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Industry Veteran, Musician Helping IMBA

Published July 13, 2011

LOS ANGELES, CA (BRAIN)—After one too many close calls because of rutted and washed out trails in the Southern California trail systems, 18-year industry veteran and music producer Jim Furey has had enough and will be using album sales from his music project Solarno (click on link) to help raise funds for the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).

“I was thinking about some of the crashes I’ve had over the years and remembered one memorable New Years Day ride a couple of years ago in the Palo Comado Canyon area," Furey said. "Having ridden the area for years I was very familiar with the trail, but not for the state of disrepair a few sections were in. That unexpected disrepair, along with an unfortunate moment of rider error, led to a very painful shoulder injury.”

That memory was enough to help Furey realize that through Solarno he could do something to help not just his local trails, but trail systems around the world and the riders who enjoy them. Starting with the July 12 release of his new album "Robot Junkyard – Derivative," Furey will be giving 25 percent of the net proceeds from sales of all Solarno albums and individual songs to IMBA.

“I feel that this is a way that I can give back to an industry and hobby that has brought so much enjoyment to me over the past two decades," Furey said. "Nothing turns off novice riders faster than trails that are no fun or potentially dangerous to ride, and helping to make sure IMBA has the continued funding to assist local agencies build and maintain trails will keep those riders coming back and bringing their friends.”

Furey also plans on helping those in greater need by sending another 25 percent of the net proceeds to the American Red Cross to assist in disaster relief where needed.

“With the recent disaster in Japan and the terrible flooding in North Dakota it is more important than ever that we assist in any way possible those who need it," Furey said. "You never know when that person might be you.”

‘Robot Junkyard – Derivative’ is the third independent release from Solarno. It contains 13 new remixes of songs featured on the 2010 release "Robot Junkyard." The Solarno music project explores ideas of science, technology, and history through the medium of electronic music and digital production to achieve his vision of “creating aural beauty one byte at a time.”

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