Scott FM Boulder Singer/songwriter
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re-printed from THE BOULDER WEEKLY 4/30/03
April 30 – It’s not unusual for artists to cross me...re-printed from THE BOULDER WEEKLY 4/30/03
April 30 – It’s not unusual for artists to cross mediums after attaining a certain level of success, such as moving from drama to music. For many, the leap is made for material gain or in the service of megalomania. For local actor-turned-musician Scott Maskiell, the reason was more pure.
"I wanted more of an authentic expression of who I was, not just playing for other people," says the singer/songwriter. "I would say there’s a great difference in playing a character on stage–having something to hide behind to express yourself. I think for a singer/songwriter, just being in front of people like that, it’s a little more nerve racking. It definitely pushes more buttons."
Maskiell relocated to Boulder from Long Island five years ago after travelling through the city with a theater group.
"Once I stopped doing theater and made the push for songwriting, I felt like [Boulder] was a good place to start and to grow and to get it going," says Maskiell. "There’s a big community of songwriters around here to learn and grow with. It worked out. Stopping the theater thing and coming here, I just felt like that was the path, that was the journey I was supposed to go on. It hasn’t let me down yet."
Maskiell hosts a songwriters night at Penny Lane, and last year he won the Best Song award at the Boulder Folk Awards. Maskiell won the award for his song, "Spinning," which appears on his debut release, The Clearing. With 11 heartfelt songs that capture Maskiell’s folk-pop sensibilities (which he credits to growing up on ’70s singer/songwriters like James Taylor, Cat Stephens and Dan Fogelberg), The Clearing is a strong debut that is available at H.B. Woodsongs, Bart’s CD Cellar, www.catchmusic.net and at Maskiell’s shows. You can catch Maskiell and purchase a copy of The Clearing at Penny Lane on Friday, April 30.
"[I’m] trying to touch on the story of all of us, the transpersonal story, songs that are very catchy but healing, I hope," says Maskiell. "I try with most of my songs to just take something that might be dark and come out the other end with something a bit brighter each time."
Scott Maskiell plays at 8:30 p.m., Friday, April 30, at Penny Lane, 1795 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-443-9516.
–Vince Darcangelo
Maskiell's "The Clearing" a brilliant display
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..A Brilliant display
by Brian F. Johnson
Scott Maskiell's "The Clearing
who's a boy records
***.....A Brilliant display
by Brian F. Johnson
Scott Maskiell's "The Clearing
who's a boy records
**** out of ***** stars
Few artists are lucky enough to find their stride right out of the starting gates with their debut album, but Boulder based singer/songwriter is one of those lucky few.
Maskiell's first album "The Clearing" is a brilliant personal display of a solo singer/songwriter wearing his heart on his sleeve.
The album was written over the last year and half. Many of Maskiell's tunes were written under an apple tree, hence the album's cover art.
Having grown up in a musical theater that was filled with the likes of James Taylor, Cat Stephens and Jonathan Edwards, it's no wonder that Maskiell is following in the footsteps of those great singer-songwriters. With thoughtful lyrics and a careful, delicate presentation tunes like "Spinning," "Ain't it Funny," and the title track "The Clearing" show an intimacy not often felt on folk albums.
Maskiell presented the CD early last month to an attentive, packed house at a release party held at one of his regular venues, Penny Lane, in Boulder.
While Maskiell wrote and performed all of the songs on the album, he was joined by fellow Boulder musicians Rick Mattingly, Ben Lively and several singers from the Boulder Songwriter's Circle.
Maskiell performs in the area as a solo artist and the album provides a glimpse into Maskiell's solo show and the personal insight that he invites his audiences into.
He said that writing and recording the album was a true sojourn. "It's been a real journey, but this is about my soul, and I feel like I owe something to this. . . this is my job."
supersonic
