What is your names?
Chris Pellnat
What is your genre of music?
Singer-songwriter
Give us a little bio about you.
I live in upstate New York, USA. Unlike New York City, upstate New York is mostly rural, has small towns, and is quite beautiful. I have been playing music in one way or another most of my adult life. I’ve played guitar in several bands, including The Warp/The Weft (currently), Idiot Splendour, King Vidor, Whiskey Council and Jackinany. My solo work is mostly acoustic guitar-driven but includes a variety of styles and instrumentation, including vibraphone, clarinet, synthesizer, dulcimer and accordion.
What made you go into music?
I have always been in love with music and moved by it. My first instrument was violin – in the school orchestra – and then guitar, which is still may main instrument. The more I played music the more I realized I had so much more to learn, so it’s an endless and intensely rewarding journey.
Who are your influences?
I have gone through many musical phases, from classical (Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin) to jazz (Coltrane, Bird, Getz) to folk (Cohen, Dylan) and country (Hank Williams, George Jones) to various strains of rock and pop (Beatles, R.E.M., Eilish…)
Are you a signed?
No
You released your new latest album ‘Cairn’, tell us more about the single and the meaning behind the album.
A cairn is a stack of stones that someone sets up to mark a trail or a memorial of some kind. I like the visual of a cairn and also the idea that you’re setting something up that has meaning, though people may not know exactly what was intended by the builder. “Cairn” the album was two years in the making and is generally a “positive” record despite the fact that the world seems to be falling apart.
Describe each track in two words.
1. Ship on the Horizon – salty accordion
2. Wandering Squandering – unexpectedly rocking
3. Forest Giants – trippy laughter
4. The World Won’t Let Me Believe – wannabe anthem
5. Better – honest restart
6. Maddening Muse – elusive inspiration
7. Dragonflies – natural flight
8. After Everything That You’ve Done – go away
9. Child’s Play – justified sneer
10. The Final Wager – sure bet
What was the writing and recording process like?
This was mostly a home studio affair, with numerous iterations and mixing attempts t get the sound right. The result has some polish but it’s also intentionally DIY in feel, and does not share the same vibe as most big studio recordings at all.
Who did you work with on the album?
Bobby Sabella added drums and Pete Toigo played upright bass on a few of the songs.
Will we see any music videos for any of the tracks off the album and if so, what can we expect from the creative process.
There are several music videos from this album, including Ship on the Horizon, Wandering Squandering, and Forest Giants.
What else can we expect in 2024?
I’m working on new music and I’ve been experimenting with making music videos in VR worlds.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Still making music, for sure.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
I can’t really sing but I do it anyway.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Guitar tuner, setlist, extra strings, the name of the venue owner/manager, brush your teeth!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Threads
Instagram
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