Music can lift one’s heart and mood. It can also move a crowd. In the Mile Square, there is perhaps no bigger or better community of artists who aim to do that. Whether by tweaking the sound as an engineer in a recording studio, inspiring the future with their voices or moving the masses with sound – this issue is for all the musicians out there and the people who love them.

This summer, hMAG aims to bring that sound to your doorstep. On the lawn of Pier A on August 18^th, the skyline is going to come alive with the beat of Lackawanna Music Fest – hMAG’s third annual free concert on the Hudson. Contributor Tricia Tirella, an outdoor concert aficionado, tells her own tale of attending festivals and gives readers a glimpse of what to expect in Hoboken.

Yet live music is only one part of a musician’s life – it is the crescendo, the very public and very polished product. What many don’t see are the countless hours spent composing, rehearsing, and recording. This month’s hLIFE spotlights music studios. There are many music studios in Hoboken – some big, some small. And the musicians who chose to work with certain studios often do so for a reason. The name that springs to the lips of many notable performers is, of course, the Pigeon Club. And what they all say is the Pigeon Club wouldn’t be the place it is without Wayne Dorell. His success doesn’t just come from his combined talents as engineer, producer, and musician. It the comfortable appeal of the club, the relationship he forges with musicians and his attention to detail.

Since our music festival is on the waterfront, we thought it was fitting to look at groups who were drawn to the majestic Hudson. This month’s Heritage examines the history of clubs in the Mile Square, namely, boat and yacht clubs that held court in our city.

And as summer winds down, I urge you to get out there! This is the time to enjoy the great outdoors. So sip a cocktail in a café, take a walk along the water, and enjoy all the great free events this season has to offer.

So bring us your quirky, your fabulous, or just plain fun. We want to hear from you. We thank you and invite you along on our journey.

Enthusiastically yours,

Diana Schwaeble – Editor

& all of the hMAG Team