Scott Claassen

The Rev. Scott Claassen is an Episcopal priest and musician currently serving as chaplain and vicar of St. Michael's University Church in Santa Barbara, California. Following studies at Yale Divinity School, Claassen embarked on a yearlong Carbon Sabbath during which he refrained from driving or flying while bicycling over 11,500 miles around the United States engaging Christian communities in dialogue about climate change.[1][2][3]

Scott Claassen
Background information
Born (1979-01-23) January 23, 1979
Monterrey, California
GenresAmericana|Folk|Singer-songwriter|Indie Rock|World Music
Occupation(s)Episcopal priest, musician
Years active1997–present
Formerly ofThe Lost Trailers, The Broken West
Spouse(s)Maribeth Claassen (Married 2013–present)
Websiteamovingstillness.com

A lifelong multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter, Claassen has penned hundreds of songs and appeared on dozens of records. Throughout his solo career he has released 8 studio albums and 3 EP's.[4] His songs have been featured in Grey's Anatomy and in several films.[5][6][7] His primary instruments are guitar, mandolin, and piano, but he also plays harmonica, banjo, charango, and a variety of other strings and keyboard instruments.

Spiritual life

Carbon Sabbath

In 2011, Claassen completed his Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. Having investigated the relationship between faith and the environment at Yale's Forum for Religion and Ecology during his graduate studies, he was inspired to take a Carbon Sabbath. He would spend one year without flying or driving as well as eating a primarily plant-based diet and refraining from consumer demands like online shopping. During that period, Claassen bicycled over 11,500 miles around the United States to engage Christian communities of a variety of traditions in dialogue about climate change. The journey started and ended at his home church Thad's in Santa Monica, California. From there, he cycled north to Seattle, East to Washington, D.C., south to Jacksonville, and back to California. He also kept a blog of the journey.[1][2][3]

Laundry Love Ordination

In April 2014, Claassen was ordained to the Episcopal diaconate in a laundromat as part of Thad's monthly Laundry Love ministry. Laundry Love is a nationwide phenomenon in which communities of faith and other organizations offer free laundry services to anyone in need. The ordination drew national attention to Laundry Love. Later that year, Claassen was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood at Thad's, an Episcopal church located in Santa Monica, California.[8]

Surfing and Spirituality

While serving as the Episcopal chaplain to the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Claassen started the Surfing & Spirituality program. This weekly group brings students together to surf and explore surfing as a spiritual practice. It meets Wednesday mornings, and it is open to all university students regardless of religious affiliation. The group has been featured in the Santa Barbara Independent, Living Lutheran magazine, and several publications in the Episcopal Church.[9][10][11]

Music career

Collaborations

During undergraduate in Nashville, Claassen played harmonica, mandolin, and keyboards in the jam band On the 8's. He also played mandolin and harmonica with The Lost Trailers and had songwriting credit on their album Welcome to the Woods.[12]

While working as an outdoor guide in Austin, Texas, he played Fender Rhodes and trumpet with The Glass Family.[13]

While living in Los Angeles, he played keyboards and vocals in The Broken West.[14][15]

Solo career

As a solo artist, Claassen has released 8 LP's, 3 EP's, and a variety of singles. His 2007 album Shiny Car in the Night includes soundbites from interviews conducted in 2006 with people across the country about the American Dream. His 2019 Big Sur Suite is a live recording of primary piano quintets and other instrumental music. In 2020, Claassen released the single "The Day John Prine Died" in honor of John Prine, the critically acclaimed songwriter who passed and in reflection upon the pandemic experience. Claassen's 2022 record Alpine is an investigation into life in and around the mountains.[4]

Albums
  • Monterey (2005)
  • Shiny Car in the Night (2007)
  • Indio Sun (2010)
  • Temas en Blue (2014)
  • Camino Real (2018)
  • Lost Valentines (2018)
  • Carbon Cycle EP (2018)
  • Big Sur Suite (2019)
  • Alpine (2022)

[4]

Singles
  • "The Day John Prine Died" (2020)
  • "I Have Been to the Mountaintop" (2022)
  • "All Along" (2018)

[4]

References
  1. "Criss-cross country carbon sabbath". Geez Magazine. Detroit, Michigan: Geez Press. Winter 2011. p. 62.
  2. "God is in the garden: a conversation with Scott Claassen". Southern California Public Radio. April 19, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  3. "2020 03 08 Scott Claassen". Trinity Episcopal Church. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  4. "Scott Claassen". Spotify. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  5. The Lost Trailers – Welcome To The Woods, Discogs, retrieved October 17, 2022
  6. "Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episode 22: 'The Other Side of This Life' Music", tvfanatic.com, May 4, 2007, retrieved October 17, 2022
  7. Spread (2009), IMDb, retrieved October 17, 2022
  8. "This Deacon Was Ordained In The Most Amazing Way". HuffPost. May 2, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  9. Powell, James N. (July 5, 2018). "Imagine Inventing Waves: Scott Claassen and His Ministry of Surfing and Spirit". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  10. Helland, Bruce (April 11, 2018). "Waves of faith". Living Lutheran. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  11. Claassen, Scott. "Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices – Vestry Papers – Beyond the Red Doors – Surfing and Spirituality". ecfvp.org. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  12. Welcome to the Woods (CD). The Lost Trailers. Republic Records Records. 2004. B0002072
  13. The Glass Family – The Glass Family | Credits, AllMusic, retrieved October 17, 2022
  14. "Love of LA powers the pop of the Broken West's debut". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  15. "The Broken West". Spin. February 12, 2008. Archived from the original on February 12, 2008.
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