Alialujah Choir
OriginPortland, Oregon
GenreIndie rock, folk rock, funeral folk, art rock, alternative rock, alt-country, progressive rock
Years active2012–present
LabelJealous Butcher Records
Websitewww.alialujah.com
Current membersJohn Adam Weinland Shearer
Alia Farah
Adam Selzer
Meredith Adelaide

Alialujah Choir (ə-lee-ə-loo-yə kwy-ər) is an American folk band based in Portland, Oregon.[1] The band consists of Adam Shearer, Alia Farah (Weinland) and Adam Selzer (Norfolk & Western). The trio is known for their sparse instrumentation, three part harmonies and balanced vocals.[2][3][4][5] The band's inception is tied to the 19th century humanitarian James C. Hawthorne.[6]

Origin

In 2008 Adam Shearer was approached by Kate Sokoloff (Live Wire! Radio/OPB) to contribute a song for a benefit album titled Dearly Departed.[7][8] Along with Al James, Storm Large, Jesse Emerson, Matt Sheehy, Richie Young and other Pacific Northwest singer songwriters, Adam Shearer was asked to compose a song about someone buried at Lone Fir, Portland, Oregon's oldest cemetery.[9] Shearer chose to write about James C. Hawthorne, a humanitarian and physician who founded the original Oregon Hospital for the Insane. During the song writing process Shearer collaborated with Adam Selzer on the arrangement. After completing A House, A Home, Shearer and Selzer were inspired to continue writing and recording. Recognizing that piano and a third voice would benefit the music they invited Alia Farah to join them. Receiving the invitation in a 1 am text message Farah responded in jest that she would join Shearer and Selzer if they named the band Alialujah Choir.[1]

Newspaper and magazine articles about the band have noted that in the beginning Alialujah Choir acted as a means for Shearer, Selzer and Farah to escape the commercial pressures of their other bands and return to their love for roots folk music.[6][10][11] Prior to becoming a band, Shearer, Selzer and Farah drafted a set of rules in an effort to protect their songwriting and recording process from being compromised by extraneous variables connected to the music industry. Music editors have cited that the rules Alialujah Choir put in place for themselves has influenced their music in a positive way.[3][6]

Debut album

Alialujah Choir's self-titled debut, was recorded over the course of two years at Type Foundry Studio in Portland, Oregon, and was released by Jealous Butcher Records in February 2012.[12] Shearer, Selzer and Farah recorded the album with self-imposed restrictions.

To begin, no one else could play on the album, or even be present in the studio while the tape was rolling. "We both learned how to run the boards and set up the mics so that Adam [Selzer, who helms Type Foundry Studio, where the group's self-titled debut was recorded] could record his parts," says Farah. Also, there would be no drum kit or bass found in the live room; all percussion had to be relegated to auxiliary status. "We were good about sticking to our many limitations," says Shearer. "And we knew it was because we wanted to preserve the good thing that we had."[3]

In support of their album, after playing a CD release show at the Doug Fir in March 2012, Alialujah Choir toured with Pokey LaFarge and later with Portland Cello Project.[13][14] Alialujah Choir's debut received positive reviews from The Oregonian, NPR, Willamette Week and other established publications.[2][6][12] Many of the reviews focused on the chemistry between the band members noting the unity of the group and parallel vocals. In their review of the album The Portland Mercury noted the band's chemistry and sound as, "The musical connection that permeates the trio is something that exists far beyond anyone's command...every third line finds Shearer, Selzer, and Farah singing together in bone-chilling, otherworldly attunement."[3]

Along with being responsible for Alialujah Choir's formation, the song A House, A Home influenced the completion of their first album. In 2010 Adam Shearer shared the masters of Alialujah Choir's recordings with filmmaker Mark Smith. The Oregonian and other reviews state that Smith became enamored with A House, A Home and decided to create a video that would begin at the last lines of the song. The anticipated release of the video became a caytalst for the band to complete their debut album.[6][10][11] The song A House, A Home also appeared in the final 2012 episode of the television show Being Human[15]

A House, a Home (film)

A House, a Home is a 2012 American short film/narrative music video scored by Alialujah Choir and features Portland Cello Project. Based on the song of the same name by Adam Shearer and Adam Selzer, the film adaptation was produced by Mark Smith, directed by Daniel Fickle and written by Daniel Fickle and Mark Smith. Starring Meredith Adelaide and Calvin Morie McCarthy the film begins at the last lines of the song A House, A Home: You die knowing he'll bury you / Next to your love in the ground... and tells a story of how a love, a death and another death are reconciled in a subterranean world.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

In addition to being an official selection at the Raindance,[23] Fantastic Fest[24] and Mill Valley[25] film festivals, A House, A Home was nominated for numerous awards ultimately winning thirty-two accolades including Best Short Film at the 32nd New Jersey Film Festival[26] and Best of Festival at the 55th Rochester International Film Festival.[27] A House, A Home was selected as an Official Honoree in The 17th Annual Webby Awards in the Music category.[28]

Awards

yearFilm FestivalCountryCategoryResult
2012United Kingdom Film FestivalBest Short[29]
2012Poppy Jasper International Short Film FestivalBest Drama[30]
2012Short Sharp FestivalBest Score[31]
2012Philadelphia Film & Animation FestivalBest Music Video[32]
2012Flatland Film FestivalAudience Choice Award[33]
2012Nevada Film FestivalPlatinum Reel Award[34]
2012Interrobang Film FestivalBest Free Form Film[35]
2012International Film Festival Antigua BarbudaBest Music Video[36]
2012Columbia Gorge International Film FestivalBest Music Video[37]
2012Lucerne International Film FestivalPlatinum Reel Award[38]
2012Silicon Valley Film FestivalBest Music Video[39]
2012International Film Festival of Cinematic ArtsBest Editing[40]
2012Oregon Film AwardsBest Short Film[41]
2012Accolade CompetitionArt Direction[42]
2012Rumschpringe International Short Film FestivalBest Music Video[43]
2012One CloudfestBest Music Video[44]
2012One CloudfestBest Cinematography[44]
2012One CloudfestOCF FAV[45]
2013Macon Film FestivalBest Music Video[46]
2013Canada International Film FestivalRising Star Award[47]
2013Knickerbocker Film FestivalBest Story[48]
2013Geneva Film FestivalBest Narrative Short[49]
2013Charleston International Film FestivalBest Film[50]
2013Honolulu Film AwardsAloha Accolade[51]
2013New Jersey Film FestivalBest Short Film[26]
2013First Glance Film Festival HollywoodBest Director[52]
2013First Glance Film Festival HollywoodAudience Favorite[52]
2013First Glance Film Festival PhiladelphiaBest Music Video[53]
2013Portland Music Video FestivalSilver Reel Award[54]
2013Indie GatheringBest Music Video[55]
2013Rochester International Film FestivalShoestring Trophy[56]
2013Rochester International Film FestivalBest of Festival[27]

Nominations and official selections

Nominations and Official Selections
YearFilm FestivalCountry
2012Raindance Film Festival[23]
2012Woodstock Film Festival[57]
2012New Orleans Film Festival[58]
2012San Diego Film Festival[59]
2012VisionFest[60]
2012Cornwall Film Festival[61]
2012Park City Music Film Festival[62]
2012Budapest Short Film Festival[63]
2012Take Two Film Festival[64]
2012New York City International Film Festival[65]
2012Artfest Film Festival[66]
2012Tucson Film & Music Festival[67]
2012Zero Film Festival[68]
2012Sacramento Film and Music Festival[69]
2012United Film Festival[70]
2012Great Lakes International Film Festival[71]
2012Cincinnati Film Festival[72]
2013Beloit International Film Festival[73]
2013Trail Dance Film Festival[74]
2013Sedona International Film Festival[75]
2013San Antonio Film Festival[76]
2013White Sands International Film Festival[77]
2013Action/Cut International Short Film Festival[78]
2013Action On Film International Film Festival[79]
2013Balinale International Film Festival[80]
2013Maverick Movie Awards[81]
2013Fantastic Fest[24]
2013Mill Valley Film Festival[25]
2013Aesthetica Short Film Festival[82]
2013Pop Montreal[83]
2013Columbus International Film & Video Festival[84]
2013Bahamas International Film Festival[85]
2014Sonoma International Film Festival[86]

Additional appearances

Discography

Albums

YearTitleRecord labelRef.
2012The Alialujah ChoirAlialujah Choir
2015Big Picture Show[93]

Live albums

YearTitleRecord labelRef.
2016Live from the Banana StandBanana Stand Media

EPs & Singles

YearTitleRecord labelRef.
2012A House, A HomeAlialujah Choir
2016Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

References

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