Songwriting as Process

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Is every one madly recording their new albums right now, or is it just us? Michele Van Kleef is among that group.  Michele  shares  her process, since she is in the very thick of it, right now. There are words, there is a story or not, and…

Brooks Robertson: Natural Born Picker

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Charisma and talent overflow at Mountain Air Studios when Brooks plays finger style guitar. What is it. How did he learn it. In a moment of Zen, it seems. If you are picking, it follows you’ll be grinning. Just can’t help it. Brooks…

A Musician’s Life: Lived By the Moment

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Naomi LaViolette states she is “feeling lucky” to be an independent singer-songwriter in Portland. But so much more than good luck is packed into a successful singer-songwriter career. I admit to a fair bit of envy when I see how some…

Laura Ivancie: Not In It For the Wealth

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I wonder where Laura will truly end up in her journey. In the brief time she's been doing her thing, it has included college basketball,fighting fires for the U.S.Forest Service, and teaching English in Buenos Aires. But music was always in…

Musical Food for Thought

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We've been showing off the young and talented in these posts recently. Time to hear from a seasoned pro and share his observations through decades long experience as singer/songwriter and bandleader. A Facebook post from Jack McMahon caught…

For Savanna Coen, No Limitations

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Just as there are no "golden years" and "expiration dates" on creating and playing music, we can arrive into music-making anytime. Savanna Coen is 14 and on a mission. It was Steven Tyler's birthday on Tuesday and he was (Gasp!) turning…

All the Sights. All the Sounds

Redwood Son's Josh Malm just got back from SXSW. Then did 4 gigs in a row back home in Portland. We catch up with him on day 2 of a wind down and talk SX and what's next for Josh.  Collaboration is key! Post SXSW in Austin and St. Paddy's…

How an Album Gets Made

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Singer-songwriter Michele Van Kleef and guitarist  Tim Ellis are involved in a wonderful collaboration and partnership. The creative juice is really starting to flow! Michele and Tim are setting the music in motion at Kung Fu Bakery…

Music Workshop

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The mission is simple: educate, inspire and motivate children through music education by providing public elementary schools with a free, innovative and turnkey supplemental music program. We are all too aware of the budget cuts in our public…

What is Success? Raising $$$ for Bruce!

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Organizers are thrilled with the outpouring of generosity for former Tower of Power guitarist Bruce Conte over the weekend. Two nights of concerts at Portland's premier jazz club Jimmy Mak's produced a hefty contribution to a health fund…