Sound Imagination & Imagination Video

03/12/2026

We’re excited to share that our music video / narrative short "Not Today Billy" has received four awards from the Los Angeles Film & Documentary Awards:

🏆 Best Director – Music Video
🏆 Best Rock Music Video
🏆 Best War Film
🏆 Best Original Song

Written, directed, and produced by Ed Kessel, and based on a song written and performed by Joe Bartell, the film brings together music and cinematic storytelling to tell a powerful story about sacrifice, resilience, and compassion.

Congratulations to the creative team:

Ed Kessel – Director / Producer
Fercho Castillo – Director of Photography / Editor
Elisa Tornow – Co-Producer
Joe Bartell – Songwriter / Artist

…and to the entire cast and crew who helped make the film possible.

02/04/2026

We are so excited! An album our own Ed Kessel recorded and produced: Aikyam for Flute virtuoso, Laurel Zucker, with music by Carlos Franzetti , won a Global Music Award!

Big congrats to Laurel, Carlos, Allison Franzetti (piano) Mira Kang (cello), Lynne Cohen (oboe) & Jacqui Kerrod (harp)!

Check it out, HERE: https://open.spotify.com/album/5BzFEyX8dt9Z4yWfXbDK8k

12/22/2025

🎄 Holiday throwback! 🎄

Some of our favorite Christmas recordings made at Sound Imagination | Imagination Video over the years. Amazing singers, great sessions, and lots of holiday spirit. Enjoy and happy holidays! 🎶

Awaken The Spirit of Christmas
Sharpe Family Singers ft. Samantha
Composed/Produced by Edward B. Kessel. Co-writer Sandy Linzer. Based on Mozart's 40th Symphony.
https://vimeo.com/481527959?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

The Miracle Of Christmas
Lauren Gibbs - Vocalist
Composed by: Joe Bartell
Arranged/Produced by Edward B. Kessel
https://vimeo.com/895928817?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Jingle Bell Rock
Sharpe Family Singers ft. Logan
Arranged/Produced by Edward B. Kessel
Sharpe Family Singers ft.
https://vimeo.com/473991697?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Sharpe Family Singers ft. Logan
Arranged/Produced by Edward B. Kessel
https://vimeo.com/474216596?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

12/12/2025

🎙️ We’re thrilled to share this moment…

We Sing was recently featured in an interview with Douglas Doyle of WBGO, and parts of the conversation will air on a special fundraising edition of WBGO Journal this weekend.

This project was created to bring people together through music—and we’re grateful to WBGO for helping amplify that mission.

📻 Tune in:
✨ Saturday at 5:00am
✨ Sunday at 11:00pm
📡 88.3 FM & wbgo.org (worldwide)

🎥 Watch the interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC4JkNqtLk0

And the Music Video here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17AbcaRqVo/

Music connects us. Sharing it helps make change possible. 💛

100 Billion Meals Challenge

WBGO is the world’s premier jazz radio station. Stream live jazz, discover playlists, explore the best jazz albums, and connect with the history of jazz.

12/12/2025

🎙️ We’re thrilled to share this moment…

We Sing was recently featured in an interview with Douglas Doyle of WBGO, and parts of the conversation will air on a special fundraising edition of WBGO Journal this weekend.

This project was created to bring people together through music—and we’re grateful to WBGO for helping amplify that mission.

📻 Tune in:
✨ Saturday at 5:00am
✨ Sunday at 11:00pm
📡 88.3 FM & wbgo.org (worldwide)

🎥 Watch the interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC4JkNqtLk0

And the Music Video here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17AbcaRqVo/
Music connects us. Sharing it helps make change possible. 💛

100 Billion Meals Challenge iHeartRadio

12/10/2025

Sound Imagination has created a new song and video, “We Sing,” in support of . , Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and major artists across the globe are coming together to create a new global anthem through - a global effort fighting hunger at a scale the world has never attempted before.

Performed by the amazing , “We Sing” is our way of adding our voice to a worldwide chorus of creators who believe music can spark real change. And now, we’re inviting you to join the movement too.

🎶 About The Next Verse
On the 40th anniversary of “We Are the World,” artists including Dr. Dre, Janet Jackson, Pitbull, Andrea Bocelli, and many more are lending their voices to The Next Verse. This initiative directly supports the 100 Billion Meals Challenge, already delivering 62 BILLION meals in just three years!

✨ Why this matters:
Every 10 seconds, a child dies of hunger.
People nearing starvation have jumped from 80 million to 280 million since 2019.
Your voice, your share, your support genuinely helps change that.

🎤 How YOU Can Participate:
1. Join the Global Recording Experience — Dec. 16
· Free livestream: Register at 100BillionMeals.org
· $10 Zoom Experience: Join the live session with the artists + capture the moment (and provide 44 meals).
· Lifesaver Membership ($19.95/mo): Be part of the Lifesaver Chorus and even have a chance to be invited to join in person in L.A.

2. Submit Your Own Verse
Record your verse/harmony using the official instrumental and post with + .
Selected voices will appear in the official video premiering Christmas Day.
💛 How you can support right now:
👍 Like and share this post to spread “We Sing” and the mission behind it
🎧 Watch & engage with the “We Sing” video
🎤 Join the Dec. 16 experience
💝 Donate if you’re able — even $10 provides 44 meals
Music brings us together.
Impact keeps us together.
Let’s raise our voices — and help feed the world.







Ed Kessel
Sound Imagination & Imagination Video

music

11/27/2025

🦃🎶 Gobble gobble, humans! It’s me, Banjo.

Just popping in between snacks and studio naps to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving from our Sound Imagination family to yours.

Today I'm grateful for:
🥁 The musicians who fill the studio with magic
🎤 The storytellers who make my tail wag
🎧 The engineers who let me supervise (even when I snore)
💛 And you — the wonderful humans who support our little corner of creativity all year long

May your day be happy, healthy, cozy, and full of good music.
And may your turkey be as stuffed as my belly will be by 4 PM. 😁

With love & wags,
Banjo 🐾
Chief Snack Officer / Turkey-in-Residence at

11/24/2025

Thankful for the storytellers.

Today, we’re raising a glass (and maybe a boom pole) to every artist, client, musician, filmmaker, and partner who’s stepped into the Sound Imagination | Imagination Video universe this year.

From award-winning projects to first-time creators trusting us to tell your story, you are what keeps our studio buzzing.

This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for:
🎶 The music that fills our rooms
🎥 The stories we get to bring to life
🤝 The collaborations that turn ideas into magic

Wishing you a warm, creative holiday surrounded by the people who inspire you most.
Happy Thanksgiving from our team to yours.

11/21/2025

Fun interview with guitar legend, vocalist, producer Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal, filmed at our studio the other night. It was for a new series featuring prominent musicians - some household names, and some well known within the music world. His insane credits are below. It was an honor to have him at our studio!

*Voted #1 in "100 Greatest Hard Rock/Metal Guitarists" (JUL 2005 - Digital Dreamdoor)

*Voted "2005 Guitarist Of The Year" (JAN 2006 - Guitar Part magazine France)

*Voted #4 in "The 20 greatest shred guitarists of all time" (JUN 2011 - MusicRadar / Total Guitar magazine)

*Voted "Best Guitarists of 2013" (Jan 2014 - ROCKwell UnScene magazine)

*Listed in "The 16 best rock guitarists in the world right now" (DEC 2017 - MusicRadar)

*Voted "Best Guitarist Of 2017" (MAY 2018 - Sounds Like New magazine)

*Listed in "The 11 best prog guitarists in the world right now" (DEC 2018 - MusicRadar)

*Voted in 2020 Readers' Poll "Top 10 Best Guitarists" (JAN 2021 - PROG magazine)

Bumblefoot's band credits include lead singer and guitarist of the legendary progressive rock band Asia (2019, with Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer, Steve Howe and Billy Sherwood), guitarist of progressive rock band Sons Of Apollo (2017 - 2022, with Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian, Billy Sheehan and Jeff Scott Soto), rock group Art Of Anarchy (2011 - 2024, formerly including STP/Velvet Revolver vocalist Scott Weiland, Creed vocalist Scott Stapp and Disturbed bassist John Moyer), and progressive metal group Whom Gods Destroy (with Derek Sherinian, Dino Jelusick, Yas Nomura and Bruno Valverde), as well as sharing the stage with Nancy Sinatra, Brian May, Joe Satriani, Lita Ford, members of KISS, Van Halen, and many more. As lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses (2006 - 2014), Bumblefoot toured sold-out shows all over the world, headlining festivals with crowds up to 150,000. Bumblefoot's unique 'fretless guitar' can be heard throughout Guns N' Roses' 2008 Chinese Democracy album.

11/17/2025

✨ NYC singers — this one’s for you!

We’re searching for a powerhouse soprano with the kind of vocal fire that instantly turns heads. Think Whitney Houston meets Christina Aguilera — strength, soul, agility, and that unmistakable “give-you-chills” presence.

What we’re looking for:
🎶 NYC area-based soprano
🎶 Experience in a recording studio
🎶 Big range + strong belt
🎶 Emotional storytelling + stage presence
🎶 Experience performing live

If this sounds like you — or someone you know — we’d love to hear from you.

Apply via the link in the bio / link below, or send your vocal reel with 1 ballad + 1 up-tempo number to [email protected]

🔗 https://www.backstage.com/casting/international-special-event-performance-seeking-powerhouse-soprano-with-whitney-houston-christina-aguillera-power-style-vocals-3048824/

Help us spread the word by tagging a singer who needs to see this!

Let’s find the next voice that gives the whole room goosebumps. ✨🎤

We are casting an exceptional soprano with a rich, dynamic, Whitney Houston / Christina Aguillara type vocal quality for a high profile, international special event.

11/10/2025

🇺🇸 This Veterans Day, we honor those who’ve served — and remember those still fighting battles long after coming home.

🎶 “Not Today Billy” — written by Joe Bartell and produced by Sound Imagination — tells the powerful story of a homeless veteran searching for hope and redemption.

Today, we’re proud to support the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides life-changing programs for injured veterans.

❤️ Even better — your generosity goes twice as far.
Thanks to a matching gift from USAA, every donation made today will be doubled (up to $150,000).

💵 Your $50 becomes $100.
💵 Your $100 becomes $200.

Let’s show our heroes they are never forgotten.

👉 Watch Not Today Billy and consider donating using the link in the channel description.

https://youtu.be/fFA_T-QCTgA?si=9MQFLpHbkf6tx-tv

Please consider donating to help veterans: Not Today Billy Official Wounded Warriors Donation Page:https://communityfundraising.woundedwarriorproject.org/cam...