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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
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)
Sunday Oct 27, 2019
Sunday Oct 27, 2019
In this episode, I share my thoughts on the keys to prolificity and finishing ideas.
Sunday Oct 27, 2019
Sunday Oct 27, 2019
In this episode I reflect on the results of my "Lifestyle Design Experiment" in which I observe the following daily practices for one month:
1. Wake up at 4:30am
2. 15 minutes of meditation
3. 3 pages of journaling
4. 1 hour of exercise
5. 1 gallon of water
6. Write tomorrows task list before bed
7. No alcohol, cigarettes or recreational drugs
In a nutshell, I had a remarkably productive month with a significantly higher and more consistent energy level.
In this episode I also talk about the new album, upcoming shows, and future projects.
Links to things referenced in this episode:
New Album - Sunset: https://chalkdinosaur.com/music
New Album - Sunset (AIFF): https://chalkdinosaur.com/product/340142
Mindfulness in Plain English: https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-English-Bhante-Henepola-Gunaratana/dp/0861719069/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=mindfulness+in+plain+english&qid=1572187995&sr=8-3
November 1st Show: https://www.facebook.com/events/970980936572262/
November 15th Show: https://www.facebook.com/events/2464105653872118/
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
This episode welcomes my first podcast guest, Lucas Bowman. Lucas is a classical and jazz pianist who plays keyboard in a Pittsburgh soul-rock band called The Commonheart.
Check out their new album Pressure, available everywhere.
I met Lucas in 2016 and he appears in two Chalk Dinosaur songs: Farm Jam, and Rocket Dude off the album "Chalk Dinosaur and Friends".
He's one of those musicians who is extremely fluent with his instrument and with the language of music as a whole. I have so many more questions to ask him about how he attained his level of proficiency. Hopefully we'll be able to continue this conversation in a future episode.
In this conversation, we talk about tour, recording, performing, balance, and a whole slew of other stuff.
For more on Lucas and The Commonheart, you can check them out on: