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Kelly Clifton

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The Cabin Project

The Cabin Project is an orchestral indie rock band whose sound stems from haunting choruses, two-part harmonies, pedals, synths and string sections. The songs are musically expansive, yet retain an intimacy similar to that of The National, Warpaint and Bon Iver.

Born in an attic "cabin" studio lined with Douglas Fir, the band started as a project of Katie Sawicki, a former-folksinger from Brooklyn. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2008, Sawicki sought out musicians to collaborate with, leading her to musical partner Zanny Geffel, an orchestral drummer, rooted in jazz and percussion. Current members include Kelly Clifton on Bass, Adam Sweeney on Electric Guitar, and Mieke Bruggeman on woodwinds.

Best described by Tucson weekly...The Cabin Project is "A sonic reflection of watching a Southern winter unfold through a smudged window at a Greyhound bus station, the music is intimate and subtle and warm. It reveals melodic sparseness of Leonard Cohen and post-Low creep. And like Cohen, The Cabin Project has a lonesome sound, but not so much to make you feel all alone."

"Like their name suggests, the band’s sound is reminiscent of the kind of intimate space created by artists like Bon Iver. The group uses traditional orchestral and choral methods to create a track that is inexplicably modern, heavy, and pop at the same time." - American Songwriter

“…impressively educated string section with octave pedals and vocal harmonies to create music that’s both intimate and otherwordly.” – Bitch Magazine

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Bass Lessons

Whether you're brand new to music or are bringing some experience to the table, Kelly's supportive teaching approach will blend your innate musicality with the concepts of music theory that will unlock and expand your bass playing.