Album Review by Dave Carew:
“You’re the One” by Chakra Bleu
Produced by Chakra Bleu and David HenryTen-Eighty Records
Chakra Bleu.com
Anyone who has ever seen a Chakra Bleu live show knows how it affects you: The vibe of joy, peace, inspiration, and empowerment hangs palpably in the air … and you leave the club somehow feeling better about your world, knowing there is music like this, thoughtfulness and creativity like this.
Much of that vibe is attributable to Chakra Bleu herself, easily one of the kindest, most caring and gracious artists ever to grace a Nashville stage. Luckily for her many fans, “Ms. Bleu” has a gift that extends beyond her own personality, beyond her unique live shows. It also radiates into the albums she has created over the years, beginning with 2000’s superb The Hidden Mirror and culminating, most recently, with You’re the One (released December 2009).
Fans who think they know what a Chakra Bleu album is “all about” may—like this reviewer—be a bit surprised by this album…though certainly not in a bad way. Where previous CB albums concentrated on nurturing both the mind and heart, this work—quite intentionally—tips the scales dramatically toward the heart, with all the joy and hope one’s romantic love for another human being can bring you and that other person. The songs here are lyrically simpler than previous CB efforts—but simple only in the sense that “I love you,” at first blush, may seem like simple words.
Starting with the jaunty, reggae-influenced “More Than Fine” (which your ears will be treated to as soon as you cruise over to Chakrableu.com), the album proceeds to waft its way through a sonic landscape of everything from pop to Americana to “prog rock,” all spinning around the spiritual axis of what “the one”—your heart’s desire, your soul mate—means to you, how he or she affects your life in the moment and in all the moments to follow. A particular stand-out track is “Sunflower of My Dreams,” which Chakra Bleu, in a recent interview with Underground Nashville, called “the under-current of this album, in that the sunflower itself, and its symbolism, became the theme [of the album]. The symbol of the sunflower includes that of hope, success, fulfillment, prosperity, health, devotion, peace, and happiness.”
I could go on and on about how Chakra Bleu’s You’re the One will, in its entirety, help bring YOU those very qualities, but I’d rather step out of the way now, and simply tell you this: If love is important to you—if you think it’s what matters most—you’ll hear that affirmation profoundly in this first-rate new collection of songs.
David M. (Dave) Carew is editor of “Underground Nashville” and the author of the novels “Everything Means Nothing to Me: A Novel of Underground Nashville” and “Voice from the Gutter.” He also is a freelance publicist and copywriter.
Part II– Interview with Nashville-based pop/rock artist Chakra Bleu
March 1, 2010 by davecarewEditor’s Note: “Underground Nashville” covers artists, authors, musicians, poets, political figures, and other compelling people and happenings not typically covered by the mainstream Nashville media. It also presents reflections and commentary from an underground/indie perspective. As I told ‘The Tennessean’ in 2008, “since moving to Nashville twenty-five years ago, I have met people whose lives do not remotely reflect the caricature of what many outside our city presume to be a ‘Nashvillian’ or the Nashville experience.” “Underground Nashville” thus explores the soul of the city, not its surface—offering “thoughts from the shadows of a great American city.”
Dave Carew
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More than 4,000 men, women, and children now are homeless in Nashville—a significant increase since The Great Recession began. To make sure these human beings have the food, shelter, and love they need, please donate to the Nashville Rescue Mission by calling (615) 255-2475 or by visiting Nashvillerescuemission.org. Thank you.
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Part II – - Interview with Nashville-based pop/rock artist Chakra Bleu
by Dave Carew
Chakra Bleu is—hands down—one of the most original and distinctive pop/rock/Americana artists ever to grace the underground Nashville music scene. Inspired by everything from transcendent New Age thought to the soulful stylings of bands like Heart and the Cowboy Junkies (with whom her co-producer David Henry worked), she has forged, over the past decade, some of the most uplifting, eclectic, thought-provoking, and empowering pop/Americana ever created in Music City. “Underground Nashville” recently interviewed Chakra Bleu about her career and new album “You’re the One.” Part II of our interview immediately follows. (Please see February posts for Part I.)
UNDERGROUND NASHVILLE: What is your “dream” for you music? How do you hope people are affected by it?
CHAKRA BLEU: It is always my highest intention that the fans receive a ‘positive-vibe’ from the CD’s and/or live shows. As an entertainer and singer/songwriter, it is important to relate to my audiences. We all work hard. We all want to feel good. We all aspire to feel more joy and completion and acceptance in our lives through our relationships, jobs, health, and connection to the Divine/Universe/Life.
Sometimes, we get a glimpse of the meaning of things, when something of relevance is said a little differently…without judgment…meeting our experience “where we are” on the path of life. My highest intention is to inspire the listener to greater heights of joy, understanding, love, health, and overall happiness through my music…whether it’s my love songs or the more introspective songs. Nothing in my songs is a new concept. It’s just written and conveyed a little differently. Yes, I truly aspire to providing an avenue for my audiences, to feel good about themselves and their lives…my songs, voice, and heart offering a journey to a little more joy in this unpredictable life… inspiring them through my pop/rock & Americana songs…inspiring them through my love songs and empower-insight songs.
For more about Chakra Beu, and to listen to her music, visit chakrableu.com
Coming soon in “Underground Nashville” . . . a review of Chakra Bleu’s new album “You’re the One.”
David M. (Dave) Carew is editor of “Underground Nashville” and the author of the novels “Everything Means Nothing to Me: A Novel of Underground Nashville” and “Voice from the Gutter.” He also is a freelance publicist and copywriter.
Interview with Nashville-based pop/rock artist Chakra Bleu
February 26, 2010 by davecarewEditor’s Note: “Underground Nashville” covers artists, authors, musicians, poets, political figures, and other compelling people and happenings not typically covered by the mainstream Nashville media. It also presents reflections and commentary from an underground/indie perspective. As I told ‘The Tennessean’ in 2008, “since moving to Nashville twenty-five years ago, I have met people whose lives do not remotely reflect the caricature of what many outside our city presume to be a ‘Nashvillian’ or the Nashville experience.” “Underground Nashville” thus explores the soul of the city, not its surface—offering “thoughts from the shadows of a great American city.”
Interview with Nashville-based pop/rock artist Chakra Bleu
by Dave Carew
Hailed by fans in the 2000s as “The Fleetwood Mac of Nashville” for their vibrant, female-centered pop/rock sound, Chakra Bleu became a mainstay of the Nashville club circuit for more than five years, until leaving for the past several years for a performing hiatus and to concentrate more fully on songwriting. Returning in late 2009 as a solo artist rather than a band, Chakra Bleu offers a unique blend of pop/rock that is upbeat, tuneful, thought-provoking, and uplifting. Calling her music “Empower Rock,” Chakra Bleu’s mission, she says, is to “invite [my] audiences to move forward…with pioneering and empowering attitudes that dare to open the mind and heart.”
“Underground Nashville” recently caught up with Chakra Bleu (pronounced SHOK-ruh BLUE) to talk with her about her performing hiatus, her return, and her new album You’re the One:
UNDERGROUND NASHVILLE: After performing dozens of live shows in Nashville during the first half of the 2000s, you dropped out of the club scene for several years. What prompted that move away from performing…and your return now with You’re the One?
CHAKRA BLEU: It seemed at that time that [my] efforts were just hitting a wall. The exposure was still strong, in that many folks were familiar with Chakra Bleu. However, it was frustrating that I wasn’t able to reach the music biz. Music City USA and its music biz still primarily focus on country music. Although, some of my roots embrace that [Americana] style, my past two CD’s were pop/rock. In fact, my 2003 CD, Seize the Day, had the single “Hopelessly In Love” promoted on the Adult Contemporary charts by Tom Mazetta, who’s promoted hits for Elton John, Heart, Paul McCartney, Delbert McClinton, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, etc. Unfortunately, this CD didn’t catch the attention here in Nashvegas…my beloved town that I just won’t give up on.
Meanwhile, I had made several changes in my band that weren’t feeling quite right. I decided to veer away from the “band thang” and solo it out awhile. Jeez…I mean [being in a band] is like being married to five people at once! [Laughs.] One lover at a time for me is enough, let alone deal with my own schtuff! Being ‘Chakra Bleu’ [just by myself] was such a relief. I felt synced into this comfortable new identity, and took a brief exit from performing live, so that I could fire up very commercial pop and Americana songs that would be favorable to all age groups. I spent weeks at a time in mountain and lake cabins, concentrating on coming up with at least 40 new songs to choose from for the next two CD’s. I chose a CD Planning Committee to help chose the best commercial direction on this new CD, included [selecting] the songs, the theme of the CD, the ‘vibe’, the photos, etc.
UN: In what ways is You’re the One distinctive from earlier Chakra Bleu albums? And in what ways does it walk the same pathway as your earlier work?
CB: This album has 16 songs, of which only two are “food for thought”/introspective songs. The direction of this CD was “light-hearted love songs,” which were youthful, upbeat, and hopeful—especially to off-set, if you will, the counter-active struggles of today’s economy, and the stress that is obviously affecting 95% of us.
The fourth cut on this CD, “Sunflower of My Dreams” became the under-current of this album, in that the sunflower itself, and its symbolism, became the theme. The symbol of the sunflower includes that of hope, success, fulfillment, prosperity, health, devotion, peace, and happiness.
The comments from the fans so far consistently have been that, indeed, this CD is uplifting and hopeful…a light in this darkened time of their lives. So, this CD is on the same “path” as the previous. Each CD contains, first and foremost, the vibe of an uplifting and empowering quality. Also, each CD contains particular songs that offer introspective, message-related qualities. They surpass religious agendas/dogmas, and allow all to question life, hopefully leading to further insights that can bring one more awareness into their life…more joy, simply put!
CHAKRA BLEU: Press
The new Chakra Bleu album is chock full of positive, uplifting
and downright good songs that are a welcome alternative to the world's problems, reminding us that there's still nothing quite like
being in love with that special person. With a rock edge that touches on Americana roots, Bleu's vocals are right on the mark.
Bill Wence
Bill Wence Promotions
Nolensville, tn
Chakra Bleu
“Hopelessly In Love”
(1080 Records)
Nashville-based Chakra Bleu, fronted by the charismatic Susanna, bring us a very catchy, positive, uptempo Pop tune. It’s all about the spirit and good vibes, while “Hopelessly In Love” serves as a showcase for this very talented band. The quality is in the music and there’s much quality here.
"Chakra Bleu promotes positivity...The band has gotten strong international response to the Hidden Mirror from stations in Denmark, Germany, Ireland and France. Its lyrical content is alternatively catchy, inventive, and unorthodox."
"Chakra Bleu writes and performs soulful, intricate compositions about the trials of life. They're inventive and impassioned and they play music to empower the soul."
Five Stars for Chakra Bleu‘s You‘re the One. I love this CD! I want to play it over and over again. Every song is wonderful in its own right. There is an impressive blend of slow, sweet, love songs, and awesome dance tunes, with especially beautiful melodies throughout. These songs are sincere, creative, inspirational, and fabulous. I especially appreciate being able to understand the words. When I listen to this CD on my way to work, I find myself humming one or more of these songs throughout the day, if not for several days. I truly love this CD. by Deb Beazley, park naturalist
"The CD titled The Hidden Mirror is soulfully intruding. It positively moves the spirit while capturing the heart. A strong harmonious voice, Susanna delivers such haunting vibrations in the songs, 'Land of Nod' and the 'Hidden Mirror' that will leave one wanting more. The vocal energy is electrigying and with each song magnifies the talent in this band. 'Tower of Babel' and 'Everyday's a Rapture' displays such soul-searching lyrics only a passionate singer can deliver and deliver is exactly what Chakra Bleu does!"
"We broadcast many cuts from your CD because we are very fond of what you do. The music of Chakra Bleu is very passionate, putting your heart into every song that you sing. With clear, strong harmonious vocals, you deposit in our ears, in our bodies, in our souls and hearts: Bubbles of Musical Poetry."
"The Hidden Mirror CD sounds very good. Audience response is excellent, especially for 'Wild West,' the 'Hidden Mirror' and 'Save the Souls."
"This CD is excellent! At present, our listeners like best, 'I Want to Know', 'Shoulda Coulda Would've', and 'Save the Souls."
"Empower-Pop With Substance' is the motto placed on all of Chakra Bleu's promotional material. This artist is actively meeting this goal. This is a rare commodity in Nashville. Most acts performing live in this town consist of some front person who paid or cajoled a collection of musicians to play with them that night. The revolving doors bring on different players each time and the same players in so many different groups. The musicians are usually fine (this is Nashville) but when they're looking at charts there isn't a band dynamic. Chakra Bleu is different. She arrives with her players that are cohesive and who interact beautifully. No heads buried in music stands here. They perform instead of merely 'play'. Chakra Bleu's music is in the Pop-Rock/Americana vein. The lyric content is never drab or dreary. The stated intention is to provoke thought and offer ideas that might just improve society. Sometimes mysitcal and mysterious, other times offering basic observations of the muman condition, the music is always sincere and credible. Chakra Bleu has gotten her music onto playlists throughout the United States and Europe with the help of national and local promoter's, Tom Mazetta and Bill Wence. She is regularly receiving favorable reviews. This is an ever evolving act that seems to be making all the right moves."
This was such a delightful record to listen to, it is hard in this day and age to find clean and inspirational music that the whole family can listen to together which is what this record provided. My nine and seven year old children wanted us to play it every time they got in the car and we always had a problem on which track to play first as each one had their favorite track. In all we are loving the album and hope others will enjoy it too.
Thanks Susan for blessing us with your record, We pray the favor of the Lord will be upon it and it will bless many people.
Ayo Dosunmu
author: Teresa AguilarI have been a fan of Chakra Bleu's music for many years, but I can honestly say that this album is by far the best she has ever produced. It is chock-full of uplifting and insightful lyrics of hope and love, mesmerizing melodies, creative arrangements and is fun, fun, FUN to listen to. One moment there are tears in my eyes from a beautiful ballad and the next moment I am happily bee-boppin' along. These songs stay in my head all day and I am better for it
I love the CD 'You're the One'! I can't help singing or humming along to the tunes, and they stay stuck in my head for hours after listening. I especially like the 'Sunflower' song; 'You're Loving Eyes'; and the 'Bistro' song. It's the only CD I have listened to all week!
I got lucky at the gym last week. I stumbles across the Chakra Bleu CD. As an old guy (think 60's,70's+music), I like my music but I keep an ear out for good stuff. The first track, 'More Than Fine', grabbed me and then it got better. Her voice is smooth, sensual and the lyrics are fun i.e. 'Rockin' the Bistro'. Treat yourself to a new artist! ~ Paul Johnston 1200+CD's & still looking for more
'Seize the Day' is the single most Spiritually appealing collection of music on one CD I hae ever heard! Simply stunning! You now rival Iris Dement for 'Girl-Bob Dylan' of the Whole World Award, but she is not a tenth as positive as you are....May the Shalom Shalom , the perfect Peace That Passes All Understanding continue to Empower, Envelope, enrich and Delight you!
I listened to the 'Seize the Day' several times on my way to Memphis and back. I realize the song receiving airplay was 'Hopelessly In Love'. The radio promoter picked the wrong song. He should've picked #12:'Black Madonna'- killer!!! Simply wonderful! If one of todays commercial hit makers had that song, it would be a hit. It gets my vote as the best thing on the CD, commercial or not. I listened to the CD a dozen times on the trip, and that particular song was listened to fifty times! I played it first, last, again and again. I also played the CD when me and one of the other team members went to Tunica. Every few minutes he would comment on how great your voice was.