Look what just arrived!

Hey there, great news, I now have in my possession 500 Stray Birds EP's!  I took a few highly professional pictures on Photo Booth.  Here's a first look.

 

Front

 

inside

 

Back

Spine (with "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly")

Nice right?  That, of coarse, is the artwork of Jessica Rae Gordon.   The EP will be in stores and online on December 2nd, I will post various sites and store addresses soon.  I've also recently received new T-shirts, which a very handsome model is displaying below.

 

Talk soon!

EP Preview: Track Listing!

Hello, we're getting closer to the date!  I'm patiently waiting for the albums to be manufactured.  In the meantime, here's a little bit about the songs on the EP.

Shawn Clarke & the Green Hearts- Stray Birds


1. Corners of Your Mouth (intro)
2. In Transit
3. Cold Wind
4. Eggshells
5. Corners of Your Mouth


1. Corners of Your Mouth (intro) has been around for a long time.  Originally written for "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly".  In the original version, I played a chord organ.  It was a little out of place in the "Like Birds" session, so we didn't record it.  We did a couple different versions for this session, the one with Marty Smyth playing piano is the one we used.

2. In Transit is the oldest song on the EP.  Written before the "Like Birds" session, I had envisioned it with a horn section, making it a little out of place for the album (ended up recording with Accordion instead).  Written out of boredom on a bus trip from Orillia to Toronto, I played out a possible love between two people in the seat ahead of me. Great session with Sean Lancaric, drummer of Wilderness of Manitoba.

3. Cold Wind is one of my most serious, straight ahead folk tunes.  Written after reading an article about a Sudbury mine closing after only a year of operation.  The foreign company that owned the mine promised a minimum of 3 years without layoffs.  Much too dark for "Like Birds..."

4. Eggshells was written by Olenka Krakus.  I love her songwriting, she's easily one of my favorites, and thankfully, is also a good friend.  This is a love song (one of her rare happy ones!) but because of the chord progression, and our arrangement, it sounds like a dark Tom Waits tune!  Sean appears again on drums.

5. Corners of Your Mouth was written during the sessions for "Stray Birds".  I felt I needed a fifth song, and thought a tie-in with the first track would be good.  I started writing it as a love song, but it eventually turned much darker.  Other than sharing the phrase "Corners of Your Mouth" the songs have no real relation to each other.  You can actually download this track from the Static Zine mix-tape. 


So there you have it!  Keep checking back, I will be updating more as we get close to December 2nd!

EP Preview: Album Cover!

Hey there, just wanted to show you all a little something.  You'll notice my website has changed it's look, well it was inspired by the album cover for "Stray Birds"!  Check it out below, let me know what you think!

 

Special thanks to Jessica Rae Gordon, who illustrated and designed the packaging. 

EP Preview: Meet the Green Hearts

Hey there, we're getting closer and closer to the release of my new EP "Stray Birds".  This time,  you'll notice a change in the band name.  We're now called Shawn Clarke & the Green Hearts!  The reason for this is that on 2010's "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly", I didn't really have a band.  I just called in favours from some of my friends.  This time, I cut back on the guest appearances and tried to focus on working was a small group, and I'd like to introduce them to you.

Mark Hart
Mark and I go way back.  When I moved to Toronto and started at Humber College, we were roommates.  He's an extremely talented guitarist, who also contributes Octave Mandolin to the project.  You can also hear his work with the band "Carly and Mark"  Check out the video below.




Sara Ciantar
Sara, I met recently at a songwriting circle.  Her accordion playing and gorgeous vocals are an essential part of the new EP.  She also has a couple albums out, check out her song "Wreck Beach" from the album "Lines for Keeping"



Marty Smyth
Marty is why my albums sound so good.  He recorded the new EP as well as the last LP at his church studio in the northern part of Toronto.  He also plays a mean bass guitar (and even drops some piano on the new EP).  Marty plays with a bunch of acts, but this video is from one of my favorites, here he plays piano with Drag Queen Juanita Pancettas



Sean Lancaric
When we needed a drummer for this recording, there is only one man I wanted, and that was Sean Lancaric.  He graciously took time out of his busy touring schedule with Wilderness of Manitoba to record a couple songs on the EP.  Check him out here with his Wilderness crew.  Recorded for Southern Souls. 



Well that's the crew!  Keep checking in, I'll have new EP news coming up very soon!

Hear a new song from my upcoming EP "Stray Birds"

Zine culture is alive and well here in Toronto.  Static Zine puts out it's 2nd edition, you should be able to find it in many of your favorite Toronto hangouts.  Anyways, they put together a playlist of Toronto bands for each edition.  This year, they asked me to submit a song.  I decided to give them something new!  SO, if you click on the picture below, you can download the whole playlist featuring Ohbijou, The Weeknd, Wilderness of Manitoba, Parks and Rec, and many more...(and me)!  The song is called "Corners of Your Mouth", it closes off the Playlist and will close of the EP.

P.S. EP release news coming up soon!

EP Preview: Continuing an artistic tradition with Jessica Rae Gordon

Hey folks.  Just wanted to update you a little more on the new EP!  In particular, the artwork.  As with 2010's "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly", and my 2006 EP "The Green Room", the art work for "Stray Birds" will be handled the by the very talented Jessica Rae Gordon.  She's really one of my favorites.  I will be debuting the artwork shortly, but if you're curious about Jessica's work, please check out her website by clicking the picture below.

If you're unfamiliar with our previous work together, check out the following pics.  Hope all is well!  I will be updating more frequently as we get closer to the release date!

Green Room Ep 2006

Like Birds Too Tired to Fly cover 2010

Like Birds... inside CD 2010

Like Birds... Illustration 2010

Like Birds... CD release poster 2010

Recording done, Mixing up next!

Hey there, just a quick update.  We've done recording 5 tracks for the new EP, which is now called "Stray Birds".  4 of the 5 are songs that weren't quite the right fit for 2010's "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly", and the 5th song was written with the last couple weeks!  So expect something a little different.  I go in to mix with Marty Smyth at his Church studio tomorrow, and hopefully will have a little taste for you shortly.

We've also booked the night for the EP release!  Friday Dec 2nd at Rancho Relaxo!  More details will follow.

I hope all is well with everyone, and that those in Ontario got out and voted today!

Shows next week! Ottawa and Toronto!

Hey kittens, Shawn here, whatcha up to next week?  If you live in the Ottawa area, how about heading over to Umi Cafe (610 Somerset St W) Wednesday and see me and the Green Hearts play?  It's an early show, starting at 6pm with Sara Ciantar, and you'll be done in time to see Cousins from the east coast rock out at Raw Sugar!  Check out this wonderful review from one of Ottawa's best blogs Photogmusic!

Next up, on Thurs Sept 15th, we'll be playing at Tranzac in Toronto, with two of our favorite bands Modern Field Recordings, and Handsome Dan and his Gallimaufry!  Both bands have new albums out, and that's one of the best lineups of the year.  Truth.

Hope all is well!

EP recording!

Hey there, quick update, last week the Green Hearts and I got together to record a couple songs!  We had very special guest Sean Lancaric (Wilderness of Manitoba) playing drums!  GH guitarist Mark Hart took a few pictures (I think I took the ones of him), and I thought I'd show them off.  Enjoy!

We plan on heading into the studio again next week to round out the EP.  I should have more news for you soon.

New Videos, Shows and Recording!

Hey there, just wanted to update a few cool things happening.

ONnneeeeeE:  New vids on my youtube channel.  I put up 2 videos from my Hugh's room set, and 2 videos from my NXNE set.   All four filmed by my good friend Cody Walker.  They include 2 unreleased songs, a song from the album, and an Arcade Fire cover!



TwWooooo:  Shows... it's a busy week this week, 3 shows in 2 cities.  Tomorrow night the gang and I will be at Not My Dog (1510 Queen St. W), opening for Abigail Lapell and Goose (from Montreal).  Thursday find the Green Hearts and I traveling to Waterloo to play Maxwells (220 King St. N).  And on Friday I'll be at the Free Times Cafe (320 College St), both those shows will feature opener Sara Ciantar!
Check back for some interesting gigs coming up in August and September!

ThreeEEeE: the biggest news, the gang and I will be going into the studio to record an EP!  It will feature the Green Hearts and special guest drummer Sean Lancaric (Wilderness of Manitoba).  This 4 song EP will consist of a few songs that weren't quite ready for "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly".  Hopefully I'll have more news on that later!

Thanks for reading to the end, here's that Arcade Fire cover I mentioned earlier, hope all is well!