Official website

Happy to announce the "official" Montclaire website is finally up and running. Hope you like it.

http://www.montclairemusic.com/

I'm gonna do this.

Wasn't planning a trip home to Hawaii anytime soon...but got the call to play this show with some of my favorite Hawaii indie artists at the historic Hawai'i Theatre and I couldn't pass it up. If you are in the 808...I hope to see you there!

Teaser #2: "The Shift"

I've held onto this footage of the swifts roosting in the Chapman School chimney for two years now. Seemed like a good time to combine it with a clip from the song "The Shift." Track #2 on the EP and teaser #2 for you all. That lovely male voice you hear in the background is the one and only Nate Ashely. I hope you enjoy it.

An 'Alternative HI'

After some back and forth of my new tracks they are FINALLY, OFFICIALLY, getting mastered. No really...they are. I promise.

In the meantime, one of my first songs that I ever wrote called "Over-rated Town" was recently released on a compilation called 'Alternative HI' (Mountain Apple Co.), put together by some of my friends back in Hawaii, Brandon Apeles and Shawn Livingston Moseley. It is available on iTunes and includes 18 Hawaii bands that are working hard to raise the awareness and appreciation for independent alternative music in the Islands. I am so proud to have been a part of such a wonderful group of musicians...and my song is track #1! Extra bonus!

I recorded it last May at Soul Sound Studio in Kaneohe, HI with Shawn and Brandon, and musicians Elija Oguma and Toni Wong on accompaniment.

To be honest, I was skeptical about recording this song at first, because I had tried to record it about three different times (and studios) prior and it never seemed to translate well as a recorded track. I found this video taken by Eli (Oguma) the night I recorded the song. It's not the greatest lighting or take, but it was the first time I went over the song with Shawn who helped me arrange the song to what you hear on the recording. I am not going to include the final track...because you are just going to have to check it and the 17 bands tracks here.

Over Rated Town

This over rated town

Lifts me up to drag me down

Got memories of better days when

All you said would make me stay

Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah

Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah

But it's not enough to

Set me free of this

Over rated town that rests on me

From black and white to shades of gray

I'm struggling to make my way

Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah

Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah

Wasted dreams that I live to tell

In the only place that I know so well

I'm feeling restless, and careless

Pretending that I like this

Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah

Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah

And I won't be held back by you

No I won't be held back by you

Oh yeah, Oh yeah

Oh yeah, Oh yeah

Back from Hawaii

 

My trip to Hawaii seemed too short! I'm back in the PNW now and just going through some pictures I took. Thought I'd share that one above. It's near my home on Oahu. I've walked that path hundreds of times. Stared out at the bay and just enjoyed how beautiful it is. It was nice to hang out there for a bit this past week. 

I had three shows in Hawaii. Sorry I was really bad about promoting them on my blog. They seemed to have popped-up out of nowhere and I just lost track. I'll do better on the next shows...I promise. 

It was a good opportunity to play a few new Montclaire songs along with my old stuff. Thanks to everyone who showed-up! I had such a great time. Special thanks to Sing The Body, Candy Diaz, Erika Elona and Pink Mist. They performed solid sets that helped to make the shows even more special. 

 Photo by: Candy Diaz

Coming up? Last 3 little fixes on my EP mixes, mastering, then release. Can't wait.

This tonight. In Hawaii.

Solo shows

Truth be told, I never really knew what I would do with Montclaire. After performing folk-inspired songs so long as 'Sabrina' I wanted to start with a clean slate. This didn't mean that the music would be extremely different, but it would hopefully show growth, include more sonic landscapes, and also not be related to a person, but just the song as itself.

That being said, it had been months since I performed that when I wrote the songs I didn't really think much about how I would perform my songs alone. Out-of-the-blue, I bought a ticket home to Hawaii for a bit. I haven't been back in months and wanted to reconnect with my family and friends.

It seemed like the perfect opportunity to step back into performing again so I have two shows set-up with two great bands on May 2 and 3. The first, Sing The Body and the second, Pink Mist. Both are extremely talented bands and present their music with lots of passion and power. I felt I would be in good company. Not to mention that they are dear friends.

More details to come. And wish me luck on the solo shows. I'm still trying to figure out...pare down? Or loop the hell out of it? We'll see.