Sunday, July 8, 2012

Solo with a sidekick!

http://www.thebootandsombrero.com/
Just thought I would share a cute clip that my friend Rae took of last nights solo gig at the Boot and Sombrero here in Delta. My daughter who has a magnificent voice but never wants to sing with me in front of anyone, decided suddenly to loiter around the stage for most of the night and she even stayed behind with me hanging out onstage rather than go home with her Dad and the crew after they all petered out.
Previously, the idea of her being even NEAR the stage has been unheard of!

She's such a funny girl, I know how badly she wants to do it, she'd just hang around wishing silently all night long I'm quite sure. She really just has to get brave enough to believe in herself. Everyone else does.



She has to get up there and say I can sing a song and make you smile and sing along.
Like this...watch...:
Hey friends it's Rachael....you may usually see me singing and strumming with a band at the casinos, convention centers, pubs, festivals or in restaurants but guess what? Music travels and I can bring this little set up right into your home for your special event. So if you are having a big bash this coming summer, fall, winter or spring and would like to have live music for your friends to enjoy this is pretty much how it's gonna be! (see videos)
Get in touch with me for prices and availability. Sidekick not included.
rachaelchatoor AT hotmail.com

Monday, June 18, 2012

No Second Chances, now on iTunes~!


Ah...... it's finally uploaded to iTunes!
Go here if you wish to spend 99cents and add it to your playlist!


Listen here:



Hey girl with your fancy dress
just who are you trying to impress?
What's it like to get up everyday
just to make sure your make up is all in place?
Gee it must be a big heavy load
since the whole world cares about your fancy clothes..... hey yeah.

The front door don't work both ways....
do you know what's inside that place?
Life is more than one big dance
sometimes my dear we get...no second chances...


Hey girl with your platinum key
what do you want history to say?
You've got everything right on your plate
despite all you could do you choose to play it away
you are not the only one out on the road
surely you can afford someone to drive your Rolls.....hey yah


Ch

The young girls who want to be you
think they are gonna live the way you live
so be loud now, but be proud now
make your choices like we gotta live with them......
even if you don't (no you don't)



Thank you!!

More info including song credits and links to Mick's studio (Millennia Sound Design) where the song was recorded..... can be found in this earlier blog post here....http://rachaelpachel.blogspot.ca/2012/05/new-songs-coming-at-ya.html




Rach xo

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Overboard now on iTunes!

BUY it on iTunes by clicking this link!



By the way, here is  a real life example of how a great producer can take your basic little three or four chord ditty and help you turn it from this.......

 


into this:
USE THIS DIRECT LINK IF THE WIDGET IS NOT WORKING




to see studio photos go here



Cheers, Rach!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Walk So Kids Can Talk | CTV British Columbia (Rachael Chatoor interview)




I did an interview on CTV this morning which I would like to share with you.
Please go visit CTV right now by clicking on the link below. 




(backstage-make-up)


See you on SUNDAY!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

New songs coming at ya!

Well it's been a long time coming and finally, finally, finally after a few years of crafting (due mostly to the busy and often conflicting schedules between myself and producer/performer/musician Mick Dalla Vee) my songs are finally starting to roll off the presses and onto the web. So far I am just releasing them as singles and the two I am sharing with you today should be available on iTunes in a few weeks.


Here is the latest......

USE THIS DIRECT LINK IF WIDGET IS NOT WORKING




Many of the songs I am working on started as basic rough draft videos on You Tube. This video for instance I made in 2009 and I've just watched it for the first time in a very long time and...it totally makes me laugh at myself for my...blatant courage and cheek. I can't believe me really. But I can.
It's funny because most music biz people don't really understand or should I say....approve of me posting my rough drafts. I however love them because they show how far both me and the songs have come.

They are also a real life example of how a great producer can take your basic little three or four chord ditty and help you turn it from this.......

 


into this: USE THIS DIRECT LINK IF THE WIDGET IS NOT WORKING






First we worked the songs and gave them a structure. We made some demos to work from and while Mick can and does play the majority of the instruments we eventually hired some of my favorite players to record some of the parts for me live and we started by bringing  them in to ADI studios  for a session to build the drum tracks. (ADI Studios....***The Alive Drive by the way is a customized, portable operating system that is embedded on branded USB flash memory devices, such as slimline "loyalty" cards, wristbands and jewelry. Pre-loaded with music, audio and visual content, the Alive Drive is distributed to fans through the host's own distribution channels, i.e. live events, retail outlets, e-stores or sponsors. As new content is produced, it gets pushed to the fans via the drive.  So please do check out their link if your band,brand or business has music or audio/visual content to share with it's customers, it's outstanding stuff)

Shawn Soucy was my #1 go-to guy for the drum track and he was just set free with the songs and did an outstanding job. Russell Marsland was in as well and laid some tasty electric lead guitar and rhythm tracks. The boys were given very little time with my songs as I wanted the tracks to be natural and un contrived because I just love the way these fellas play, so there was some discussion between players and producer and then engineer Brad Graham pushed the big red record button and off we went!













This is when we took a little break and Mick showed us a guy on a buffalo.
lololololol! Watch it!
You are welcome.



This pic just makes me laugh. I have no idea what I am doing with my hands besides blocking Mick's face, all I can see is that don't actually look as cool as I think I do.


~~~~~~

After this session we took the recording to Mick's studio located in North Van at NAL sound. I had the very lucky pleasure to have Saffron and Camille Henderson sing back up vocals on my recording of Baby Blue.  They walked in and did the vocals like they had been doing them all their lives and they kinda have been seeing as their Dad wrote the song. It was such a treat to have those beautiful and supportive women on the recording I know I am a very fortunate girl and I still haven't stopped thanking them.

Here is my sneaky snap from that, you can just see them off in the darkness of the vocal booth.....

Also playing on some of the songs the  talented Paul Tobin
was in studio laying down guitar trax.

I also have my dear and talented friend Kelly Brock due to come  in studio for some vocals, some guest children for an environmental awareness song,  Kirsten Nash to play some sax on some of my heart smooshers, and maybe even  Brent Howard to play some pedal steel on the song Long Distance which I wrote with Rick Tippe.
More to come I hope but that's the plan so far. 

And that's been the scoop until now! Things are rolling along. I can't wait to keep plowing through these tunes as they've been a long time coming.
Maybe I am finally  ready to do them some justice now.  I know the process has gotten easier as I have learned more and have been able to get outside of them. And they are great little songs, and they came from me, through me or out of me somehow and
I am looking forward to polishing them up and sharing them.
So stay tuned. I'll keep you looped.




                                                              
                           All best to you, thanks for listening.... keep rocking.........Rachael



Friday, April 13, 2012

Vancouver Walk for Kids Help Phone!

Ok friends! Yay!
Here is the weblink for the Vancouver Walk for Kids Help Phone!

Put together a team and join the walk or just bring your kids out to one of the many walk locations across country to take in the festivities donate/support a team.
I'll be there with members of Hitzone and well be rocking the neighourhood!





Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Walk for Kids Help Phone, Walk so Kids can Talk .....Baby Blue



I have been attending and playing for the   Walk for Kids Help Phone  over the last three years and it has become a cause very dear to my heart.  I've often felt that I could have used the Kids Help Phone when I was a kid and I might have a few less bags to unpack today, had I had someone to talk to back then.

So, I sang the song Baby Blue at a volunteer luncheon last year and I actually saw people wipe away tears as I sang it. I realized it was quite beautiful how this song articulated so well what the volunteers at Kids Help Phone do for children. It suddenly became a purpose in my life to bring this song and the cause together so I am very proud today to be able to share this with you.

Maybe it will get some kids attention and they will see that they have a place to call if they need help. 

And if you would like to help, donate or join now!
Sign up at this link to join the Walk so Kids can Talk this May 6th 2012..



            Below you can click the pictures to visit some of the Kids Walks corporate sponsors. We thank them for their dedication to breaking the silence.















Thank you to Bill Henderson for writing this truly iconic song. Soon after I began to sing it at my live performances I realized just how well loved and important this song is to not just me but all people.
You can find Chilliwack's flawless original recording of Baby Blue on iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/chilliwack-greatest-hits/id385052642

Millions of thanks to Mick Dalla Vee of Millennia Sound Design for production, engineering and recording.
Vocals; Rachael Chatoor
Electric Guitar;  Russell Marsland
Acoustic Guitar; Paul Tobin
Bass, Piano, Classical Guitar, BG Vocals ; Mick Dalla Vee
Drums/percussion; Shawn Soucy
Big hugs and thanks to  Saffron Henderson and Camille Henderson for lending their gorgeous voices to the background vocals.


And big thanks to my band Hitzone who will be playing at the Vancouver walk with me this year on May 6th!

See you there!
Rach xo