KLARA MCDONNELL

What a Twit I am

2009-02-12T15:29:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog Readers,

Well indeed I did go to the Twitter festival aka Twestival tonight upstairs in the Sycamore club in Templebar. I heard about the fest through Darragh Doyle, a fellow Twitter user and blogger. I went to the event on my own, as few of my friends are Twitter users and being the socially awkward person I am, I found it hard to mingle. Next Twestival I will arrive with a friend or two and we will have a plan of attack for mingling and networking. What I did really like what that everyone was givin their twitter username on a sticker/badge so we could all get to know each other and see who was who in non cyber life. I am not sure about all of the Twitter lingo even though I have been a Twitter user since last Summer. I first got into using Twitter from hearing about it on www.liveireland.com, the online station I present a show on. I think the feed/updates we users send out to cyber space are called Tweets? Are we then Twits, Twitters or Twititizens?! There were many raffles (I think ten in all) and great prizes all in the aid of "charity:water". I didn't win anything which was a bit disappointing, though I only bought 6 tickets. After the Twestival, I headed to a karaoke in the Met bar. I sang Zombie by the Cranberries. The lyrics were amusingly wrong on the screen but that's karaoke for you. Instead of "it's the same old theme", there was "it's the same old team" ! My audition this morning went alot better than I expected, hoping I hear good news back soon.

p.s. For those interested the official Twestival site is http://dublin.twestival.com/

Signing off for now,
Klara

How many mics?!

2009-02-11T14:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog readers

I was just in Peadar Kearneys on Dame Street. I was hoping to play tonight but it didn't seem as open mic -ish as usual. There was a good band on when I left, not my cup of tea but the Klara Maker would have liked them. I knew if I stayed any longer I would get lazy and stay until 12 am and still probably not get a chance to play, though I enjoyed dropping in. It was great to see Tamala who runs it and it was a distraction from things I should be doing! I have an audition tomorrow morning and I am ill prepared. It is for a school touring play and I am going for the part of a 12 year old witch...emmmm no need for the men in white coats just yet - They were searching for female actors in their 20's for the part!I do think I need alot of beauty sleep though.

Believe it or not, I am totally sober in the photo below. Dani and I were in the toilets in Lillie's Bordello on Grafton Street on Monday and I just had to pose. Toilet pics are a must now on our nights out. Some people powder their noses in club toilets but we have other ideas. I hadn't been in Lillie's since New Year's Eve. I had such an awful night then that I hadn't been back.

On Tuesday I played in the Banker's open mic and the one at Peadar Kearneys afterward. I am really playing alot of open mics at the moment! I think I had dreadful stage fright in Bankers on Tuesday, although there is no actual stage there, perhaps it was just the idea of people actually listening to my songs. Tomorrow I will be at a Karaoke night but before that I will be going to Dublin's first ever Twestival! I shall tell you all about it tomorrow....

Signing off for now
Klara:) x

sunny Sunday but I'm restless

2009-02-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog readers,

The remaining nights of "Stoker" by Mike Poblete were sold out. It was great to perform to a packed theatre. Although I had of course seen many shows in the New Theatre, it was my first time to perform there.

I miss being Constance and accessing my inner rage and bitterness. I don't know if the play will be on again in the future but either way, despite some nerves, I had fun. Last night I was playing in Peadar Kearney's and I really didn't enjoy it. The electronics in my own electro acoustic guitar broke weeks ago and I had to get a lend of another performers guitar. I really wasn't used to the sound of it and it really put me off. I have to buy a new guitar as soon as possible. The two problems are funds and my choice in one. I usually go for a guitar that looks kind of pretty and plays pretty badly. I don't think that pub is suited as a music venue though, people only think of the music as background music to talk to and not to listen to....having said that, alot of the music they are probably better off not listening to. I am off to London on the 27th for a couple of days so lately I wish it was indefinitely. I am growing tired of how my life has fallen into a boring routine with nothing really progressing. The singer/songwriter and open mic scene in Dublin is depressing, although I would say it has always been that way! The film/theatre industry is so small here that some times it feels like I'm running around in little circles. I have a new video up on YouTube of a new song, called "Lead me on". I will come up with a finger style pattern at a later date. I played the song live on Monday at an open mic and still feel that it needs some changes.

I have been busy booking bands for Garageland for series 20 of the Garage gigs and am looking forward to seeing the new bands play. I gave up drinking alcohol just over a week ago. I know I shouldn't make this public because people will always enquire if I am still off alcohol from now on, some may even tempt me back to it;) So far, so good but last night I went out in the city, on a Saturday, surrounded by drunk people and found them all to be so irritating and was quite embarrassed for them. When I was a drunk myself, all I thought about was the next drink and next place I was going to.

Signing off now now
Klara:)

Lovers

2009-01-28T07:23:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog readers

Well last night was the second night of "Stoker" and I have to say I enjoyed performing much more than Monday. First night nerves are not as pleasant as one would expect. I recorded a new song on my camera today.

The title is Lovers, which is an awful title, I might rename it later on. I wrote it a few weeks back but it's lyrics had more relevance to the way I was thinking this morning so thought now would be a good time to record it for YouTube, etc.

Signing off for now,
Klara:)

Stoker

2009-01-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hi blog readers,

I have been busy the last while rehearsing for a play called "Stoker", by Mike Poblete. The show will run from the 26th - 31st January in the New Theatre in Templebar, Dublin.
Set to the historical backdrop of Bram Stoker's life in late 19th century London, "Stoker" is a fictional interpretation of the psychological journey of one of Ireland's greatest writers and tells the story of how he came to write one of the most successful and enduring novels of all time. It's directed by Kevin de la Isla and Ruth McGowan and starring Fergus Kealy, Sharon O’Donnell, Brian Robinson, Annmarie O’Donovan, Caoimhe O Malley, Sean Flanagan, Neill Fleming and ofcourse me.

Other than rehearsing for "Stoker", I have been writing new songs and playing open mics alot, mostly the ones at Peadar Kearneys on Dame Street. I played at the International for the first time a few days ago at Jacqueline Tucks' open mic and have recently started playing at the open mic in Bankers, run by Dave Murphy. I also sang at the Zodiac Sessions in Bruxelles in the last month. I don't think anything will happen with Hidden Faces for the moment. I will continue to play the open mics for the next while, then I hope to get back gigging properly by early Summer. I am gradually getting over my stage fright again.

I am not back recording until March as I have so much on at the moment. Hopefully the end of next month I will be off to London for a few days. I haven't made plans yet but I would really like to actually try network a bit rather than just shop until I drop. I am thinking about buying a new guitar over there though, the electro acoustic I have now has really seen better days!

Signing off for now,
Klara:)

Happy Xmas day

2008-12-25T05:40:00.000-08:00

Dear blog readers,

I am currently in Carlow or Coorlow as I like to call it, best not ask why though. I am typing on a new mini lap top. It is so beautiful. I told my mother that I would marry it but wouldn't know how to have sex with it. I am not sure she knew what to make of that. I hope I develop a sense of humour someday soon. Santa has been very good to me this year. I also finally have a new tv that plays DVDs, new clothes, books, a comedy and tragedy chain, makeup etc and Fone Jacker series 1 and 2, which I shall watch over and over again.

Yesterday I spent the first half of Christmas Eve with Dani and Wayne. It has become a tradition. The ceremony of present opening, champagne drinking and looking forward to the randomness of the next year. Then I met up with my father, who gave me amazing presents, then with another friend Sarah for tea. Every where in the city was so crowded that we ended up having tea in what I would usually call an old mans pub. We tried to catch up while drunk people were singing or shouting the Auld Triangle. They asked me to take my guitar out and play along but I wasn't even a bit tempted. I made it just in time for the Carlow bus that evening.

Christmas time is strange in a way and can have awkward moments but so far so good today. Sometimes I wish I was a cat. I am anxious about ending the year and getting on to the next one. I want to make resolutions and try to stick to them as best as I can. I had such a crazy year and need to be more focused next year.I seem to do so many things at the moment that are unpaid or/and pointless. At least I am half way through recording my debut album. I want to get better at guitar and start gigging properly again. The Open mic scene, if there is such a thing, is quite depressing. Darren and Craig are currently looking for a new drummer for Hidden Faces, so I am sure new Hidden Faces gigs are in the pipe line.

Anyway I must sign off and eat some vegan Xmas dinner. Enjoy the festivities everyone.

Have fun, be good,

Klara xxx

The day before the day before

2008-12-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog readers

Yes today is the day before Christmas aka Xmas Eve. I really wasn't in the mood for the festivities until today. I literally shopped until I dropped today. Good old recession, great sales before Christmas rock. I was going to just buy myself loads of dresses but I did end up getting presents for people.

I am meeting the Waynage and Daniage tomorrow for brunch then later that night off to Carlow for a few days.

I had a lot of mad thoughts floating around my head over the last two weeks, ideas for songs, lines here and line there but haven't written a new full song in a while. I have given up writing break up songs for a while. I really should complete a new song soon and get it out there though....

Craig, guitarist in Hidden Faces just told me him and Darren are seeking a new drummer for the band. I wonder what 2009 holds in store for Hidden Faces.

Signing off for now
Klara:) x

My Little tree

2008-12-19T15:48:00.000-08:00

Happy festive season. Well I suppose it begins now. I am not in a Christmas mood so tonight I put my tree up, all one foot of my tree, it's tiny and oh so tacky :) I tried to do some present shopping today in the city but crowds frustrate me.

I am at home in the dolls house, as I like to call it. Other people would call it other things. I had planned to write but my head is cluttered with too many ideas and Face Book distracted me for a while. I have restrained from poking in a while though.I am currently listening to Ryan Leslie's songs and tracks he's produced for other artists. I discovered him ages ago through YouTube. I quite like How It Was Supposed To Be. I must stop listening to break up songs, no wonder I write so many of them. It really isn't because I am one of those bitter hurt female singer songwriters. I still don't have a television at home and don't really miss watching one. Can I survive the holidays without watching bad television with my family when I visit....hmmmmm, we'll see. The last time I visited my mother I watched The X Factor and that was bad enough.

I have some new recordings up on myspace...check them out
www.myspace.com/klaramcdonnell

They were recorded in Ashtown as usual. I have said before but I am recording my album there and so far so good. I am really into electro stuff at the moment. I love MGMT's track Electric Feel, just such a great vibe to it. I am still doing open mics around Dublin. Mostly the open mics at Peadar Kearney's on Dame Street. I do find it so hard to perform new songs for the first time but I think my open mic stage fright is diminishing.

The play I have been rehearsing the last while is called Stoker and will open at the New Theatre on the 25th Jan.

I am currently taking booking for gigs in Dublin city for Spring next year. If you are in a band and are interested in knowing more, please check out www.garageland.ie and email me at klaramcdonnell@googlemail.com

Signing off til next time,
Klara:)

Almost that time of year

2008-12-13T03:22:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog readers

Almost Christmas and I only realised it in the last few days. How unprepared of me!

I set up a band page on FaceBook last night, so if you are on FaceBook please become a fan of me. I would really appreciate it. It would be a nice Christmas present for me.

I am recording Monday and Tuesday of next week in Ashtown recording studios. I am happy so far with how the album is turning out.

Talk here soon,

Signing out,
Klara :) x

Tuesday thoughts

2008-11-11T05:10:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog readers,

Well I played at the open mic in Peadar Kearneys last nite and actually managed to get through four songs without walking off stage. I think it helped that Dani was there at the end of my set. I was high on sugar but didn't randomly say anything embarrassing between songs for once. I think that once I have gotten rid of my "stage fright" for singing my own songs and playing guitar, I will cut down on open mics. For the moment they keep me out of trouble anyway:) I am really run down at the moment and yesterday felt like I had the beginnings of a cold. On Sunday night, after working at a gig, I went to a karaoke in The Village with Wayne. It was fun though the song book had no songs in it I would usually sing or would want to attempt. I sang "The tide is High" by Blondie and never want to attempt it again. I got a cute little pink badge though from the girl who was running the karaoke. Anyway when I woke up the next morning I felt so sick and wasn't even drinking. I think I need a good ole b12 injection or something and I must start exercising more again! I have an audition later on today. I rarely audition for anything lately, I suppose due to lack or time and fear and loathing of them.

Signing off for now

Klara:)

Soberity

2008-11-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog readers,

I have given up alcohol for the 2nd time this month a few days ago....(lol). I had really intended to stay sober this time but I got to the Waterford Film Festival and the prospect of seeing myself on a big screen again reunited me with Bulmers. I don't even like cider. I am not an alcoholic in the typical sense but I do have a slight problem. I can go weeks without any drink at all, I can even have just one and enjoy it, but if I have two drinks or more - I can't stop. That is when it all gets a bit worrying. Tonight I am going to drink lots of herbal tea and be productive planning things that I might never do but it's better than doing things I regret?;)

I don't have much news other than I am busy rehearsing for a play and planning to record for a few dates next month.

Till next time,
Klara:)

Getting old

2008-10-24T03:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Blog readers

Well I went to the beach party that I mentioned in my last post. It was fun but I felt awkward. I presumed everyone would dress up for it and I went slightly overboard in my "costume". To the extent that people were asking my friend Dani why I was dressed like that( I was trying for the LA bimbo look, playboy top, bikini and hair extensions), she was drunk but she had enough sense to say "Oh, Klara, She's an actor." I felt old that night. Actually I have felt ancient since my 7th birthday, perhaps I am on my 112th life or something but that night I felt particurly old and strange.

Dani's birthday party was in Sin and it was a crazy night. The theme was pink and black, they are actually my favourite colours so once again I enjoyed dressing up for the occasion.

I was so exhausted the next day, showing my age no doubt. Only so much partying a Klara can do.

On Tuesday night, myself and Dani had been drinking excessive amounts of white wine in the Residence and I took out my phone and started texting people I was probably too intoxicated to text.I had been working on a commericial a few months back when I got talking to a girl about psychics and cold reading.She told me her mother was a tarot reader and gave me her number. Anyway me and Dani booked a reading via text and the next morning I awoke half regretting it. I got my cards read and she didn't cold read, infact she seemed quite legitimate as foretune tellers go. The reading held all "good" news but she said that my life will change majorly in the next few weeks.She said that I let alot of career opportunities pass me by over my life, which is true.Ah, once again I feel so old. I won't go in to the reading on life but I am going to be so aware of it all in the coming weeks.

I've been rehearsing for a new play lately but still can't say much about it so I won't. It's an interesting production though:)

Apollo Music Club has been selected for the Waterford film fest next month so I shall be heading to Waterford for that. Saving Bob Dylan, the last short I did, had a final short scene yesterday and I am looking forward to seeing the finished film.

Signing off,

Klara:) x

Busy busy busy

2008-10-16T01:36:00.000-07:00

Hi blog readers,

In my last post I was drunk, though not as drunk as I could have been considering the excessive amount of champagne I had drank! It was a fun night though.

Today I have to find a pink and black dress, my mother is visiting from Carlow, then I am off to a table quiz that is a fundrasier for a play that Dani is in and then off to a beach party in a pub. A beach party??? What to wear? What to wear? I might just keep my sunglasses on all night with a big straw hat on my head. I wish my hair would grow. Saturday is Dani's 21st party and it should be an amazing night. I remember my 21st and it was a strange day to say the least, although probably because I was in L.A...alot of things are strange there;) Right now I am taking a break from writing a song that is going no where. I need inspiration....or coffee.

Laters,

Klara :)

Pink Champagne

2008-10-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Blog readers,

Pink Champagne is fluffy and sweet but it is also addictive. When one is standing there with a half empty glass and is asked "More Champagne?", it is hard to refuse the offer! So I presently I am quite drunk and on the internet again blogging. Blogging drunk is never a good idea .. ahhhh feck it!

I only saw the Sex and The City movie about two weeks ago and it upset me. I am afraid that I may turn into Carrie Bradshaw, a fictionally character from the show.A few weeks ago I was at a fashion show at Brown Thomas and got emotional (to say the least) over a pair of Stella McCarthney shows. They were so perfect, silver wedges, very high heels and totally vegan but 715euro:(
Tonight I was attending more fashion events, possibly a bad idea. I didn't even know such beautiful dresses existed! Anyway I am single (and really don't care about that fact till it's pointed out), ambitious, obsessed with fashion and I over analize relationships and dating....I really hope I don't turn out to be an Irish Carrie Bradshaw, maybe I would rather be a mad cat lady that has a huge run down house with 50 cats for her friends...???!!! Oh I don't now, perhaps I over think everything. Damn you pink Champange...damn you.

Klara:)

My addiction

2008-10-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Blog readers (all 3 of you),

I haven't been blogging in sooo long. The reason being I still don't have the internet in my new place....Yes, I did move in the last while. No longer living in Kilmainham and am now much more central to my favourite part of the city.I only bought a internet set up thing today and have to properly set it up tomorrow. I must be well and truely addicted to the internet. I have felt so lost with it (Oh how I missed poking on Facebook) and internet cafes aren't the same. Some of them are sooo slow and others too expensive. I also don't like it when I might be typing something really eccentric and the person beside me seems to constantly watch what I am typing. Oh well I am sure that there are much stranger people than I in net cafes in Dublin....

Anyway I have no major news other than moving. I am still playing open mic nights around Dublin, posting videos on YouTube, etc. I have a play lined up for Winter...more details to follow.

Signing off for now
Klara :)

Getting Your Goat

2008-07-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

Well blog readers there is a new Meme doing the rounds of the interweb and it is called Getting Your Goat. I was tagged and today I finally find myself typing my response. I was tagged by Darragh Doyle on his blog . I am not usually very good at this whole tagging and responding back thing as I have realised this year from learning my YouTube experiences...but hey, I'll give it a try!

The rules are as follows:
1. List two things that irritate you for a reason, and list the reason, and two things that irritate you for no apparent reason whatsoever

2. Give credit to the person who tagged you

3. Link your answers to the original blog - Keiron over on http://www.skillett.com must be delighted with the traffic :o)

4. Tag four new people to participate

Things that irritate me for a reason:

1.People who wear fur ...real fur in this day and age...why? I am vegan so I can get pretty angry about this at times! Have we not envloved past having to wear dead creatures to make ourselves feel warmer or fashionable!Damn any desinger that supports real fur.

2. The transport system in Ireland. Is it just me or just the price of bus fare for Dublin Bus seem to increase much more reguarly than it did ten years ago. I never know half the time what the fare is! I don't like how unreliable bus times are for the city too. Some buses are ment to be due every 10 minutes but you wait 30 and none come and then 3 come along at once..while in the mean time one is standing at a stop more than likely waiting in the midst of another Summer shower. Too many absolute loons on buses too. I hate when I sit on a bus with lots of seats and sit by a window and see a loon approaching and think..."Please don't sit beside me, please.". Ofcourse they sit beside me and tell me their whole life story. The trains to Carlow are delayed too much for my liking and train fare prices...ahhh!

Things that irritate me for no good reason:
(Hmmmmmmmm I probably have more than two..)

1. Irrational fears - I have a few strange things I'm a bit afraid of and it's irritating. For example I am afraid of spiders, though I know they won't harm me and alot of people don't like the little 8 legged things...but butterflies although they are beautiful to look at, if one flies at my me I can't help but scream. I'm also afraid of singing on stage sober, which I am just recently trying to get myself accustomed to.I am also afraid of falling in love and I find cliches in relationships very irritating!

2. People calling me Carla, Karla or Ciara. In the in the words of the Ting Tings (whom I find to be irritating as a band) " That's not my name! That's not my name!"

Now for the tagging:

I don't read alot of Irish blogs so I am finding this hard to find people, I have chosen 4 though and they are as follows:
1.
http://ritamariephotographysamples.blogspot.com/
Rita Marie is a photographer and the direcor/writer and one of the leads in Apollo Music Club. I would like to see her respond to the Meme esp with photos.

2.http://www.bscenesocial.blogspot.com/
Bscene is an Irish model agency that has an interesing blog.

3.http://www.balconytv.com/blog.htm
Balcony TV are an internet based entertianment show that also have a great blog.

4.http://stx89.blogspot.com/
Stacey Talbot is an Irish girl living in France who has a great showbiz gossip blog.Maybe she could respond with what stars irritate her? lol

Ok I don't want a sex change but.....

2008-07-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

sometimes I really hate being a girl. Ok, I don't literally hate the being a girl bit it's more I hate sexism and the way women are treated in the entertainment industry.

Some times when I work at gigs, helping organising them or at the box office of a gig, etc, I go into "bitch mode", well I basically shout at all at drunk people that try to get in for free.hahaha.I kinda have to assert myself sometimes because alot of people wouldn't take a 5'3( and a half inch I might add) petite girl seriously. When I work at gigs I usually just wear something like rock t shirts, demin shorts and flat boots, I don't dress up all prettyish like I would if I myself was on stage...and sometimes I do be seen carrying backline around. Anyway about 2 weeks ago someone who worked in a venue with me, in conversation was like "oh you're a lesbian, aren't you?" . Ofcourse sometimes I wish I was it would make things easier lol. He then said "Oh I never talked to you much before coz I thought you were a lesbian!" It really freaked me out...he was either being very homophobic or chatting me up or thought I was very standoffish before. Anyway I wore a 1940's style dress and sandles when working at a gig last week and people were saying "why is there a girl lifting gear off the stage?"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Ok that is just one of the things I am ranting about lately but it really is still so hard for women in the entertainment industry!

I have a gig tomorrow in The Village. It's a Garageland gig and there are other singer/songwriters and bands playing too.I've been writing alot lately but have sooo many 3/4 written songs. The lyrics are alot darker than what I would usually write...I don't know if this is a good thing or not. I am relatively happy at the moment.

I had a Summer flu for ages this month and it was so damn annoying. My bedroom is a total mess the last month and I have been trying to declutter but it just ain't happening. I found an old diary from when I was 19 - 23 and it was such a strange read. It is funny though the problems you have when you are 19 and think your world is going to come crashing down around you. Funny that you think you have falling head over heels for someone, they hurt you, you think you'll never be with anyone else again..a few years ago that was a regular occurance!

The weather outside is unbelievably bad.What a Summer eh? It's all just passing me by.

Talk to you soon
Klarage :)

Thinking too much about things

2008-07-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

They say only boring people get bored or so I have heard before. I don't really consider myself boring but I was quite bored today and just thinking alot and doing nothing. Sometimes thinking too much can be bad. Hmmm ok that last bit did sound a bit blonde but I suppose you all know what I mean. Thinking about the past can be especially bad and worrying about things that haven't happened and might never happen is just as bad. I was feeling down a couple of weeks back and wanted to do something mad. Get a new piercing? Go back to blonde? Go to a fortuneteller? Well silly old me went to a fortuneteller to get my cards read, something I hadn't done in a long time.I don't know what I was expecting to be told but I wasn't happy with any of it. I have noticed in the past that alot of fortunetellers are accurant about the past and the present. This is more than likely due to reading body language and cold reading etc. She was spot on with alot of the past and present though I don't know yet know true the bits about the future will turn out to be.I hope none of it comes true. It was all terribly depressing. She mentioned people in my family getting sick and me going out with a total bastard within the next few months,then eventually marrying someone 20/30 years older than me?!!!What the fuck. I mean there's liking older men and then there's....oh I don't know! I have that reading on my mind the last few weeks. I mostly think we make our own fate, though some paths are destined to be there and we can choose which ones to go down so we'll see.....

I'm so broke at the moment, rent day tomorrow. Oh how I love that time of the month.Will I ever own my own house? Sometimes I wish I was a hippy and I could live in a comune or something but I am freaked out by real hippies sometimes so that wouldn't work out:(

I was recording again last week in Ashtown and you can hear the results on my myspace page. Trying to get an ep together. Going to promote the ep like mad, release a single then get a project/collab thing together with 2/3 musicians that is something totally different.

Last week I was working on 3 different short films. One was called Bogganstown and it was directed by Craig C Kavanagh and written by Les Doherty. It was a funny script and Wayne had a really flithy line in it and got to streak across a football pitch.I had a small part in the film and had alot of fun, though my lines weren't as funny as what Wayne said!

The other two shorts were for the Darklight 2008 fest. On one day (just 24 hours!) in June, 30 film makers and their crews took to the streets of Dublin. The resulting short films were edited and put together to make a feature film which was directed by Lenny Abrahamson. The two shorts I was in were, Hen Night, directed by Rachel Rath and Sirens, directed by Graham Cantwell. In the pic above you can see us Sirens ;) Check out http://4daymovie.wordpress.com/ for more info.

I really enjoyed taking part in the Darklight fest this year. I also enjoyed the launch night in Filmbase and the screenings in Lighthouse cinema.

I have the screening coming up of Apollo Music Club this month. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished film.

Luvage

Klara:) x

Happy is not always good eh

2008-06-19T03:43:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone

Hadn't posted here in a while. I am waaaaaaay too happy lately for my liking and its affecting my songwriting (in a bad way). I have writers block...again!!!

My friend Daniella was recently crowned Miss Wexford and will be competing in the Miss Ireland final this week! It would be sooo cool if she won :)

Not much other news, have been playing open mic lately and trying to write but as I mentioned - writers block!

Talk again here soon

Klara:)

Sitckam

2008-05-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone

I heard sooo much about Stickam lately and used it a few times on LiveIreland...so I set up an account yest.

I will be doing a live chat/show on it tomorrow at 11am! yaaaaaaaay

Klara :) x

RECORDING!

2008-04-28T06:23:00.001-07:00

Hi Blog Readers

Well I have posted here in over a month, you would think from my last few posts that was because I was too intoxicated to use a keyboard properly....well sorry to disappoint you all but I was just very busy. Brighton take a while to recover from although I must say, I can't wait to get back. What a place!

I will be recording my own songs for the first time in years tomorrow. Yeah I know I had recorded with my band, sang other peoples song in studios etc in the last few years, though not my own singer/songwriter ones. The tracks on my myspace page are really old recordings at this stage. I'm recording in Ashtown studios, Dublin, and can't wait to see how tracks turn out. I know I am defintely going to re record Shooting Star anyway.

I had a photoshoot with Noel Noblett last week. Here is one of the pics from the shoot. I'm wearing my fav sunglasses at the moment, My Mam got them in New York.

I was busking yesterday in Dublin city, just off of Grafton Street and here is a pic below. I'm prob the only busker than wears skirts that short ;)

Peace out for now,

Klara:) x

Brighton baby, Brighton!!!

2008-03-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

Well what have I been up to lately... I worked on two short films, was writing songs and was working at rock gigs. Paddys day was funny. The crowds in Dublin city were unreal and so many drunk people falling about that I felt like I was in a zombie movie....28 days later or something similar. I was presenting on LiveIreland (Ireland's great online radio station), in Templebar and got a bit tipsy. After that I headed to the Ifi for the premiere/first screening of Graham Cantwells film, Anton. It's really brillant and I hope it gets the exposure it deserves. Ahh how can I forget to tell you all about my trip to the UK - Omg!Omg!!!! What a mad few days. Me, Dani and Wayne totally love Brighton. We were staying with Dani's cousin, Lindsey and she is as wild as us:) The place is amazing. Fun people, lotsa nice vegan food, great pubs, great clubs, parties to be had and fab clothes shops. I have to get back over to the place soon. I haven't felt I liked a place that much since LA. We also went to London for a day but spent most of our time on buses, trains and the Tube. Haha.
Well we started drinking in Dublin airport when we were waiting for our plane and after that we weren't really sober for four days.

Yeah so we probably need a holiday to recover from our holiday..it's all a bit ironic I guess:) Though I know I really did need to go away from Ireland for a few days and reevaluate some things in my life. I have been having a really crazy month, where some amazing things happened but also made some stupid mistakes (haha alot of that due to being drunk alot). I suppose I'm thinking now in the last few days that I really need to stop thinking too much about things, over analyzing other people's actions, start to love myself and totally focus and concentrate on my career. Anyway I have been writing alot this month and will try record asap though in the mean time I will post some live versions of my new songs on You Tube.

Me, Dani and Wayne had a photo shoot while we where in Brighton and had such fun. It was really great for us to get a chance to do a shoot together. You can view more pics from the shoot on my bebo and myspace pages.

Peace out for now
Klara:) x

I can't contain my excitment!

2008-03-19T01:29:00.000-07:00

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Off to the Uk later today with Dani and Wayne. I used to travel so much but haven't been in an airport since the end of last August and that was just a saying goodbye to someone :( I just can't wait to get away. Things have been CRAZY lately and I have also been acting crazy hahaha. There was waaaay too much work AND partying. This month has been so odd and and I don't expect my life to get normal or anything but I really want to destress for a few days! I was chatting to a YouTube friend and decided that I am going to film EVERYTHING and see what happens. If I get enough interesting footage, I will be posting a 4 part mini docu/reality show for the internet on my YouTube channel about what we got up to. Anyway if you haven't seen it already, check out my Paddy's day vlog

I am hyper as usual although this time I am actually drunk! I stopped drinking at 10pm though and got a vegan Indian takeaway. Pure yumage!

Chat here again soon...

Peace out

Klara lara lara lara lara :) x

Not doing a "Britney"

2008-03-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hello blog readers

Yesterday I went to a hair academy and signed up as a hair model, its easy cash and sounded fun. They were asking what I didn't mind getting done to my hair...I literally said anything but a Britney Spears number 1 cut. Yep, I am mad I guess but I'd like a change. Anyway watch this space!

I'm off to the UK (Brighton/London) on the 19th for a networking/partying/letting the hair (I still have) down trip. I really can't wait.I might be going over to Liverpool next month then to catch a match. So I bought myself a nice suitcase today, thinking of all the travelling I hope to do this year!

Peace out

The Klara:) x

The Coffee Sessions

2008-03-11T02:36:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone who reads

Well in the last blog post I was telling you about the The Coffee Sessions gig I played in Starbucks.

You can view some footage of it now

Peace out

Klarage :) x

Ahhh Coffee

2008-03-09T04:44:00.000-07:00

Hello again fellow bloggers and blog readers...

Well I don't have a hangover today and I actually slept last night....yaaaaaaaaaaaay. The last two weeks have been crazy and still have to see Padddys Day through and then go off on a trip to England with two of my friends, how we'll survive...I don't know. I should probably stop drinking again....eh? I am always toying with the idea of AA, since some people joke and say I should go but I can go months with out drink, it's just once I start......hmmmmm. Anyway on Friday I attended and sang at a press conference for a Wicklow based lobby group to raise awareness for suicide, this group was set up by my friend, Wayne Tobin. I sang Shooting Star and was quite nervous as this press conference was very serious and I really wanted to raise awareness etc. I really hope some good will come out of the lobby group and that changes will be made.
That evening I played in the Coffee Sessions in Starbucks on Harcourt Street for the second time....thanks to Emer for the gig. I asked Emer to film some songs and the vids should be up on my Youtube channel later.

Hope you're all having a totally amazing weekend...

Peace out,
Klara:)

Socializing

2008-03-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

Hello world wide web again

Finally reshot the final scene of Apollo Music Club again last weekend....so I can go back to blonde now if I want!!!!tehehehehehe well can't decide yet....first gonna go strawberry blonde I think...am also scared my hair might all fall out!

I woke up this morning with a very bad hangover not knowing where I was...hahahaha.Yep that has happened alot lately. Must learn that vodka is not my friend....not my friend at all. I've a gig tomorrow in the lovely Starbucks on Harcourt Street. It'll be my second time to play there and it's in aid of the Marie Keating foundation, a good cause to support.

Peace out

Klara:) x

Maybe hormonal or something but...

2008-02-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

I really just felt like blogging right now. I've been really happy or maybe extremely content the last two days. Walking around with a smile on my face ( 2 people noticed it!) no I'm not in love....hahaha as if, though I guess I might be hormonal or going slightly mad. Either way, I feel .... fine:) I am having strange dreams the last week though, about Green and Blacks dark chocolate bars and free bars being at gigs everywhere in Dublin, but I am addicted to them so that might explain that?! Though I also had a dream that the West side of Dublin had a "civil war", if you could call it that. Anyway, lately I don't know what it is, but I feel free or something. I have given up all the shitty work I used to do every now and again for money, like promotional work (flyers etc) and really would rather be poor than not work 100 percent in the entertainment industry. I've started back writing alot songs and acting pieces and some is quite bitter from basing it on kinda personal stuff hhehehehe but it's all good.

I have a huge bill I keep putting off paying and rent due early next week but ...in fairness I didn't think of that till now, I'm quite content:)Starting to get more confident presenting on LiveIreland.com. Who would have thought I would be djing/presenting? Mite be heading off to London next month for a few days and really wanna go to LALA land in September so it's all go as they say.

Anyway I better go, up for "work" in four hours! Yep...I have gone slightly mad!

Signing off for now

the Klara :) x

Seeing Red

2008-01-30T15:07:00.000-08:00

Hello Blogger/blog readers

I am in the humour of typing a long blog, I must be hormonal or something because my entries are usually quite short!

I am having a strange day in a strange week in what I am sure will turn out to be a strange year. My nonexistant career is becoming quite existant as of late, which is great, though I seem to be in a constant state of confusion over a few matters.
Anyway I don't think I am an alcoholic as I haven't been drunk since the night before New Year's Eve. I think my 3 drunken Christmas parties turned me off drink for some time.

I have discovered in the last 6 months or so that I hate being in a relationship, I really don't like being single (well sometimes) and most of all I really detest the whole dating thing. I sometimes find myself drawn to actors,most of whom are self obsorbed and insane.

So I am having issues with men....I clearly don't think I am gay because well I do fancy men and wouldn't know the first thing of what to do with a girl but guys - do I "get them"?....well no.I was actually content with the whole not being in a relationship thing until I noticed that guys were flirting with me in an obvious way lately (not going to go into details) and these are mostly guys that are even odder than me! Ok, this is not me being silly and paranoid but really reflecting and asking why am I attracting a different "Type"? 90 percent of the men that have been approaching me where also saying " I love red heads", "you red heads are wild", etc, etc....it's so strange because when I was blonde I never had anyone really coming up to me with a cliche such as " you're so dumb", or "you're so cute". I'm not a natural red head and to be honest I really don't think I look like one, I mean I dye my hair myself and I am not exaclty going to win hairdresser of the year any time soon. I don't know whether I will go back to blonde now after Apollo Music Club wraps as I am getting used to being a "fiery red head"!hmmmm but I shall remain single for ever if I stay like this...eh maybe not a bad thing.

I djed for the first time in my life two days ago in the Live Ireland studios in Templebar. Quite daunting at first because I was bit clueless about the computer program at first. Once I got into the swing of things I had so much fun, especially with a web cam in my face.

The weather is still totally yuck in Ireland at the moment. I have been thinking alot about LA again...thinking why did I leave and when and how can I get back. If I hadn't of left LA, I wouldn't have finished college but I wouldn't have went to Germany...hmmmm.Anyway I hope to get back to LA even for a few weeks by the end of this year, that is my mission.

Signing off for now...

The Klara:) xx

Freezing cold January

2008-01-10T10:47:00.001-08:00

Well hello people! Hope the new year is treating you all well so far....

You may remember I was writing about my New Year Eve's festivities in my last blog. Well two days later, myself, Dani and Wayne were pictured on the social pages of the Evening Herald. It was so funny in a way coz I REALLY didn't expect us to be in the Herald. I am getting my pic taken alot at events in the last year and never once had been on a social page.

Anyway it has been raining every day for the last while. I had almost forgotten just how wet and horrible Winters can be in Ireland. Once again, I have a cold, pure yukage! Can't talk at the moment, let alone sing a note! So I have just been staying at home alot the last few days, trying to rest. Oh well, at least this stupid cold is keeping me away from the January sales! I already went a bit mad spending money last week but I suppose you can NEVER have enough shoes.
Before the onset of this yukky cold I was working helping run two rock gigs in Whelans for Garageland. There were some really great bands playing :) I hadn't been in the venue since the renovation and it looked great, having said that though I really don't remember what it was like before as I had never been very sober in Whelans lol. I have been VERY sober since New Year's Eve though, it hasn't been a conscious decision, though I suppose it should have been!

Signing off 4 now,
Klara:) x

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-01-02T04:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New year to you all and hope all your wishes ( no matter how big or small) come true! I hope you all had a memorable New Years Eve (that's IF you can remember it). Myself and my friends went to the annual white party in Lillie's Bordello in Dublin, Ireland (before that we were in Wayne apartment for a pre party thing). Lillie's was great - The champagne was flowing, there were white balloons everywhere and alot of dancing. We all wore white because of the theme of the party, it was a pity in a way because I had bought a few nice little back dresses over Christmas time!Oh well there are always more nites out to be had in 2008!

I haven't made any new years resolutions yet as I don't know yet which ones I could stick too lol but I am excited about the coming year. The thing I like most about my life at the moment is I just never know what might happen next, so much pure randomness!

Type here again soon,
Klara :) x

Blogging the old fashioned way

2007-12-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hello bloggers and blog readers

Well I know I always apologise for not posting here in quite a while and here I am again saying sorry and I will post more often, well we shall see, especially with New Years resolutions and all that!

In the last year, I didn't give up blogging altogether, in fact this Summer, I took up vlogging as some of you might remember. I started making a series of vlogs and called them "Video Diaries of an Artiste;)" ....I guess I was trying to be a tad pretentious and tongue in cheek with the title. Anyway I had alot of fun making them and expressing myself and am going to continue with my vlogs again next year.

Since I last communicated via text blog, I have been biten bad by the acting bug again.I performed in a few plays this year, some short films and a feature film. The band I am in, Hidden Faces had a UK tour this Spring and I am still performing as a singer/songwriter. I have also been writing new songs and am going to record again next year. If you don't already know my music, I have some tracks up on my MySpace page. I also work for a live rock promotions company now, helping to run gigs in Dublin city. It's great to hear all the new upcoming Irish talent playing live. I no longer live in Carlow or Kildare, as I moved back to Dublin this September. This is probably the happiest I have been in as long as I can remember.

Well I hope you all had a really great Christmas and you didn't see the hangover fairy, she's quite evil indeed. Hope you all have a brillant 2008 filled with fun.

p.s.You can view my latest vlog for December below...

If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and comments are much appreciated

Talk here soon
Klara:) x

Long time no blog

2007-06-02T03:35:00.000-07:00

HI Bloggers

Well I haven´t been posting here as much as I would like lately. I have been so busy. I had a performance of Roslyn Fullers Isak this week in the Irish Writers Centre and had great fun.

About two weeks ago I started up a vblog called Video Diaries of an Artist (meant to be a bit of a silly title;) ) and really didn´t expect it to get that many views. Was really hoping just some other aspiring entertainer/writers might tune in but got alot of hits. There has been good and bad reactions to the videos, which I dont mind:)

You can check them all out by searching Klara McDonnell in Youtube....

Here is this weeks vblog

Talk soon( I will try to)

Klara:)

Sorry it´s been so blog

2007-04-21T05:13:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

I haven´t been blogging on here for so so long. I did however write blogs on my bebo and myspace page and you can check them out here

http://www.myspace.com/klaramcdonnell

and

http://www.klaramcdonnell.bebo.com

Peace out 4 now

Klara:)

Here is a little slide show of me

2006-09-04T04:27:00.000-07:00

To be or not to be?

2006-07-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone

Sorry I haven't been writing here in such a long time, as usual I have been really busy.
My mam went to a well respected fortuneteller last week and she said your daughter will be an actress...hmmmmmmm and no mention of me being a musician. It's strange really since I have kinda been getting back into acting lately. I have been working as an extra on the Irish soap "Fair City" for the past few months, but in the last two weeks, I have been give the small role of a waitress in the club and Gally pub scenes, I haven't had any lines yet but it's better than being an normal extra and a foot in the door as they say lol.Anyway I won't be giving up on my music career any time soon though! I have been busking quite alot around Dublin city, playing mostly my own songs with one or two covers thrown in every now and again! I really have to try move back to Dublin soon, as it's more central for gigs, etc.

I had a shoot on Monday for new headshots for acting at The Makeup Room in Dublin.I was really happy with the results. You can view some of the pics below.

Signing off for now,
peace
Klara:)

P.S. If you want to hear some of my music or find out more about me, check out my myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/klaramcdonnell
You can also find me on BEBO under the user name klaramcdonnellmusic.

So what have I been up to lately???

2006-04-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I haven't been on line much lately as I moved back to Ireland from Germany, and it was all a bit stressful organising everthing! I never thought I would be THIS busy!I am now living in Carlow and working all over Ireland. Carlow is such a lovely town and has some great shops for fashion now. I hope to play live here some day soon.

I'm self employed at the moment in Ireland as an overall entertainer I guess...I am paying the bills by my music, acting, modelling and even extra work! I was working on a new movie called Becoming Jane over the last week. It was quite tiring having to wear a corset all day but it was great fun, and I met alot of nice people through it. You can a pic of my costume below...let me know what you all think ;)

I have been writing alot of new songs lately and hope to record them really really soon!

WHERE TO HEAR MY MUSIC
You can hear my music on an Irish site called CPU and on my MySpace page

Signing off for now,

Peace,
Klara:)