Clare Means

Bio:

FOR BOOKING AND INFO EMAIL HERE: ClareMeans@gmail.com Visit the official website and read lyrics here: www.claremeans.com *************************************************************************************** "This singer/songwriter is armed with the kind of folky precision and roots rock poeticism that you either get at birth or you don’t. Springsteen got it. Dylan got it. Carole King got it. And Means got it, too. The twentysomething’s debut White Bamboo is a stunning collection of raw, emotional intensity and crushing romanticism, all delivered by a voice that is at once smoky, strong and assured. An open wound of a singer, Means inhabits every number here with grace and aplomb, steadily crooning her way through a host of devastating subjects. The tearjerking “Everybody’s Room But Mine” tells the tale of a toxicology-positive baby with the same finesse and brilliance of Suzanne Vega’s “Luka”; the bluesy folk of “Haunt You” rails against an absent father and “Asbury Park” uses the backdrop of a carnival to accentuate the tragedy of the life of a serial killer. “Asbury Park misses you,” she sings mournfully in what is a haunting and deeply moving portrait of a murderer as a young man. The slow motion memory of him taking the roller coaster for the first time—an innocent boy in love with speed but who somehow twists away into darkness—is one of the most resonant images in a song in recent memory. Elsewhere, the lovely “Snow Angels” shrugs off warmer activities for a romantic rendezvous in the snow, “White Bamboo” is a metaphorically triumphant love song and the delicate “Notions Of Love” is just gorgeous."-www.caughtinthecarousel.com **************************************************************************************** "Somehow [Clare Means'] songs ring for me, hold me through the repetitions like great folks songs will do, and their meaning attaches to parts of my life and the feelings just beneath the surface on a given day. There is perhaps a Clare Means frame of mind in them, which is to me a sense of acceptance and wonder at the damages of daily experience. She won't burn anything in effigy, but I wouldn't want to be the one she's singing about for the most part. She's been hurt into poetry, and has the smolder of Beth Orton in her delivery stripped clean of unnecessary detail. "-www.billysbunker.com ***************************************************************************************** "Clare Means has a lovely voice and puts it to good use on her new record. The great opener New York Night quietly paints vivid pictures of the Big Apple to a lovely tune. Haunt You sees Means play an almost reggae rhythm and sound confident and tough. Notions of Love is a sensitive and moving song, Means expressing herself well. The tune is instantly likable and engaging. Angels of the Freeway sounds like a long lost classic, an anthemic and melancholy song with a marvelous chorus. Means sings of the freedom of the road and the loneliness all at once. This album is just great."-www.collectedsounds.com ****************************************************************************************** "Clare Means’ White Bamboo is an excellent soundtrack to a warm sunset and pairs quite nicely with an afternoon cup of coffee. There are also some gloomy rainy day moments on the disc, as we are reminded through song of heartbreak and failed devotion, which to me shows this artist’s sense of diversity. Check her out at myspace.com/claremeans. She's worth it!"-www.reviewermagazine.com ******************************************************************************************* Clare Means is a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter. She started playing guitar and singing in 2005 when she was given a guitar for her birthday, and her music career has since taken off. Clare has recently released her first full length album, "White Bamboo". She has already independently sold thousands of this album while performing at shows, on the Santa Monica promenade and Universal City Walk. The title track from the album "White Bamboo" was placed on UCLA Radio's "Best Unsigned Artists Compilation". Another song from the album, "Everybody's Room But Mine," was a finalist in the lyric contest for the January/February 2008 issue of "American Songwriter Magazine" and was a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Another song from the album, "Chloe", was recently placed in a short film, "TBD", directed by Ray Chang. This film was screened at both the Los Angeles Short Film Festival and the Pan African Film Festival. You can also hear her song "Angels of the Freeway" on the recently released short film "Not on the 1st Date", directed and written by Carlos Dorsey. Clare Means' song "Notions of Love" was also a finalist for best original song at the Feel Good Film Festival 2008. Clare Means is also known for her great live performances. She has played at many different venues in Los Angeles and New York including the Hotel Cafe, the Viper Room, CBGB's, Tangier, the Cat Club, Highland Grounds, and many others. She also plays weekly at Universal City Walk and the Santa Monica Promenade and she has monthly residency at the prestigious "Room 5". You can contact Clare for info and booking at: ClareMeans@gmail.com Clare Means' debut CD, "White Bamboo" is now available on CDBaby, just click on this link!

Member Since:

February 01, 2006

Members:

***************************************************************** As far as band members go, it's usually just me. However, the songs on this page and all but one of the songs on the record, "White Bamboo", were recorded by Michael Starr and Mr. Starr also played the mandolin (Snow Angels), violin (Notions of Love, Snow Angels), electric guitar, slide guitar, and bass on the songs (a very talented man indeed if any musicians are looking for someone to record and/or play on their music). Also Jason Pipkin played the drums on "Everybody's Room But Mine" and "Haunt You" and the Carl Byron played the piano on Asbury Park. The song "Angels of the Freeway" that is also on my album "White Bamboo" was produced and recorded by Derek Mok. Derek played all of the instruments on that song. ClareMeans@gmail.com

Influences:

Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Morrisey, Joni Mitchell, Bright Eyes, Nick Drake, Tracy Chapman, Neil Young, Joanna Newsom, Chocolate Genius, Marvin Gaye, Greg Brown, Paul Simon, Ryan Adams, Loretta Lynn, Counting Crows, Tom Petty, the Beatles, Edie Brickell, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Mary Gauthier and probably many others

Sounds Like:

I have been told Tracy Chapman, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Mazzy Star, Suzanne Vega, Dido, Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, Neko Case, Sarah McLachlan, Nico, Cat Power, Joni Mitchell, Beth Orton, and Edie Brickell. Also sounds like "Claire Means", "Clare Mean" or "Clair Means" but it is not, it is Clare Means. LYRICS AND A FREE DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE

Record Label:

ClareMeans@gmail.com