Stephanie Shogren: violin
Lucas Shogren: cello
Derek Powers: drums/percussion
Entering the local Minneapolis music scene in 2010, Clocks and Clouds has stunned audiences with their unique fusion of rock and classical music. The group consists of violinist Stephanie Shogren, cellist Lucas Shogren, and drummer Derek Powers. Each member brings their own individual musical style and ideas to create exciting and epic music that has been met with enthusiasm in audiences of all ages. By adding pick-ups to their acoustic instruments, incorporating guitar effects and loops, using a full drum kit, and writing original rock music for stringed instruments, a sound is created that is instantly appealing to listeners.
Along with maintaining an active performance schedule, Clocks and Clouds has released two E.P.’s. Their first E.P., Life Beyond Reason, was released in 2011, along with a music video featuring their single, Darkness Gives Way. After garnering much praise for this first endeavor, Clocks and Clouds released their second E.P. in late 2012. Entitled The Creation of Matter, their second album features five more original compositions and one cover song that emanate passion and excitement. The group filmed a second music video, bringing Audeamus, the first track off of The Creation of Matter, to life.
In addition to performing at today’s top music venues, C&C is, at same time, educating today’s youth. The group has given many educational concerts around the Midwest demonstrating to students that Bach and the Beatles are not all that different from one another. Clocks and Clouds strives to illustrate that bringing rock into the classroom doesn’t lessen the importance of Mozart and Beethoven, but strengthens the foundation that these great composers laid. They strongly believe that their music, through educational concerts, can help develop the musicians of tomorrow. In the past few years, Clocks and Clouds has been invited into schools to perform original pieces with young string orchestras. Students have been excited and inpspired by the music they have been able to play along with the group. Lucas Shogren of Clocks and Clouds has also been commissioned to compose pieces specifically for young string orchestras. His pieces have been received with great excitement by both cooperating teachers and students. Clocks and Clouds has also been a guest presenter at the National ASTA Convention in 2011 and the MNSOTA Chapter of ASTA in that same year.
C&C is not just another rock group. They also use their skills in the studio to record and produce projects that range from full-length rock albums to film scores. Members of C&C have recorded on dozens of records with artists such as The Great Upset, Odyc, Ari Herstand, The Envy Corps, Jenny Dalton, Sant Elia, Brian David, Jake Dilley and the Color Pharmacy, and many others. They have also recorded under several record labels including Jacks Music Lab Records, Proud Honeybee Records, Tribute Sounds, GSP records, and BiFi records among others.
C&C looks forward to more performances in great venues across the country, educating many more students, and recording/producing in studio. Clocks & Clouds knows that no matter where they are, their passion for music and innovative ways of performing will be remembered for years to come.
“Clocks & Clouds is one of the most unique and engaging bands I have heard in quite some time. Their mixture of rock, classical and instrumental tracks will arouse your senses and keep you coming back to see, no pun intended, what makes them tick.”
- MUZIKREVIEWS.COM
“Clocks and Clouds are not your typical band. Their fusion of classical music with rock elements is one of the coolest sounds I’ve heard so far from the hundreds of artists I’ve heard in the past few weeks. . . Their music is unique and powerful and insights a great deal of emotion. I love this band and the music they make.”
- I AM ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE