Signal Meridian: Paying Tribute to Underappreciated Songs through Reinvention
A passion project for Blue Élan Records co-founder Kirk Pasich, Signal Meridian is a group of world-class session musicians and vocalists organized into a collective to reinterpret, reinvent and reinvigorate underappreciated songs from all genres.
The four-chapter series begins with Signals in Autumn, 10 tracks covering protean U.K. band Strawbs, who started in the ‘60s as a bluegrass duo before morphing into a leading folk-rock band (featuring Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny), a prog-rock outfit (with future Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman) and finally, roots rock. Vocalists include Blue Élan recording artists Bernie Barlow (Moody Blues, Melissa Etheridge) and Jordan West (Grace Potter, Cam), along with Vanessa Bryan (Lady Gaga, the Killers) and Holly Palmer (David Bowie, Gnarls Barkley).
CHAPTER 1
SIGNALS IN AUTUMN
CHAPTER 1
THE COLLECTIVE
KIRK PASICH
Blue Élan Records co-founder Kirk Pasich has been named by Variety as one of the Top 50 Entertainment Lawyers in the U.S., by Daily Journal as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California, and by Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the city’s Top 10 Litigators. Again, all while owning and operating a record label described by Forbes at the most artist-friendly indie label around. With 30 years of experience advising clients in the entertainment industry, representing major motion picture studios and record companies, actors and musicians, from Woody Herman to Chris Cornell, as well as directors, producers, and authors, one may think being a personal manager and music critic is out of the question. Not for Kirk. Kirk’s hands-on and engagement at every level of the label is what makes Blue Élan so artist-friendly. Kirk continues to hold an active role in Blue Élan as a producer on many of the label's projects.
Kirk is also a classically trained organist and served on the boards of the National Academy of Jazz, the Woody Herman Foundation, and the Alliance for Children's Rights.
Producer
BERNIE BARLOW
Bernie Barlow is a long time singer songwriter in Los Angeles.... individually her sound would be classified as, Americana blues infused folk rock....She spent many years on the road touring and recording with artists as a backing vocalist .She's no stranger to prog rock after touring with The Moody Blues for nearly a decade. The Strawbs were just a stones throw away.
“I'd never heard of the Strawbs until I got an email from Kirk Pasich saying , "hey do you want to come and sing some songs on a project with a bunch of amazing other musicians"... why yes of course...I'm Game ...always up for a musical adventure . So happy I did ...”
What a talented bunch was assembled for this project . It was a rare pleasure that week of recording at Dave's Room . So glad I said yes. Looking forward to another adventure!
Vocals
Paul Trudeau
Paul Trudeau’s musical career began in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At age 11, Paul attended and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. By age 15, he had joined his first band in Boston and toured extensively around New England and Canada before moving to California at the age of 18.
Once in Los Angeles Trudeau joined Polydor recording artists Darling Cruel touring and collaborating with Gregory Darling and Tony Visconte. While enjoying a dual career as a singer/songwriter and performing with a variety of national acts, he independently released his first album under the band name Radiojones. He would later go on to release two more albums. Shirley Road in 2017 and Lost Diamond Boy, his debut release with Blue Elan records in 2025.
His touring and recording credits include Billy Idol, Susanna Hoffs, Rick Springfield, Melissa Etheridge, Lifehouse, Blinker The Star and Meredith Brooks.
"I wasn't very familiar with The Strawbs prior to my involvement with these sessions. With Kirk at the helm and working with all of these incredible musicians and artists I can honestly say that the 5 days spent in the studio tracking this album were some of the most enjoyable and creatively satisfying times I have ever experienced!! I also had the chance to do something that I have NEVER done in the studio ... playing an improvised synth intro with the amazingly talented Sahsa Smith!! So much fun!! I can't wait to perform this live with everybody!!"
GuitarLISTEN
HEARTBREAKER
WATCH
HEARTBREAKER LYRIC VIDEO