Rich Cloke

Rich Cloke. Northern Skies. From rink rat to country cowboy. Coming to you from Ontario, Canada. The guy has the moves on the ice hockey rink and he has all the trappings for a successful country music artist.
Along with the October 7th debut of the album, Rich released his debut video for the lead single “Wanting You“. “Wanting You” is currently included on The Iceman’s Top 40 New Country Artists for the Week of October 2o. The song is from a guy’s perspective…and yet the ladies will love it. Guy wants girl, making eyes from across the room but doesn’t know what he will do if he stands near her. The song focuses on his feelings, his nervousness and not the usual heavy descriptions about the girl’s appearance or dance moves. This one is about him.
“Rockin in the Summer” will be a great release for 2015. A perfect song for cruising with the windows down. Rockin, dancing, summer nights, moonlit nights. Loved the guitar on this one. “Miss Those Days” starts very mellow and sentimental. Boy reminisces about first date, falling in love, lying by the fire, dancing to the flames, moving away, nights spent on the telephone, long distance love and missing it all. The listener will love the way “Miss Those Days” ends with a gentle pining away on the guitar.

Rich’s songs are from the heart. Smooth, danceable, a little edgy, a little twangy, thoughtful and radio friendly. They are songs that you want to sing along to, not just hum along to. You will be singing along to them while you are dancing…2 steps, el paso, line dancing. His voice is fluid and tone clean. His lyrics are very clear when he sings, the melodies are fun and have a nice range of instrumentation. Lyrics are heartfelt whether they are melancholy or joyful. Rich Cloke’s ruggedly handsome good looks complete the presentation. The only thing you will take away from Northern Skies is a feeling of happy and the desire to listen to the songs again. And that, you will.

Northern Skies brings you original songs that reflect the enthusiasm and passion Rich Cloke has for his music, his lyrics and his desire to bring smiles to the faces of those listening. ‘His straightforward narrative lends itself well to songs about what he knows, what he’s experienced, and where he’s headed.’ The music reflects influences from artists that include George Strait, Jason Aldean and Kenny Chesney while not ignoring rock and pop influences. Northern Skies delivers danceable and memorable tunes that will stick in your head and come out of your mouth.

Rich is articulate whether he is songwriting or providing me with some background info on himself and his music. His goal with the album was simple. He wants to provide listeners with music that is fun and uplifting. He wants listeners to smile. What is a bit unique, is not his desire to write from a ‘real place’ but that “all songs written are pulled from my personal experiences…who says all experiences need to be negative” . Often songs written from a real place translate into songs that started in a painful place. Not necessarily the case here, as Northern Skies proves.

Guitar in hand at 10 years old, playing in a rock band in high school and university, he started to develop his skills as a solo artist. With his producer and friend, Flavio Monopoli, he hones his songwriting and singing abilities. In an interesting twist from what we usually hear about new artists, Rich would often fake his way through a cover song as he had spent so much of his time writing his own music ‘instead of learning how to play that new radio hit or classic.”

All the songs on Northern Skies were written and arranged by Rich Cloke and Flavio Monopoli. Rich provides the vocals and electric and acoustic guitars. Flavio gives us the drums and percussion. Friends and industry professionals round out the sound: Jason Graham (guitars, mandolin, lap steel), Roger Williams (bass), Nina Cutrone (backing vocals), Jungle Tshongo (programming and additional vocals), Peter Kadar (piano) and Tony Cutrone (organ).

I strongly recommend Rich Cloke’s Northern Skies release be added to your new artist playlist. Follow him on his various social media as he has a great appreciation for his fan base, family and friends. And when you hear that Rich Cloke is on a Canadian/US tour for 2015, remember you heard about him first at Got Country Online, eh! - Got Country Online

Review By: Shenieka Russell-Metcalf

Canadian country newcomer Rich Cloke released his debut album Northern Skies last month. Citing influences such as George Strait, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, Rich delivers an impactful and fun eight tracks.

“Wanting You” is his lead single and my favourite from the album – it is the first song I heard by Rich and it impressed me immediately. It has a great sound to it, the lyrics are catchy and it’s the kind of song you want to hear on the radio and just sing-a-long to.

“Rockin’ In The Summer”is a fast-paced song with a rock edge to it, it will be sure to get you dancing. Rich slows it down on “Not Ready For Goodbye” and “Miss Those Days”. His voice has a great tone on both songs and it shows us a softer side of him.

Track Listing:

1. Just Call Me Crazy
2. Wanting You
3. Rockin’ In The Summer
4. You’re My Kind Of Country
5. Not Ready For Goodbye
6. One More Kiss Goodnight
7. Miss Those Days
8. These Moments

I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Rich, as he is a very talented artist. His debut album gets top marks in my books!

To purchase your copy of Northern Skies, visit: iTunes or click here for a physical copy.

To stay updated on his music, future tour plans and more visit: www.richclokemusic.com.

Facebook | Twitter - Shenieka Russell-Metcalf at Top Country Canada

Tell us about yourself. Where do you live, where did you grow up, are you married, children?I was born and raised in Southern Ontario and grew up in Stoney Creek, which is a small community in Hamilton. I’m currently residing in Burlington, ON and have been married since 2011. I don’t have children…at least not yet.

I heard you used to play hockey. When did you make the transition from skates to country music?As a kid playing hockey, I dreamt about playing professionally. When I was 11, I decided that I wanted to be in band and took up playing the guitar and began to write music. Over the next several years, I slowly moved away from hockey and joined a rock band. It wasn’t until I was 18 that I was formally introduced to country music (this being because the music scene where I grew up focused on hard rock). I decided that I wanted to be a solo artist and focus on a career in country music. I haven’t given up on hockey though; I still play from time to time with friends.

If you were a car, what kind would you be and why? If I were a car, I’d be that 1965 Ford pickup that was handed down to me from my dad. A Truck that’s been previously well taken care of and that would continued to be cared for.

What started you in the music industry? I always knew that creating music and performing was something I wanted to do with my life, from the moment I picked up a guitar. I thought I was taking the music industry seriously, but it wasn’t until I met my good friend and producer, Flavio Monopoli, that I realized I had a lot to learn. Flavio has given me priceless advice to build and maintain a career in the industry.

Who is your biggest inspiration in life and in music? I find inspiration from my personal life experiences and the relationships I have with others. I’m grateful to have a close group of family and friends who support my dreams. I use them for inspiration and to fuel my creativity.

Describe yourself in three words? Creative, hard-working, & loyal

How do you define success? When someone takes the time to let me know that my music has touched them, or that they can relate to a lyric I feel I’ve succeeded as an artist. Recently a 9 year boy suffering from Tourette Syndrome wrote to me explaining that listening to my music helped him get through some rough days. His letter meant so much to me, that’s what it’s all about.

Tell us about your impression of Nashville. You were just there for the first time earlier this year. My first trip in November 2014 to Nashville was unbelievable. I’m hooked! It’s definitely a city that I’d like to call a (second) home one day. I loved taking it all in. Touring the Ryman Auditorium was a personal favourite. It has such a great atmosphere and has some of the country’s best performances night after night. I had the pleasure of meeting up with The Iceman from Best Country Radio & Iceman’s Cavern as well a few local songwriters. I will definitely return soon.

Favorite home cooked meal? Being a cook, my favourite thing to make is chicken parmesan.

You have been getting some buzz on Buzz101Country.com and were interviewed by DJ Yankee. How does that feel to be singled out as a Spotlight Artist? I was honoured that DJ Yankee and Rich from Buzz101Country had selected me for their Spotlight Artist. DJ Yankee and Rich have been incredibly supportive of my music and I’m so grateful to have connected with both these gentlemen.

Define music? To me, music is a universal language that talks to every part of our being, our mind, body and soul. It’s a way of expressing emotions and experiences that may sometimes be hard to communicate through conversation. Music has the ability to bring people together and move us on physical and spiritual level.

Your biggest dream in life? To continue to make an honest living as an artist.

What is the country music community like in Canada? The country music community in Canada is stronger than ever and continues to grow exponentially. Like the US, Canada loves its’ country music and has a dedicated and loyal following. Some great artists have come out of Canada such as Derric Ruttan, Terri Clark, Gord Bamford, Shania Twain and Dean Brody. The CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) is a great organization to help country artists build their careers.

What is your biggest fear in life, if you have one, and how do you overcome it? The thought of “What if this doesn’t work out?” crosses my mind occasionally. I overcome this by setting realistic objectives and expectations, remembering to enjoy the small victories and work harder than I did the day before.

What can we look forward to from you in 2015? My first single, “Wanting You” was pitched to Canadian radio on February 9/2015. Fingers crossed it gets added into rotation. I’m also in the process of setting up a Canadian tour in addition to attempting to secure some US dates for 2015. You can also expect a few more singles to come out later this year with supporting music videos.

Have you met any of your musical icons? Although I’ve never met him, my long time musical icon has been Trent Reznor. I have so much respect for him as an artist. With regards to country music, I had the opportunity to speak briefly to Darius Rucker in Las Vegas a few years ago at the ACM awards. He’s such a nice guy and very humble.

Are there any organizations that you are involved with and would like us to check out? The CCMA (www.ccma.org) & The NSAI (www.nashvillesongwriters.com) are two great music organizations that I’m a part of. The provide great opportunities for artists and songwriters.

Other than your own music do you like to play other genres of music? Absolutely! I enjoy all genres of music from metal, R&B, Pop, Jazz, blues, to classical. I appreciate music in all its forms. I played in an alternative rock band for years, and write & program electronic music in my spare time.

You can keep up with Rich through his various social media. - New Country Buzz - Country Junkie Nation