Stacy King, also known as "Sucré," was born to sing. For proof of this, look no further than her debut solo record, "A Minor Bird." Produced by Darren King And Jeremy Larson, it is an enchanting blend of orchestral chamber-pop and the intimacy of '70s singer-songwriters. Stacy's voice flawlessly weaves across beautiful landscapes of strings, horns, and percussion on each of the album's 11 tracks. 

"As so often happens, I didn't set out to make a record. But rather was just collaborating with my husband and friend," Stacy says. "Jeremy and I would email musical ideas back and forth and then finalize them over holiday trips to Missouri. About three songs in I realized we had something special and that we had to make a record of it." AOL's Spinner called it "pop music of the highest order." 

Stacy explains her songwriting process: "For me, songwriting is like journaling. And something I have to do to stay healthy and happy. A lot of the time it's nothing special. But whenever it is, it's one of the greatest feelings I've ever known." 

Featuring the irresistible lead single "When We Were Young," and orchestral delights "Hiding Out" and "Troubled Waters," "A Minor Bird" will surely appeal to fans of forward-thinking pop. "Incredible music... Stacy's honeyed vocals are tough to ignore," gushed MTV.com about the album. 

"I had the time of my life making this record because I was only trying to make music that I loved and nothing else," Stacy says. "I just wanted to make something beautiful. Coincidentally, every single song on the record is about love and romance." 

Larson, true to form, appears as a one man philharmonic, seamlessly layering an orchestra's worth of instruments to sound as if they were played by 100 individuals, each with their own soul. 

Darren, following suit, would be better defined as a percussionist than a drummer on this one, creating layers that would require the precision of many limbs working together to replicate in real time. 

"A Minor Bird" is an instant classic, and proof that art for arts sake is the best kind.

Monody was initially conceived by a shared love for electronic music, and a desire to push the known envelope of what can be accomplished in a live situation. Monody was formed in the autumn of 2006 in the wake of the disbandment of 3 other groups. Fueled by the shared commitment to hone their respective skills, Monody's members journeyed into Portland's electronic music scene. 
 
With a writing style laden with pop sensibility, Monody has been able to capture the attention of electronic music fans local and abroad. With signature vocal harmonies, thundering drums, and edgy synth lines, the band has been able to leave listeners with a satisfaction typically reserved for seasoned veterans within their genre. 
 
Unsatisfied with the status quo, Monody’s philosophy behind their live performances has always been about providing their fans with an unforgettable experience. This is evident within the additional musical flourishes the band adds to each show, akin to a traditional “rock” band. The sheer force of an accomplished, acoustic drummer provides much of the driving force during their performances. 
 
In an effort to reinvent the live experience, Monody has also developed an iPhone application that allows fans to use their devices to interactively perform with the band during a live set. The band feels that enriching the experience for each fan in this way is going to be a catalyst in the evolution of live musical performance. 

Ohio's last best hope

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