Landscape of Dreams by The Jade Diary

Many songs and Kleenexes later, she decided that she would give it another go - but this time, it was not going to be another serious hobby. This time, it would mean plunging into a business well known for wannabes and near misses. A crazy idea, but it had to work. So she enlisted the help of Renee, keyboardist and songwriter, and together in November 2006, they started The Jade Diary.

Consisting of Renee Sherlock on keyboard, Joshua O’Keefe as lead guitarist, Rachael Russell as rhythm guitarist, Carl Harvey on drums and Cheryl Lim, lead vocalist, all members share a love for songwriting.

Renee struggled with health problems in the form of hyperthyroidism and had her thyroid removed at the age of 17. “I learned to play the organ at 9, and have been playing ever since. When I was sick or feeling down, writing and singing helped me cope and gave me strength to get through”.

Born in Aberdare, a small mining town in the valleys of South Wales in the UK, in the year of the Pig, creative and driven to perform, Carl Harvey was the first of 3 children born to John, a drummer, and Christine, a yoga and mathematics teacher. “The sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Ramones and The Doors filled my early years and by the age of 10 I could put up and pack down my father's drum kit and play along with most of his record collection.” From the age of 18 he has averaged well over a hundred gigs a year with many different Welsh bands of varying styles throughout Europe, as well as recording at numerous UK studios, releasing CDs and performing on radio and TV.

Two of the members grew up in South-East Asia. Cheryl Lim grew up in Singapore listening to the likes of Madonna, Prince and Cyndi Lauper and graduated to singer/songwriters like Jewel, Sting, Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos. Thanks to her parents’ insistence, she learned to play the piano. “I love how the 80s was all about great melodies and this decade has had a huge impact on my songwriting.” Through her awkward teenage years, Cheryl sought solace in music, "I often battled with feelings of not fitting in. Back then, my only solace and escape was music. I taught myself to write songs because I had this overwhelming need to channel how I felt. Songwriting is like tearing off a page in your diary and giving it to others to read.”

Joshua O’Keefe had a unique childhood growing up in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, where he learned 3 languages. He learned the piano in an attempt to impress his girlfriend, and moved on to the saxophone. Later he discovered singing, and found his true voice in the guitar. The first song he ever sang was in Chinese. In high school, he formed a Christian rock band that his peers still talk about today. “I have a desire to bring people back to the real essence of music, which is not about glamour, fame, looks or wealth, but really about meaning.” His passion for music and songwriting are driven by a desire to make a difference and prove to others that he can succeed in doing what he loves. With a love for country rock, he is inspired by U2, Keith Urban, Bon Jovi and The Foo Fighters. “Writing songs allows me to express my feelings and playing helps me forget that the world and its problems exist”.

Rachael’s love for music was apparent at an early age and inspired by singer/songwriters and indie musicians like Jewel and A Fine Frenzy. She started playing the violin and moved on to the saxophone. But the instruments she has grown to love are the voice and guitar, which were self-taught, and in 2007 recorded four original songs. “I’m addicted to music and am excited to be in a band confident enough to play originals.”

2008 is a significant year for The Jade Diary and has seen the recording of the band’s debut EP, “Landscape of Dreams”. From the surreal realms of the subconscious mind to professions of undying love, the EP is an infectious and eclectic fusion of pop and rock. The songs ambitiously feature themes of melancholy, joy, desire, loneliness, and of course love. Expertly produced by Rob Agostini who has worked with Blanche Dubois, Monique Brumby and Nick Barker, and mastered by Steve Scanlon (Kate Ceberano and Diesel), the songs have been fleshed out with breathtaking harmonies and arrangements featuring ambient keyboards and guitars. As one listener said, “what's notable about The Jade Diary is their truth, honesty and raw emotion that channels through each song, and what I find is their greatest strength is that the tracks all provide an insight into the deepest emotions and feelings so many will experience in their life.”

Innocent romance-seeking themes in the music combined with darker, meditative and alluring elements, fused with pop-rock sensibilities results in a heady mix of whimsy and earthiness, which is where The Jade Diary sits, somewhere in the transition between the two.

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