This video is the deepest dive into my life in design. If you are an aspiring artist or designer, this might be the one for you as I focus on insights throughout into the ups and downs, on how to pitch yourself into jobs and seize opportunities. It’s also pretty fun to watch!
This video features lots of unseen personal images, a chronological history of a life in design
This fun Zoom cast interview (scrub to 17 minutes) discusses the original Disneyland “Space Mountain” soundtrack, how it came to life, the Fedex sponsorship and even more!
17M into this news update, Tom of WDWNEWsToday interviews Eddie Sotto, diving deeper into how the on board audio system for Disneyland’s “Space Mountain” ride came about, and why SottoStudios produced an homage to original 1996 Dick Dale soundtrack.
“Escape from Space Mountain” is a 3 minute single made as a fun tribute to the first synced audio soundtrack on Disneyland’s “Space Mountain” ride for which Dick Dale, King of the Surf Guitar” played. We celebrate his unique sound on this 60th anniversary of his first Surf record.
“Sometimes you do things because they are creatively challenging and a fun process to experience. This is one of those times. We did this for fun, not to get rich, believe me.
Eddie Sotto, Dick Dale, and composer, musican Aarin Richard in the Studio at WDI. ©Disney
After producing the first on-board audio soundtrack for Disneyland’s “Space Mountain”, ( Disneyland’s indoor rollercoaster in the dark,) with composer Aarin Richard back in 1996, I got the itch to reimagine that haunting melody again, not as a timed ride soundtrack, but as a full on “Rock n’ Roll” record with “surf punk” guitarist Laramie Dean’s aggressive approach. Why? Because Dick Dale,”King of the Surf Guitar” provided his signature “chainsaw” guitar licks to the original and we wanted to pay homage to that raw sound and go further. Laramie Dean, a protege of Dick Dale who headlined and toured with him, seemed the right choice to take a fun crack at it. It was also the 60th anniversary of the surf sound this year, it just seemed right! So we spent two years toying with it, recording when the studio was open, or when the right talent was available, like “Blondie’s” amazing drummer Clem Burke. Even getting the bass player Roger Freeland from the famously defunct Tomorrowland band, “Halyx” to sit in as part of our SciFi story. Jimmy Dale, Dick’s son even stopped by to play his signature “Miserlou” riff to make this a true tribute. Jimmy is part of Laramie’s touring band that performed it live only two miles from the ride itself!
Laramie Dean, Trevor Lucca, Jimmy Dale and Dave Klein shred “Escape from Space Mountain” LIVE at the Doll Hut, Anaheim
So with great pleasure, we can finally say we’ve completed what we call “Escape from Space Mountain”, a SciFi homage to the 1996 original! Now on iTunes and Apple Music, coming soon to Vinyl. What did I do? Reprise my role as “Mission Control” from the original with the phrase “We have Ignition!” and now, thanks to Laramie Dean….we finally do!”
- Eddie Sotto
That was Sotto at the Doll Hut reprising his signature “We have Ignition!” to get the song going. Here are some revealing interviews with the band members and clips from our first live performance only 2 miles from Space Mountain! ©Sottostudios
FULL ARTICLE HERE. https://www.inparkmagazine.com/sub-sea-systems-sottostudios/
This video of my first Aquaticar “Voyage” was taken at SubSeaSystems test facility near Sacramento CA. So FUN!
Here’s our first conceptual pass at a “Jules Verne” styled Aquaticar.
After the fish go to sleep, a new nighttime version comes alive with much to explore.
This work in progress was abruptly cancelled in 1989, leaving much to still be visualized and refined. That is the assignment! Finish the design! What an opportunity. Art ©Disney
Eddie Sotto has been given the rare opportunity to complete the design visualization for a Disney project that was never built by picking up where he left off over 30 years ago! More info on the history here. A limited edition, slipcase portfolio of 6 sketched views of what was to be a 1920’s version of the classic Disneyland Paris Main Street will be produced for sale in many forms later this year. We will see areas and interiors that were never completed in 1988, such as the Speakeasy. This is not the first time Eddie has created limited art for the parks. In the past, he has produced products for The Disney Gallery and WDW’s Club 33, Here’s the video they showed in Paris April 12th at D23 to announce the special collection. ©Disney/SottoStudios
This year marks 40 years of success for Tokyo Disneyland. From 1996 to 2000 Sotto was the VP executive running creative master planning for Tokyo Disneyland so there are many good stories. A fun “must watch” hour with Tom talking the development of SciFi City, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Queen of Hearts Dining Hall, Bon Voyage and other Tokyo Disney Resort attractions.
March 31, 2023. Forbes put together a great articles that frankly, shows what used to be the ugly business side of Disneyland Paris in an entirely new light. As someone who worked on the project, it just feels tgood to hear that the park has finally come of age financially.
Click the image to read the story.
Eddie Sotto gives his most in-depth interview on the anniversary of the park that “worked the hardest to get to this point.” Sotto, who was the producer/designer for the Main Street USA section, shares the ups, downs, and race to the finish line of April 12 1992. Well illustrated with original art and many unheard stories, Eddie and WDW News are at their very best. Don’t miss this anniversary interview.
