Reflections after 3 years exploring & creating VR experiences in the “metaverse"

Hi all... my name is Celeste Lear, I am an entertainment industry specialist & VR experience & event producer/designer who has been actively working & creating in the "metaverse" since 2019. Since I have been directly involved with various communities for the last 3 years in the underground entertainment, arts, music & events scene on a few different platforms, I feel like I can offer some unique insider perspective to anyone who is curious. I identify with the term "futurist" also, as a person who is excited by the possibilities of the uses of new technologies for the betterment of life... I will state, I let technology into my life, I am also adamant about balancing my time spent online with essential time spent in nature. 

Firstly, I am NOT referring to Zuckerberg’s new “Meta” necessarily here, as there have been MANY different & vibrant VR platforms, even since 2003, with Second Life leading the way with a lot of diverse meta-cultures already established. SO many of my friends and family generally have developed a negative, fearful reaction around what is happening with this new technology & understandably so, as we have all probably watched too many Black Mirror Episodes right?! 

One of my favorite fundamentally simple past quotes on immersive tech is, “VR is for Artists”. I am a believer & proponent of using this incredible & efficient new space enabled by #web3 as literal #worlds like #artgalleries & #publicplaces we can hang out inside of, socialize, exchange information, do business & express ourselves in VERY fascinating new ways… some riveting, some bizarre, some revolutionary… #humanpsychology  But as always,  #technology progresses on, it is OURS to have fun with, to use to advance society … AND SERIOUSLY PEOPLE - to be RESPONSIBLE with. We need to WORK to keep it integral, communal, fair, functional for both business & pleasure & enrichment - I do want to assure you that there ARE people in here working to keep these sparks alive & well.

We are making this up as we go along. If you love it or hate VR, you should not judge it entirely until you give the social, educational & arts side of the metaverse a fair chance & spend time exploring & meeting various community leaders. You will probably simultaneously enjoy, trip out & rebel against having an avatar as you will against the entire concept of existing in two parallel realities one real & one a “simulation” but, honestly, you just have to surrender to the novelty factor & the efficiency factor a bit…It will simply appeal more to others – probably to more open minded, adventurous or enterprising people (or people who don’t want to battle real life #trafficjams as much). 

Virtual Reality will NEVER EVER EVER EVER and should NEVER EVER TRY to replace REAL, physical gatherings or #humaninteraction but CAN & Should be used as an occasional tool for #escape #entertainment #creativity #fun #business - I would remind parents that your kids probably will get addicted to using it at first & I think personally the novelty factor will naturally ware off… if it does not, then be concerned. My partner said he never even saw me in 2019 except for the headset glued to my head while I was trying not to bump into walls learning how to navigate new platforms UIs, design exciting 3D art & DJ as an avatar... Now I use in moderation more, but I am still excited about where this is all going.

 

I personally think the metaverse has potential to #revolutionize the world in some very beneficial ways. I am admittedly very concerned about our planet’s last remaining #naturalresources including, #deforestation #virginforests & urgent need to reduce global #waste #fashionindustry #pollution #trashproblem Moving into the #metaverse a bit more, even 1-2 days a week for #virtualwork  #virtualconferences & entertainment CAN potentially slow down mass consumption of certain precious scarce #resources #logging #fossilfuels #mining #actnow #actnowvr #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sdgs #UNESCO #UN  I realize this is potentially a controversial statement, but this topic should start being discussed more. 

 

To put metaverse efficiency concepts into concrete terms, our team @DreamlandXR (a CES Partner) & #chickenwaffleVR designed & produced 1 day of Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as a fully immersive interactive VR on Microsoft’s social platform #AltspaceVR  - Over the course of 18 hours, we had over 5000 people from around the world attend as avatars from their computers or VR goggles. If these people had traveled to Las Vegas physically, they would have on average created 2008 tons of CO2, as well as consumed on average 30,000-40,000 plastic water bottles over 3 days time. Based on the elimination of need to travel and consume, another way to look at this pollution decrease is equivalent to saving the need to plant 110,000 trees per year to have offset carbon. (I am working on an entire presentation around this topic.) 

AND by the way, we need more artists in here to help be #futurearchitects If you have #unity3D #UE4 #unrealengine #blender3d skills – you can & will be employed & paid well into the future. Worldbuilders are a growing demand and for film/videogame Hollywood is paying top dollar $ especially since #virtualproduction with #LEDstage technology is rapidly progressing. 

So, in short form, there are some of my thoughts on all this madness! Please follow me for more metaverse antics & philosophizing: 

@celestelear  
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/celestelear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celeste.lear

Partying In The Metaverse: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua9FtRUVg0SE18aWFZzkUA

Celeste Lear is working as music director/composer with Millennium Art & UNESCO and will be part of a team bringing an exciting Video Mapping Experience to be exhibited onto the side of the Oslo Opera House, in Oslo Norway during the KLIMAFESTIVALEN Summit in January of 2018.
http://www.millenniumart.org 
http://klimafestivalen112.no

*DJ CELESTE PLAYS OUSIDE LANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL*

Celeste will be spinning Mash-ups, remixes and various EDM flora and Fauna in the Heineken House Tent this year at Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, August 13th, 2017. 

Sound system is provided by Dolby Atmos.  

DJ CELESTE SPINS AT THE 

OUTSIDE LANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL

IN GOLDEN GATE PARK, SAN FRANCISCO!!

OFFICIAL REMIX RELEASE ON STREET RITUAL RECORDS 
"One Bright Night (The Digital Connection Remix)" 

Celeste's first release on Street Ritual Records features a very high tech, glitchy
Bass Music remix by music producer Ricky Shine (The Digital Connection).

Check out the 2nd Music Video Edit for "One Bright Night" Here:

Download Song for Donation Here: http://music.streetritual.com/track/one-bright-night-feat-govinda-the-digital-connection-remix

Artist * Vocalist * Celeste Lear
Websites: www.celestelear.com
www.facebook.com/celeste.lear
https://soundcloud.com/celeste-lear

Remix by The Digital Connection:
http://thedigitalconnectionmusic.com
https://soundcloud.com/the-digital-connection

Music producer/DJ, vocalist and multi instrumentalist, Celeste Lear has teamed up with two world class professional violinists, Govinda (Gravitas Records) and Violin Girl (Perspectives Digital) to create this new emotionally charged, lushly programmed, uplifting EDM track featuring the combination of airy female vocals, classically inspired string arrangements and deep house beats and bass in a climactic arrangement. For this single release, Celeste also collaborated with a host of savvy Remix Artists including,The Digital Connection (Gravitas) whose track is featured in this music video.

This music video was remixed by Celeste and features VJ footage by Zachary Seidner and Ari Makridakis.

Ari Makridakis: www.theforkingpath.net 

Special thanks to Donna Carrol and Ecstatic Dance and Ecstatic Fit:
https://www.facebook.com/ecstaticfit/

CELESTE'S MUSIC VIDEO & SINGLE 

"ONE BRIGHT NIGHT" 

IS OFFICIALLY RELEASED!

Watch video on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/y6J3-E9bQEw

PLEASE Download Song Here: https://celestelear.bandcamp.com/

Music producer/DJ, vocalist and multi instrumentalist, Celeste Lear has teamed up with two world class professional violinists, Govinda (Gravitas Records) and Violin Girl (Perspectives Digital) to create this new emotionally charged, lushly programmed, uplifting EDM track featuring the combination of airy female vocals, classically inspired string arrangements and deep house beats and bass in a climactic arrangement. For this single release, Celeste also collaborated with a host of savvy Remix Artists including, The Digital Connection (Gravitas), Rayvan Murphy (Pretty Sick Records), DJ Loomer (illeven:eleven), Cosmic Selector (EDMSF), Arctures, Liquid Love Drops (Ecstatic Dance), Chlorophil (Synchronos Recordings).

Artist: Celeste Lear and featuring violinists Govinda & Violin Girl
Single: “One Bright Night”
Labels: Boutique Electronique Records & Street Ritual
Websites: www.celestelear.com
@celeste-lear
www.twitter.com/celeste.lear
www.facebook.com/celeste.lear

Celeste's new Single Release of, "One Bright Night" Feat. World Class Professional Violinists Govinda & Violin Girl

Celeste's new EDM single "One Bright Night" featuring the epic 

talent of professional violinists Govinda & Violin Girl 

- is about to DROP!!! March 15th 2017

CELESTE LEAR’S NEW SINGLE, MUSIC VIDEO AND ACCOMPANYING REMIXES:
“ONE BRIGHT NIGHT”
Available at all digital retailers March 15th, 2017  
Artist:   Celeste Lear and featuring violinists Govinda & Violin Girl
Single: “One Bright Night” 
Labels: Boutique Electronique Records & Gravitas 
Websites: www.celestelear.com
www.soundcloud.com/celeste-lear
www.twitter.com/celeste.lear www.facebook.com/celeste.lear
For listeners who like: Disclosure, Kaskade, JUbel, Robyn, Zhu, Zero 7, Little Dragon, Sia, Royksopp, Tove Lo, Mahmut Orhan.

Single Release, Music Video & Remixes 

Project Description: Music producer/DJ, vocalist and multi instrumentalist, Celeste Lear has teamed up with two world class professional violinists, Govinda (Gravitas Records) and Violin Girl (Perspectives Digital) to create this new emotionally charged, lushly programmed, uplifting EDM track featuring the combination of airy female vocals, classically inspired string arrangements and deep house beats and bass in a climactic arrangement. For this single release, Celeste also collaborated with a host of savvy Remix Artists including, The Digital Connection (Gravitas), Rayvan Murphy (Pretty Sick Records), DJ Loomer (illeven:eleven), Cosmic Selector (EDMSF), Arctures, Liquid Love Drops (Ecstatic Dance), Chlorophil (Synchronos Recordings).  

CELESTE COMPOSES MUSIC FOR UNESCO & MOSAIC OF CHANGE

Celeste was recently hired on to a production team as a music producer/director for 2 different multi media projects for UNESCO. She travelled to Paris in November 2015 to DJ UNESCO's 70th anniversary!



Watch the video for UNESCO's 7 themes and hear one of the pieces of music Celeste composed here:
https://vimeo.com/144084286

More info about the project and Mosaic of Change here:
http://mosaicofchange.org

Celeste's new single is officially released! https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/diamond-dust-wander-lust-feat./id981968449

http://tipsforyoungmusicproducers.blogspot.com

HERE'S SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN WORKING IN MUSIC PRODUCTION.

LOVE, DJ CELESTE

Celeste has been focusing most of her time and energy this last few years establishing herself in California as a professional DJ, Remix artist and music producer. She has DJ'd hundreds of events since 2008, and has recently worked for such clients as: Apple, The Gap, Banana Republic, Neiman Marcus, Fredericks of Hollywood, Oracle, etc. and at nightclubs in San Francisco: Temple S.F., Slide and Mezzanine.

DJ Celeste Lear Remixes new single by SYMBOLS OF THE WEST and ALAN ATIAS

Celeste has been expanding her music production talents and efforts recently to include mash ups and remixes by various bands and artists. Most recently Celeste has finished a dub-step style remix for indie rock band Symbols of the West

http://www.symbolsofthewest.com

Here's the link to the remix on SoundCloud (If you like, please download legally on iTunes or Amazon - THX!)
https://soundcloud.com/celeste-lear/save-my-city-celeste-lear-1

Celeste has also recently produced a mellow dub remix for world class reggae vocalist Alan Atias (who is actually the only white person who has toured with the Wailers).

The Downloads can be purchsed here:
https://itunes.apple.com/gw/album/brace-yourselves-remixed-feat./id577220325

Celeste has a 3 page music producer interview featured in the October edition of Recording Magazine. On news stands everywhere...

Celeste's song on So You Think You Can dance!

Damn skippy. Celeste has had her 15 minutes of fame! Her song called "Light through The Branches" was featured on Fox Netowrk's SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Dancers Clarice and Jes perform a sensual and stunning contemporary piece over Lear's electronic piece.

Next Aid Fundraiser: LADIES OF THE HOUSE @ Public Works S.F.

Hello all you Do-Gooders, I have helped organize a couple fundraisers for NextAid over the years, and now I am digging in with a few other volunteers to put on "Ladies Of The House" in Sanfrancisco on March 31st at the trendy nightclub "Public Works".

For over 7 years NextAid has rallied music industry leaders and enthusiasts from the electronic dance music community to action, channeling the positive energy from the dance floor to sustainable development projects that support orphans and women in Africa.

This March 31st, Digital Bliss Productions and Boutique Electronique Records, 2 unique San Francisco based music production and promotions companies, are honored to collaborate with NextAid in a San Francisco based fundraising event in honor of National Women’s History Month this March. This event is geared towards raising awareness and money for NextAid’s work in Kenya and Sierra Leone. This event is also tied in a month-long campaign, kicking off on March 8th (100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day), called “Beauty and the Beats” in conscious and hip hair salons in NYC, L,A. Miami and S.F..

“Ladies of the House” will be THE featured event in San Francisco on Thursday March 31st, where NextAid, Digital Bliss, Boutique Electronique Records, and a plethora of promotional partners, including: Space Cowboys, Opel Productions, Nitevibe, Angels Of Bass, Green Galactic P.R., The Women’s Recording Mission, sexyvisuals, Illeven Eleven Records, each with its own strong following, will join forces to ensure that this event will have massive reach to a diverse and sophisticated audience. We will have a second room upstairs dedicated to a projected footage on NextAid's sustainable development projects for women and youth in Africa, craft tables and a few other DJs.

DJ CELESTE@SLIDE in San Francisco Thursday March 17th

Awwww.... This is actually a private party, but, I still love you! If you have hurt feelings about this, email me and we'll go out for a drink downtown afterward to make up for it! Ha ha. This is a party for Ibex International - who make some of your favorite exercise equipment - we're here to PUMP you UP. I'm flying up to San Frandisco on the 17th to provide high energy jams for these folks.
http://www.slidesf.com/

DJ CELESTE @ THE PRESS CLUB in downtown SF Thurs MArch 3rd

Hello friends in S.F. - I am going to be spinning a downtempo DJ set at THE PRESS CLUB this upcoming THURSDAY the 3rd from 6:00 till 10:30 (20 Yerba Buena Lane @ Market). this bar is swanky and cozy - it's right underneath The 4 Seasons Hotel.
http://www.pressclubsf.com/

DELICIOUS local wines and snacks. Hope you can come!

DJ Celeste is working with NextAid on a few fundraising events!!

DJ Celeste is helping to organize and promote a few fundraising events for NEXTAID - an incredibly effective non-profit organization with various projects benefiting women and children in Africa. This flyer is for our Los Angeles event - "Beauty and the Beats" and we also have the same event coming up March 31st in San Francisco at Public Works SF gallery/performance space also featuring stylists who will be donating their time and talents to the cause.

PLEASE MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR!

Celeste Lear LIVE at Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco!

CELESTE LEAR BAND LIVE AT SHINE IN S.F. WED. JULY 21st. 9:00

Please come see me as funky little Swiss Miss at SHINE in S.F. this Wednesday, July 21st. We go on at 9:00. cover is $5.00. We love you!