2.6K
Downloads
56
Episodes
This is a podcast focused on music creation, professional and personal development, the creative process, and the inner workings of my life in music. My name is John O‘Hallaron. I release music under the name Chalk Dinosaur and I work as a freelance composer for television and games.
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
Wednesday Mar 11, 2020
On this episode, I talk with Katie Oltmanns who works in the radio industry as a DJ on 105.9 and 104.7, the live music industry, and is the founder of a local music podcast called Scene Unheard. Katie details what it's like working in radio, how she arrived, and her experience doing Scene Unheard.
Check out her podcast, Scene Unheard
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
On today's episode I have a discussion with Paul Guarino, one of the owners and founders of ASCEND, a rock climbing gym in Pittsburgh. Interestingly, I've been involved musically with ASCEND since they opened. They've used Chalk Dinosaur music in some of their promotional videos and I've also DJ'd for the gym a couple times. I've been curious about what it was like starting that business, and the backstory behind everything, so I'm grateful for Paul taking the time to come and chat with me about it.
https://www.ascendclimbing.com/
Next Chalk Dinosaur show is on March 26th at the Thunderbird! http://www.thunderbirdmusichall.com/e/chalk-dinosaur-w-chachuba-92302034871/
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Monday Feb 24, 2020
If we want to feel inspiration, we must not wait for it to find us, but rather, we must seek it out and cultivate it. If we feed it, it will grow. If we neglect it, it will wither.
In this episode I share my thoughts on actively seeking and maintaining an inspired state.
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
In this episode I sit down with Jeremy Colbert who is a Pittsburgh based singer/songwriter, guitar and terrapan player. Jeremy plays in a Pittsburgh folk rock band called Nameless in August, but this episode focuses on his upcoming solo album called Spirit Maze and the story behind it. His solo artist alias is Taragape. The album release show is this Saturday, February 22nd, 2020. Details and links below!
Artist: Taragape
Album: Spirit Maze (Available 2.22.2020)
Bandcamp: www.taragape.bandcamp.com
Album Release Show: Saturday, 2.22.2020 • 6-9pm
Venue: Dragon's Den • 1008 Amity St • Homestead, PA
Album Art (wood):Naked Geometry • https://www.facebook.com/WisdomAndWork/
Album Art (painting): Krystaleyez • https://www.krystleyez.com/
Nameless in August: https://namelessinaugust.bandcamp.com/releases
Press release for Spirit Maze and the accompanying release show:
Jeremy Colbert, of folk-rock band Nameless in August, spent most of 2019 working to bring the album “Spirit Maze” to fruition. What began as a solo album with healing intentions has grown into a music entity seeking to support community and cultivate consciousness. The origin of the name stems from agápe, one of seven different words for ‘love’ by the ancient Greek culture, meaning unconditional love or love for humanity.
This unique album features handpan (inverted steel drum) arranged with strings intertwined with conscious guitar and lyric compositions. It is truly a sonic journey of reflection.
The album will be released on 02-22-20, 6-9pm at the Dragon’s Den, a new venue serving the youth community of Homestead by establishing an indoor ropes course and zip line. The Dragon’s Den will officially open this summer and 18% of tickets sold will benefit the venue. https://dragonsdenpgh.org/
For all event info and to purchase tickets, visit:
https://bit.ly/3blEq2L
Taragápe will perform the album in its entirety as a 5-piece ensemble featuring Jeremy Colbert
(handpan/guitar/vocals), Matt Price (drums/percussion), James Bristol (double bass), Briana Carraher (cello), and Nashwan Abdullah (violin/fiddle).
The all-star lineup includes supporting musicians:
Scott & Rosanna
Guy Russo
David JM Bielewicz
Lauren ‘Shay’ DeMichiei
Jason Gamble
Monkey Goddess
Entertainment from circus arts performers:
Camille Zamboni (contortionist) and Ishkaday (dancer, light/fire spinner & acrobat)
Live painting by the renowned Seth Leibowitz
Also featured will be Hope Academy student performers!
Empath Sober Bar will be serving locally-sourced intentionally-infused non-alcoholic beverages
Laser-cut album merchandise designed by Naked Geometry
Production by Xenon Entertainment
Event coordination by TJ Parker-Young of Bricolage Theater Company
Friday Jan 31, 2020
Friday Jan 31, 2020
In this episode I tell the story of Chalk Dinosaur, from the first time I held an instrument all the way to the present time. All of the iterations of Chalk Dinosaur from solo project to full band.
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
Tuesday Jan 07, 2020
In this episode I have a conversation with Michael Berger, bassist and writer for a Pittsburgh band called The Clock Reads. I would describe their music as a fusion of jazz, jam, funk, and latin. They just released a new album called Gnomon which is the main catalyst for our conversation today. You can find The Clock Reads at the links listed below. Happy New Year! Time to put a new ring in the tree trunk.
http://www.theclockreads.band/
https://theclockreads.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theclockreads/
Thursday Nov 28, 2019
Thursday Nov 28, 2019
On this episode I talk with my friend Sean Howard. If you go to any of the smaller PA music festivals, you've probably seen Sean running sound or lights. I met Sean at a festival called FarmJammaLamma in 2016. He was one of the lighting and sound engineers as well as a performer. In this conversation we talk about his work as a lighting and sound engineer, his band, and the recording studio project he is currently building.
https://www.facebook.com/SHOrchestra/
https://www.facebook.com/soundbarproductions/
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
In this episode I talk about a bunch of random stuff, both related and unrelated to Chalk Dinosaur. Recent and upcoming performances, reflections, and a bunch of random thoughts.
Sunday Nov 17, 2019
Sunday Nov 17, 2019
In this episode I talk about some of my methods and thoughts on mixing.
Wednesday Nov 06, 2019
Wednesday Nov 06, 2019
This episode features songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Shane McLaughlin of the Pittsburgh folk band Buffalo Rose. In this conversation we talk about songwriting, recording, journaling, and a bunch of other random stuff.
Links:
The River Song (live clip from the beginning of the episode)