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Steve Coffey's "PAINT SONGS" presents in a book/music recording format. The music: is a subtle but distinct departure from his previous incarnation of The Lokels and takes one step away from the country roots sensibility they have become known for toward a more thematic holistic soundscape of 'sonic painting & storytelling'. In keeping with Steve's distinct Singer Songwriter style 'Paint Songs' maintains the presentation of song in it's singularity yet explores and embraces his expressive desire to bridge concept and story that can only be absorbed & interpreted in it's entirety from beginning to end both musically and visually. The Paint: portion of 'Paint Songs' are captures of Steve's 'oil on canvas' interpretations of each of the Thirteen song's lyrics plus the art photography and liner notes from the making of the recording. All presented in a CD size high quality hardcover book.
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'This book derives from an ongoing conceptual desire to bridge my world as a songwriter to my world as a painter in one unique package. From the swirling light drifting through my home under the Canadian prairie sky and beyond, I have interpreted new songs in paint and interpreted new paintings in song resulting in the dancing narrative of music, poetry and pictures I call 'Paint Songs'. Of course nothing is complete without the most important interpretation of all, Yours!'- Steve Coffey
Steve Coffey - Paint Songs (Independent)
Prairie born and raised, Steve Coffey has, like Joni Mitchell, lived the dual life of a visual artist and a singer/songwriter. With several albums under his belt as Steve Coffey and the Lokels, and another two as part of The Kitchen Boys, Coffey has released Paint Songs, an album that combines his visual art with his musical art. As a painter, Coffey’s work has been displayed in numerous galleries and salons, and some of his latest paintings are featured in the booklet that forms the CD package. Each of the 13 paintings is paired with a song from the album and, although it doesn’t tell in which order they were created, I suspect the paintings came first and the songs were created to accompany them. Most of the paintings glow with bright colours and thick brush strokes and are thoughtful and visually arresting. This is an ambitious project, and the music on the CD is supported with strong performances from the session musicians. My favourite track may be Sundogs, with a matching painting of stylistic sundog filling the sky. – By Gene Wilburn
Prairie born and raised, Steve Coffey has, like Joni Mitchell, lived the dual life of a visual artist and a singer/songwriter. With several albums under his belt as Steve Coffey and the Lokels, and another two as part of The Kitchen Boys, Coffey has released Paint Songs, an album that combines his visual art with his musical art. As a painter, Coffey’s work has been displayed in numerous galleries and salons, and some of his latest paintings are featured in the booklet that forms the CD package. Each of the 13 paintings is paired with a song from the album and, although it doesn’t tell in which order they were created, I suspect the paintings came first and the songs were created to accompany them. Most of the paintings glow with bright colours and thick brush strokes and are thoughtful and visually arresting. This is an ambitious project, and the music on the CD is supported with strong performances from the session musicians. My favourite track may be Sundogs, with a matching painting of stylistic sundog filling the sky. – By Gene Wilburn
'A Paint Song' Interview with The Calgary Herald's Mike Bell
A PAINT SONGS Interview with The Violet Wave
A 'Divide & Conquer Paint Songs' Review (July 2017)
