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Current mood:  happy Category: Music
CARLEY BAER
"indie.folk.jazz.pop.songwriter"www.carleybaer.com
www.myspace.com/carleybaer
About Carley Baer
Carley Baer is not your average chick with a guitar.
She has a confessional writing style that is introspective rather than imperative, but what this songstress has going for her most is her voice. Alternating between soft subtlety and brazen belting, she possesses a range that most singer/songwriters only dream about.
Carley has drawn a definite bead on her natural style. Once consumed by the stereotypical girl-with-guitar-sings-unrequited-love-songs hysteria that dominates most girl rock, she has evolved into a rational, self-examining storyteller. She explores everything from traveling by train due to a devastating fear of flying, to taking bike trips across Wisconsin, to pondering how life might be different if she were a squirrel or jellyfish. She also waltzes with bears in her spare time.
1. Name your influences and why?
My parents, first of all. My dad was the musician who taught me to play, and my mom was the aficionado who taught me the joy of listening. They were so mindful of what they liked and why, and their musical tastes were like a Venn diagram, with quite a bit in common but a lot that was unique to each of them; my mom was more world music and classic blues/rock, whereas my dad was more folk and progessive/experimental jazz. As a result, I was exposed to a wide range of musicians who were incredibly influential on my development as a musician. The Beatles, Yes, The Guess Who, Jonatha Brooke, Ani Difranco, Paul Simon, and more than I can even list, have all had a hand in my musical output.
2. If you could open for anyone passing through town, who would it be ?
Ani Difranco, hands down. It's one of my wildest dreams, because she has had such a massive influence on me, probably more than any other musician. Because of her I've set some ridiculous standards for myself, and opening for her would be the ultimate reward.
3. What songs do you cover and why ?
I like to cover standards because they're so timeless and incredibly well-written, and they lend themselves to acoustic guitar pretty easily. Plus it's easy to incorporate my own feelings into a standard like "Sentimental Side" and sort of make it my own. I cover a few Beatles songs for those same reasons. And then I'll play something like "Psycho Killer" just because it's fun.
4. Who do you get told you sound like ?
I used to get "Alanis Morrisette" and "Jewel" all the time, which is so wrong. First of all, I was a little angrier when I first started out, but nothing like Alanis on Jagged Little Pill; that entire album was steeped in rage. And "Jewel" was usually just because the person saw a blonde girl with a guitar and stopped paying attention. Now, people don't really tell me I sound like anyone, and if they do they name someone that I've never heard of, which is cool. It's fun to be linked with an up-and-coming crowd.
5. Name a musician/band in town (male or female) that everyone should go see.
The Portland Cello Project. I am in love with that entire ensemble. Royal Houser's another good band to go see, especially if you feel like dancing. (editors note; I couldn't agree more about carleys pick of Royal Houser, those guys kick ass)
Tell us what you are up to these days.
Right now I'm on the road in Wisconsin, trying to raise funds for my upcoming album, Ordinary Stone. I'm back in Portland on January 22nd, and then on the 23rd I'm playing at the Krakow Coffee House in North Portland. I'm also playing the Gotham Tavern on January 31st, which is always a good show. The new album is shaping up to be really cool as well, and I've got preview EPs available in return for a donation to the cause of good music.
Tell us about the song you are giving us.
"Say : Do,"
This song is called "say : do," and it's one of the newest songs that'll be on my upcoming album, Ordinary Stone. The title comes from a line in the chorus that I wrote as an analogy: "say : do :: lies : truth." Oddly, I didn't have any one specific person in mind while I was writing it; it was more like I was addressing a character flaw that we all possess at one time or another. I think everyone can identify with being flaky or wishy-washy for whatever reason, and I sort of took that idea and distilled the various instances down to one concentrated (and very hypothetical) person. I also have a soft spot in my heart for the songs that come spilling on to the page already finished, which is how this one arrived.
See Carley live at one of these shows !!
1.24 - [Beaverton, OR] Big Show A Go Go @ The Phoenix Lounge. 9pm.
1.30 - [Portland, OR] Krakow Coffeehouse. 7:30pm.
1.31 - [Portland, OR] Gotham Tavern. 9pm.
2.6 - [Portland, OR] Wine Unwind. 8pm.
2.9 - [Portland, OR] Songwriter Showcase @ KJ's Pub. 8pm.
2.13 - [Portland, OR] Folk & Spoon *DEBUT* - East Burn. 10pm.
2.20 - [Portland, OR] Folk & Spoon - Hungry Tiger Too. 9pm.
3.21 - [Portland, OR] Crooner Lounge @ the Hawthorne Theatre. 10pm.
4:49 PM
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