Alaska is released in partnership with Softseed Musicin British Columbia on limited edition cassette tapes (32), each with one-of-a-kind swirl art made by Dave Norman of Softseed Music. The tapes are available at Softseedmusic.bandcamp.com and UnoLady.com.
Dave asked about collaborating on a tape right after my Alaskan adventure. The Wax Mage Records, Single Rider release was how I was introduced to Dave. He runs Softseed Music and Zegma Beach. Red Spade Records created a limited run lathe cut 10” and Dave hand dipped the swirl art.
ALASKA, Uno Lady’s 9th release, was recorded at an off-the-grid solar-powered arts fellowship at Chulitna Wilderness Lodge in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, Alaska.
These songs were written in the moment and inspired by the landscape. You can hear the tranquility of the place within the songs. The percussion was made by drumming on trees and the beats are comprised of bird calls I recorded. These nature sounds pulse along with layers of vocal harmonies. These truly unique compositions are atmospheric and mesmerizing.
The album artwork is a photo I took on summer solstice. Taking advantage of the 22 hours of daylight, we zipped around by boat visiting different islands within Lake Clark and sipped on sun soaked teas made from flowers we foraged.
The art fellowship in Alaska was life changing. I was as enthusiastic as an eight year old over new plant discoveries. I didn’t anticipate creating an album. Being disconnected from social media and online distractions allowed me to absorb and be influenced by the atmosphere. I would record when I felt inspired, which was often. At the end of the 6 week adventure, I had 10 recordings and a new album. All the songs on ALASKA were a product of this once in a lifetime experience. Thank you Chulitna Lodge for sharing your space, good company, and delicious food. This album is dedicated to you and the artists involved (Here are related posts about my experience at the fellowship if you want to learn more 1 & 2).
In these coming weeks, I’ll share stories from each song and videos. Subscribe and follow to see. Here’s a link to all the streaming sites.
By Karol Kamiński, IDIOTEQ.COM -“Uno Lady‘s new album, titled “Alaska,”showcases her unique approach to music composition, which involves layering ambient vocal textures with classic doo-wop and jazz styles using experimental techniques. The album features a few tracks that incorporate effected vocals similar to the White Lotus theme, while the final two tracks are meditative and calming in nature.
Recorded at an off-the-grid solar-powered arts fellowshipat Chulitna Wilderness Lodge in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, Alaska, this isUno Lady’s ninth release.
The album will be available digitally and on cassette viaSoftseed Music, with 32 swirled cassettes being released on March 21st, 2023 at 7am PST / 9am CST / 10am EST.
Commenting on the new single “Today’s the Day”, Christa’s explains that the music came to her first and she struggled to come up with lyrics until she decided to write about the very thing she was experiencing – being stuck and trying to get moving.”
The new album will be available on 3.21.23 at the following links:
I flew into Paris but had a show in Strasbourg a few days later. I rented a car for the following morning and booked a room in Verdun, the city in the middle, to help break up the 6 hour drive. The residency that brought me to Europe didn’t start for another week. I explored France and Germany with my camera, capturing footage for the songs I was about to write.
Near Verdun is Vent des Forêts, a contemporary art exhibit in the woods. Some people fly into Paris to experience the city. I drove 3 hours into the countryside on one-lane dirt roads to hike alone in the forest in 91-degree heat.
The album artwork and videos for “A New Day” is from that hike. The sculptures in the video are “Cartouche” by Marion Verboom. “One of those who were too long in the woods,” by Stefan Rinck has been described as everyone’s friend of the forest.
The second song, “Black Forest ” features the trees and mushrooms of the Black Forest in Germany. The song was inspired by a melody I overheard two children singing to each other while hiking.
In “Beach Dreams,” forests reflect on stream surfaces. Underwater footage captures the light through water.
“Sunshine and Pines” shows scenes of Planplatten mountain (7,365 ft) situated within the Uri and Bernese Alps in Switzerland. On my birthday, I rode a gondola to the top of the mountain with 2 other people and what appeared to be hundreds of pounds of cheese (not pictured).
“Delaney” features live, improvised, and looped vocals. The percussion was made by talented musician and pal, Delaney Davidson. The song is named after him. Many years ago, he tapped on the body of his guitar and I saved the sound to my loop pedal. At the residency, I revisited the beat and wrote the composition in real time as it was recorded. The footage is from the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.
The dark melody of “And Let Live”’ matched the cold cellar at Chateau Orquevaux. I combined videos of clouds, water, fire, and the basement to achieve the haunting effects. Humble brag that I hit those low notes naturally. This song was featured on a compilation released by Volar Records, “Presence Not Absence – A Benefit Compilation for Trans BIPOC Housing Assistance.” Buy it on Bandcamp if you wish to support it.
“Anticipating the End” features footage from ruins of the ancient Hohenbaden Old Castle and Burg Alt-Eberstein castle ruins in Germany, and a foggy night in Orquevaux, France.
Skipping in Place meanders through the town of Orquevaux and showcases the beloved goats of the Chateau and their coordinated dance moves.
“Let it Flow” is the only song with lyrics on the track and the reason the album is named “Le Flux” (“the flow” in French). It features highlights from the trip to France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Thanks for taking the time to listen and view. I appreciate you and your support.
Le Flux was recorded and written at Chateau Orquevaux, France in September 2019.
This was my first artist retreat away from home. Past residencies were self-guided and completed in Cleveland while juggling other responsibilities. During this trip, all of my actions were focused on art.
I was determined to create as much as possible and abandoned any self-restricting rules. I muted my inner critic and nurtured the sound. Don’t have a chorus? It doesn’t matter. Lyrics,…who needs them. My voice is an instrument. These songs are acapella instrumentals.
Staying in another country and not being able to speak French made me contemplate communication. Musical tones are translators. There are many songs I love that are in other languages. I am often clueless as to what the words are but feel I understand what the song is about. We hear emotions in the melody. Compositions can cross language barriers. I wanted to make music that can be enjoyed by many cultures.
Every morning, I made myself a cappuccino and walked to the stables where my studio was. Whatever melody was in my mind at that moment I recorded and layered. These are the songs of Le Flux. All were written in a flow state. “Le Flux” means “The Flow” in French.
Here are some photos of the space.
the stables where my studio was
stable 2
sound shapers
the awesome group of artists I lived with
buy on bandcamp
The film accompanies me on my tour of Europe. The movie has momentum. The videos ramble through forest scenes and castle ruins. The visuals, layered and modulated, transport the viewer. Forged by adventure and intuitive feelings, these recordings are unplanned and unrehearsed yet fuse into a uniquely harmonious production.
I’ll share stories about the individual songs soon. Stay tuned! (subscribe at UnoLady.com)
I’m delighted to share the songs and videos from Le Flux with you. For the last 3 years, I have put a lot of time and love into these tracks and look forward to telling the story behind the music. More blog posts coming soon (subscribe at UnoLady.com)
“Le Flux” is a 9-song video album created in a flow state in France. The songs are spellbinding, ambient arias, mostly lyricless. The film, taken across Europe on the same trip that spawned the album, follows Uno Lady through France, Switzerland, and Germany. All songs were composed at an artist residency in the small town of Orquevaux, France at Chateau Orquevaux. The footage is from the same trip and features scenes from Switzerland and Germany. The compositions, videos, and editing involved following flow.
The short film airs at 9am EDT 11/22/22
I picked this release date because it’s my lovely mother’s birthday. Happy birthday, mom. You’re the best and I love you so much. You made me so you indirectly made this album! Great job! This album is dedicated to you.
November 22 also is the 15-year anniversary of my first Uno Lady show!(RIP Pat’s in the Flats and the incomparably tough and supportive Pat Hanych). Time flies! Thanks for your support all these years.
Thanks to Chateau Orquevaux for providing me with the opportunity and a truly unique place to create. I am forever inspired by the atmosphere and the other artists who attended (Miss you!) Huge thanks to The Ellis Beauregard Foundation in Rockland, Maine for providing me a residency and the opportunity to spend last winter editing, mastered, and making the videos. Thank you all for your support.
