MEMBERS
Pal Shazar | Songwriter, Vocals

www.palshazar.com

ABOUT PAL SHAZAR AND THE MORNING AFTER
The release of Pal Shazar’s seventh record and first for Funzalo Records, The Morning After, is a watershed point in the fascinating and creative journey of an artist who has truly come into her own.  

Biting the Big Apple

Pal Shazar was “born, raised and punished,” according to her online bio, in Los Angeles.  Her musical career, however, was born, schooled and fueled “at a time when creative souls roamed wildly on the East Coast,” -- New York City, late 70’s.  Patti Smith, Television and Iggy Pop were her inspiration (she even did illustrations of those artists for a local rock fanzine called Back Door Man), and Pal basked in the early
punk ethos while working nights as a ticket girl at the famed Troubadour nightclub.
 
By the early 80s, Pal was back in LA, where she hooked up with musical partner Andrew Chinich to create the arty new wave band Slow Children (http://www.noyou.net/sc/slow.html).  The duo’s guitar-driven pop laced with intellectual lyrics caught the ear of producer Stephen Hague (Pet Shop Boys, Pretenders) and musician (and future husband) Jules Shear, who produced the band’s demo. Slow Children put out two records and garnered a cult following that’s been keeping close and enthusiastic
tabs on Pal’s musical output ever since.  

More re-locations ensued and more records were made.  After releasing Shazar No. 5 in 2001, Pal and Jules moved to Woodstock. During the year there, Pal recorded four new songs with musicians Rick Norman and husband Shear at nearby Shokan studio and one track at Allaire Studios courtesy of Mark McKenna. More songs were recorded with musician Richard Stekol the following year in Ojai, California. Of course Pal tapped old friend and first-class producer, Stephen Hague, to mix the songs. Hague possesses a thoughtful and intuitive mind regarding Pal’s sound.  As she says, “I would trust him
with my hands over my ears.”
 
Sound, Vision … and Fashion

In addition to a whole lot of songwriting, music making and touring, Pal’s almost constant drive to create has found her plying her skills as a painter (she did the cover art for the Waterboys release, Dream Harder) and illustrator as well.   Her latest creative outlet has come to fruition in Asheville, NC, where she’s started her second clothing line in collaboration with two accomplished Asheville designers, Myah Hubbell and Erin Honeycutt.  Her shirts have been worn by Elisabeth Shue for a photo spread for InStyle Magazine, Jenna Elfman on several episodes of Dharma and Greg, and Jennifer Anniston for a taping of Friends.  Pal’s clothing lines, A Pal Shirt and Pauvre Moi, are carried in New York, L.A., Paris and of course, her latest hometown, Asheville NC.  Take a peek at some of her shirts at http://www.palshazar.com/tshirts.htm.

Pal is one of those rare individuals who has managed to retain a child-like enthusiasm and wonder that has manifested itself in her art – whether in the musical realm, the visual arts, or clothing design – throughout the years.  For examples of all of Pal’s work, check out her website at http://www.palshazar.com.

Pal Shazar discography

1991 – Cowbeat of My Heart
1995 – There’s A Wild Thing in the House
1997 – Woman Under the Influence
1999 – Safe
2002 – Shazar No. 5
2006 – The Morning After

Slow Children discography

1981 – Slow Children
1982 – Mad About Town

There were also a handful of Slow Children singles released during the 80s, as well as a few videos.  Check out http://www.noyou.net/sc/slow.html to watch the videos and get lots of good details about Slow Children. 

Talkin’ ‘bout Pal

“ … a coolly crafted work of mysterious power, invention, melody and emotion.” – Time Out / London, in a review of There’s a Wild Thing in the House

"Woman Under The Influence catches Pal peaking on record, ditching her folksy flirtations to knock out a delicate urban classic." -- The New York Press

A Pal Shirt:

Here's a listing of boutiques who have carried Pal's "A Pal Shirt" and "Pauvre Moi" clothing lines:

In Asheville NC: Minx, Constance Boutique, Wink
In New York City: Bond 07, Paracelso, TG 170, Pastec, Matta
In LA: Minnie T’s, Dyan et Selima, Beige
In Paris: Madame Andre, Dlooy Doll
Online: Girlshop.com