ABOUT THIS ALBUM:
“Sketches” is a fully improvised solo piano album.  Several of the songs were completely improvised during the recording process for this album and several were inspired by my “Monday Morning Improvisations” series on YouTube.  This was a very challenging album project for me and it was a lot of fun improvising and writing songs on the fly for this album.  It was also fun to relearn some of the previous improvisations and let those evolve during recording.  I hope you enjoy the music on this album as it comes from my inner well of creativity and straight from the heart.  

My “Monday Morning Improvisations” series is a collection of improvs that are recorded “first try, first take”, where I record and release an improvisation on the spot every week.  The entire collection of “Monday Morning Improvisations” can be found on the Michele McLaughlin YouTube channel.


SONG CREDITS: 
1.  At First Sight - (inspired by Improvisation #1)
2. Hope - (improvised and created during recording)
3. One Life - (inspired by Improvisation #15)
4. Waiting - (improvised and created during recording)
5. The Traveler - (improvised and created during recording)
6. Farewell Little Love - (inspired by Improvisation #75)
7. Forever Yours - (improvised and created during recording)
8. The Right Choice - (inspired by Improvisation #8)
9. The Long Night - (inspired by Improvisation #76)
10. Relief - (improvised and created during recording)
11. Home At Last - (inspired by Improvisation #68)
12. Lost - (inspired by Improvisation #28)
13. Unshakeable - (inspired by Improvisation #25)

SPECIAL THANKS:
To all my listeners and fans, friends and family, and those who personally helped with this project… thank you!  You mean everything to me.

TECHNICAL CREDITS:
All songs improvised, composed, produced and performed by Michele McLaughlin michelemclaughlin.com 
Piano & Recording:  Michele's Home Studio in Salt Lake City, UT on her Fazioli F278 9' Concert Grand
Mastering & Engineering:  Joe Bongiorno at Piano Haven Studio in Sedona, AZ pianohaven.com 
Album Design:  Matt Strieby at New Leaf Design newleafdesign.com
Manufactured at Diskmakers www.diskmakers.com
Copyright ©2020 All Rights Reserved (ASCAP)
www.michelemclaughlin.com

Sketches

Sketches - 01 At First Sight

Michele McLaughlin is a Contemporary Solo Pianist & Composer. She has released twenty-three albums, many of which have received multiple nominations and awards.  She has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, has nearly 2 Billion Spins on streaming platforms, and is a multi Billboard Charting pianist.  Her original solo piano compositions are often described as "musical storytelling" and are haunting and contagious, relaxing and beautiful, peaceful and touching, energetic and inspiring. Her music is a regular favorite on Pandora Radio and is a bestseller on iTunes and Amazon, often landing her in the Top Ten New Age Charts. You can listen to Michele online via Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, Pandora Radio, iTunes Radio, Spotify, XM/Sirius and Music Choice Soundscapes.
 
"McLaughlin is what I refer to as a "heart on her sleeve" composer, i.e. there is no subterfuge, no subtlety at work in her music - she presents her emotional intent of a song forthwith and front and center. It's a testament to her considerable talent that this baring of her soul always works so well, because in the hands of a lesser talent, the music would be melodramatic, overly self-conscious, and would grow tiresome. However, it's not just her technique and artistry, which is impossible to ignore, but also her artist's soul, which seems woven into every piece of music she writes.  No matter how pyrotechnic she can be (and this woman can really play piano with the best of 'em), there is always the presence of heart, sometimes "in your face" and sometimes between the lines, but never hidden behind artifice."  Bill Binkelman- Wind & Wire and Zone Music Reporter

MOON AND ARIES (Jordana and Tom) is a genre-defying, retro-futuristic music duo creating emotionally immersive soundscapes that blur the lines between synth-pop, chill electronica, cinematic soul, trip-hop, and jazz-infused lounge. Combining poetic lyricism with lush production and smooth vocal interplay, their songs feel timeless - yet unmistakably modern. 

Driven by their shared passion for storytelling through sound, Moon and Aries deliver music that connects on a deeply human level. 

Their catalog explores universal themes: 
transformation, empowerment, longing, healing, and spiritual awakening. Whether it’s a quiet moment of self-reflection, a triumphant personal shift, or a love scene that needs to glow from within - Moon and Aries provide the perfect sonic companion. 
Each track is built with sync in mind: strong emotional arcs, memorable melodic hooks, dynamic instrumental sections, and vocal textures that range from intimate whispers to anthemic declarations.  
With a sound often compared to artists like Sade, A-ha, Portishead, Depeche Mode, and Massive Attack, Moon and Aries offer a sonic palette that blends nostalgia with new-world 
optimism - ideal for storytelling that needs depth, mood, and meaning. 
All songs are 100% one-stop and available with full mixes, instrumentals, stems, and lyric sheets.
 
Genres: Retro-Futuristic Pop, Synthpop, Trip-Hop, R&B/Soul, Chill Electronica, Cinematic Soul, Electro-Jazz, Electronic, Retro wave, 80s 

MELODY MEETS MEANING! www.moonandaries.com