Jerin Falkner

Jerin Falkner is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter whose music is captivating audiences all over the Sound. Falkner is currently promoting her new EP, Almost Completely Happy. Her music can be described as a mix of Jewel and Fiona Apple, but to be fair her sound and songwriting are very original. Falkner was born and raised in a small town just outside of Spokane called Green Acres. “Yep, it is an actual place. Everybody sings the old television theme song when they find out. Usually off key and with the wrong words but I get a kick out of it just the same,” Falkner said. Despite her big Hollywood-type talent, Falkner has an affinity for the Northwest. “I love the Sound. Easy-going people, sunsets behind Mount Rainier, roses and Frisbee playing in Point Defiance Park, biscuits, gravy and big cups of coffee at the Hob Nob, wild Chihuly glass sculptures, Victory Music open mic, infinite views of water, and of course, UPS (Go, Loggers!) are all my favorites.” You can find Falkner performing all over the Sound (her favorite place is the Northern Pacific Coffee Company in Tacoma). For the rest of the year, she will be touring and pushing her new EP in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Canada. To find out more about Falkner and her music, visit www.jerinfalkner.com.

Released: Spring Issue 2007 of pmg's Home & Garden Magazine

www.premiermedia.net

Copyright 2007 Premier Media Group - Ethan Chung, Premier Media Group

Jerin Falkner: Pyro Aesthetic
(Self Released)

Jerin Falkner is a singer/songwriter primarily known for her acoustic material. However, for her fourth release Pyro Aesthetic, the talented musician spreads her wings and escapes being pigeonholed. On Pyro Aesthetic, Falkner explores new sounds with synthesizers, piano, drum loops and ambient soundscapes to add a nice full body to her beautiful lyrics.

The lead-off track of this seven-song offering is the piano-based “Count to Three.” From the opening lines “I want to get off this train, I’m going to jump from the car. I’m going to walk different rails into somebody else’s heart,” you can’t help to be sucked into this break-up song and see what happens to the disgruntled lover.

If you think Pyro Aesthetic is going to be the typical female melencholy diary, think again. Falkner comes back and hits you with the bouncy electro-pop “Let Me Down,” which will certainly get you in the mood to dance. “Right in Front” is led by driving bass and piano-drenched melodies. “Flight” is a pure pop radio-friendly song which contains big choruses and “For You” is a gorgeous, but heart-wrenching piano ballad, in the vein of Sarah McLachlan.

The album winds down with the quirky “Copy Me,” which seems like filler, but does show Flakner’s playful side. We end with “Sunrise.” This song book ends Pyro Aesthetic perfectly with its down tempo beats and world-influenced percussion. The song compliments the opener “Count to Three,” showing Falker has found her way, but still has some searching to do.

Jerin Falkner may have built her fan base with lyrics and an acoustic guitar, but Pyro Aesthetic finds this young lady blossoming to detail how truly artistic she is. The acoustic singer/songwriter material was good, but with these songs, it truly gives Falkner’s music a much needed kick in the pants to separate her from the horde of other females with a guitar. - Troy Michael, Innocent Words Magazine

Today I'm a lucky girl. I'm starting my own column, AND I have one of the very first copies of Jerin Falkner's new album, Almost Completely Happy, hot off the press.

If you're a loyal Weekly Volcano reader and you're keeping track, then you'll know that I have written about Falkner before, but this is the new and improved Jerin Falkner. Oh yes, she was good before, but now she's completed her first studio recorded CD with a real producer — The hot girl next door has grown up and moved to Seattle.

Falkner worked with producer Jon Goff from Self Adhesive Records on recommendation from another Tacoma singer/songwriter, Jeremy Hoog, who got a thank-you mention in the liner notes. Nice. The Weekly Volcano did too by the way. Could this girl be any nicer?

Good manners are not all she has. This is an excellent record. Her six-song concept record takes you from the first blush of a crush with "Give Me a Chance," into full blown love with "Suddenly Beautiful." Then in the song called "Me" she's in that scary period where she realizes this love is real and it's hers to lose. What follows is the falling out period where we feel all five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — being processed in "Charade," and the return of emotional strength is conveyed with a slightly heavier bass and drum accompaniment on the song "Better." But in the end, Falkner's final song, "Ghost," makes you wonder if she really has accepted it or if something else is going on behind the scenes. Christine Gunn's cello makes "Ghost" sound as haunting as its name implies.

Falkner sings of her lovers' absence the way an amputee refers to a lost limb that she can still feel even though it's gone. The song effectively creates a mood that is starkly opposed to the sweet, intimate and charming effect of the preceding songs.

Falkner proves her knack for storytelling with this album. It's as though she's whispering a series of intimate love letters, with an acoustic guitar and a string quartet in the background. Almost Completely Happy is a beautiful work of art and would make an excellent movie sound track.

But I have good and bad news for you. The bad news is Almost Completely Happy won't be officially released until October. The good news is if you go to Falkner's Web site and join the mailing list you can buy an advance copy at her next show — tonight, 8 p.m., at Northern Pacific Coffee Co., 401 Garfield St. S. in Parkland by Pacific Lutheran University. The CD is available at this show only for $5. Falkner also notes a special guest will open.
Oh, I guess you'll need that Web address. — Angela Jossy

Send us your CD: The Weekly Volcano, P.O. Box 98801, Lakewood, WA 98499.
- Angela Jossy, Weekly Volcano

I really like this record. I liked it right from the start, and yet with each listen I like it more.

Failker's voice is so charming and pleasant. It adds just enough to the music without taking anything away. She's got a way of using her voice to get the feelings across even if you don't listen to the lyrics. But at the same time, her voice is so clear you have no trouble picking out the words.

The melodies are instantly likeable and after just a few listens they feel like old friends.

I can't even pick out a favorite song because I honestly like them all. This is going in my personal rotation and might even make my best of the year list.

This is a beautiful little EP. I'm just sad it's so short.

Posted on October 16, 2006 - Amy Lotsberg, Collected Sounds

Almost exactly a year after the release of Almost Completely Happy, Jerin Falkner announces the release of her new album, Acoustic Journal One. Loaded with 17 solo acoustic tracks, it times in at almost 60 minutes.

“Even though I’m the artist, I have to say, ‘Wow. It’s epic’” says Falkner. “Aside from die-hard fans, a select few people are going to bump this disc from start to finish in their cars. To tell you the truth, I don’t even think it’s bump-able given the complete lack of background instrumentation. My goal, however, is to release this album as a writer, and as a human whose career can be measured in more than six love songs per year.”

Falkner says AJO reflects the last several months of her life as a writer interpreting her world through music. She says its simple, honest, imperfect and a creative smatter of color on a purposefully under-produced canvas. Falkner’s lyrics range from deep and thought provoking to sarcastic and surprisingly blunt. Each song is deliberately and gracefully delivered with her signature smoky yet ethereal voice.

Only 300 copies of AJO will be released, then it’s off to iTunes. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/jerinfalknermusic.
- Angela Jossy, Weekly Volcano

The bay sparkled in the light of the setting sun. In the distance, a sailboat bobbed in the water — and the Browns Point lighthouse looked like a hazy speck on the water’s edge.

This setting served as the background July 7 for Federal Way resident Doug Deems’ weekly radio show, “Underground Spring.” The segment is recorded weekly in Ken Moultrie’s home in Northeast Tacoma. Moultrie is the station director and key financier of Browns Point Radio, a community radio station.

“It’s important for radio stations to focus on what goes between the songs to be unique and special these days,” Moultrie said. “In our case, it’s local content.”

Community connection

The station has been available online for more than a year, but the studio Deems broadcasts from is about six months old. The station plays a mix of modern indie music. It spices things up with local guests and news between the tunes. It operates under Federal Communications Commission regulations for low-power broadcasting and pays music licensing fees, but is not corporately owned.

“We don’t have format directives and ratings goals,” Moultrie said. “We don’t answer to investors. We base all programming decisions on what we think is of interest to the community.”

Political commentary, old time radio, classics from the 1960s and 1970s, jazz and country are all special programs heard on Browns Point Radio, AM 1700. The content includes public service announcements and emergency news updates. It also embraces small-time artists and features them on programs like Deems’ show.

Behind

the music

On this evening the studio held the faint smell of new carpet. During the hour-long interview and jam session, Deems and his guest, Jerin Falkner of Seattle, sat down to chat about accomplishments, love, sex, the 1970s and songwriting.

Falkner, 25, began writing music at age 12 and started playing guitar the following year. Dressed in a long, oatmeal-colored sweater and mary-jane kitten heels, her long brunette hair flowing past her shoulders and her face void of excessive make-up, she fits the portrait of a Seattle artist.

In studio, she spoofed once trendy pop acts Britney Spears and TLC. She sang about former wrestler Hulk Hogan and adult film star Ron Jeremy. Her lyrics explore the hardships of blind dating and cheating boyfriends. Between songs, Deems prompted her along, pulling her into conversations about dating etiquette and traditions.

Playing host:

Deems finds guests for his show, which is not recorded live, through networking Web sites and personal contacts.

“It turns out that Tacoma and the South Sound area have a strong contingency of very good and original artists,” he said.

Deems has been in the music business since he wrote his first song in 1970, at age 23. He grew up in White Center in the 1950s. His experiences are illustrated through his music, which he calls White Center style blues. His young adult years were spent deliberating the rights and wrongs of sexual freedom in the 1970s and exploring a raw passion for music.

“I just grew up a ham,” Deems said. “It’s in my genetic make-up.”

He served in the Vietnam War and speaks his mind. His attire on this night — a white button-down shirt, black slacks, shining boots and hat with a ribbon around its breadth — paired with his quick tongue, at times mirrored personalities such as Larry King. He’s been a musician for more than 40 years and knows a thing or two about the business.

“You can’t make a living as a songwriter,” Deems said. “Some do; they win the lottery and make it, but most of us have day jobs.”

Deems is no exception. He operates a thrift store that sells secondhand medical supplies, such as wheelchairs, in Federal Way. His music has always been a priority.

“No matter what I was doing, that was funding my poetry and my family,” Deems said. “I didn’t sell out to the grind and leave my poetry behind somewhere.”

Deems has hosted the “Underground Spring” segment for about one year. It was originally heard on “Tune-In Seattle,” another of station director Ken Moultrie’s radio endeavors. The show will soon primarily air on Browns Point Radio at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Offering Deems’ show and others on Browns Point Radio requires many hours of planning and editing, but the work is worth it to Moultrie.

“This is my passion, my hobby, my love,” he said. “I don’t play golf.”

Contact Jacinda Howard: jhoward@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565

Check it out:

Tune into Browns Point Radio at 1700 AM or online at brownspointradio.com. Hear Deems’ music and interview with Jerin Falkner at 11 a.m. July 13.


Federal Way Mirror Reporter Jacinda Howard can be reached at jhoward@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.
- Jacinda Howard, Federal Way Mirror

Jerin Falkner - Pyro Aesthetic
2009, Pyro Aesthetic

Seattle’s Jerin Falkner is just like your typical girl next door. Typical, that is, until she steps onstage and her inner fire lights up the stage like a spotlight. Falkner has written over sixty songs since 2004, release four independent albums and being highly competitive in a host of songwriting competitions across the US. Falkner’s latest release, Pyro Aesthetic, is breathtaking.

Falkner opens with Count Of Three, sounding more than a bit like Sarah McLachlan. The arrangement is simply piano with electronic accoutrements; its one of the gentler, more ethereal kiss off songs I've heard. The melody and arrangement is a thing of beauty. Falkner goes to the other end of the spectrum with the frenetic Dance/Pop of Let Down, which is more reminiscent of the maniacal energy of Devo than any Alternapop chanteuse. Right In Front is back in the middle of the spectrum; a mid-tempo Pop tune that truly highlights Falkner's wonderfully textured voice. All of the songs thus far on Pyro Aesthetic are about or based on a relationship that's fallen or is falling apart. The trend continues on the rhythmically inspired Flight. The mood here is turmoil, and is delivered in a wonderfully upbeat arrangement that will inspire repeat plays. For You has a tragic cabaret feel, sounding like something Sarah Slean might have written. Falkner seems to have a knack for tragic beauty and melancholy in her melodies and it's never more apparent than on For You. Copy Me wanders over the borderlands between unusual and truly bizarre, wrapping Falkner's wonderful bit of madness in the golden hues of Pop Rock. The song is fun and vaguely danceable and breaks into total perspective distortion before returning to its roots. Falkner closes out with Sunrise, a wish for the light after a period of personal torment. It's a recovery and rebirth from the loss of a relationship that's detailed throughout Pyro Aesthetic; layered and multi-textured and beautiful in its singular sense of hope.

I knew nothing about Jerin Falkner when I sat down to listen to Pyro Aesthetic; but this is one amazing artist. Falkner walks to the beat of her own drummer, creating music somewhere in the Outlands beyond Sarah McLachlan where folks like Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Bjork and Sarah Slean frolic and play. Falkner's sense of melody is distinctive, and her ability to emote the tragedies of everyday life through both her piano and her voice is singular in nature. Pyro Aesthetic perhaps isn't perfect, but Falkner is working on her own lattice so even the imperfections become perfect parts of the whole. Pyro Aesthetic is brilliant; a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc, and Jerin Falkner is just getting started.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jerin Falkner at http://www.jerinfalkner.com/ or www.myspace.com/jerinfalknermusic. You can purchase Pyro Aesthetic on CD from CDBaby, or you can download the album via iTunes.

Posted by Wildy at 5:30 AM

Labels: Bjork, Kate Bush, Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Slean, Tori Amos - Wildy's World