Time: 6-9 p.m.

Cover: none

www.myspace.com/alannaclarke or www.alannaclarke.com

I’m Alanna. I’m 17 and music is my life.

I’ve gown up in a house near Cochrane, Alberta that looks out on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with 2 huskies (Nanook and Crystal), 2 cats (Smudge and Amber) and 2 parents (Tom and Karen). Add in lots of horses, cows, gophers, deer and coyotes and there’s no risk of being lonely!

Living in the country and now being home schooled, I’ve had lots of time for daydreaming. The best part of all that space was that I could play my music as loud as I wanted. The worst part was not being able to go to town to hang out with my friends. It’s all working out though, cause it’s given me lots of time to turn daydreaming into songwriting.

There’s a big rock on the closest ridge that I love to write on (when there’s no snow!) and I’ve got a little room in the house with a piano where I light candles and it becomes my sanctuary. I also love to sit in the box of my boyfriend’s old pick-up truck and write as well.

Growing up, I loved the music of Linda Ronstadt, Christina Aguilera, Tori Amos, Shania Twain and Alannah Myles. I guess it was fate that my cousin played a song of mine at a Songwriters Association of Canada event in Ottawa for a panel that included Christopher Ward who developed Alannah Myles career and wrote so many of her songs, including ‘Black Velvet’, a favourite song of mine to sing at gigs. Afterwards, he asked my cousin if we could meet and a couple of months later I was in his studio playing songs on the guitar that he wrote ‘Black Velvet’ on. Now, along with super talented writer and producer Luke McMaster, who’s written for Rihanna, Nick Lachey and Kalen Porter, we’re working on songs for my first album.

I want the songs to be simple but emotional and I hope they describe what’s going on in my life in a memorable way. I admire artists like Joni Mitchell, Feist, Nelly Furtado and Beyonce who’ve worked hard on their careers and kept their vision.

So, check out the songs and see if I’m living up to that ideal and come and see me play when you get the chance. Thanks!

Love, Alanna