# Alialujah Choir

Alialujah Choir (ə-lee-ə-loo-yə kwy-ər) is an American folk band based in Portland, Oregon. The band consists of Adam Shearer, Alia Farah (Weinland) and Adam Selzer (Norfolk & Western). The trio is known for their sparse instrumentation, three part harmonies and balanced vocals. The band's inception is tied to the 19th century humanitarian James C. Hawthorne.

## Origin

In 2008 Adam Shearer was approached by Kate Sokoloff (Live Wire! Radio/OPB) to contribute a song for a benefit album titled Dearly Departed. Along with Al James, Storm Large, Jesse Emerson, Matt Sheehy, Richie Young and other Pacific Northwest singer songwriters, Adam Shearer was asked to compose a song about someone buried at Lone Fir, Portland, Oregon's oldest cemetery. Shearer chose to write about James C. Hawthorne, a humanitarian and physician who founded the original Oregon Hospital for the Insane. During the song writing process Shearer collaborated with Adam Selzer on the arrangement. After completing A House, A Home, Shearer and Selzer were inspired to continue writing and recording. Recognizing that piano and a third voice would benefit the music they invited Alia Farah to join them. Receiving the invitation in a 1 am text message Farah responded in jest that she would join Shearer and Selzer if they named the band Alialujah Choir.
Newspaper and magazine articles about the band have noted that in the beginning Alialujah Choir acted as a means for Shearer, Selzer and Farah to escape the commercial pressures of their other bands and return to their love for roots folk music. Prior to becoming a band, Shearer, Selzer and Farah drafted a set of rules in an effort to protect their songwriting and recording process from being compromised by extraneous variables connected to the music industry. Music editors have cited that the rules Alialujah Choir put in place for themselves has influenced their music in a positive way.

## Debut album

Alialujah Choir's self-titled debut, was recorded over the course of two years at Type Foundry Studio in Portland, Oregon, and was released by Jealous Butcher Records in February 2012. Shearer, Selzer and Farah recorded the album with self-imposed restrictions.
   To begin, no one else could play on the album, or even be present in the studio while the tape was rolling. "We both learned how to run the boards and set up the mics so that Adam [Selzer, who helms Type Foundry Studio, where the group's self-titled debut was recorded] could record his parts," says Farah. Also, there would be no drum kit or bass found in the live room; all percussion had to be relegated to auxiliary status. "We were good about sticking to our many limitations," says Shearer. "And we knew it was because we wanted to preserve the good thing that we had."
In support of their album, after playing a CD release show at the Doug Fir in March 2012, Alialujah Choir toured with Pokey LaFarge and later with Portland Cello Project. Alialujah Choir's debut received positive reviews from The Oregonian, NPR, Willamette Week and other established publications. Many of the reviews focused on the chemistry between the band members noting the unity of the group and parallel vocals. In their review of the album The Portland Mercury noted the band's chemistry and sound as, "The musical connection that permeates the trio is something that exists far beyond anyone's command...every third line finds Shearer, Selzer, and Farah singing together in bone-chilling, otherworldly attunement."
Along with being responsible for Alialujah Choir's formation, the song A House, A Home influenced the completion of their first album. In 2010 Adam Shearer shared the masters of Alialujah Choir's recordings with filmmaker Mark Smith. The Oregonian and other reviews state that Smith became enamored with A House, A Home and decided to create a video that would begin at the last lines of the song. The anticipated release of the video became a caytalst for the band to complete their debut album. The song A House, A Home also appeared in the final 2012 episode of the television show Being Human

## A House, a Home (film)

A House, a Home is a 2012 American short film/narrative music video scored by Alialujah Choir and features Portland Cello Project. Based on the song of the same name by Adam Shearer and Adam Selzer, the film adaptation was produced by Mark Smith, directed by Daniel Fickle and written by Daniel Fickle and Mark Smith. Starring Meredith Adelaide and Calvin Morie McCarthy the film begins at the last lines of the song A House, A Home: You die knowing he'll bury you / Next to your love in the ground... and tells a story of how a love, a death and another death are reconciled in a subterranean world.
In addition to being an official selection at the Raindance, Fantastic Fest and Mill Valley film festivals, A House, A Home was nominated for numerous awards ultimately winning thirty-two accolades including Best Short Film at the 32nd New Jersey Film Festival and Best of Festival at the 55th Rochester International Film Festival. A House, A Home was selected as an Official Honoree in The 17th Annual Webby Awards in the Music category.

### Awards

| year | Film Festival | Country | Category | Result |
| 2012 | United Kingdom Film Festival | United Kingdom | Best Short | Won |
| 2012 | Poppy Jasper International Short Film Festival | United States | Best Drama | Won |
| 2012 | Short Sharp Festival | Australia | Best Score | Won |
| 2012 | Philadelphia Film & Animation Festival | United States | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2012 | Flatland Film Festival | United States | Audience Choice Award | Won |
| 2012 | Nevada Film Festival | United States | Platinum Reel Award | Won |
| 2012 | Interrobang Film Festival | United States | Best Free Form Film | Won |
| 2012 | International Film Festival Antigua Barbuda | Antigua and Barbuda | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2012 | Columbia Gorge International Film Festival | United States | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2012 | Lucerne International Film Festival | Switzerland | Platinum Reel Award | Won |
| 2012 | Silicon Valley Film Festival | United States | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2012 | International Film Festival of Cinematic Arts | United States | Best Editing | Won |
| 2012 | Oregon Film Awards | United States | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2012 | Accolade Competition | United States | Art Direction | Won |
| 2012 | Rumschpringe International Short Film Festival | United States | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2012 | One Cloudfest | Sweden | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2012 | One Cloudfest | Sweden | Best Cinematography | Won |
| 2012 | One Cloudfest | Sweden | OCF FAV | Won |
| 2013 | Macon Film Festival | United States | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2013 | Canada International Film Festival | Canada | Rising Star Award | Won |
| 2013 | Knickerbocker Film Festival | United States | Best Story | Won |
| 2013 | Geneva Film Festival | United States | Best Narrative Short | Won |
| 2013 | Charleston International Film Festival | United States | Best Film | Won |
| 2013 | Honolulu Film Awards | United States | Aloha Accolade | Won |
| 2013 | New Jersey Film Festival | United States | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2013 | First Glance Film Festival Hollywood | United States | Best Director | Won |
| 2013 | First Glance Film Festival Hollywood | United States | Audience Favorite | Won |
| 2013 | First Glance Film Festival Philadelphia | United States | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2013 | Portland Music Video Festival | United States | Silver Reel Award | Won |
| 2013 | Indie Gathering | United States | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2013 | Rochester International Film Festival | United States | Shoestring Trophy | Won |
| 2013 | Rochester International Film Festival | United States | Best of Festival | Won |

### Nominations and official selections

Nominations and Official Selections :
| Year | Film Festival | Country |
| 2012 | Raindance Film Festival | England |
| 2012 | Woodstock Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | New Orleans Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | San Diego Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | VisionFest | United States |
| 2012 | Cornwall Film Festival | England |
| 2012 | Park City Music Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | Budapest Short Film Festival | Hungary |
| 2012 | Take Two Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | New York City International Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | Artfest Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | Tucson Film & Music Festival | United States |
| 2012 | Zero Film Festival | England |
| 2012 | Sacramento Film and Music Festival | United States |
| 2012 | United Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | Great Lakes International Film Festival | United States |
| 2012 | Cincinnati Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Beloit International Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Trail Dance Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Sedona International Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | San Antonio Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | White Sands International Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Action/Cut International Short Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Action On Film International Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Balinale International Film Festival | Indonesia |
| 2013 | Maverick Movie Awards | United States |
| 2013 | Fantastic Fest | United States |
| 2013 | Mill Valley Film Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Aesthetica Short Film Festival | England |
| 2013 | Pop Montreal | Canada |
| 2013 | Columbus International Film & Video Festival | United States |
| 2013 | Bahamas International Film Festival | United States |
| 2014 | Sonoma International Film Festival | United States |

## Additional appearances

* MTV Canada
* NME
* Current TV
* First Post
* IndieWire
* VH1
* Country Music Television

## Discography
### Albums

| Year | Title | Record label | Ref. |
| 2012 | The Alialujah Choir | Alialujah Choir | |
| 2015 | Big Picture Show | Alialujah Choir | |

### Live albums

| Year | Title | Record label | Ref. |
| 2016 | Live from the Banana Stand | Banana Stand Media | |

### EPs & Singles

| Year | Title | Record label | Ref. |
| 2012 | A House, A Home | Alialujah Choir | |
| 2016 | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots | Alialujah Choir | |