The Dragonfly Races

Description

Ellis Paul has done the miraculous: hes taken his soaring, soul stirring voice and brilliantly nestled it into 12 inspiring, tender, warm-hearted family songs on his new CD The Dragonfly Races. Pauls craft has conquered new territory — lyrically playful and soulful, and sonically rich.These songs will appeal equally to a whole new generation of young fans, as well as his previous adult fans…Its that good! –Billy Jonas Paul is one of folkdoms most incisive and intimate songwriters. Now a doting father, his first family album, Dragonfly Races, bubbles with buoyant, hummable songs that appeal to kids and parents – and incite good conversations between them. As simple as the songs are, they dont duck tough issues; a fairy tale, for instance, becomes a timely political allegory about leaders who peddle fear for their own purposes. Paul sings movingly about what really worries new parents and turns lazy dragonflies, gentle monsters, and resilient roses into useful metaphors for world peace, the power of faith, and the delights of a sleepy day. Its nice to see a world-class songwriter focus on kids without lowering either his sights or his standards. — Scott Alarik, Boston Globe Ellis Paul, an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and troubadour, will release his first family music CD, The Dragonfly Races, on January 8th, 2008. The new CD builds upon the great American folk tradition in childrens music with original songs that bring a fresh take on empowering children to be involved with their world. The songs offer Pauls unique sensibility about life and all the possibilities of childhood. The colorful digi-pack release includes a 24 page picture book with beautiful illustrations sketched and painted by Paul. An impressive group of guest artists perform with Ellis on The Dragonfly Races, including Antje Duvekot, Flynn, Vance Gilbert and Billy Jonas. The recording was produced by Flynn. The Dragonfly Races offers true family listening which works on many levels. The songs evoke a fanciful world where dragonflies race in the meadow and chameleons march on Washington, DC. The lyrics take listeners on a socially conscious adventure, empowering them to stand up against injustice. While the lyrics deal with serious concepts, there is plenty of whimsy and fun too. Paul finds endless inspiration from his young daughters Ella and Sofi and says, quot;I wanted my kids to hear music with social commentary and some fantasy, music with fresh cultural insight like quot;Wabi-Sabiquot; th at encourages them to value the things I want them to care about most. Ellis Paul is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, troubadour and father of two daughters, originally hailing from a potato farming family in northern Maine. He is the recipient of 13 Boston Music Awards, second only to multi platinum act Ellis Pauls DRAGONFLY RACES – Page 2 Aerosmith. The Boston Globe heralds him as a quot;songwriters songwriter;quot; Performing Songwriter says, quot;He combines the sensibilities of Bob Dylan and Bill Morrisey and delivers it with passion that sets him apart in the company of a new breed of songwriters.quot; Dirty Linen magazine says Paul is quot;one of contemporary folk musics most influential voices and the St. Paul Pioneer Press calls him quot;one of the best songwriters of the past decade.quot; His songs have appeared in films such as Me Myself and Irene, and Shallow Hal as well as numerous television productions. Ellis was invited by Nora Guthrie (Woody Guthries