www.marewakefield.com

“Daddy was a seeker,” says Mare Wakefield. “Eventually he became a Salvationist minister. Mama was a gypsy, loving nothing more than a long stretch of highway.”

Born with wanderlust in her DNA, Mare lived in eight different places before she was ten. “It was a roller-coaster way to grow up, but my brother and I learned to fit in fast,” she says. “We picked up Wisconsin accents in two weeks. Eighteen months later we were drawling like native Texans.”

For Turkish-born Nomad, the journey was equally varied. His musical education began at the exclusive Istanbul Conservatory and continued with a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. Nomad’s gift for musical arrangements includes a full arsenal of classical, folk and jazz chops.

Versatility and travel-scapes are evident in their music. Listeners roam through Arizona deserts, Oklahoma oil fields and Amsterdam canals. Journeys go inward too, exploring hope, heartbreak and barroom brawls. Story and song are woven together by Mare’s intimate delivery and Nomad’s exquisite piano and accordion.

Mare Wakefield and Nomad are currently based out of Nashville, TN.

 

Kerrville’s NewFolk Songwriting Competition Finalists (TX) and Emerging Artists at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (NY).  Their original song “Candles & Carols” was featured in a 2017 Lifetime TV movie. New record TIME TO FLY spent four weeks in the Top Ten on the Roots Americana charts and featured the #2 song of the month for February on the Folk DJ radio charts, and was nominated for 2018 Album of the Year in the No Depression Year-End Readers Poll.

 

“Musically sophisticated, weaving elements of jazz and bluegrass into her compositions. Don't pass up the opportunity to see them perform.”  

~  San Francisco Bay Guardian 

 

"Lovely vocals and even lovelier songs. Mare Wakefield and Nomad are a little bit old country, a lot contemporary folk a la Dar Williams or Patty Griffin."  

~  New York Times

 

"Cozy brilliance ... The merger of Maria McKee, Natalie Merchant, Shawn Colvin and Dolly Parton" 

~ Louisville Eccentric Observer 

 

"Oregon cafes, small Texas towns and twangy Nashville rolled into one" 

~ Cranky Crow

 

"Simply Amazing"

~ Skope Magazine

 

“You'll be astounded!” 

~ Maverick Magazine, UK

www.coolhouseband.com

Dolly Ramirez is a vocalist/songwriter and Owner/operator of Divine Rebel Music, a music promotion company.  Jean-Jacques (JJ) Schoch is a composer/multi-instrumentalist.  Together, they are the Indie-Folk duo, CoolHouse.
Though born in Mexico, Dolly grew up in Los Angeles, raised on the passionate sounds of Ranchera ballads and other Spanish music. From the time she was a little girl, she loved to sing and knew that was all she wanted to do.
She eventually found her way to Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, Patsy Cline. Determined to hit every note, she had no idea she was working out and developing those muscles. In time, she got over her debilitating stage-fright when her partner JJ encouraged her to attend and perform Open Mics and local music jams.  
Dolly’s voice has been described as having the power of Linda Ronstadt, the soul of Aretha Franklin, and the vulnerability of Brandi Carlile.  She now performs all over Los Angeles with CoolHouse, and as a vocalist in multiple music projects. Dolly loves supporting the music community through Divine Rebel Music, creating intimate and fun opportunities and venues for local musical artists.  
An accomplished composer producer, arranger, and songwriter, Jean-Jacques (JJ) Schoch has been involved with music, in one way or another, since he was very young. Raised by musical parents from Switzerland, Jean-Jacques grew up in Bethesda, Maryland outside of Washington D.C., where he studied cello, piano, bass and music composition. While living in the Washington area, he played in traditional orchestras and string quartets, as well as bands playing eclectic blends of jazz, funk, rock and bluegrass.
A modern-day Renaissance man... musician, writer and inventor, Jean-Jacques is at his core a passionate, gifted composer. Blessed with European charm and a wonderful sense of melody, he is fluent on piano, electric & upright bass and guitar. As a singer/songwriter, Jean-Jacques paints offbeat stories delivered in his distinctive vocal style.
JJ has recorded with the Gap Band (on Bass) co-written music with Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire, and performed live opening up for Stevie Nicks, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jackson Browne, Stevie Wonder, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Taj Mahal, and Gil Scott Heron.
“I have been drawn to the beauty of music since I was a young boy learning to play piano and cello, and started composing and songwriting since I was 12.
CoolHouse plays all over Los Angeles, and performs in a monthly residency called Roadhouse Series Presents at the infamous Coffee Gallery Backstage in Alta Dena, CA.