Recordings! + 10 days left to pre-order/donate!

First thing first, my indiegogo fundraiser campaign is down to the last 10 days!  Please check it out, you can pre-order the album on CD, digital or glorious vinyl!  You can also buy yourself a beautiful print by Jessica Rae Gordon, get a solo or band show, hand written lyrics, etc!  It can all be found here:  http://igg.me/at/ShawnWilliamClarke/x/6645964

 

In other news, we are in the thick of recording right now!  Last weekend, my producer/drummer James Bunton and I drove up to Gravenhurst.  We arrived late at Curries Music, and began our sessions!  First day was spent with acoustic guitars.  The shop had so many to choose from, I ended up using 6 of them(5 from the picture above)!  Including this great 1969 guild N20, once owned by Ontario blues legend Mendelson Joe!

On day 2, bass player David Gluck arrived.  He also found himself with a few instruments at his disposal.  In the end he used 3 electric basses and 1 upright.  Sounded great! 

On day 3, Sara Ciantar arrived.  We worked on a song as a trio, then focused on Sara's accordion and organ playing.  There were 2 Hammond Organs in the studio, so we tried our best to utilize them!

We had a great time in Gravenhurst, and now we've started the overdubs in Toronto.  Friday was spent on my vocals.  I've been taking a few lessons, so things were sounding pretty alright.  I also took the opportunity to put down a little more guitar, this time using a Kay parlour guitar from the mid 60's.  A really nice touch!

Today we have Stephen Dyte in to lay down some horns.  Followed by a guest on Pedal Steel and some vocalists! Keep checking in for updates.

New Album! Details, and how you can help!

This weekend I head into the studio to record my sophomore release, the follow up to 2010's "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly".  I'm pretty excited!  I have acclaimed producer James Bunton (of Ohbijou and Evening Hymns fame) behind the mixing board, and some great musicians coming in to do their thing!  I think this is really going to be something special.

As you may know, albums can cost a lot of money to make, if you want to make it right.  You really get what you pay for.   This record is going to cost roughly 9 grand when all is said and done.  To help this along, I've started an indiegogo fundraiser campaign to help raise about $6,000.  This is basically a pre-order (with a few other exciting perks).  If you'd like to get your hands on the album (digital, CD and VINYL!), or just see some of the other perks I have, please check out this link (and share!)

http://igg.me/at/ShawnWilliamClarke/x/6645964

And if you're curious about some of the music you'll be hearing on this album, check out this video I did with Sara Ciantar!





Not too bad if ya ask me.  Wish me luck in the studio! We have all these instruments to deal with.

Bonnie Prince Billy Cover

About a month ago, the Calgary based music blog Slowcoustic asked me to record a Will Oldham cover for a project they were putting together.  I'm a huge fan of the Bonnie Prince Billy albums, so I naturally said yes.

After some deliberation I settled on this track from "Ease Down the Road".  Special thanks to Alli Sunshine for singing harmonies and Kristian Pederson who recorded/mixed and played Wurlitzer!

Feel free to download and/share! 

New Album information!

Hello there!  It's been a while.  I have some really good news, this April I will be going back into the studio with a bunch of wonderfully talented individuals to record my 2nd full length album!  This will be a follow up to 2010's critically acclaimed "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly" (it was totally critically acclaimed, check out the NOW Magazine review for example.... I wouldn't lie about this!)

Who are these individuals?  Well I'm glad you asked.  First and foremost, I'm very excited to say that I'll be working with the very talented James Bunton.  You may know James as the drummer for Ohbijou, or for his production work with acts such as Evening Hymns, Barzin, Gentleman Reg, The Acorn, Diamond Rings... actually, just check out his website here for his list of projects, it's VERY extensive.  He'll be taking care of the producing, mixing and percussion side of this project.  Yay!

He totally plays on this, and gets some sort of liquid dumped on him.

I'll be bringing back some old friends as well, Sara Ciantar will be providing her accordion and vocal skills as she did on my 2011 EP Stray Birds!  She's really a delight to work with, and has been making me sound better live for the last 3 years or so.

What else can you expect from this album?  Horns!  Yup.  Trumpet, Trombone... etc.... And all will be arranged and played by the very talented Steve Dyte!  Steve plays with... well... pretty much everybody.  You can catch him with KC Roberts and the Live Revolution, he's put his time in with Classic Albums Live, and he's found himself on stage with the likes of Sloan, Brett Caswell, Valery Gore and Jully Black to name but a few.

  Both Steve and Sara play on this!  Trumpet!  Accordion!

We'll be recording partially in Toronto, and partially in gravenhurst Ontario at my favorite place in the world, Curries Music!  So that's the basics.  I will be updating frequently with more info as it progresses, you can look forward to some pictures, videos from the sessions, and very soon I'll be setting up a fundraising campaign for the post production!  In the meantime, please peruse my Bandcamp page and if there's anything you don't have, download it!  It's all pay what you can, with ALL money going towards this new album.

Until we meet again! 

3 Great shows!

Heyo!  I have 3 pretty great shows coming up, and I thought i'd let you know about them.  Really excited to be playing with these people!  Check out some of their music by clicking on their names below! 

Saturday January 25, Orillia Ontario

First up, I'll be playing in my hometown of Orillia this Saturday at The Brownstone with Aaron Mangoff and Scott Cooper !


Sunday February 2nd, Toronto Ontario

Next, I'm playing with my good friends Olenka Krakus and Jos Fortin!  I haven't seen these 2 in a while, and I think they're both great songwriters and wonderful people.  We'll be at Holy Oak 9pm Sharp!

Thursday February 6th, Hamilton Ontario

Finally, I'm excited to play with Sarah Beatty again, and, for the first time, Chris Altmann!  Sarah, you may remember, shared a stage with me at the Folk Music Ontario conference.  She's really great.  And Chris records with my favourite new record label, Seventh Fire! We'll be playing at Homegrown Hamilton. 

So if you've been meaning to get out to a show, then I strongly suggest hitting up one of these! Talk soon.  

Top 11 albums, top 6 ep's and a special gift to you (at the end of the post)

Here we go, 2013's top albums and EP's as chosen by me in no particular order! (Why 11 and 6?  Why not?!).  For the year, I had been picking 2 albums as my favorites, Evening Hymns Spectral Dusk and Andy Shauf's The Bearer of Bad News.  Unfortunately both were released in 2012... so without further ado, the best of 2013!




 Jim Guthrie - Takes Time

What I love about this album is how unexpected each song is. Nice songs with exciting production.  Listen here

Daniel Romano - Come Cry With Me

The country album of the year.  Romano continues his transition into a 70 year old country singer.  Listen here

Little Kid - River of Blood

Probably the least known on this list, and that's a shame. London Ontario's Little Kid writes like know one else I know.  Listen here

Shugo Tokumaru - In Focus?

If I absolutely had to pick a favorite on this list, it'd be this one.  This album is so wacky, yet has some of the best written  melodies I've ever heard.  Listen here

Hayden - Us Alone

Hayden has been a constant throughout my life.  But this year I think he's released his finest, most mature record.  Listen here

Sigur Ros - Kveikur

Sigur Ros released, in my opinion, probably their best album of all time this year, and not many people talked about it.  Well I'm starting the conversation now!  Listen to the first track here

Snorri Helgason - Autumn Skies 

A trip to Iceland this year, reaped a wealth of musical discoveries.  Helgason writes beautiful folk rock. If you're a fan of the next act, you will probably dig Snorri Helgason.  Listen here

Michael Feuerstack - Tambourine Death Bed

Beautiful chill (and chilling) songwriting.  Listen here

David Bowie - The Next Day

People are calling this a return to form for Bowie, but I'd say the man has been releasing great music for last 20 years.  This album is no different (well, ok, it's probably his best in that time). OH it also has my favorite album cover of the year.  Listen here

Fresh Snow - 1

Just happened upon this band at Steam Whistle's unsigned series and really dug their post rock vibe. Listen here

Arcade Fire -  Reflektor

Loved this album immediately. Couldn't say the same for The Suburbs. Arcade Fire isn't the type of band to get too comfortable with a sound, making every release interesting.  This may be their most dancable. Listen here

Top 6 EP's

Michelle McAdorey - Leave the Main Road 7"

I really dug the band Crash Vegas back in the 90's.  Front person Michelle McAdory released this wonderful 45 on my new favorite label Seventh Fire. Listen Here

Olenka and the Autumn Lovers - It's Alright 7"

Technically released last year, but due to a series of setbacks the physical copy wasn't released until this year.  Olenka continues to be one of the finest songwriters this country has.  Listen here

Nick Ferrio & His Feelings - Half the Time 7"

Another Seventh Fire release.  and another produced by Greg Keelor.  Nick channels Porter Wagoner on this great 45. Listen here

Yellowteeth - Repo 7" (?)

One of those most exciting shows of the year was seeing these guys play for NXNE. Sackville NB is a hot bed for great punk rock.  And Craft Singles are releasing these interesting square vinyl 7".  Listen here

Halleluwah - k2r 10"

Another discovery from Iceland is this great hip-hop electronic act. Bought this because of the album art alone, and was very happy with my decision.  Listen here

Michael Feuerstack (featuring Colin Stetson) - Shadow / Wolves 7"

Finally, a bit more Michael Feuerstack for you. featuring the great Colin Stetson, these two songs take a much different path then his album.  Limited to 300 copies, pick one up ASAP.  Listen here

A GIFT!

Well there you have it!  My favorites of the year.  Thanks for reading through, and as a thank you I have a special gift.  Earlier this year I recorded a little ukulele demo with friend Ryan Warner.  It was mastered by another friend Shawn Jurek.  And it's yours, free to download (although if you wanted to through a few bucks my way I wouldn't be upset).  I hope you enjoy, listen, download and share below!

Contact

Electronic Press Kit:


Sonicbids EPK

The end of a ukulele project, a peak into the new year and a thank you!

Well it's finally been a year!  I've completed a challenge I gave myself, to cover a song a week for the span of 2013!  Here is the final week (week 52), I'll chat a bit more following...



That was fun.



I didn't know if I'd make it to the end or not, but it helped that you were all watching and commenting.  And these videos are still watchable at notmy52songs.tumblr.com !  Please feel free to view and share them.  Later in the year, I'll put together some of my favorites, plus I may have some good outtakes to show you soon as well.

People keep asking me what I'll be doing for 2014.  Well I won't be doing this kind of thing again, but I'll be doing something much more important.  I'll be recording my follow up to 2010's LP "Like Birds Too Tired to Fly"!  I have a great producer and some great musicians lined up, and I'll hopefully have more information for you soon  Another thing you may have already noticed, there's some rebranding for 2014, my stage name will now be my full name Shawn William Clarke.  Fits the music a bit better, no? 

Thanks to everyone who came out to gigs this year, everyone who bought merch, watched the ukulele videos and those who gave me kind words in 2013.  Next year should be great, so keep checking in here, or elsewhere.  Tomorrow, you can expect my yearly top 10 albums list, so come on back for that!

Good luck to you in 2014!  Happy new year!

Shawn.

Happy Holidays! And the final Ukulele video

Hey there friends!  I hope everyone's holidays are going well!  I had some very nice family time, received some good gifts including the new Arcade Fire, and David Bowie on vinyl!  Can't go wrong with that.

For those who don't know (Where have you been?) I was given a ukulele last year for X-mas, and to learn it I took on the project of learning a song a week for the entire year.  Well, the year is pretty much over.  Here is this week's (week 51)



That makes next week the final week!  The year went by pretty fast.  Check back here for an update, and in the meantime, why not check out some of the ones you missed?  Maybe one of your favorite bands were covered... or maybe you'd like to see a few of my guests?  You can watch all of them here at:  www.notmy52songs.tumblr.com

Anyways, I hope you enjoy.  More info next week!

Folk conferences, guitars, and ukulele videos!

Hi there!  I hope everyone is doing well!  I spent the last weekend at a very wonderful conference hosted by Folk Music Ontario.  It was my first conference, and although I was pretty nervous at first, I think I adapted admirably!  I played 2 showcases one on Friday and one on Saturday,  both at 2:30am.  Yup, 2:30am.  I'm not much of a night hawk, but when the adrenaline is pumping, it's amazing the things you're capable of.  The set up is this, from about 11pm to 3am, two hotel room floors open up to live music.  Every room is dressed up, and every room has great performers playing.  It's something to see, posters fill every available space in the halls and stairwells.  I was in a room with 3 great performers, Anthony Damaio, Sarah Beatty and Dan Belgue.  All three brought something different to the night; I was humbled to share the stage.

 photo by Sarah Beatty

You'll notice something a little different in that picture.  Yup, it's a new guitar!  Well a new old guitar.  It's a Kay from around 1964.  I got it at one of my favourite music stores in Ontario, Curries!  Yup, you have to go to Gravenhurst, but the prices, stock and service are great.

Ok, ukulele vids... so If you didn't know I've been learning a song a week on Ukulele for the entire year.  I'm up to week 42 now!  You can watch all of them at my tumblr Not My 52 Songs.  Here are the last 6, featuring Sarah Beatty, Dan Belgue, MJ Cyr, Jerry Leger, Dave Murray and Jami Lefebvre.  OH and one was filmed in Iceland! (yeah I was in Iceland... no time to talk about it, ask me later!)

"Kamera" by Wilco, featuring Dave Murray and Jami Lefebvre

"Why Don't You Love Me" by Hank Williams, featuring Jerry Leger

 

"New World Symphony 2nd Movement" by Dvorak, recorded in Iceland!

"Motion Picture Soundtrack" by Radiohead

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by the Beatles, featuring MJ Cyr

"Heart of Gold" by Neil Young, featuring Sarah Beatty and Dan Belgue