First blog of 2012

25 Jan

Yo everyone. It’s my first blog of 2012 and I have a good feeling that it’s going to be an interesting year (though not because of the Mayan calender) because I am already very busy!

Last Wednesday I had a radio interview and played live on WDAR/96fm with Keith McLoughlin.

On Saturday I attended the second meeting of The Songwriter Club at The Morgan Hotel in Templebar. This meetup group was set up by, radio presenter Keith McLoughlin and Dundalk singer/songwriter Sinead McNally. The idea behind the club is to bring songwriters together every couple of months to chat about all sorts of songwriting stuff, share ideas, set up collaborating groups and also to have fun getting to know each other. I really enjoyed the afternoon and am already looking forward to the next meetup.

Copyright Paul Kolbe 2012


You can find out more about The Songwriter Club on their FaceBook page.

On Sunday I was on set in Irish female rapper, Lucci Minx’s new music video. The scenes that I was in were filmed around Windmill lane, where the brightly striking graffiti wall is in the Dublin Docklands. The video was directed by Hermillio Opel. Lucci’s dancers Olivia-Tracey Hogan and Carol Doyle were also in the video.

Copyright Kevin Ponseel 2012


Here is Lucci Minx’s first music video for her song, I Don’t Care.

You can hear more of Lucci Minx’s music on her YouTube channel.

This evening I went to see the musical version of Dirty Dancing in The Grand Canal Theatre with Dani. Ok, perhaps I am a bit blonde but I was actually surprised that the audience was made of up 99 percent women. I found it both annoying and amusing that quite a few of the older ladies were loudly heckling and wolf whistling the actor who played Johnny. I thought the set design and costumes were outstanding. My favourite scene of the whole show was the ballroom finale. I almost wanted to jump down from my box on to the stage and dance with the cast but then I remembered I can’t dance when I’m sober.

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Photoshoot for Love 146

27 Dec

I had a surprisingly relaxing Christmas this year, even though I cooked Christmas dinner for myself for the first time ever (and my father!). My friend Dani was back in Dublin from Dubai for just two and a half days but I had a fabulous time partying with her twice! I have been in Carlow with my mother, brother and evil cat Tiger for the last two days, stuffing my face with the most delicious homemade vegan food. My body is overdue a spin class or two.

In early December, Biba Logan had a charity event photo shoot in aid of Love 146. Love146 is a non-profit international human rights organization that works toward the abolition of child sex trafficking and exploitation through advocacy, prevention, and aftercare.

Check out the video Biba made on the shoot.

I had been an admirer of her work for some time and thought this would be a good opportunity to shoot with her whilst supporting a great cause. I got some photos of me from the shoot off Biba this evening.

Copyright Biba Logan 2011


Copyright Biba Logan 2011


Copyright Biba Logan 2011


Copyright Biba Logan 2011

My makeup was done on the day by the talented Caroline Geraghty.

To view more of Biba’s work please check out
www.yarddogphotography.com

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Hair did for Christmas

21 Dec

I enjoyed the mulled wine and performing at the Occupy Sweeneys gig last night. Sean and I performed four of the songs we wrote together to a merry Sweeneys crowd. I wore a hooded Santa dress that I got last year in my beloved Primani (Penneys to some of you) with heeled wellies from Dunnes Stores.

Little red riding hood?

Today I got my hair cut and colored at Sandra’s Hairdressers in Carlow. I am still blonde (they really do have more fun) but decided to go shorter to even out the length. I had my hair much longer on the right side of my head for the past few months.

Shorter, blonder :)

My stunning actress/singer friend, Martina Bosede appears in the music video for Encore‘s super catchy new single Fun Last Night. Jade Ewen from the Sugar Babes also appears near the end of the video. The single is released on 26th February 2012.

Martina on the set of Fun Last Night

Martina is in UK Urban girlband 4Flava.

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Occupy Sweeneys

15 Dec

I am playing at the Occupy Sweeneys gig at Sweeneys on Dame Street next Tuesday the 20th December with Sean Cray (HiFi Junkies) under the name Hyno Puppet.


The Occupy Sweeneys gig is the MML Christmas party and a Occupy Dame Street Fundraiser. It’s free in but donations will be warmly accepted.

James Murphy interviewed me for his blog on InCannes. You can read the interview at the link below:

The Hibernian Heroine
An interview with Klara Mc Donnell
By James Murphy

I’m currently in the LiveIreland studios, quite cold even though I have lovely new snow boots on that my Maker got me in Korkys. I am going to present on LiveIreland again next Thursday from 7pm and sing some songs for Christmas.

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Portrait of a Zombie Festival Premiere

11 Dec


Portrait of a Zombie, a horror film that I had a part in, will have it’s world premiere at a festival in California next year.

Bing Bailey, director of Portrait of a Zombie wrote the following on his Facebook page today;

“Portrait of a Zombie was an independent production financed by ourselves and the hard work , sweat and tears of our cast and crew. Our world premiere is in California early next year. we really want to have as many of our cast with us as possible to celebrate the opening of the film. getting to the US from Ireland is very difficult for a lot of our working actors in these recessionary times, they do what they do because they love their craft. this also means a lot of the time they forgo an income to do what they love.

So I’m asking anyone who supports us and supports our film to consider donating to a fund to help bring our actors to California. every bit helps. $10 from every one on my friend list would allow us to bring 6 of our cast to California. if you have the means and would like to donate please contact me at dbaileyire@gmail.com , you can also paypal the same address

Thank you for your continued support

Bing”

For more info on Portrait of a Zombie, check out the official site.

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My walls of divas and rock gods

2 Dec

Tonight after presenting on LiveIreland.com, I went to visit my dad and received an unexpected present.

Image

He very thoughtfully gave me these four framed pictures that he printed and put together. (From L – R: Audrey Hepburn, Bette Davis, Liz Taylor and Mae West).

If you are wondering where Marilyn is – I have a large framed black and white print of her on another wall.

A few weeks ago he gave me framed prints of some of my favorite male singer/songwriters/rock stars. I also have some of my backstage/V.I.P. passes from gigs I worked at/attended around the mirror, so I guess that is my little rock n’ roll part of my bedroom.

Now all I need for my bedroom is a nice warm electric blanket for my super king size bed…. probably not the most rock n’ roll item but the Irish Winter is well and truly freezing me.

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Niceol Blue and The Copper Soul album launch

25 Nov

I am just home from the launch of “Rise”, Niceol Blue and The Copper Soul’s debut album in the Workman’s Club. It was the second time I had heard Niceol play, the first time I heard her playing solo at an Attic Studio Christmas party and was impressed by her powerful vocals. Once again I was impressed by her performance and her band played together brilliantly. The band are mostly based in Galway, I do hope they come back and gig in Dublin again soon.

I made sure I got my copy of the album at the launch

You can find out more about the band on their Facebook page.

Music Link

www.breakingtunes.com/niceolblueandthecoppersoul

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Kerry shoots and The Love from a Stranger

10 Nov

I just realized that I haven’t blogged in a while about the goings on in Klaraland. In the last two weeks I had a few photo shoots in Kerry and acted in another short film.

I was down in Listowel in Kerry and I shot with Pat Tobin, Mary O’Connell and Paul Woods in Pat’s studio.

Below you can see some of the images from my shoot with Paul Woods.

Copyright Paul Woods 2011


Copyright Paul Woods 2011


Copyright Paul Woods 2011

You can find out more about Paul Woods and his photography on his blog.
http://paulwoodsimage.blogspot.com/

Last week I was acting in a short film called “The Love from a Stranger”. The film was written and directed by Kevin Petrie and shot around Dublin. The plot revolves around a stalker who believes he is in love with his victim.

One of my favourite nights of the year is Halloween as it’s the perfect excuse to dress up in a full costume. This year the inspiration behind my costume was Lady GaGa’s Judas music video. I have became a totally engrossed in Sons of Anarchy the last few months so when my friend Matthew suggested this biker chic theme, I knew I just couldn’t refuse.

I'm ready for my close up


myself and my friend Matt before we headed out to party the night away


My extremely trashy p.v.c. shorts, which can also be seen in my photo shoot above, are from Sugarbabe on Henry street (30e), wig is from HairSpray (29e) and the rest of the costume will remain a mystery. My tan of course is all totally au natural ;) . I partied the night away in one of my favourite haunts, Lillie’s Bordello.

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Samhain – Dark Halloween Nights at the National Leprechaun Museum

22 Oct


Last night I went to a preview show of Dark Halloween Nights at the National Leprechaun Museum. I had never been in the Leprechaun Museum and didn’t know what to expect from it as a site specific venue but I feel it worked really well as a set/backdrop for the stories being told. I didn’t expect to be scared in the slightest but the suspense of not knowing what would happen as you entered the next room or encountered the next storyteller did provoke some nerve rattling and heart racing. I thought the writing was fantastic and was surprised that is was written by Órla McGovern (of Mrs Nellie Murphy fame).

More info:

This spooktacular Halloween/Samhain production is a collaboration between the talented staff at the National Leprechaun Museum and Alive-O Productions.
INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCES NIGHTLY

27 OCTOBER – 5 NOVEMBER, 2011

7PM, 7.30PM & 8PM

Tickets from €15 online, or from €20 on the door.
(Ticket price includes nerve settling refreshment!)

Places are very limited for these interactive performances, so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.

Performances on 30 and 31 October include post-show sessions with paranormal experts.

BOOK YOUR ONLINE TICKETS NOW!
www.leprechaunmuseum.ie

ADULT ONLY EVENT. STRICTLY 18+

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Photo shoot with Rudy Jakma

19 Oct

“Love Songs for Losers” went down well in the Blue Stack Arts Festival in Ballyshannon, Donegal and really hope I get to be involved in the show again at some point.

I deleted 24 of my old vlogs, including a pathetic one I made half drunk/half hung over last week. Most of them weren’t funny or profound and I watched them back and saw an obnoxious version of myself. I shocked myself into not making vlogs and being sober for a long time when I watched them back.

I had a photo shoot with Rudy Jakma a few weeks ago and you can see some
images from it below. The shoot was in the Tailor Guild Hall’s in Dublin 8. It seems like a great location for film and photography shoots.

Copyright Rudy Jakma 2011


Copyright Rudy Jakma 2011


Copyright Rudy Jakma 2011

One last blog thought – check out my friend Patrick Murphy’s interesting video for the Darklight Festival 2011.

Europe -2020 Vision.
What do you see,hope or predict for the future of Europe??

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