(PR) Symphonic rock's Erik Norlander and Lana Lane have joined forces with internationally bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson (Dune novels with Brian Herbert, Star Wars and X-Files novels) for a groundbreaking crossover novel and progressive rock recording project titled Terra Incognita. Anderson has created an incredible fantasy universe with sailing ships, sea monsters, and the crusades. Erik Norlander, an accomplished keyboardist/composer and a founding member of progressive rock band Rocket Scientists, joined the project upon its inception to pen the music and produce the recording after a meeting with Anderson and Shawn Gordon of ProgRock Records. Norlander's wife, Queen of Symphonic Rock Lana Lane, was recruited as the lead female vocalist.
"The 'Terra Incognita' project is really the perfect convergence of spirits," affirms Norlander. "I have been a fan of Kevin's novels for some time, and Kevin enjoys many of the CDs I've produced. Normally we would have a hard time collaborating as we really work in different media. But we found a common link in ProgRock Records chief, Shawn Gordon, with whom I have worked for several years as both my label distributor and general comrade-in-arms. Shawn brought us all together for a lunch meeting last year, and that was the catharsis for this excellent project. This is surely a unique exercise in mixed media, and I'm thrilled to be involved."
John Payne (ASIA Featuring John Payne) is featured as a vocalist on the project. Norlander became an official member of ASIA Featuring John Payne at the end of 2007, and has been touring and recording with Payne since that time. A special live performance featuring John Payne and Lana Lane as special guests with Norlander's Rocket Scientists band is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th at The Winchester in Cleveland, Ohio.
Other Terra Incognita vocalists include James LaBrie (Dream Theater) and Michael Sadler (ex-Saga). Additional musicians include David Ragsdale (Kansas), Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery), Chris Quirarte (Prymary), Kurt Barabas (Under the Sun), and Chris Brown (Ghost Circus) with Shawn Gordon (ProgRock Records) as executive producer. Collectively, this creative team has sold over 40 million units worldwide.
Terra Incognita is a synergistic project unlike anything ever seen in the publishing and music business - an original novel and original CD from the same author. Anderson developed and expanded one of the novel's storylines to form the basis of an epic rock CD under the band name Roswell Six. He and his wife, bestselling author Rebecca Moesta, wrote all of the lyrics to the songs.
Terra Incognita is available now for pre-sales through ProgRock Records at http://www.progrockrecords.com/artists/view.php?id=116. The CD will ship in late April and the novel titled Terra Incognita: The Edge of the World by June. Street date for brick and mortar retailers is June 2, 2009. Special bundling and discounted offers will also be available on the ProgRock site along with a limited amount of autographed copies.