Oceans Merge Music
“As we merge our love and music in to this beautiful world in which we live, we hope that it will bring you, our listeners, some power, connection, comfort, healing, inspiration, hope, joy and peace, all merged in to one.” Danny Habermann and Mandy Waegeli
The two colours most often associated with the ocean are azure blue and emerald green, certainly from the perspective of romantics. It is these images that permeate through Oceans Merge Music’s repertoire and where, as artists, the music derives.
As a Pisces, Amanda grew up in Geelong, Victoria, and has always loved and felt connected to the ocean. Daniel grew up in Bundaberg, Queensland (if he ever grew up at all!).
Where Amanda identified with the Southern and Indian Oceans, Daniel belongs to the Pacific Ocean. Where Amanda would watch the sizzling west coast sunsets where the sun gradually disappears into the ocean on a warm summer’s evening, Daniel grew up accustomed to seeing the sun and moon rise from the ocean.
As each walked the verges as solitary beachcombers, both he and Amanda experienced the sheer exhilaration of a connection with nature – an energy that would ultimately bring them together.
Theirs is a love story that first ignited with thousands of kilometres between them. Their passage to find each other may have been long, but emerged on a deep and spiritual level with a combined love for music.
It was the south-western most tip of Western Australia at Cape Leeuwin, where two oceans meet, where the Oceans Merge concept took hold as a musical and poetical collaboration.
Their travels took them to Albany and Esperance, as well as the Great Ocean Road from Geelong to Port Fairy, and later to Cape Byron. At each of these locations, they shared the music of gulls screeching, the wistful melodies of sirens singing, the cries of sailors cast ashore upon rocks.
Their connection to nature continues to act as an inspiration for their music and has taken it to a new and powerful level, way beyond their dreams.
Contributing musicians
We record all of our music at the studio of Restless Music which is located in a quiet rural setting close to Storm King Dam at Eukey near Stanthorpe in the Granite Belt area in far Southern Queensland.
Restless Music is owned by Roger Ilott and his beautiful partner, soul-mate and music collaborator Penny Davies. They are well known within Australian Folk Music circles, and anyone could hear their music on any Sunday morning by tuning to Ian “Macca” MacNamara on ABC’s Australia All Over.
As well as recording all of our music, Roger also edits and mixes, and contributes a number of different instruments, including Rickenbacker 12 String Electric, Pedal Steel, and Keyboards. He and Penny also contribute backing vocals in some of the songs. He has this “way” of knowing what needs to be added to our songs to make them cohesive and complete.
It is always a pleasure to work with Roger, and we always look forward to his cups of tea and home baked scones.
Also Daniel’s daughters Sarah and Meghan sometimes contribute backing vocals, and Sarah has been known to play acoustic guitar on some tracks.