Chacellorpink offers an anti-Valentine's Day release

Ray McLaughlin, AKA Chancellorpink, likes to do things his own way. Not content with writing all his own material, he also engineers, produces and plays every note. Oh, and he's a full-time attorney too. Rest is not something that is high on this talented artist's agenda.Vowing to release an album every year until, in his words, "I die or become boring" Chancellorpink has stayed true to his word. Following well-received records in 2006 and 2007, he has come up with Valentine Parade "a perfect suite of songs for the broken-hearted and a nice antidote for anyone who wants to avoid loved-up couples this Valentine's Day."
Inspired by that which he says inspires all great writers - "alcohol and broken hearts" - Chancellorpink has crafted a record full of rich vocal harmonies, filtered, staccato guitar lines, and altogether beautiful tunes. Envisaged as "a heart-shaped candy box of 11 sing-along Hallmarks designed to keep you company when your phone doesn't ring on Valentine's Day," this is far from your average greetings card company's take on the love song.
"Each song is about love, in one form or another," says Ray. "Each song is a 'Valentine,' written from a different perspective, a different voice."
Chancellorpink's own voice could also be described as 'different', but only in the best possible meaning of the word. It is, by turns, haunting and beautiful, pained and warm. But it's always backed by some fine production and an unusually good ear for a melody.
Chancellorpink describes making music and poetry as something that is "in the blood". Having been involved in several successful bands in and around Pittsburgh since an early age, Ray has always been fully immersed in music and songwriting.However, having written over 1000 songs, he finds the dynamics of being part of a band too limiting.
"I make songs rather than have a 'sound'," he says. "I change the instrumentation from song to song, and I change my vocal stylings depending on the overall sound I am going for on a given song."
It is this variety, above all, which makes Valentine Parade stand apart from most pop records you'll hear.
And what drives this poet-songwriter to keep making music?
"I just want to be heard by more people, anywhere," he says. "My hope is that people relate to my music, share it and it spreads." I
f Chancellorpink keeps making records like this, I'm sure it will.
Valentine Parade is released on, of course, 14 Feb 2008. Lovers of great music, rejoice.