Biography
Chi McClean was born and raised in New York before heading out to California in a beat up truck looking for a change. Settling in San Francisco, he began to develop an honest, introspective approach to his songwriting that ultimately formed the building blocks for his debut release, Something Out There and recently, his latest effort, A Thing Or Three.
Chi writes acoustic rock songs marked by a haunting Southern style. Many of his songs take a straightforward look at love, loss, and in the end, opportunity. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, The Black Crowes, Free, The Faces and The Allman Brothers, Chi’s music borrows from the classic tones and song structures that formed the pillars of the 1960’s rock scene while presenting listeners with a contemporary and wholly unique perspective.
Something Out There, Chi’s debut album released in 2009, was recorded in San Francisco, CA at Flying Kitchen and in Sausalito, CA at Studio D by Boone Spooner, mixed in Los Angeles, CA by Kevin Shirley (The Black Crowes, Led Zeppelin, Joe Bonamassa) at The Document Room, and mastered in New York, NY by Ryan Smith (James Taylor, Joe Bonamassa, O.A.R.) at Sterling Sound. The album is often described as melodic and soulful, drawing on complex guitar riffs, driving drum beats, colorful bass lines, and gritty layers of Hammond B-3 organ and vintage electric pianos. Since the release of Something Out There, Chi McClean has won a number of songwriting and performance awards for his music and has received critical acclaim from a variety of publications including the San Francisco Chronicle.
Chi’s newest release, A Thing Or Three, is a live, solo-acoustic, in-studio recording that delivers the feeling of an intimate, living room performance. Recorded live in-studio by Grammy nominated engineer and producer Cookie Marenco (Tony Furtado, Kelly Joe Phelps) at OTR Studios in Belmont, CA in an Extended Sound Environment (ESE) without the use of headphones, auto tune, or a metronome to Direct Stream Digital (DSD), A Thing Or Three captures the authentic, full dynamic range of Chi’s live performance at the highest audio fidelity possible. Released in November 2011, A Thing Or Three is making waves with acoustic music lovers and audiophiles worldwide.
Chi is actively playing shows to promote Something Out There and his newest release A Thing Or Three and has performed live on several television and radio broadcasts including a live, in-studio performance on the nationally televised CBS program The Early Show. In addition, Chi’s music is currently featured on Virgin America’s in-flight entertainment system for all national flights throughout the United States and is available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, DownloadsNow! and Pandora internet radio. In between performances, Chi is currently writing and recording for his third, full-length album, scheduled for release in early 2012.
Chi proudly plays Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings and is a member of West Coast Songwriters, Nashville Songwriters Association International, and Folk Alliance International. For tour dates or to listen, watch, and learn more, visit www.chimcclean.com.
