Who’s Who?

Cali Rose

Composer, singer, songwriter, musician, entertainer, teacher, writer.

That’s me, recording in my bedroom at home, one of our go-to locations during this album project. I’m so lucky to be a working musician, a songwriter and to live a creative life, even with the inevitable twists and turns. When I was a kid, playing the piano in the living room, just making up stuff or learning songs… well… that saved me. I remember, vividly, how a pretty melody could soothe me, from the inside out. A few years ago I challenged myself to write instrumentals on the ukulele. It’s amazing how a different instrument can inspire you in new and unexpected ways. And that’s how it felt writing and performing these songs on Looking Glass. Enjoy and thank you!

Website:  calirose.com

Ian LeCheminant 

Mixing, Mastering, computer Wizard, musician, composer and creative co-conspirator!

I could not have made this album without Ian’s help and guidance! We started collaborating on Looking Glass before the pandemic and found a way to move the work to Zoom and his studio and my bedroom (where he set-up his portable studio in front of the window). In other words, we found a way. With Ian, I hit the jackpot. He is not only an excellent musician and a prodigious composer but this man knows his way around computers and programs, sound files and all the techie stuff. But here’s the thing… Ian is genuinely kind, patient and hugely collaborative. He’s a really good guy! Thank you Ian.

Website:  ianlecheminant.com

Janet Bock 

Award-winning artist (and ukulele player) whose original painting graces the front and back covers of this album.

Once in a while when I’m writing music or just closing my eyes and listening, I see colors. The first time I saw Jan’s painting, I thought “wow, that’s it…this is what the songs on my album look like… splashes of blues and greens and whatever’s.” So I purchased her original work and here we are, taking a selfie in a Ralph’s parking lot, at the intersection of art and commerce. Jan, I really love your warm and whimsical view of the world. Thank you!

Website:  janbock.com

Amy Pace

Graphic Artist, Web Designer, Fine Artist and Thinker-Outside-The-Box.

Here’s a selfie of Amy, working on my album in her home office. Starting with Jan’s painting, that beautiful canvas of blues and greens, Amy created the cool free-hand ukulele drawing on the front cover and placed it “just so.” She experimented with font after font, tweaked here and there to make the colors pop and whoo-hoo, that pink. This woman is an artist and also a master of the behind-the-scene skills one needs to do graphic art, to build websites, to get me through the hurdles of setting up a new email program. Quickly. She and I have worked together for years and I am very very grateful. Thank you Amy! By the way, Amy likes to stay under the radar…so no website. Just that sly Mona Lisa smile.

Craig Brandau 

Sweetheart, husband and love of my life who put my songs into notation and tablature so you can play them too.

Craig knows his way around the music program Sibelius and has put my songs into sheet music form. This is no small task, let me tell you. It can take forever to do one song and get it right. I am so grateful for his help. Over the years I have given him hand-scratchy lead sheets of my original songs to transform into “the real thing” and he does a beautiful job. Craig is also the other artist in the family. He is such a talented photographer. His pictures tell a story and capture the essence of relationship — in solitude, in community, in this crazy world. Thank you sweetie!

Loki (The Therapy Dog)

Recording can get stressful but here’s Ian’s little puppy to the rescue. When I would visit Ian at his studio, Loki was there, snoozing in her cushy bed and sometimes staring me down, slightly annoyed because I was sitting in HER chair. But what a bundle of cute…and oh those eyes…you just want to stop what you’re doing and give her a big ol’ snuggle. Loki brings everything back to the present, this little Zen master. Thank you Loki!