Mapanare.us Constantly.Consuming.Culture.
  • Art
  • Interviews

Rachel Garlin, Songwriter, Singer, Musician And Teacher, Releases Fifth Solo LP, "Wink At July"

4/21/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Patrick Ogle

Songwriter, singer, musician and teacher, Rachel Garlin releases her fifth solo LP, Wink At July, on April 15, 2015.  She wrote this new LP from coast to coast in the USA and in the isles of Scotland. It was recorded in San Francisco, near where Garlin grew up.

Her early years were spent in Berkeley and subsequently with activism and activist music. She holds a degree in Social Studies from Harvard; she both performs and teaches.  Garlin is also a mom; she and her wife have two boys.

Her new folk-rock release (although do not let the term scare you, this is an accessible record for lovers of music) ranges from acoustic to full-band efforts. The songs determined for Garlin which direction. Some tracks, obviously, work best with a band and some without.

"The approach is pretty organic in that we get a band together and play through each song. If the parts are working, we develop it into a band song, and if the parts seem superfluous in any way, we just keep it solo," she says. "Since the lyrics are a big part of what I do, I want to make sure that the music production supports the songwriting, the lyrics, and the story."

The band she put together for the studio is a pretty impressive collection of collaborators. These include: producer JJ Wiesler (Matt Nathanson, Girls) and musicians Michael Urbano (John Hiatt, Smash Mouth), Prairie Prince (Journey, The Tubes) and Garlin’s longtime collaborators Julie Wolf and Jon Evans.

"I was fortunate to get to work with some seasoned pros on this project. Some of them are my buddies from way back (Julie Wolf and Jon Evans) and the other cats came from JJ Wiesler's roster of players who frequent the renowned Decibelle Studio where we tracked the album. When it comes to recording," says Garlin. "I love to bring in people who are comfortable improvising and working things out on the spot. That way, the sessions can stay really organic and human and we can play the music that's in the room that day, rather than being stuck to any particular formula or plan."

Who would Garlin recommend this LP to, even if it she lost her memory and didn't know it was by her?

"I recently learned that I am synesthetic, meaning that I see colors when I think of certain words or numbers or days of the week. I wonder if it's one of the reason I like words so much. They are so colorful to me. So maybe a fellow traveler on this road of synesthesia would enjoy an album like this, with words that are hopefully colorful, playful, thoughtful," says Garlin. "I like words so much. I like words so much that I invite anyone who hears this album to send me some. Words we can exchange. I promise to write back."

Find out more about Garlin, check out show dates and hear her music HERE

This new LP features songs about artists; both Hey Keith Haring and Up On A Ladder In Boots are about painters. Likewise, The Sea You See, is about an artist, Garlin's mother, Marjorie Garlin, who is a professional painter and illustrator. And that isn't all.

"The song, Dear Friend, occurred to me after friend of mine moved away to go to art school. The title track, Wink At July, speaks to the colors and 'layers of maroon on a painting that hangs at the top of my stairs. So there is so much crossover between visual and musical art on this record" she says.

There is a tendency to think of music as some separate thing from fine art; but it need not be.

"I do actually think of it that way {as art}. Particularly in the sense that the songs are an artistic entity that exist outside of the artist. The songs are not autobiographical journal entries, they are their own entities," she says. "Something I learned from the writings of Jeanette Winterson is the idea that the song is not about me or you or her or them. The song is about the song, just as the painting is about the painting. Ya dig? A little esoteric, I know. But that's how I think about it."

When it comes to creating these songs was partially inspired by Dave Wilcox.

"A long time ago, I went to a songwriting workshop with David Wilcox at the Tucson Folk Festival. We sat under a tree as he explained his process. He told us to put on headphones and listen to a song that moved us. He said you should listen to it repeatedly until you are soaking in the vibe/mood/emotion of that song. Then take of the headphones off and write, write, write," she says. "That approach, or some version of it, has stuck with me. I don't literally put on the headphones anymore, but I do try to tune in to a mood and make sure I have the time and space to fully go there. Usually that means I'm alone in the house with plenty of time and space to freely improvise out loud while trying out different melodies and lyrics over a chord progression. If something enduring comes along, I stick with it, keeping singing it and see what else unfolds."

Picture
As noted earlier Garlin has split her time between performing, recording and teaching. She, in fact, signed on with Teach for America and taught two years in Phoenix. Her work in one area informs the other. She often leads youngsters in songwriting activities.

"I love helping people get their stories out and reach into new areas of creativity. To the extent that teaching is about forming relationships and seeing them through, songwriting is like that too,” she says. “You come back each day and see where the story leads you. Performing is like teaching too, you have to read a room and relate with the audience. It's a constant exchange."

When Garlin was a child she enjoyed playing instruments and singing. But she was also into basketball. She played on a California Division 1 Stat championship team. She didn't begin to take music seriously until after college.

"I was teaching third grade at that time and I was constantly turning every lesson into a song and dance of some sort (which tends to work really well with third graders). That summer, I took a trip to Guatemala to study Spanish since many of my third graders came from bilingual families," says Garlin. "For my final project at the Spanish school in Guatemala, I wrote a song about a local cafe (but it was actually a secret love song for the cafe owner's daughter), so many things came to light that summer. When I got back to the states, I figured that if I could write a song in Spanish, maybe I could write one in English as well. And that's how my first album happened."

Her favorite piece of gear comes from those early years playing and singing.

"My only prized piece of gear is the Gibson J-50 guitar that my dad bought from a New York City pawn shop when he was 16. He ended up selling the guitar a few years after he bought it, but he sold it to a friend, so by the time I started playing guitar, we were able to track down the guitar and borrow it back while I learned to play. At a certain point, my dad wanted to buy it back so that I could take it on the road with me, but the friend was reluctant to sell it, since he didn't feel like going out and buying a replacement," she says. "So my dad offered to buy a replacement of equal value for him and then trade it for the Gibson, and the friend liked that arrangement better. So my dad traded the guitar back into our family and then on my 27th birthday, he gave it to be as a gift and I've recorded and gigged with it ever since. It's got a great low-end and a rich sound and it's been my companion on tours as far as Sweden and Denmark."

Her work was also featured on the former NPR show, Car Talk. How that came about calls to mind a phrase all aspiring musicians should take to heart; why not give it a shot?

"Standing at the corner of Brattle Street and JFK in Harvard Square, I spotted "The Law Offices of Dewey, Cheetham, and Howe" (aka Car Talk) posted in a second floor window. I simply took the elevator up and dropped off my (then) new album with the song Alternative Fuel on track #7.  I included a short note explaining that a friend of mine and I had just completed a cross-country tour in one of the first ever bio-diesel vehicles that also had a second tank that ran on straight vegetable grease," says Garlin. "A few days later, I got a call from someone at the station and the next thing I knew, Alternative Fuel had taken to the airwaves via Car Talk. Later, the song was placed in a movie called, Fuel, so the Car Talk exposure paid off! {I  am} ever indebted to Click and Clack, and not just for teaching me how to properly rotate the tires on my old VW."

Get your music in front of people and you never know what might happen. The worst thing that will happen is they ignore it or say no.

Garlin is working on shows, tours and working in her community.

"I'm playing a bunch of shows in California this spring, followed by some out of town gigs in the summer," says Garlin. "I host a bi-weekly songwriters group for women singer-songwriters; each of us commits to bringing a brand new song every two weeks, so that keeps me accountable to my own writing practice."

0 Comments

Guy Stanley Philoche, Haitian-American Artist Creates Pieces Both Profound And Whimsical

4/16/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureGuy Stanley Philoche
Guy Stanley Philoche came to the USA from Haiti as a child. He was three when he arrived in his new home, Connecticut. Philoche attended Paier College of Art and, later, Yale University. His calling, since a young age, has been art.

“I was always an artist of sorts, doodling in my room, drawing when all the kids were out racing around and bouncing balls. I preferred to make art,” he says. “But no one chooses to become a painter; art chose me. And for that I'm forever grateful.”

These days he is just as enamored of this calling, this career, that chose him.

“It gives me great pleasure to create, manipulate and express myself on canvas, interact with dealers and clients on the business end and network with my contemporaries at art fairs, shows, and galleries.  I'm fortunate that the success I have had to this point allows me to do so.” says Philoche.

Picture
Untitled Series

Find out more at www.philochestudios.com

Picture
Untitled Series
Philoche lives in New York City where he creates his richly textured, multifaceted and sophisticated paintings.  His first series of paintings, the Untitled Series, are geometric, colorful but not gaudy. These pieces have often been compared to Mark Rothko (the artist even says they are like Rothko “but sexier.”).

The work has an interesting genesis as well; they began as a by-product of forgetfulness.

“It is a funny story; I had an assignment for an art class to bring in an object from home that we were going to break down to its most basic form. I totally forgot to bringing the object, and minutes before class I was rifling through my car looking for anything that would fit the bill,” he says. “I came upon some rosary beads that my parents had given me for graduation, and once in class I focused on the crucifix. The untitled series is really a breakdown of the cross, the lines and rectangles are the basic forms constituting the crucifix.”

The creation of these paintings comes from keeping the basic elements of the crucifix in mind.

“As far as the nuts and bolts, the artwork to me is really a process of layering, texturing, emotions and repeating the processes until I get the effect I'm feeling.  The start of a painting is covering the canvas with a base layer of paint, no matter what color, and from there building it up,” says Philoche. “I don't have much of a thought out or advance plan…maybe a color was in my mind from an experience earlier in the day, or a texture in the back of my brain swimming to the front. The process is difficult to explain, but each work truly is a journey, and experience in the creation.”

When asked to talk on the texture of these works Philoche notes that it is tough to discuss something as visual as texture. And while you can get an idea about these paintings from photographs, you need to see work in person to get the full effect.

“The art truly speaks when you see it in person.” says Philoche.

The 200 or so paintings of the Untitled Series took Philoche 14 years to complete. Pieces form the series are held by private collections including: First Mark Capital, Deutsche Bank, Barclay Investments and many others.

Game Series

Philoche moved on to the No Comment Series. Pieces from this series were shown at Scope Miami Beach 2014.

“Just like any good artist I did need to grow and evolve. I didn't want to get pigeon-holed into painting the same thing over and over again.  I was really fascinated with women's rights and still am, living in New York I've gotten to meet many amazing and powerful women. I had to pay them homage.The works are figurative, but still have an abstract quality to them. “

These pieces do not have an accidental origin. They spring from the artist’s commitment to human rights issues; he is specifically commenting on women’s issues in these pieces. He acknowledges women in the USA have it better than in many other places. Nonetheless women are battered, attacked, trafficked, not paid the same as men and are underrepresented in government.

These pieces require a close look.The colors seem almost cheerful but the images certainly are not. Again, they are powerful as photographs but are far more powerful in person.

Another group of paintings from Philoche is more whimsical in nature. He did a series of paintings based on board games--his Game Series.

“The Game Series is a fun reminiscence of my childhood, and a break from the more serious issues that adults have in their content everyday life.” says Philoche.

They share some qualities with the Untitled Series but are fun and nostalgic in nature. Most people will immediately recognize the games presented.

No Comment Series

These days, at large art shows, it is difficult to escape art labeled as “street art.” There is nothing wrong with street art, of course, but it seems to be ubiquitous. It also begs the question; if it was never actually on the street how is it street art? Philoche’s work is a change of pace from this. None of this could be done with a spray can.

“Definitely, my work is not street art or gimmicky, it will be in style for years to come.  I'm not sure that I've stood above style, I am not pompous.  True collectors are smarter than that,” he says. “They know and appreciate the difference between the gimmicks and the trends, they choose art based on emotions, feelings, subject matter and what is pleasing to the eye.”

Philoche says there is no special brand of brush, paint or surface he uses in his work. He says there is nothing unique or special in the materials; that comes from somewhere else.

“The art is in the experience, emotions and journey of creating the piece.” says Philoche.

The different series Philoche creates use the same process and the same material.

“The subject matter brings up different paths for me.  Researching, meeting people, seeing what moves and excites and interests all factor in to the work." he says.

When he isn’t painting and meeting clients Philoche avails himself of the hotspots and nightlife of his adopted home.

“…But at the end of the day it comes back to painting….hard work, focus and keeping your eye on the prize.   I always keep in mind all the sacrifices I've made to get to this point, which aren't as exciting as the perks I've mentioned,” he says. “I never take for granted all the accomplishments I've achieved and the people who have helped me along the way.   

He has a show upcoming at Castle Fitzjohns Gallery, revealing the game series paintings and sculptures. His work will also be show in the Hamptons at Chase Edward Gallery. Beyond that his art will be at various art fairs over the summer.  
“Community and charity work is always ongoing,” says Philoche. “I believe in karma and know to give back whenever I've had a sale or good show. I believe in sharing the love.”
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Interviews
    This section is interviews with artists, musicians, writers and anyone else we think is interesting.

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Art Basel 2012 Previews
    Art Basel 2015 Previews
    Art Basel 2016 Previews
    Art Miami
    Art Week Miami 2013
    Art Week Miami 2014 Previews
    Books
    Design
    Films
    Graphic Novels
    Interviews
    Miami Art Week 2017
    Miami Art Week 2018
    Miami Art Week 2021
    Miami Art Week 2022
    Music
    PFAF 2019
    Photography
    Previews
    Superfine!

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2022
    November 2021
    November 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010