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Wednesday, December 11th
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The Writeup
Plenty of independent singer/songwriters have albums for sale on CD Baby, but few can boast the impressive 5-star Editor’s Choice review given to Gee Baby, the 2005 studio release from Colorado native Coles Whalen.

Described in said review as an album created by “that artist who grabs you by the shirt collar” who “could easily be the next Norah Jones,” Gee Baby has achieved sales of over 7,000 copies since its release, primarily due to Coles’ constant touring across the United States in a camper she has called home since 04. Her popular live shows are laid-back enough for he coffeehouses and Borders bookstores she frequents (in fact, Gee Baby was chosen as a Coffee House Tour Pick in April 2006), but easily energetic enough to take on Madison Square Garden. The shows are always well-received, with many fans returning multiple times.

Aside from her admirable dedication to her music and to her fans, critics and fans praise her quietly intense vocal style, her intricate and percussive guitar playing, and her uniquely sophisticated lyrics. Listen, for instance, to “Pretty Kids,” a haunting and hard-hitting take on those who don’t “fit in,” or to one of her poetic love ballads like “The Hand That Gives The Rose” or “Turn Away.” Then, grab a hint of her more playful side on the jazz-bar-ready “Honeyed Out,” or the heated folk-rocker “How Do You Do That To Me.” The latter song earned national attention when Coles performed it live as a contestant on NBC’s Star Tomorrow in summer 2006. Soon after, she became a featured artist on MySpace, and industry interest pushed her Sonicbids EPK to the Top 10 Most Viewed list.

If you haven’t heard Coles Whalen before, this is a better time than ever to listen up—she has an exquisite live EP for sale on her official MySpace profile as a tantalizing prequel to her forthcoming studio album, Nothing is Too Much, which will be released on April 7, 2007. If you live in the Denver, CO area, you can join Coles for a special CD release party at Rockwood Music Hall on April 20th—but if not, keep an eye on her list of tour dates to see when she comes to your town.

-Ashley Wool
Other Interviews


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Coles Whalen
Coles Whalen

An exclusive interview with Musiqtone
Coles Whalen
Coles Whalen is a young singer-songwriter from Colorado, which has recently given the music world The Fray. Here is Alan's exclusive interview with Coles...

Alan:  Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us…tell our readers a little about yourself.

Coles Whalen: Well, I was born in Philly and moved to CO just before I turned one year old. CO is definitely home, but I feel a deep connection to the north east and I love touring there.

AH:  Was music something you always wanted to do and what was your first memory performing?

CW:  I was in a professional children’s performing group growing up called The Colorado Children’s Chorale. I remember performing with them at 7 years old and I started touring with them at 11. I have wanted a career in music ever since then. At 11 I knew the energy of performing and a life lived half on the road was were I was headed.

AH:  How would you describe your sound?

CW:  Pop rock with country leanings and a little bit of jazz thrown in for good measure.

AH:  Who are your biggest music influences?

CW:  I listed to other singer sognwriters mostly. Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Fiona Apple, Alison Krauss, Stevie Wonder and Patti Griffin to name a few. I also think the Indigo Girls are incredible song writers.

AH:  What inspires you to write a song?

CW:  Anything can inspire a song, that’s the craft, finding beauty and art in every day living.

AH:  You were on NBC’s reality show ‘Star Tomorrow,’ tell us your experience on the show and how that helped you as a musician.

CW:  I happened to be in NYC on tour when they were holding the first auditions. It was different than anything I’ve done up till now, very staged and felt a little unnatural. But it’s always good to be in front of a camera, the more you do it the more natural it feels. I’ve done several TV appearances since then and I think Star Tomorrow helped prepare me for that.

AH:  Why is music important to you?

CW:  Music is important because it sets people free.

AH:  What is your philosophy on music?

CW:  Play what you like and what feels natural. If people like it and want to listen you are in luck. If a lot of people like it and want to listen you are super in luck. But you have to play what YOU like, you will never be happy  playing what you think people want to hear or what other people tell you to play.

AH:  What are your goals, short-term and long-term?

CW:  I’d like to release three or four more records in the next four years and tour nationally in Europe, Australia and in Canada.


The Burn:

The things you’d be doing if it weren’t for music
Ski instructor fund raiser for Sensory Processing Disorder

Your three favorite venues
Red Rocks
Eddie’s Attic
Anywhere in New York City


Your three dream venues
Red Rocks (headlining this time!)
The Gorge, WA


Favorite city?
Close tie between Denver, New York and Austin

If you were a big-name star and they gave you this great trailer, what three things must you have before you even set foot inside?
Ipod adaptor, tea kettle, wine rack

Non-musical talents
Skiing, dancing, being a devoted sister, daughter and friend

If you had dinner with three people, which three would it be?
Joseph Campbell, Maya Angelou, Stevie Wonder

Best and worst tour experience
Best: Coming back for a home town show that was packed and feeling the love from local fans and friends
Worst: Driving 16 hours for an empty show


Embarassing moment on stage?
I had a wardrobe issue once, similar to Mz. Jackson’s. I recently turned the metronome on my keyboard on and blamed the clicking sound on the audience till I realized it was me.

Which big acts would you like to tour with?

John Mayer, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Dixie Chicks

Alan HoAlan Ho is the chief head of Musiqtone. You can contact him at alanho@musiqtone.com.







(C) 2007 Musiqtone. All Rights Reserved. Any part of this interview cannot be used without written express consent from both the representatives of Coles Whalen and Musiqtone.
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