October 12, 2007
Singer/songwriter, performer, poet and artist; all of these are fitting descriptions of Paleo (aka David Strackany). But while the former three may attach themselves more readily to his music, it’s his art that seems to not only define his life (at least for the moment), but also draws its course.
I’ve had the previous pleasure to work with Paleo during his Song Diary project (where from Easter 2006 to Tax Day 2007 he wrote, recorded and posted online 365 songs in as many days), and although it was just a few short months that I helped David with press it was an awakening experience for me and one that I take a great deal of pride in being a small part of. During that time, as well as the ensuing months before he completed this demanding project, I faithfully – even addictively - downloaded and listened to his musical entries as if peeking into his own private journal on a daily and weekly basis (as I suspect many others did as well). As I listened to each new song, read the accompanying lyrics and noted the city where it was written and recorded I often had the sense that I too was in that very city, on that very day; meeting similar people, smelling similar scents and experiencing similar ups-and-downs from day-to-day.
Be it painter, poet or musician, never have I met an artist so committed to his craft and obligated to his goals. Soft-spoken, articulate and years wiser than his youthful grin would allude, Paleo is driven - not for the love of money (which seems to be merely a necessity to eat and get him to his next audience), but rather for the love of creating, the love of art and, ultimately, the love of life.
Although the Song Diary project is complete, Paleo is out on the road again for the rest of this year (and quite possibly well beyond) to promote his forthcoming Song Diary DVD (which will feature all 365 mp3s from the project). In between his recent Chicago and Milwaukee shows he stopped by for a Basement Tapes session, where he dug deep into his Diary to play four songs in our studio, which he stated he rarely performs onstage. We’re pleased to be able to offer you not only these beautiful, raw folk gems, but also the accompanying video interview below (with planes, trains and barking dogs all trying to get a word in edgewise), which gives further insight into this remarkably talented artist. - Tony Bonyata
LISTEN TO THE SESSION
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FREE DOWNLOADS:
Right-click (control-click on a mac) to save to your computer
1. Paleo - Swearwards [download]
2. Paleo - Somewhere There Is A Mountain [download]
3. Paleo – Making The Rounds [download]
4. Paleo – They Will Adjust [download]
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VIDEO
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PHOTO GALLERY
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For more info on Paleo and to listen to the Song Diary go to:
http://www.paleo.ws
For Paleo tour dates go to:
http://www.myspace.com/paleo
This Basement Tapes session was recorded at Woodland Audio/Video in Spring Grove, IL. Engineered by Dennis Martin. Video shot and produced by Gordon Rinda.
For more info on Woodland Audio / Video go to:
http://www.woodlandaudio.com/ |
