A love song for the ocean...
credits
from Pacific Rain (a double, full album Sept 29), released September 1, 2023
Cello by Clara Shandler
Piano by Róisín Adams
Bass by Maggie Hasspacher

Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

This recording was made possible by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia's Career Development Program.

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Pacific Rain

I wrote this song to codify some of the really tough life lessons.... saying no, doing less, setting boundaries, letting go, loving someone from a distance... If we don't take care of ourselves, then we will end up perpetuating pain. We must take care of ourselves first if we are to be good to the people around us <3

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler
Piano by Róisín Adams
Bass by Maggie Hasspacher
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Interwoven

Do you know that feeling of regret, when something happens and you think to yourself "I should have seen that coming"? Well, this song is about that feeling. The piano dances upon the keys as if to say "it's okay, don't be so hard on yourself, these things happen"....

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler
Piano by Róisín Adams
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Ebb & Flow

This song is dedicated to protestors the world over. I wrote this during lock-down, while being stuck in Phnom Penh Cambodia, watching the Black Lives Matter protests, the Faerie Creek Protests, the fight for freedom and democracy in Myanmar.... It's time for justice, if we band together, we are strong enough to bring the change that we wish to see.

The second verse is dedicated to those who have lost a loved one in the struggle for peace, justice, freedom.... When we loose someone we love, that sadness never leaves....

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Róisín Adams
Bass by Maggie Hasspacher
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler
Ending quotes Bach, J.S. 1685-1970 / Viola da Gamba Sonata in G major BWV 1027

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Don't Cut Me Down

Dedicated to my faerie godmother Linda, and the circle of brothers and sisters that she created under her wings. Thank you, Linda, you saved my life with your love.

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Róisín Adams
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Golden Threads

Based on a true story, when I was exploring Chiang Mai Thailand on my second trip to Asia. I was having a great time, but when it got dark I had a really tough time finding my way back to my friend's house (you know how everything looks so much different in the dark).

My phone was nearly out of battery, had no reception, and all I could think was my friend's house was West. I needed to head West. Luckily I figured it out because otherwise, I'm not sure what might happened to me..... phew!

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Róisín Adams
Bass by Maggie Hasspacher
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Tails & Tales

Written before my first trip to Asia, when I was so grateful to have musician friends because I could put their music on my phone and take their voices with me wherever I went. Of course I still miss my friends and family when I'm away on long trips, but having those familiar voices and sounds with me is so comforting.

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Róisín Adams
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

So Much So Badly

This is one of the few pieces that I know how to play on the piano so I began teaching all of my cello students Gounod's Ave Maria. However, I got tired of that melody after a while, so I wrote my own.... I was singing the melody using "oooo" and "aaaah" but decided that I needed better words.

I was at Linda's house and she had a book of Rumi poems on the couch next to the piano. I held the book, asked it for a poem, and the book opened to this poem. I am amazed at how poignant and relevant Rumi's words are to this day.

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Clara Shandler
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Vocal Melody by Clara Shandler
Piano part is by Bach, J.S. 1685-1970 / Prelude in C major BWV846 
Text is by Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (1207–1273), translated to English by Coleman Barks 

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

This World Which is Made of Our Love for Emptiness

This song is dedicated to my friends in Nepal, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Your acceptance, open arms, and kindness healed some deep wounds inside my soul.

I was bullied a lot in my youth, and that lead to a variety of mental health issues. When you treated me as your sister, showed me such kindness, and included me in fun, exciting adventures, the voice inside telling me that I'm unlovable and unworthy of friendship started to quiet down.....

Thank you so much, this one is for you <3

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Clara Shandler
Bass by Maggie Hasspacher
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

A Thousand Stars

Saying good-bye can be really difficult sometimes... Occasionally the weather seems to mimic our inner world... But off in the distance, in nature, a consistent cycle of life continues unaffected by the drama of our human lives.

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Clara Shandler
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Wild Web

Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.... Despite our best intentions, we get burned...

Nothing lasts forever, the more we embrace our own mortality the more we can live life to the fullest....

Cello by Clara Shandler
Vocals by Clara Shandler and Carolyn Franklin
Piano by Clara Shandler
Bass by Maggie Hasspacher
Album Art by Jasmine Rosling

Music and Lyrics written by Clara Shandler

Recorded & Mixed by Eva Lucia at Monarch Studios in Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
Made with the support of Creative BC's Career Development Program

Lights In The Dark

'The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.' - Picasso. 

So, I take my cello outside.

Clara Shandler

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