward to a newly dawning period of multi-party Democracy in the Republic. RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 Liukupukki Wrote: RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 Liukupukki Wrote: RE: Kalistani Major History - Doc - 25-02-2025 ![]() Kalistan Claims FOMAT Gold, Again Stepanov Claims 5th Win for Republic and Cements Kalistan's Place in Music History Kalinda, Rajuttistan, Vascania November 15, 4905 ![]() Dulnerstaad's Stepanov performing her song "How Can I?" at the FOMAT The Kalistani music industry has cemented its legacy forever in Terran History. It has not accomplished this feat through military Conquest or economic domination of others, but through the universal language of music. Kalistan returns from FOMAT XV with its fifth win, out of nine entries, and winning one third of all contests. And the entry that brought the fifth victory was Jennifer Stepanov's song "How Can I?" The Kaliburg keyboardist's love song apparently tied for first with crowd votes, and it was a judges' decision which put the song over the top. Following the show, Stepanov, who was already under the influence of product smuggled in to the show by ODEN-K gave a brief interview, surrounded by thousands of Kalistanis who accompanied Stepanov to the show and who were celebrating her victory on the floor of the concert with her. Quote:T(he) R(epublic): Jennifer Stepanov, it appears that you have just won FOMAT XV. And then Comrade Stepanov disappeared into the night, arm in arm in with her fellow revellers. It is not at all clear to this reporter whether she knew before returning to Kalistan that she had actually won the competition. But at any rate, upon returning to the Republic, she was greeted by tens of thousands at Kaliburg International. If she was at all surprised by her new found fame, she did not betray it, but simply flashed a huge smile, waved at those who had gathered to see her and got into a cab. Luckily, she ended up giving an interview to Radio Kaliburg, which included many of the questions that The Republic had intended to ask her, and all was revealed. In the Interview, Stepanov declined to say whether she intended to release any albums in the near future. Congratulations to Jennifer Stepanov, Kalistan's Fifth International Champion of the Festival of Music Arts in Terra. FOMAT XVI returns to Kalistan, and will be held, for the first time in Kaliburg, at the Kaliburg National Stadium in Lolla, Kaliburg. The Coalition of Workers has opted to host the event on June 10, 4909, and more arrangements and announcements will be forthcoming. If you would like to watch The Republic's exclusive video of Stepanov's soundcheck before the FOMAT contest, please watch below. |