Chase Pagan

Indie / Soul / Rock

Memphis, TN

Billboard

"My music is a fantasy that I live in". This comes from small town
dreamer, Chase Pagan, the author of Oh! Musica. Proudly hailing from
Wynne, Arkansas, population 8,615, the soft-spoken Southerner has
created an album that is both intimate and grandiose.

"I wanted to do something more organic," Pagan says of the
forthcoming album--as Oh, Musica captures his true intentions. Carried
by Pagan's lilting falsetto and charismatic, sometimes fantastical
songwriting, Oh, Musica is a debut of impressive scope. Whether it's
the bouncy reincarnation romp "Waltzing in the Sky, " the impassioned
tango inside "Spanish Tongue", or the rich upright bass and crashing
keys of closer "Viola"--the realization of Pagan's expansive ambitions
is an enchanting one. His distinctively orchestral, vaudevillian style
--paired with his natural, organic and unpretentious essence make for
a pleasing catharsis.
Musically, Pagan's songs feature complex structural progressions over
stripped-down instrumental processions: a wisp of guitar here, a few
lines of piano there, all under his nearly limitless vocal range.
Served by The Militia Group's artist-friendly vibe, on his newest
studio work, Oh Musica--the upcoming full-length, (set for
Spring, 2007 release) Pagan brazenly marches forward through the
boundaries of the genre, hopping from jazz to soul to country to
rock, to tackle themes of mortality, life and love. "It's writing
about life and death, everything that happens in between, and
everything you can hope for afterward."
Embracing the theatrical, he writhes and bleeds a florid combination
of rock, soul and country on stage. A natural performer, Pagan pulls
off impressive vocal gymnastics over a backdrop of keys, guitar and
Mellotron--and his endearing whistle, whenever he has a chance.
Recorded during studio sessions with friend Jesse Cannon and others
in Memphis and New York City, Oh! Musica is the culmination of more
than three years of touring, writing and personal musical reflection.
His association with The Militia Group comes after recording an album
with iconic producer Ross Robinson (The Cure, At The Drive In). Pagan
was lost in the shadows of a corporate takeover. "It was quite a
strange experience." With his music destined never to see the light
of day, he walked away with the conviction to evade major label
shortcomings, and record and release his music, his way.
"Sometimes I'll come up with a piano part and sit on it for months
until another part comes along," he says. "I like to leave it as
being inspired, instead of taking some creative idea or impulse and
forcing something technical out of it."
But at the end of the day, Pagan's music is merely a twenty-
something's contemplative search for answers in a world that is
rapidly changing. And now, on the verge of releasing his music to the
world, Pagan takes comfort in his family's small-town roots, knowing
that his strength comes in remembering where he's from and not where
he's going. You can find Chase appearing in theatres, bars--even your
neighbor's living room very soon.

CHASE PAGAN ON TOUR!
For updated tour dates click HERE.