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About Todd Clouser

A young, genre-defying guitarist, composer, and writer, Todd Clouser is an accomplished musician across the creative music spectrum, leading a unique path to recognition as an act to watch, finding his own voice performing with musicians from Keb Mo to "downtown" NYC jazz legend Steven Bernstein. Clouser's impassioned performances run from piano balladry to dense jazz and groove, exciting audiences with an approach meant to bend the rules of artistic labeling. "A Love Electric" documents Todd's most aggressive ensemble yet, an energetic group based in the stylings of 70's era electric musics. The February 2013 release of The Naked Beat, Clouser's third album of the year, marks the first record to feature his wildly engaging vocals. Think Zappa meets Burroughs with the songwriting sensibilities of Beck and Hendrixian guitar heroics. Clouser is an original, always evolving, and always honest to the spirit of the imagination. In addition to Todd's website, you can find him on Twitter and YouTube.

White Jesus – A reflection on summer camp and Charlottesville

Todd Clouser

White Jesus -- Todd Clouser

Growing up in Kansas, from about 9 to 12 years old, I went to Christian summer camp down the highway in rural Missouri. I loved it there. We swam in creeks and caught crawfish. I played soccer and … [Read more...]

Poem for a Lady Boy

Todd Clouser

Empty Mirror Books

First, I must clarify I know nothing about you How could I understand How the German man’s lips taste between cigarettes Second, I would like to sing you a song I will pay you, colored papers … [Read more...]

Todd Clouser: five poems from the Forest in Hidalgo

Todd Clouser

lichen - Denise Enck

DRUNK DREAM It has been 5 years since I quit the drugs that were skinning my heart They, I, still make me dream about them That I was stone tongued and the Cause of laughter and awoke Shadowed … [Read more...]

Bread and Circus – a poem by Todd Clouser

Todd Clouser

spiral root / credit: de

South of the imaginary lines where the uniformed and ironed men and and women that look like boys and girls, skin on the face still soft, wear their gloves and glasses bad men are winning the … [Read more...]

Forgiving Time

Todd Clouser

Wall, Mexico

He calls me kid I’m almost 34 now And have forgiven myself for getting older I walked past and hopped down to the crooked street Where the short man with baby dark skin sells balloons And blue … [Read more...]

Detroit, Airport

Todd Clouser

I am in Detroit and have not slept in a day It is the first snow of their year and I am thinking about the last words my grandfather said to me That I cannot remember Here there is woman with a … [Read more...]

What to Wake Up For, by Todd Clouser

Todd Clouser

digital collage - D Enck

It lifts me from sleep, from hot wind dream A mute sun in the never winter morning A thought - someone anywhere, you, may read this … [Read more...]

On Leaving Peru: 5 poems by Todd Clouser

Todd Clouser

image credit: http://www.freeimages.com/profile/aranuir

Even the Crows are Colored Here Even the crows are colored here Water in the Sky foots prints to forever rivers While the woman of Betania makes lunch for the hurried thinkers, I am Even the … [Read more...]

The Insides of Argentina

Todd Clouser

Argentina / via http://www.freeimages.com/profile/mexikids

The Humor is Heroic We have just played a concert in a small town in the flat part of Argentina Desert most of the time, moon up by string, half at full scream, other in dust left by a murder … [Read more...]

Jazz and the Money Jungle

Todd Clouser

wall

The same thing happens everywhere Money Jungle is perfect, of the skin, maybe the pulse On the night no one talks about A day before New Years, in Panama City Crooked toe cranes light the … [Read more...]

Music and Sleep

Todd Clouser

photo copyright http://www.sxc.hu/profile/dlritter

Sunbreak Shot in the eye Pistol dust This is our city Victor says hello In an undressed Mexican accent As I pass with my guitar All the cement Underneath us Sun fight for Earth … [Read more...]

The Naked Beat

Todd Clouser

The Love Electric

The Love Electric's new video was filmed in New York City, Lisbon, Berlin, and Woodstock. You can get "The Naked Beat" here. About A Love Electric The Love Electric is a band that does … [Read more...]

Observations on the Cynic

Todd Clouser

semiahmoo door / credit: de

Cut up by it, imagination Strangled by stripes of shame Painted poorly but purposefully by the kind of artist whose arrows are shot before they are aimed It burnt the blood from our dreams Smoke … [Read more...]

The Art of the Statement – Be the Mule

Todd Clouser

mule by Greg Westfall

I found humanity through music. I lose focus and grow cynical at times, but if I am honest as a listener, and remain receptive, the chance of transcending my emotional disturbances and triumphs … [Read more...]

The Time that John Lurie Called Me

Todd Clouser

The Time John Lurie Called Me by Todd Clouser / photo credit: Stephen Keates http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Indie9999

My artistic, maybe even my personal, aesthetic had me identifying with the music of John Lurie the first time I heard his compositions on record. Close to a bunch of things I cannot, or do not care, … [Read more...]

Remember When You Have A Son

Todd Clouser

photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/uttecht

remember when you have a son nothing is erased words get stamped upon the letters that will fall from his full grown mouth that the window he sits before is curtained by the canvas colored humming … [Read more...]

Todd Clouser’s A Love Electric “Wake and Shake Your Heart” Video Premiere

Todd Clouser

News is good, and it is you we owe. Relix Magazine decided to take on our humble handheld operation and premiere our new video to the world. The world premiere of the "Wake and Shake Your Heart" … [Read more...]

An essay on the Arcana Series, edited by John Zorn

Todd Clouser

The Arcana Series, edited by John Zorn

I sat down to write this as a commentary on the series of books edited by John Zorn, all of which are entitled Arcana. The series comes in six parts, including hundreds of essays written by musicians, … [Read more...]

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Empty Mirror

Established in 2000 and edited by Denise Enck, Empty Mirror is an online literary magazine that publishes new work each Friday.

Each week EM features several poems each by one or two poets; reviews; critical essays; visual art; and personal essays.

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Recent features

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