To date Mars has successfully released 21 solo albums and has a full arsenal of production credits to match. Currently (2009) Mars' music can be heard on NBC's Conviction, The Medium, Law And Order, Law And Order SVU, America's Got Talent, and Fox's Emmy Awarding winning show "24". Mars' 21st solo album 11.05 Revival is available on ITunes and Emusic along with his entire catalog. Mars' first solo album Olympus was frequently used by CBS during their broadcast of the Winter Olympic Games from Albertville, France and the record reached Top Ten in the Progressive Adult Contemporary radio charts. His second solo album The Eleventh Hour represented an adventurous future path for Lasar; pushing the boundaries of what is considered New Age into areas of avant-garde, dance, acid jazz, industrial, and world beat. The Eleventh Hour can still be heard at radio across America, Canada, and Mexico with continued success in Europe, Asia and South America. Considered cutting-edge in composition, style and production, this record reached American Billboard's Top 10 NAC. The fourth CD, Olympic National Park, showcases yet another dimension of Mars' talent. Celebrating America's National Parks, Mars fuses the sounds of nature with his composition, producing an uplifting and provoking musical journey. Escape & Sapphire Dreams quickly followed. His 8th release in 2001 Karma hit #4 NAV (New Age Voice) Top 100. His music is frequently heard on television and in films, including "Jason's Lyric" and the "6th Man". Songs from Mars' solo albums have also been heard on television shows including Baywatch, Young & The Restless, General Hospital and Hard Copy to name but a few. His song writing and production talents span a multitude of genres including New Age, Pop, Rock, Metal, Jazz, Classical and Electronica. See his solo album catalog
Mars has been featured in such publications as the LA Times, Spin, The Chicago Sun Times and Billboard Magazine. Mars has appeared on The Discovery Channel's Movie Magic for his technical wizardry, and received numerous awards, including two platinum records. The first for his work on Crazy, the hit record by England's recording artist Seal, and his second for, "Love Is Still Enough", a song Mars wrote and produced with America's Sovory. Love Is Still Enough was featured on the soundtrack from the movie Jason's Lyric. Mars has worked with such Artists as T.a.t.u, Divinyls, Jon Stevens (INXS), Rick Dufay (Aerosmith), Steve Balsamo, Erin Williams, Xavier, and Siedah Garrett, best known for her collaborations with Michael Jackson and Brand New Heavies. He has also produced Herbie Hancock, John Sykes (White Snake), French Diva Liane Foly and Sovory. In 2002 hit Russian band T.a.t.u hired Mars to write and produce songs for their project. As a result of their collaboration, one of the tracks was entered into the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest earning third place amongst the 26 countries entered.
Mars' production BigBox was licensed to Apple Macintosh for their promotion of the IBook Computer. This album has received much attention, with multiple tracks reaching #1 on MP3's Industrial Electronica charts. BigBox was recently joined by Vertical Velocity, an equally cutting-edge yet slightly more melodic album.
Mars' follow up to The Eleventh Hour. Aptly titled 11:02 was eagerly embraced by fans both newand old. 2000 saw the release of Mars' 7th CD release, When Worlds Collide. Karma Mars' 8th release, takes you into the genre of 'world music'. Karma is an embracing and energetic album that takes you places you haven't been before.
In November 2005 Mars releases his album "11.22 Arrival". One more gem in the Eleventh Hour series, soaring into undiscovered musical galaxies. Captures the essence of an ecclectic variety of styles but with the distinct flavor of Mars' plight for hope and renewal within modern existence. An adventurous collection of songs that bravely explore brand new sonic dimensions.
In December 2005 mars released his Baby Escapes series. This 8 CD set is comprised of music composed specifically for infants and children to age 7. Carefully calibrated to work with a child's natural rhythm, Baby Escapes is a gentle lullaby that seamlessly repeats.
Also in 2001 upon popular request Mars released his first Christmas album titled Christmas from Mars. This collection of classic Christmas songs fused with Mars' production and songwriting genius is something for your Christmas cd collection.
In late 2003 Mars completed his newest set of albums 11.04-Panorama the fourth in the Eleventh Hour series, Final Frontier the first in the motivational series, Nocturnal Diaries another eclectic tribute to nature & Collaborations, a sound diary of Mars' collaborations with friends over the years. Not only does Mars create the music but he also creates the artwork for each album. In most cases each album image is from his fine art collection.
Also, in October 2005 Mars releases his first photographic series Prints from Mars. Stunning nature scenes from around the globe.
Mars" release Yosemite Valley of the Giants, released by Gemini Sun Records, hit the top 10 position on the NAR top 100 chart. This transcendent musical adventure is a multi-sensory journey through one of the world 's most magical creations of nature, Yosemite Valley. You will smell the pungent wildflowers, feel the glacial winds on your face, hear the roar of the skyscraping waterfalls and experience deep inner peace and mystic contemplation inspired by the spirit of mother nature 's most awesome masterpiece, Yosemite. Wash in a symphony of multicultural rhythms, melodies and organic sounds that will sooth and inspire you to the core. Truly a living, breathing musical experience for your soul, from the home of the Valley of the Giants via the extraordinary Mars Lasar.
11:05 Revival - Mars Lasar
Reviewed by Michael Debbage
SoloPianoPublications.com
The Eleventh Hour Series was born back in the year 1993 at a time when New Age instrumental music was at its peak of popularity. The first in the series featured the very popular track “Cellular City” that received significant radio airplay. Though the genre has since been almost wiped out, commercially speaking, Lasar continues to be one of the top dogs of instrumental music, consistently creating insightful and compelling music. Meanwhile, the Eleventh Hour Series resumes with Lasar’s latest musical smorgasbord of songs dedicated to the honor and fragility of Mother Earth.
With a total of eleven tracks, the album opens with the funky but brooding “Earthbound”, driven by a rhythmic bass, swirling keyboards and detailed percussive embellishments. Similar arrangements can be found on “Globalization”, though the melody and vocal chants bring a more significant level of optimism and inspiration. Speaking of inspiration, one of the album's most memorable arrangements can be found on the flowing mid-paced “Graceful Orbit” that showcases Mars Lasar’s ability to display his technical ability for detail without distracting from the gorgeous melody that will deeply bury itself into your memory bank. Close your eyes and let the magical musical experience and your imagination allow you to be transported to your own weightless space walk, floating in the vast starry sky above our wonderful earth.
Most of the remainder of the album centers around mid-tempo creations such as the unusual but compelling “Celestial Challenge” that includes an assortment of keyboard shenanigans, vocal chants and flirtatious flute work. Speaking of flirtatious, skip forward to the sultry, jazzy “By The Sea” featuring Cadence Spalding on vocals. For those of you who remember the movie "The Fabulous Baker Brothers," the song parallels the steamy scene of Michelle Pfeiffer’s red dress song performance on the piano.
In complete contrast, Lasar concludes the album with the stripped down tender “Evolution”, illustrating the artist’s ability to be comfortable in a multitude of musical skins. This element is one of many aspects that continue to keep the Eleventh Hour Series and the music of Mars Lasar intriguing, inspiring and so far removed from being insipid.
Filmmaker Derek K. Milton
British Columbia, Canada
July 08
I was one of the lucky ones to receive the latest musical creation from instrumental artist, Mars Lasar. In short, his wonderful new album; "11:05 Revival." I have to tell you folks, you have to get your hands on this one.
As we all know, music is personal. Falling love with a style of music is as diverse as falling in love with a specific person. Some love country, others rock or punk, others easy listening while others yet live within classical or
something deeply alternative. Either way, no matter the genre, we all get our
fill of musical fixation because that's what our desires, feelings and passion
demands and leads us to. However... magically... that's the great thing about
Mars Lasar and his 'stand alone' music. There seems to be a sprinkling of
something unique that can perk the interest of every last music lover out
there, no matter what realm of music they choose to live in. Mars has a way
of touching all of us and "11:05 Revival" is a fantastic example of how that
reality rings true.
As I sat listening to this tapestry of melodies from this fabulous new album,
I couldn't help but marvel at how Mars has an amazing ability to have his
listeners 'move' to his sounds. It's his gift. One cannot listen to 11:05, or any
other of his amazing works, without some part of their body moving. It's
what he does so well and for the rest of us, thank God he does. 11:05 Revival
is a must have for our CD collection. If you don't have it, you're missing out
on a slice of magic.
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