Reflections on Collaborations and Music

Drummer, DJ Bmore Free, and teacher from Seattle, Washington. I am blogging about music and posting work from my sketch books. 

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We miss and love you Seattle! Video Editor: Lindsay Martin 

Bandcamp Link: https://moonpalacemusic.bandcamp.com/

Song Credits: Carrie Biell - Vocals & Bass 

Cat Biell - Vocals & Guitar 

Darcey Zoller - Synth

 Jude Miqueli - Drums 

Recorded by Aaron Schroeder at Pierced Ears Recording Company 

Mastered by Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering 

Photography by Jo Cosme 

Design by Cat Biell 

 Lyrics by Carrie Biell

 We’re divided in this space can always draw in lines kick it in the next reprise We’re quick to take each other on folding over time how can we depend on this? Who you are Who you are Do you ever share who you are? You’re running out all the time drawing battle lines leave me out of your cold wake I never should have carried this on I never would have asked for this You’re the common thread through this Who you are Who you are Do you ever share who you are? 

 moonpalacemusic.com Twitter @mo0npalace Instagram @mo0npalace

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Home Edition

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Art as a meditation, practice, and therapy. Draw one thing each day. What will you draw today? Don't forget to write the date!

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Moon Palace on Twitter

“Today Carrie and Jude talked about recording, songwriting, and the importance of community on Abstract Podcast. Subscribe @AbstractPod P

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Adding drum samples from my own kit to a song called “Characters” by Moon Palace. Aaron Schroeder of Pierced Ears Recording is mixing.

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I’m sitting at a picnic like table in the back of The Vera Project in Seattle on the showcase day of Camp Emerald. Queer and Trans Youth Music Project has a couple of different programs, this one is a week long camp experience for youth to learn how to play an instrument and perform at the end of the week. The camp focuses on music empowerment, social justice, and community building. I missed the training day but the organizers were so flexible and nice which is one of the reasons I like volunteering here. One of the members of the team facetimed me before camp started and we went through the handbook for camp. Along with camp logistics we talked about the principles of disability justice, white supremacy culture in organizations, gender fluid support and all the various identities. It was about a three hour conversation on a Sunday split up so we could take bathroom/water/laundry breaks. It felt amazing to have this moment and talk to someone I didn’t really know that well about these important topics. Being here at this camp has been more than a teaching experience and more like a human expansion experience. I have been feeling a bit isolated in my own community as of late so to be able to have a place to go where music and community are the focus has been a lifeline.

The atmosphere in Seattle has been smokey which made me sick and tired. One particular morning of camp I dragged myself out of my third story apartment. All the windows were closed because I didn’t want the smoke in but it was so hot. I had one oscillating fan and an air purifier but I was still moving slow and feeling down. I rode the 8 down to KEXP and walked over to Vera. When I entered it was cooler inside the space and there were about 15 queers having full on dance floor feelings to Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend”. This was the cure all! Smiling, I picked up the pace as I walked down the stairs and let the movement reset my entire day.

On the first day of drum instruction we discussed parts of the kit, tuning, stretching, holding the sticks and brushes. We also played back and forth to match rhythms and tempos. At the end the campers had free play and one even screamed, “Wow! That was cathartic!”

Some music inspirations from the drum students were The XX, The Gorrillaz, Panic at the Disco, The White Stripes, and Mitski. On the second day of class we practiced a reggaeton beat, a 60’s doo-wop beat, a hip-hop beat, triplets, singing while drumming and pattern matching.

On the last day of camp the three drummers in class listened to their band’s song in headphones and played along. I don’t know how they were focusing with all the noise but each one of them was completely engaged with their own work while in the same room. At one point a spontaneous “We Will Rock You” beat emerged while allowing space for each person to add a fill. It was a completely camper led class. This is exactly what they wanted to do and it benefited the group as well as each individual. I faded into the background and enjoyed their excitement for the beats. At the very end the bassists joined our class and we all played along to “Seven Nation Army” by the The White Stripes. At the end of the song the bass literally fell off a camp counselor and hit the floor. A camper made the “dropped the bass joke” and we all lost it.

Thankful for this experience and can't wait to come back next year!!!

Check out the pics on the Queer & Trans Youth Music Project FB Page. 

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Moon Palace LP2

Synchronicities have always played a part in Moon Palace’s story. On the same day we set out to Pierced Ears Recording Studio to begin tracking our second album (July 12th, 2018) the internet reminded us that our first band practice ever was also on that day two years prior. Two years, two albums. Productivity is on right now. With this next album will come professional promotion. I’ve done an OK job of it myself but we want to get to that next level. I started the process of PR campaign inquiry today. One thing that’s for sure is we’re going to need money. Lots of it. We will need to start playing loads of shows this fall/winter...shows that pay. If you’d like to support our second album book us, share this, or hit us up at [email protected]

The first three songs we recorded for this record were “Gamma Ray”, “Who You Are” and “Shadow Cast”. We went in with three fully structured energizing tracks. “Gamma Ray” is our summer beach drive piece. “Who You Are” is moody as hell emocore and “Shadow Cast” is Talking Heads inspired dance punk.

Drum Gear I Used On These Tracks:

-Ludwig Black Beauty Snare w/ Remo Heads

-Gretsch Toms

-Maple Shell Pearl Kick Drum

-Cube Headed Kick Pedal for dead attack, even distribution, and more “OOMPH” (that’s a technical term)

-Large Keplinger Ride

-Medium Sabian Crash

-Vintage Zildjian Hi-Hats

Next time we hit the studio we’ll be recording our most shoegazey stoner jam called “Embers”. The track is over six minutes so we’ll need to shorten it up a bit and at the same time add layers of layers of everything. “The Cave” and “Bold” are also up next but they aren’t fully structured. We’ll be working on those while prepping for upcoming shows. 

Here’s where you can find us next:

July 25th WWU Summer Concert Series at Noon

Aug. 23rd Neumos Sera Cahoone Celebrating 20 Years in Seattle

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3paOElIEbsw)

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The Moon Palace Shadowcast Tour starts today! We'll be roaming around the Pacific Northwest playing our self-titled record along with some new tracks. If you and your friends are at a show use the #shadowcasttour and @mo0npalace on Instagram or Twitter. Hope to see you there!

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The video reflects the self-process of creating peace with the wounded and unintegrated parts of ourselves. "Hunt and Gather". Those unintegrated parts of us are brought forward when we experience hurt, pain, grief or struggle. We ultimately are trying to heal those parts of us. By integrating the ego, the wounded child, the wild one in all of us and taking in the fire of ourselves, we are able to come into our wholeness...... The song lyrics portray the unraveling of a relationship and the witnessing of a loved one slowly changing into someone unrecognizable. Reclaiming your identity, building strength and starting over again.

"Hunt and Gather" Audio Track: https://moonpalacemusic.bandcamp.com/... Instagram: @mo0npalace Twitter: @mo0npalace FB: https://www.facebook.com/moonpalaceband/ Website: www.moonpalacemusic.com Contact: [email protected]

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Thank you to Loren Othón for taking photos at The Shakedown on Saturday night. We had the best time and can't wait to go back to Bellingham! For our next show we are headed to Olympia on February 23rd to play an in studio at KAOS Community Radio AND an ALL AGES show that same night at Cascadia Brewing Co. and Cascadia Homebrew Supply

2/23/18 Events: Moon Palace KAOS In-Studio Moon Palace & guests!

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Palms

Break Apart out February 2nd, 2018 on Porchlight Records. Pre-order Here: http://www.porchlightrecords.limitedrun.com/products/607215-tenderfoot-break-apart-pre-order

Drum Diary “Palms” by Tenderfoot

“Do you guys ever get angry? Can we talk about anger as an energy and try adding it into the music at practice?” At some point during this creative process I was experiencing anger in my life. None of it had to do with Tenderfoot. The band was a source of comfort and peace. These folks showed me what listening and collaboration feels like when people really care about each other in a deep and meaningful way. Because we created such a safe space for music, art, and feelings, I felt comfortable asking them questions about what felt like an uncomfortable energy... anger. The Tenderfoot vibe was sweet and loving at practice but I didn’t feel sweet or loving. I didn’t want to pretend. I wanted to be real with them.

I felt desperate and scared to talk about it because it was so opposite of our weekly rituals. Why would I want to bring this ugly feeling to practice? We have such a good thing going! It came to a point when I had to say something or I  was going to burst.  I ended up ranting on a voice memo in my car and texting the voicemail to them. Technology! It was so awkward and weird. I’ve never done that before and probably never will again. Miraculously it worked! I mean...I guess it wasn’t a miracle. I was scared for nothing. Everyone thanked me for sharing. Because of the open mindedness in my bandmates we were able to have a conversation about it. They were all on board to work with anger in our music at the next practice.

The funny thing was that it ended up feeling a bit contrived because you can’t just show up and be like, “We are going to be angry now!” It wasn’t authentic anger because I was SO HAPPY everyone was on board. We ended up having fun and making this song that Gabe named “Palms”. It had beachy vibes. I think the drums are inspired by some of those local Seattle garage rock bands like Ponytime and Taco Cat. It was definitely satisfying to get pent up energy out with this beat. I’d like to think that the work we did in just talking about anger, acknowledging it, and welcoming it into our space did have an impact on the record and creative process. It may have made it easier to communicate those feelings when the authentic anger showed up again later. It is funny though…how you could be experiencing anger, struggling so hard to communicate it, desperately want to work with it, and then end up making the HAPPIEST SONG ON THE ALBUM.

Playing at Adam’s apartment on a stripped down set inbetween practice spaces

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Moon Palace 

“Hunt and Gather” Music Video Stills

Last summer the members of Moon Palace set out on a journey of their own to discover danger, beauty, and magic. With a small and powerful crew they filmed a music video for their song "Hunt and Gather" out on the Olympic Peninsula in Quilcene, Washington. 

Come to the Wildrose in Seattle, WA to watch the video on it's premier February 1st, 2018. 8-10PM ♥ SJ will be bartending ♥ Film Credits: Carrie Robinson: Director of Photography Lindsay Martin: Director Darcey Zoller: Art Director Dancers: Loren Othón, Kiki Robinson, Kendra Bloom Wardrobe: Jenna Ryan

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Moon Palace by Sophia Barkalakis

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Moon Palace Drums and Bass Seattle, WA