A weekend of climbing Ice in the frozen valley of Unaksan

I've been participating in Ice Climbing school hosted by the magnificent Peter Jensen of Sanirang Alpine Networks. Peter has numerous mountaineering experience and holds certifications with both the Korean Alpine Federation and the American Mountaineering Guides Association so you are sure to be well taken care of. This school was a four week endeavour and I leaned French techniques, technical body styles and proper safety. Peter shared his knowledge of many historical facts of the Corean Alpine Club, and how Ice Climbing used to be. Tools and techniques have advanced since those first summit attempts back in the times of George Mallory and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Being a rock climber for the last five years, I had entered new territory. At first I found the actual climbing part to be relatively easy as the transfer of skills from rock to ice was quite smooth. That was until I began how to walk on less than horizontal ice. Wow! This was definitely the hard part. With no rope to secure you from one slip - sliding down the curvaceous frozen fall that continued down the valley, I had to trust the crampons and the Ice axe that would ultimately offer me the protection I needed. Despite rising before dawn and frozen toes for 12 hours each day out, I was ecstatic with joy. To be outside and climbing a frozen waterfall that in just 2 months time will have morphed to flowing water was a marvel. I'm hooked. Even though the school has finished and the participants have "graduated", I am going again next weekend! Sanirang is a great teacher and super fun to hang with.Lots of laughter prevailed the bitter cold!

Saving Earthworms from Sun Scorched Death, the album!

So... I've started a new project. I am making my own album. Cheerful, Uke-infused, Indie Folk. There is no guitar on the album as the ukulele is omnipresent. The uke has a sound of its own and sets a bright tone that blends well with the lyrics. Harmonies ring throughout, peppered with an odd sprinkling of piano, bass guitar, trombone and violin in one track or another. I used to listen to a lot of punk rock when I was younger and I still enjoy a heavy dose of Bad Religion or Choke from time to time. Some of these attitudes linger in the lyrics of my music, albeit with a twist of positivity. Within the uke-infused melodies, I tend to insert social commentary. My music is riddled with my observations of human behaviour and the choices we make collectivley as a human populace. If Suzanne Vega, Tracey Bonham, Ani Difranco and I were to have tea, I’m sure some music making would go down. It’s feel good music.

I expect to release it in the beginning of March. The unofficial date is March 10th, my best friend Daphne’s birthday! You can buy singles online at mustachefable.bandcamp.com, or the full meal deal on CD Baby (just search Mustache Fable: Saving Earthworms from Sun Scorched Death)

It all starts with IndieGOGO. IndieGOGO is a fundraising platform to raise money for something you are passionate about. And, as you might guess, I am passionate! About pretty much everything. Espcially climbing, food and music! My lovely friend Wonny Bunny Kim (who just so happens to be a wonderful graphic designer and self professed chocolate lover), will be designing the album cover.

Visit the Campaign HERE.

So, I've been working night and day in the Studio, close beside Geoff Nostrant of Black Swan Audio to mix and master the delicacies of each track. Visit my bandcamp site to hear the first songs released on the album.

And spending so much time on the computer, I have also uploaded samples of each song that will appear on the album. Visit my soundcloud site to hear the almost mixed and mastered previews of the other tracks that will be my Debut full length Album!

Ah... only a few weeks left until the CD release party!!