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A song called “Mac and Cheese” by North County musician David Rees ( FreeMartin ) has been announced as a finalist in the 2011 International Songwriting Competition, in the children’s music category.
"The song is kind of Randy Newman meets Tom Waits," says Rees. "As luck would have it, Tom Waits is one of the judges, along with Ozzy Osbourne and Jeff Beck, all big influences of mine."
Rees formerly played with a local 1980s/1990s band, BigFins . "We did a lot of oldies and classic rock. Bands we played alongside at the time were Rockola, Fish and the Seaweeds, and the Rugburns."
Since BigFins split in 1995, “I've been doing music and art primarily for games, software and toys...I took a job at a company called Knowledge Adventure that did JumpStart and Blaster educational games for kids. I was Art Director there for seven years and began composing music for their games." After leaving that company in 2002, Rees became a freelancer, specializing in game music, art, and sound.
"I continue to do the JumpStart World themes, and have worked for various toy, game, and entertainment companies. One iPad children's app that I worked on was called the Truly Great Noodle, for which they asked me to create a downloadable kids album with the theme of noodles."
That full-length, I Believe in Pasta, featuring guest singer Bob Tedde from Rockola, as well as fellow former BigFins Ty Cox (drums) and Pat Morgan (vocals), spawned the "Mac and Cheese" song.
"When I entered the song in the [International Songwriting] Competition, I created an animated video for it which actually depicts a pig who plays in local clubs. The venue I patterned it after is Winstons in O.B." (Video posted below)
Three other San Diegans have songs in the same competition, in different categories ("So we're not competing"), with winners to be announced in April. "There's also a Peoples Voice voting contest, separate from the judging," says Rees. "People can vote by following links at http://www.songwritingcompetition.com , and the public can vote once a day until the end of March."
Based in North County, Rees' current acoustic trio FreeMartin plays frequently around San Marcos and Escondido. The band includes David Rees, Kevin Gary (Off the Wagon), and Eric Klein.
"Good musicians," says Rees, who works out of his home studio in Vista. “We do a lot of classic rock, like Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash, [and] Grateful Dead.”
The next FreeMartin gigs are April 7 at the Lake Wohlford Cafe, and April 13 at the Old California Coffee House.
As for his fellow former BigFins, drummer Ty Cox joined Hotrod Lincoln and then the Scot Bruce band (based in L.A.). Chris Crepps played upright bass in numerous bands in town and is now in Austin playing with the Dale Watson band. Singer Pat Morgan lives in L.A. and is pursuing acting and voice work.
If you want to watch the below "Mac and Cheese" video while checking out the lyric sheet, here 'tis:
Mac & Cheese, Mac & Cheese - ain't nothin' like Mac & Cheese.
May I have another please great big serving of Mac & Cheese?
Cheese & Mac, Cheese & Mac - good as a meal, great as a snack
I call it the bestest stuff - you cannot get enough of
You just might fall in love with good old Mac & Cheese.
I like ham & eggs, toast & jam - I say 'please' and 'thank you ma'am'
I wasn't hungry, then KABLAM - if you serve Mac & Cheese I am.
Cheese & Mac, Cheese & Mac - I hope you bought a double pack
I like chicken and Chinese but I am most at ease
with another serving (please) of good old Mac & Cheese.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJI3CeXlVz0
A song called “Mac and Cheese” by North County musician David Rees ( FreeMartin ) has been announced as a finalist in the 2011 International Songwriting Competition, in the children’s music category.
"The song is kind of Randy Newman meets Tom Waits," says Rees. "As luck would have it, Tom Waits is one of the judges, along with Ozzy Osbourne and Jeff Beck, all big influences of mine."
Rees formerly played with a local 1980s/1990s band, BigFins . "We did a lot of oldies and classic rock. Bands we played alongside at the time were Rockola, Fish and the Seaweeds, and the Rugburns."
Since BigFins split in 1995, “I've been doing music and art primarily for games, software and toys...I took a job at a company called Knowledge Adventure that did JumpStart and Blaster educational games for kids. I was Art Director there for seven years and began composing music for their games." After leaving that company in 2002, Rees became a freelancer, specializing in game music, art, and sound.
"I continue to do the JumpStart World themes, and have worked for various toy, game, and entertainment companies. One iPad children's app that I worked on was called the Truly Great Noodle, for which they asked me to create a downloadable kids album with the theme of noodles."
That full-length, I Believe in Pasta, featuring guest singer Bob Tedde from Rockola, as well as fellow former BigFins Ty Cox (drums) and Pat Morgan (vocals), spawned the "Mac and Cheese" song.
"When I entered the song in the [International Songwriting] Competition, I created an animated video for it which actually depicts a pig who plays in local clubs. The venue I patterned it after is Winstons in O.B." (Video posted below)
Three other San Diegans have songs in the same competition, in different categories ("So we're not competing"), with winners to be announced in April. "There's also a Peoples Voice voting contest, separate from the judging," says Rees. "People can vote by following links at http://www.songwritingcompetition.com , and the public can vote once a day until the end of March."
Based in North County, Rees' current acoustic trio FreeMartin plays frequently around San Marcos and Escondido. The band includes David Rees, Kevin Gary (Off the Wagon), and Eric Klein.
"Good musicians," says Rees, who works out of his home studio in Vista. “We do a lot of classic rock, like Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash, [and] Grateful Dead.”
The next FreeMartin gigs are April 7 at the Lake Wohlford Cafe, and April 13 at the Old California Coffee House.
As for his fellow former BigFins, drummer Ty Cox joined Hotrod Lincoln and then the Scot Bruce band (based in L.A.). Chris Crepps played upright bass in numerous bands in town and is now in Austin playing with the Dale Watson band. Singer Pat Morgan lives in L.A. and is pursuing acting and voice work.
If you want to watch the below "Mac and Cheese" video while checking out the lyric sheet, here 'tis:
Mac & Cheese, Mac & Cheese - ain't nothin' like Mac & Cheese.
May I have another please great big serving of Mac & Cheese?
Cheese & Mac, Cheese & Mac - good as a meal, great as a snack
I call it the bestest stuff - you cannot get enough of
You just might fall in love with good old Mac & Cheese.
I like ham & eggs, toast & jam - I say 'please' and 'thank you ma'am'
I wasn't hungry, then KABLAM - if you serve Mac & Cheese I am.
Cheese & Mac, Cheese & Mac - I hope you bought a double pack
I like chicken and Chinese but I am most at ease
with another serving (please) of good old Mac & Cheese.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJI3CeXlVz0