Klara McDonnell's Blog

Lucci Minx’s new music video

klaramcdonnell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:00:30 +0000

Check out the new music video from talented female Irish rapper, Lucci Minx. As I mentioned in a previous post, the video features a lil cameo by moi.

The song is called “Voulez Vous” and is a remix of the Lloyd Banks track “Beamer Benz and Bentley”. The beat is sick and I prefer Lucci’s lyrics to the original.

You can check more of Lucci Minx’s music on her YouTube Channel.

1 day without Facebook

klaramcdonnell — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:23:02 +0000

Well yesterday I deactivated my Facebook account for a week. Perhaps I won’t activate it again until I figure out settings that suit me or find a way to just communicate in Facebookland through my “like” page. I had an enjoyable time in the real world in The Globe on Geogre’s street last night.
trumental tune playing that was so damn good that I leapt out of my chair and had to ask the DJ exactly what it was. Anyway, listen to the video below, that is what I call real music.

Facebook Deactivation

klaramcdonnell — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:00:37 +0000

This evening I decided to deactivate my Facebook account. When I text my mother to inform her, she presumed it was because my account had been hacked. The few friends I told were as shocked as they knew only too well of my Facebook addiction. I used to think that only crazy people deactivate their page. To be honest the site was driving me a little crazy and only a few hours off the site, I feel so free, like I walked out of a horrible, head wrecking job. I am at the stage where I interact with my real friends more on Facebook than I would be in real life. I have almost 5,000 friends ( some real and some strangers), so you can imagine how busy my news feed is. I’ve had unwanted Pokes, romances and flirtations start and/or end, all too real Frapes and cyber drama to last me a life time. The new timeline layout reminds me of Bebo which feels like a step back to another addiction. Oh, how I miss when Myspace was good….

If I knew a way to delete my personal page and use my “like”/music page, I would but my brother just told me that it is impossible to delete a Facebook page! So, I am going to have a Facebook free week. It will be tremendously hard but there is always Twitter and blogging.

First blog of 2012

klaramcdonnell — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:29:00 +0000

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.

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.

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.

Photoshoot for Love 146

klaramcdonnell — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:42:53 +0000

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.

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

Hair did for Christmas

klaramcdonnell — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:45:54 +0000

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.

Occupy Sweeneys

klaramcdonnell — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:17:03 +0000

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.

Portrait of a Zombie Festival Premiere

klaramcdonnell — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:39:11 +0000

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.

My walls of divas and rock gods

klaramcdonnell — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:43:40 +0000

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

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.

Niceol Blue and The Copper Soul album launch

klaramcdonnell — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:02:44 +0000

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