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

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!

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

Stephanie Lee Rhodes....

My friend is in a contest. Check out her awesome entry video below because I know you will be motivated to click the link HERE and rate her video 5 out of 5!
That simple act may  just help her to win a scholarship! 
She's very deserving. now you have done a great deed. :)
Feel free to pass on those good feelings with your friends on Facebook!

Steph:
"I was born TO style because I was born WITH style! I love the way an amazing hairstyle can completely transform someone. Inside and out. I want the skills to bring my creative visions to life. "

when Kids need to talk.........

...they can go here

if you'd like to support that

you can do this

so that kids don't have to worry about this

or this

                                                   or this 

stick around,

pretty soon I'm going to try and make you cry

then maybe,

someday,

some little kid won't have to

xox

if you ask me

admirable are those who so value their own word

that they will only be impeccable with it

the end

Rock the $#@! out of Cancer 2012

It's coming up on April 14th and I want to see you there. Seriously, no questions, no excuses, this is a non-negotiable must do. It's not just for me nor even just for the cause which we'll all be helping out, it's because I don't want you to miss out an outstanding good time. You really shouldn't waste another moment reading anything here in fact, you you should go directly to the Rock the $#@! out of Cancer website  and bookmark it so that when tickets go on sale on March 7th you can easily get your tickets. .....then feel free to come back. OK? See ya!

Got it bookmarked? Ok good, now read on.

So look, I love it when you get great big superstars into play at a smaller intimate environment such as the Evergreen Hall (in Chilliwack BC). It makes for the most connected, memorable kind of music experience ever, and the dancing is off the charts.
And yes I said big superstar,  because guess what friends? The headliner for this years event is the one and only Loverboy frontman himself, Mike Reno! If you lived anywhere at all at anytime ever then the music of Loverboy is a part of the musical tapestry of your life! And here is a wonderful chance to listen to it live and up close!

And I'm practically dying with excitement because I'll be doing the same kind of thing I did last year.







I've been lucky enough to sing back up vocals a few times as Mike was up there belting out his tunes onstage, and I've hung out backstage at Loverboy concerts making behind the scenes videos, but this upcoming opening slot thing is kinda cool. And with all the other bands slated to play the bill  (find the full listing on the website), it's going to be a memorable, musical, exciting evening.

                                                  Here's a memento photo I found on my
                 iPhone from a gig last year where Mike and Cathy were special guests.

And I can't possibly finish off without saying thanks to the sponsors who are bringing you this event!

89.5 the Hawk

Star 98.3

Signal Signs and Graphics

collabmail.ca

Musicworx Audio Video

McDonald Entertainment

Go Audio

Klohn Crippen Berger

Cornerstone Framing Gallery

Army Navy Air Force Veterans

All for the Ride to Conquer Cancer 

See you there!
Rach
xo