Clever and catchy melodic indie rock with everything from squealing guitar solos to mellow accordion. Songs about child abuse, butterflies, and Michael Bolton (not necessarily together).

10 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, ROCK: College Rock

Details:
Chad says things in his songs that you don't hear everyday. His music could be alternately described as thoughtful, intense, self-deprecating...or just as easily be summed up as comedic or even absurd. Some of his songs even manage to pull off sincerity and absurdity at the same time. Whatever you feel about his songs, his goal is to make sure you feel something.

With a pedigree of equal parts heavy metal and classical music composition, Chad laughs and says that he "naturally fell into the singer-songwriter genre". "I decided a few years ago that trying to shout over Marshall stacks, my words were not getting across to the audience...and I was over-singing, trying to hear myself. Once I stepped back and really worked on my voice and my lyrics, the music just opened itself up to me."

Having received a degree in music composition from the University of Washington, Chad toyed with the idea of true "composing", but kept coming back to his acoustic guitar instead. "The stripped-down presentation of just voice and guitar really seems to suit my songs better than a lot of over-the-top orchestration", Chad explains. "Sure, I could write a string quartet, but it wouldnât be able to communicate my true nature. I take a lot of inspiration from artists like Elvis Costello and Ben Folds who donât need to hide behind effects or layers of instruments."

In 2003, Chad released his first full-length CD, entitled âCirque du C.H.U.D.â. This collection of 10 more-or-less acoustic songs typifies the style of writing heâs come to think of as the most honest expression of his creative self. "CHUD was my nickname in high school", explains Chad. "There was a b-movie called C.H.U.D. in the 80s about these cannibalistic dudes that lived in the sewer...so naturally, my friends picked up on the fact that âChadâ sounded close to âCHUDâ, and there you go."

In 2006, Chad released âBlood Marrow Ringâ, a dark new set of acoustic songs, recorded live in-studio, with friend Ira Merrill.

2008 saw the completion of Chad's first full band-sound CD, 'Tatterdemalion'. A mix of old and new songs, it's the most ambitious project he's ever undertaken. The CD took two years to make, and was recorded and mixed by Chad himself, in his home studio. His daughter, Wren, makes a cameo introduction on the first song, 'Fall Down Butterfly'.

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