Northern California's local guitarist, singer, songwriter, and gifted storyteller, Giovanni Mandala, has just released his solo CD, Hydra. In this breathtakingly original collection of songs, forging new ground somewhere between Rob Thomas and the Goo Goo Dolls, we’re led through a hero’s journey that embraces both the highs and lows of life. We navigate myriad emotional transitions through the soul of a muse who invites each of us to confront our own demons—while we’re called to courage as we triumph through the ages. The songs and their poignant messages are filled with life, love, and lust. The new work, complete with 10 original rock songs that combine acoustic and electric guitar, is available at itunes,  CDBaby and Amazon .