| New Music USA - New Music Magazine - New Music Blog - New Music Promotion |
| New Music USA |
| New Music Magazine / Blog / Promotion |
| New Music: Folk |
| Dave Gunning |
| Genre Folk, Singer Songwriter Comparison Richard Shindell, Tim O'Brien, Dave Mallett, Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers |
“Dave Gunning is the next big thing in the True North of Song, an artist as compelling, as assured
and attentive to every nuance of the writing process as Lightfoot, Coburn and Stan Rogers before
him.” -- Greg Quill, The Toronto Star
There are stories that wash over you like a tide, and then there are stories that grab you by the
heart. Dave Gunning has made a point of finding the latter and wrapping them up in song since he
broke upon the East Coast music scene in Canada back in 1997. The Pictou County, Nova Scotia
born and bred singer-songwriter and working class hero has built up from humble beginnings to a
point where his name is regularly included in conversation with artists such as David Francey, James
Keelaghan, Ron Hynes, Stan Rogers, Bruce Cockburn and Gordon Lightfoot. Writing from a sonic
menu that includes flavors of Irish, Scottish, French Acadian, folk and country musical styles, Dave
Gunning transcends genre with songs that fill your senses and touch your soul.
Dave Gunning was a painfully shy teenager who might never have gotten on stage if it weren’t for his
junior high best friend JD Fortune (INXS). Fortune signed the two up for a variety concert where the
sound man was none other than country singer/songwriter George Canyon (Nashville Star 2).
Gunning backed Fortune on guitar for “La Bamba” before taking the mic for a Buddy Holly cover.
Little did anyone know that in that room in a small East Coast school were three future stars. Fortune
has shone brightest thus far, and Canyon isn’t far behind. But thirty years from now it seems likely
that Dave Gunning will outshine them all.
While names like Francey, Keelaghan, Hynes and even Rogers may not mean a great deal to
American audiences, together with Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Cockburn they are iconic across
Canada. Parallels in the United States might include James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,
Randy Newman or Lyle Lovett. Dave Gunning is that sort of songwriter; one who creates images and
moments in song that are palpable. Quiet and reserved otherwise, Gunning takes on an almost
Garrison Keillor-type storyteller persona on stage, injecting stories between songs that run the range
from sweet and touching to uproariously funny. If you’re lucky enough to catch a Dave Gunning
show, perhaps he’ll tell you the one about getting beaten up by a dentist as a toddler. You can’t
make stuff like this up.
Dave Gunning paid his dues supporting other artists over the years, touring with the likes of Stompin’
Tom Connors, JP Cormier, John Allan Cameron, Ron Hynes and Stephen Fearing. Since heading
out on his own, Gunning has continually stood out in the crowd. Through 2010, Gunning has won
four East Coast Music Awards out of twelve nominations since 2003. He’s been nominated for an
additional five ECMA awards for 2011 for We’re All Leaving and A Tribute To John Allan Cameron.
Gunning has also been a finalist in the Great American Song Contest, the USA Songwriting
Competition, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the International Songwriting Contest. All of
the hardware and certificates aside, however, it is the personal connection that Gunning’s music
engenders that is the greatest testament to his craft.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Gunning as an artist is his willingness to just accept what the
muse might bring. Unlike many artists, Gunning is almost superstitious about not trying to understand
his songwriting process, indicating a fear that if he finally comes to understand it the music will stop.
This is the anxiety of a man who has always wanted music as a part of his life and simply wouldn’t
know what to do without it. Gunning is a family man, with a wife and three sons to sustain him and
hold down the fort at home. But if they are his life’s blood, then music is the air that he breathes.
It’s rare in any realm of popular music (folk included) to find an artist so wholly cut from the land he
grew up on. Dave Gunning’s humility and talent are both born of a farmer’s acceptance of the world
around him. Gunning doesn’t sit down to try to create grand music. He views the world around him
for the seeds of something to grow, and cultivates what he sees into life as stories and songs that will
touch your heart; he’ll make you think, laugh and cry with classic story songs of underdogs and a
world that’s perhaps not quite level but well worth the climb. Like Gunning himself is fond of saying,
“There’s a song in there somewhere.”
For more information, visit www.davegunning.com
and attentive to every nuance of the writing process as Lightfoot, Coburn and Stan Rogers before
him.” -- Greg Quill, The Toronto Star
There are stories that wash over you like a tide, and then there are stories that grab you by the
heart. Dave Gunning has made a point of finding the latter and wrapping them up in song since he
broke upon the East Coast music scene in Canada back in 1997. The Pictou County, Nova Scotia
born and bred singer-songwriter and working class hero has built up from humble beginnings to a
point where his name is regularly included in conversation with artists such as David Francey, James
Keelaghan, Ron Hynes, Stan Rogers, Bruce Cockburn and Gordon Lightfoot. Writing from a sonic
menu that includes flavors of Irish, Scottish, French Acadian, folk and country musical styles, Dave
Gunning transcends genre with songs that fill your senses and touch your soul.
Dave Gunning was a painfully shy teenager who might never have gotten on stage if it weren’t for his
junior high best friend JD Fortune (INXS). Fortune signed the two up for a variety concert where the
sound man was none other than country singer/songwriter George Canyon (Nashville Star 2).
Gunning backed Fortune on guitar for “La Bamba” before taking the mic for a Buddy Holly cover.
Little did anyone know that in that room in a small East Coast school were three future stars. Fortune
has shone brightest thus far, and Canyon isn’t far behind. But thirty years from now it seems likely
that Dave Gunning will outshine them all.
While names like Francey, Keelaghan, Hynes and even Rogers may not mean a great deal to
American audiences, together with Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Cockburn they are iconic across
Canada. Parallels in the United States might include James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,
Randy Newman or Lyle Lovett. Dave Gunning is that sort of songwriter; one who creates images and
moments in song that are palpable. Quiet and reserved otherwise, Gunning takes on an almost
Garrison Keillor-type storyteller persona on stage, injecting stories between songs that run the range
from sweet and touching to uproariously funny. If you’re lucky enough to catch a Dave Gunning
show, perhaps he’ll tell you the one about getting beaten up by a dentist as a toddler. You can’t
make stuff like this up.
Dave Gunning paid his dues supporting other artists over the years, touring with the likes of Stompin’
Tom Connors, JP Cormier, John Allan Cameron, Ron Hynes and Stephen Fearing. Since heading
out on his own, Gunning has continually stood out in the crowd. Through 2010, Gunning has won
four East Coast Music Awards out of twelve nominations since 2003. He’s been nominated for an
additional five ECMA awards for 2011 for We’re All Leaving and A Tribute To John Allan Cameron.
Gunning has also been a finalist in the Great American Song Contest, the USA Songwriting
Competition, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the International Songwriting Contest. All of
the hardware and certificates aside, however, it is the personal connection that Gunning’s music
engenders that is the greatest testament to his craft.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Gunning as an artist is his willingness to just accept what the
muse might bring. Unlike many artists, Gunning is almost superstitious about not trying to understand
his songwriting process, indicating a fear that if he finally comes to understand it the music will stop.
This is the anxiety of a man who has always wanted music as a part of his life and simply wouldn’t
know what to do without it. Gunning is a family man, with a wife and three sons to sustain him and
hold down the fort at home. But if they are his life’s blood, then music is the air that he breathes.
It’s rare in any realm of popular music (folk included) to find an artist so wholly cut from the land he
grew up on. Dave Gunning’s humility and talent are both born of a farmer’s acceptance of the world
around him. Gunning doesn’t sit down to try to create grand music. He views the world around him
for the seeds of something to grow, and cultivates what he sees into life as stories and songs that will
touch your heart; he’ll make you think, laugh and cry with classic story songs of underdogs and a
world that’s perhaps not quite level but well worth the climb. Like Gunning himself is fond of saying,
“There’s a song in there somewhere.”
For more information, visit www.davegunning.com
Musician, Songwriter, Company Director and Project Executive are all words which aptly describe Linda Welby, however on meeting this artist in
person there is even more to learn about this extraordinary person that is now attracting the attention of media broadcasters up and down the
country.
A native of Loughrea Linda, a young mother of eight children, now resides in Roscahill, Co. Galway. Her album 'A Story to Tell' and more recently
'The Best of Times' is a collection of contemporary songs and music all written and composed by herself. Linda Welby has a very defined vision of
where she is going and what is important to her in life.
As a composer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and singer, music has always been at the forefront for Linda. Linda's grandfather Paddy Doorhy
was an accomplished fiddle player and played with the first Ballinakill ceili band. Linda's Dad, also Paddy Doorhy, played drums and toured
extensively with many bands and noted musicians. Linda gets her musical inspiration from her dad, whom she regards as her hero, and has no
hesitation in linking all her achievements back to this musical heritage. "My dad's a real inspiration to me".
Linda's career is driven by her passion for adventurous meaningful compositions and in pursuing this passion her musicianship and mastery of
arrangement are broadly appreciated in the music industry. Linda has always kept her head and her heart despite her consistent rise and has no need
for elaborate vocal embellishments to get her message across. Linda's cool, clear, soulful voice has always worn its emotions in the open. Writing
is also something that Linda has been doing for years "I was always a poetry writer and always loved words, even from a young age. So writing
my own album came naturally".
Linda, for many years, has had the uncanny ability of being able to very successfully manage raising a family, co-ordinating several work projects
as well as dedicating time to continued education. It has to be asked, with eight children ranging in ages from twenty two to nine, a day and night
job and the launching of a CD, just how does Linda find the time? "When I had three kids I wondered how I would ever cope, I was absolutely run
off my feet, but it seemed to get easier as time went on. That's how it seemed to me anyway. I don't think I'm that busy," she laughs.
Linda's pure interest in people is clearly evident in her very approachable and friendly manner. "I sing and play because I love it and I do feel that
any success that I have had has not changed me as a person. I like to keep things as normal as possible in my life because that is just the way I
am". Sheer simplicity is what keeps this fun-loving and very independent free spirit happiest. "My songs tell a story of real people in real times,
stories that can be true for a lot of people not just me, I believe that is why people of all ages connect with them"
The phenominal success of her single release "The Galway Fiddler" has surpassed all expectations with regular airplays on Irish radio stations
throughout the country, north and south, as well as BBC Wales, BBC Oxford, BBC Manchester and also some radio stations in Canada and New
York. For Linda it is a dream coming true, culminating in the nationwide release of her first solo CD on September 12th 2008.
To radio listeners across the country as well as her legions of new fans, Linda Welby is fast becoming a superstar while at home in Roscahill she
has never changed from being the down-to-earth affable and hardworking wife and mother. She has achieved the longest run by any artist of
twenty two continuous weeks, as well as remaining at number one for eighteen weeks, in a major radio station record charts where listener
requests dictate the content of the charts. Probably her crowning achievement so far is her recent visit to the USA to host a television show in a
major Nashville television station which will be shown live on the internet worldwide, as well as radio interviews and three very successful live
concerts. This coupled with her acceptance of an invitation to meet her life-long idol Pat Boone in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles really made this trip a
memorable occasion.
In recent times, Linda has had numerous successes with interviews on 32 Irish Radio Stations, 7 in Northern Ireland including three with the
renowned Gerry Anderson on Radio Foyle and 6 in mainland UK, extensive Radio airplay on most Irish radio stations including RTE 1, Radio Ulster
and Radio Foyle in Northern Ireland and many stations in the UK, Canada and the USA plus many Countries worldwide. She featured on RTE
Nationwide Television and TG4 and won the award for Best Female Artist of 2008 on West Limerick Radio,The 2010 Texas International Artist of
the year,2010 Youghal Songwriter of the year and many more...
www.lindawelby.com
person there is even more to learn about this extraordinary person that is now attracting the attention of media broadcasters up and down the
country.
A native of Loughrea Linda, a young mother of eight children, now resides in Roscahill, Co. Galway. Her album 'A Story to Tell' and more recently
'The Best of Times' is a collection of contemporary songs and music all written and composed by herself. Linda Welby has a very defined vision of
where she is going and what is important to her in life.
As a composer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and singer, music has always been at the forefront for Linda. Linda's grandfather Paddy Doorhy
was an accomplished fiddle player and played with the first Ballinakill ceili band. Linda's Dad, also Paddy Doorhy, played drums and toured
extensively with many bands and noted musicians. Linda gets her musical inspiration from her dad, whom she regards as her hero, and has no
hesitation in linking all her achievements back to this musical heritage. "My dad's a real inspiration to me".
Linda's career is driven by her passion for adventurous meaningful compositions and in pursuing this passion her musicianship and mastery of
arrangement are broadly appreciated in the music industry. Linda has always kept her head and her heart despite her consistent rise and has no need
for elaborate vocal embellishments to get her message across. Linda's cool, clear, soulful voice has always worn its emotions in the open. Writing
is also something that Linda has been doing for years "I was always a poetry writer and always loved words, even from a young age. So writing
my own album came naturally".
Linda, for many years, has had the uncanny ability of being able to very successfully manage raising a family, co-ordinating several work projects
as well as dedicating time to continued education. It has to be asked, with eight children ranging in ages from twenty two to nine, a day and night
job and the launching of a CD, just how does Linda find the time? "When I had three kids I wondered how I would ever cope, I was absolutely run
off my feet, but it seemed to get easier as time went on. That's how it seemed to me anyway. I don't think I'm that busy," she laughs.
Linda's pure interest in people is clearly evident in her very approachable and friendly manner. "I sing and play because I love it and I do feel that
any success that I have had has not changed me as a person. I like to keep things as normal as possible in my life because that is just the way I
am". Sheer simplicity is what keeps this fun-loving and very independent free spirit happiest. "My songs tell a story of real people in real times,
stories that can be true for a lot of people not just me, I believe that is why people of all ages connect with them"
The phenominal success of her single release "The Galway Fiddler" has surpassed all expectations with regular airplays on Irish radio stations
throughout the country, north and south, as well as BBC Wales, BBC Oxford, BBC Manchester and also some radio stations in Canada and New
York. For Linda it is a dream coming true, culminating in the nationwide release of her first solo CD on September 12th 2008.
To radio listeners across the country as well as her legions of new fans, Linda Welby is fast becoming a superstar while at home in Roscahill she
has never changed from being the down-to-earth affable and hardworking wife and mother. She has achieved the longest run by any artist of
twenty two continuous weeks, as well as remaining at number one for eighteen weeks, in a major radio station record charts where listener
requests dictate the content of the charts. Probably her crowning achievement so far is her recent visit to the USA to host a television show in a
major Nashville television station which will be shown live on the internet worldwide, as well as radio interviews and three very successful live
concerts. This coupled with her acceptance of an invitation to meet her life-long idol Pat Boone in Beverley Hills, Los Angeles really made this trip a
memorable occasion.
In recent times, Linda has had numerous successes with interviews on 32 Irish Radio Stations, 7 in Northern Ireland including three with the
renowned Gerry Anderson on Radio Foyle and 6 in mainland UK, extensive Radio airplay on most Irish radio stations including RTE 1, Radio Ulster
and Radio Foyle in Northern Ireland and many stations in the UK, Canada and the USA plus many Countries worldwide. She featured on RTE
Nationwide Television and TG4 and won the award for Best Female Artist of 2008 on West Limerick Radio,The 2010 Texas International Artist of
the year,2010 Youghal Songwriter of the year and many more...
www.lindawelby.com
| Irish Singer Linda Welby |
| Music Genres: Country / Folk / Modern |
City Keepers is the eagerly anticipated new release from singer-songwriter, Kim Dellavedova.
The quality of Dellavedova’s songwriting on the record is formidable, not afraid to employ a
killer riff, her stripped back songs are punchy and have choruses that want to be sung.
Kim has been captivating audiences with this collection of songs live, performing with 60’s
tone-master guitarist/producer Scott Wilson, delivering her take on classic country/soul,
swampy blues, to songs with refreshingly cheeky, upbeat pop/rock grooves.
While the strength of Dellavedova’s songwriting on this album is outstanding, the
performances and recordings are stunning. The album has already been described as one of
Australias finest collections of folk/country music.
http://www.kimdellavedova.com
The quality of Dellavedova’s songwriting on the record is formidable, not afraid to employ a
killer riff, her stripped back songs are punchy and have choruses that want to be sung.
Kim has been captivating audiences with this collection of songs live, performing with 60’s
tone-master guitarist/producer Scott Wilson, delivering her take on classic country/soul,
swampy blues, to songs with refreshingly cheeky, upbeat pop/rock grooves.
While the strength of Dellavedova’s songwriting on this album is outstanding, the
performances and recordings are stunning. The album has already been described as one of
Australias finest collections of folk/country music.
http://www.kimdellavedova.com
| Alt Country from Down Under |
| Kim Dellavedova |
| Music Genres: Indie / Alternative / Country / Folk / Pop / Top 40 |
A lady of conviction. In every way, Phyllis Sinclair is a lady of
conviction. As if the musical mien of Joni Mitchell and the irrepressible
human force of Nelson Mandela were corralled into the same heart,
Phyllis Sinclair creates songs of dignity and change. Ethnically of the
Canadian Cree tribe, or “Swampy Cree” as she jovially qualifies, and
raised in deep poverty by a single mother in Winnipeg, her musical blend
of folk, pop, and country seeks to encourage those who struggle with
life and often places her in league with fellow messengers like Joan Baez,
Judy Collins and Stan Rogers. Now three albums in to her recording
career with a steady wave of critical acclaim raising her up, her mark on
humanity has become deep and defined.
Having loved music since early childhood, Phyllis grew from a
fascination with old time folk dances with spoons and boot-heels to
complete enthrallment when a professional symphony orchestra
performed at her inner city middle school. Times were extremely tough
for her single-parent family surrounded by poverty and violence, but the
shivers sent down her spine by the beauty of the sound opened a new
vista and set a 13-year-old Phyllis off on a decade of learning to play
guitar, write songs, and performing in coffee houses and churches. In
her 20’s, however, motherhood took center stage, as did a professional
career outside of music, and her guitar and tour schedule were replaced
by the demands of parenting and her work as a radio Journalist and Host.
It was not until 1998, following a move to Alberta, that she again picked
up her guitar in earnest and made a full return to her creative passion.
The genuinely held beliefs that all people have the power within them to
live a full and meaningful life, and that she truly is what she thinks, are
latent in all of Phyllis’ music. Her debut album, Fence Post and Stones
(released 2005) and the follow up Fathomless Tales from Leviathan’s
Hole bear the stamp of her strong melodies, vivid imagery, and mild
social content. A particularly strong thread running through her songs is
her respect of all cultures, and her deep love of her own Aboriginal Cree
Canadian background. In fact, she attributes her sound and style to her
Cree Grandmother, who filled her childhood with gripping and desolate
native folklore and sang to her in soft ululation.
The indelible impact of her Grandmother and Mother, both of whom
were single mothers who made ends meet with a lifetime of washing the
laundry of those more fortunate, is expressed most clearly on her latest
release, Dreams of the Washerwomen. Paying tribute to these remarkable
women, and all single parents, Dreams of the Washerwomen is replete
with rich and compassionate songs borne of a swirling culmination of
culture and struggle. The single “Another Single Day” focuses on the
challenges of single parenting, and is meant to let single parents know
that their unending efforts in raising their children are not in vain.
While her subject matter may tend towards the severe, her big toothy
grin and sincerity keeps things in balance. Like all true storytellers, she
shines brightest and is understood most fully when experienced in
person, as evidenced by the fervent response of fans at her live shows.
“You gotta see me to really appreciate me. I am real. I regard others as
equals; not higher, or better, just different, with a unique gift to offer.
The gift I bring is sincerity.” Indeed, and on her musical mission to open
doors of understanding between people of different cultures and
encourage those who struggle with life, her grin, her guitar, and her
conviction are all being used to full and wonderful effect.
www.phyllissinclair.com
conviction. As if the musical mien of Joni Mitchell and the irrepressible
human force of Nelson Mandela were corralled into the same heart,
Phyllis Sinclair creates songs of dignity and change. Ethnically of the
Canadian Cree tribe, or “Swampy Cree” as she jovially qualifies, and
raised in deep poverty by a single mother in Winnipeg, her musical blend
of folk, pop, and country seeks to encourage those who struggle with
life and often places her in league with fellow messengers like Joan Baez,
Judy Collins and Stan Rogers. Now three albums in to her recording
career with a steady wave of critical acclaim raising her up, her mark on
humanity has become deep and defined.
Having loved music since early childhood, Phyllis grew from a
fascination with old time folk dances with spoons and boot-heels to
complete enthrallment when a professional symphony orchestra
performed at her inner city middle school. Times were extremely tough
for her single-parent family surrounded by poverty and violence, but the
shivers sent down her spine by the beauty of the sound opened a new
vista and set a 13-year-old Phyllis off on a decade of learning to play
guitar, write songs, and performing in coffee houses and churches. In
her 20’s, however, motherhood took center stage, as did a professional
career outside of music, and her guitar and tour schedule were replaced
by the demands of parenting and her work as a radio Journalist and Host.
It was not until 1998, following a move to Alberta, that she again picked
up her guitar in earnest and made a full return to her creative passion.
The genuinely held beliefs that all people have the power within them to
live a full and meaningful life, and that she truly is what she thinks, are
latent in all of Phyllis’ music. Her debut album, Fence Post and Stones
(released 2005) and the follow up Fathomless Tales from Leviathan’s
Hole bear the stamp of her strong melodies, vivid imagery, and mild
social content. A particularly strong thread running through her songs is
her respect of all cultures, and her deep love of her own Aboriginal Cree
Canadian background. In fact, she attributes her sound and style to her
Cree Grandmother, who filled her childhood with gripping and desolate
native folklore and sang to her in soft ululation.
The indelible impact of her Grandmother and Mother, both of whom
were single mothers who made ends meet with a lifetime of washing the
laundry of those more fortunate, is expressed most clearly on her latest
release, Dreams of the Washerwomen. Paying tribute to these remarkable
women, and all single parents, Dreams of the Washerwomen is replete
with rich and compassionate songs borne of a swirling culmination of
culture and struggle. The single “Another Single Day” focuses on the
challenges of single parenting, and is meant to let single parents know
that their unending efforts in raising their children are not in vain.
While her subject matter may tend towards the severe, her big toothy
grin and sincerity keeps things in balance. Like all true storytellers, she
shines brightest and is understood most fully when experienced in
person, as evidenced by the fervent response of fans at her live shows.
“You gotta see me to really appreciate me. I am real. I regard others as
equals; not higher, or better, just different, with a unique gift to offer.
The gift I bring is sincerity.” Indeed, and on her musical mission to open
doors of understanding between people of different cultures and
encourage those who struggle with life, her grin, her guitar, and her
conviction are all being used to full and wonderful effect.
www.phyllissinclair.com
| Phyllis Sinclair... A Lady of Conviction |
| Music Genres: Folk, Roots If You Like: Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Stan Rogers, Buffy Sainte-Marie |
Deborah Crooks is a seeker. The San Francisco Bay Area-born and bred singer/songwriter grew up at the nexus of two tectonic plates; close to the
city known for its history of social, musical and political upheaval. These underlying conduits of tension seem bred into those from The Bay Area,
but few more so than Crooks, who began writing songs as a young child. These days Crooks is a vibrant artist carrying on the San Francisco
tradition of powerful female singer/songwriters with literate lyrics and progressive musical attitudes; well respected within the music scene and
increasingly so outside of it.
The lid came off of Crooks’ creative self during her studies at Colorado’s The Naropa Institute. The ecumenical Buddhist-based educational
philosophy of the school inspired Crooks to take up Buddhist practice, begin studying yoga and to see her creative side as a spiritual outlet. Around
the same time Crooks experienced the Telluride Folk Festival, and was inspired to walk in the footsteps of artists such as Michelle Shocked and
Shawn Colvin. Little did Crooks know that she was embarking on a new life path. If yoga became the rock upon which Crooks life was built,
music became the lifeblood.
Having built a worldview through the lens of opportunity and tragedy, Crooks sees in her surroundings the opportunity to make the world a better
place. She has lived through earthquakes, personal loss and even the 9/11 attacks in New York City. As a songwriter, Crooks reflects the
contradictions she sees in the world in song, unveiling in her lyrics truths that are simultaneously pragmatic and mystical. The Blues/Americana
musical blend that is her canvas is simply the base from which Crooks’ songs grow. Ultimately, her music is a cultural ecotone born of her
California roots, her spiritual development, her transcendant instinct and the quest for enlightenment that is both of and divergent from the disparate
influences that bore it.
The various tensions that swirl about the life of Deborah Crooks have catalyzed a songwriting talent that is soul-wise and edgy. Combine this with
Crooks’ distinctive voice and you’ve discovered an artist capable of owning a room. Deborah Crooks doesn’t so much blow you away as she
creeps into the questing places in your soul and insinuates herself as the reflective voice that sheds wisdom on a worrisome world. It’s this quality
that first gained Crooks the attention of RockerGirl Magazine for her 2003 debut EP 5 Acres. The Roberta Donnay-produced EP landed Crooks on
the RockerGirl Discoveries compilation and gained Crooks a national audience for the first time. In 2007 Crooks followed up with an EP entitled
Turn It All Red, a stepping stone to her first full-length album Adding Water To Ashes, released in 2008. 2010 has seen the release of two EPs
from the prolific singer/songwriter. It’s All Up To You was made possible by a Bay Bridged Grant and shows Crooks’ social conscience in full
force, while Other Halves displays some of Crooks’ most focused songwriting to date alongside a powerful cover of Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold”.
Her work is fueled by periodic returns to India to further her yoga and vocal studies and write. Considering that Crooks and her band have recently
begun to find the sort of magic that is born of chemistry, talent, hard work and time spent together, such personal rebirth could be the charge that
leads Deborah Crooks onto the national stage to stay. Crooks spent the winter of 2010/2011 in Southern India, another leg on her socio-artistic
journey. From there the sky is, quite literally the limit. Deborah Crooks walks the path of musical enlightenment. Come along!
deborahcrooks.com
city known for its history of social, musical and political upheaval. These underlying conduits of tension seem bred into those from The Bay Area,
but few more so than Crooks, who began writing songs as a young child. These days Crooks is a vibrant artist carrying on the San Francisco
tradition of powerful female singer/songwriters with literate lyrics and progressive musical attitudes; well respected within the music scene and
increasingly so outside of it.
The lid came off of Crooks’ creative self during her studies at Colorado’s The Naropa Institute. The ecumenical Buddhist-based educational
philosophy of the school inspired Crooks to take up Buddhist practice, begin studying yoga and to see her creative side as a spiritual outlet. Around
the same time Crooks experienced the Telluride Folk Festival, and was inspired to walk in the footsteps of artists such as Michelle Shocked and
Shawn Colvin. Little did Crooks know that she was embarking on a new life path. If yoga became the rock upon which Crooks life was built,
music became the lifeblood.
Having built a worldview through the lens of opportunity and tragedy, Crooks sees in her surroundings the opportunity to make the world a better
place. She has lived through earthquakes, personal loss and even the 9/11 attacks in New York City. As a songwriter, Crooks reflects the
contradictions she sees in the world in song, unveiling in her lyrics truths that are simultaneously pragmatic and mystical. The Blues/Americana
musical blend that is her canvas is simply the base from which Crooks’ songs grow. Ultimately, her music is a cultural ecotone born of her
California roots, her spiritual development, her transcendant instinct and the quest for enlightenment that is both of and divergent from the disparate
influences that bore it.
The various tensions that swirl about the life of Deborah Crooks have catalyzed a songwriting talent that is soul-wise and edgy. Combine this with
Crooks’ distinctive voice and you’ve discovered an artist capable of owning a room. Deborah Crooks doesn’t so much blow you away as she
creeps into the questing places in your soul and insinuates herself as the reflective voice that sheds wisdom on a worrisome world. It’s this quality
that first gained Crooks the attention of RockerGirl Magazine for her 2003 debut EP 5 Acres. The Roberta Donnay-produced EP landed Crooks on
the RockerGirl Discoveries compilation and gained Crooks a national audience for the first time. In 2007 Crooks followed up with an EP entitled
Turn It All Red, a stepping stone to her first full-length album Adding Water To Ashes, released in 2008. 2010 has seen the release of two EPs
from the prolific singer/songwriter. It’s All Up To You was made possible by a Bay Bridged Grant and shows Crooks’ social conscience in full
force, while Other Halves displays some of Crooks’ most focused songwriting to date alongside a powerful cover of Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold”.
Her work is fueled by periodic returns to India to further her yoga and vocal studies and write. Considering that Crooks and her band have recently
begun to find the sort of magic that is born of chemistry, talent, hard work and time spent together, such personal rebirth could be the charge that
leads Deborah Crooks onto the national stage to stay. Crooks spent the winter of 2010/2011 in Southern India, another leg on her socio-artistic
journey. From there the sky is, quite literally the limit. Deborah Crooks walks the path of musical enlightenment. Come along!
deborahcrooks.com
| Deborah Crooks draws on folk, rock, Americana and the blues. |
| Music Genres: Americana, Alternative Folk, Blues, Singer Songwriter If You Like: Lucinda Williams, Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, Cowboy Junkies, Jesse Sykes |
| Country & Folk from Nicole Witt |
| Music Genres: Country / Folk |
"Music is what feelings sound like.” This quote by an unknown author encompasses Nicole Witt and her music.
Nicole is blessed with work-ethic, talent and a musical pedigree. Nicole’s father was a square dancer on the
famed Ozark Jubilee TV show in Springfield, Mo. and her uncle played the banjo. She followed in the footsteps
of her grandmom who played piano and her fiddle playing grandfather. It was a childhood that prepared her to
chase and capture a dream.
It was April of 1998 when the Missouri-native arrived in music city and she wasted no time starting a climb up
the ladder of success. It took only two years for Nicole to secure a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing
Nicole is a co-writer on songs recorded by Diamond Rio (“The Box”), Rodney Atkins (“Angel’s Hands”), Clay
Walker (“It Ain’t Pretty, But It’s Beautiful”), Terri Clark (“She Didn’t Have Time”), Lee Brice (“Airport Song”) and
George Strait (“Brothers of the Highway”). Strait’s album “Troubadour” won both a CMA for 2008 Album of the
Year and a Grammy for 2009 Country Album of the Year. In November of 2009, Ednita Nazario recorded a song
that Nicole wrote with Nick Carter of the Backstreet boys. ("Two Forevers") is Nicole's first Latin cut. Since the
winter of 2010, Nicole has had songs recorded by Wynonna ("I Can't"), Steve Holy ("Heart of a Hero"), Ashley
Gearing ("Five More Minutes") and new pop sensation Kaile Goh on Universal/Lava ("Not That Into You").
These songs will all make their debut sometime in 2011. Nicole’s voice can also be heard on the Pete
Sternberg penned-tune, “Rusty” found in the Will Smith movie “Seven Pounds.”
Then there is Nicole Witt the performer.
There is something striking about Nicole when she stands on a stage. Maybe it is the calm and confident way
she addresses a crowd. It could be the ability to play the fiddle and piano with abandon. There’s a probability it’
s the voice that leaves Nicole’s personalized stamp on each song she sings. Or it might be the songwriting that
weaves emotion into an unforgettable sound. However, more than likely it’s all of the above...
At six-years-old she was playing the piano and by eight years of age she had grabbed the fiddle. The Mid-
Western woman puts on a musical clinic when she steps on stage. Nicole takes people on a journey as each
piano-based song is played. As the performer gets lost in the music, so follows the audience. It is an emotional
experience.
When Nicole picks up the fiddle, the crowd can be prepared for fun. Like the sound of wheels on a smooth train
track, she slides through each song without missing a beat. Toes tap and people sway along to the music.
Garth Brooks once said, “True country music is honesty, sincerity and real life to the hilt.”
It’s not just the sound of University of Missouri grad’s beautiful voice delivering the message. It’s Nicole’s
interpretation of each song. THAT is what makes a listener connect to her music and the raw emotion it evokes.
Nicole Witt music gives sound to a wide variety of feelings.
This is a woman who truly loves the art of the song. Each tune stands on it’s own. However, when Nicole is the
one at the microphone they take on an even deeper meaning.
It would be wrong to give you only facts about the woman, because the music tells her story. There is poetry in
the notes she sings. There are tears in the wail of her bow making it’s way across the fiddle. There is a hush
floating from the keys of the piano. It is rare to be unable to compare one artist to another. Nicole Witt is one of
those rarities. Her art is her own.
Nicole has spent the last year touring with her good friend and musical partner Christa Wells. Both women
along with Dale Baker ( former drummer for Six Pense None The Richer) have been all over the Southeast and
Midwest on the Love Makes Music Tour.
For more information, visit www.nicolewitt.com
Nicole is blessed with work-ethic, talent and a musical pedigree. Nicole’s father was a square dancer on the
famed Ozark Jubilee TV show in Springfield, Mo. and her uncle played the banjo. She followed in the footsteps
of her grandmom who played piano and her fiddle playing grandfather. It was a childhood that prepared her to
chase and capture a dream.
It was April of 1998 when the Missouri-native arrived in music city and she wasted no time starting a climb up
the ladder of success. It took only two years for Nicole to secure a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing
Nicole is a co-writer on songs recorded by Diamond Rio (“The Box”), Rodney Atkins (“Angel’s Hands”), Clay
Walker (“It Ain’t Pretty, But It’s Beautiful”), Terri Clark (“She Didn’t Have Time”), Lee Brice (“Airport Song”) and
George Strait (“Brothers of the Highway”). Strait’s album “Troubadour” won both a CMA for 2008 Album of the
Year and a Grammy for 2009 Country Album of the Year. In November of 2009, Ednita Nazario recorded a song
that Nicole wrote with Nick Carter of the Backstreet boys. ("Two Forevers") is Nicole's first Latin cut. Since the
winter of 2010, Nicole has had songs recorded by Wynonna ("I Can't"), Steve Holy ("Heart of a Hero"), Ashley
Gearing ("Five More Minutes") and new pop sensation Kaile Goh on Universal/Lava ("Not That Into You").
These songs will all make their debut sometime in 2011. Nicole’s voice can also be heard on the Pete
Sternberg penned-tune, “Rusty” found in the Will Smith movie “Seven Pounds.”
Then there is Nicole Witt the performer.
There is something striking about Nicole when she stands on a stage. Maybe it is the calm and confident way
she addresses a crowd. It could be the ability to play the fiddle and piano with abandon. There’s a probability it’
s the voice that leaves Nicole’s personalized stamp on each song she sings. Or it might be the songwriting that
weaves emotion into an unforgettable sound. However, more than likely it’s all of the above...
At six-years-old she was playing the piano and by eight years of age she had grabbed the fiddle. The Mid-
Western woman puts on a musical clinic when she steps on stage. Nicole takes people on a journey as each
piano-based song is played. As the performer gets lost in the music, so follows the audience. It is an emotional
experience.
When Nicole picks up the fiddle, the crowd can be prepared for fun. Like the sound of wheels on a smooth train
track, she slides through each song without missing a beat. Toes tap and people sway along to the music.
Garth Brooks once said, “True country music is honesty, sincerity and real life to the hilt.”
It’s not just the sound of University of Missouri grad’s beautiful voice delivering the message. It’s Nicole’s
interpretation of each song. THAT is what makes a listener connect to her music and the raw emotion it evokes.
Nicole Witt music gives sound to a wide variety of feelings.
This is a woman who truly loves the art of the song. Each tune stands on it’s own. However, when Nicole is the
one at the microphone they take on an even deeper meaning.
It would be wrong to give you only facts about the woman, because the music tells her story. There is poetry in
the notes she sings. There are tears in the wail of her bow making it’s way across the fiddle. There is a hush
floating from the keys of the piano. It is rare to be unable to compare one artist to another. Nicole Witt is one of
those rarities. Her art is her own.
Nicole has spent the last year touring with her good friend and musical partner Christa Wells. Both women
along with Dale Baker ( former drummer for Six Pense None The Richer) have been all over the Southeast and
Midwest on the Love Makes Music Tour.
For more information, visit www.nicolewitt.com
| The 1861 Project |
| Music Genres: Americana, Folk, Acoustic, Bluegrass |
As America observes the sesquicentennial of The American Civil War, that historic conflict still
resonates today with lessons that can be expressed in the language, stories and songs of the present.
Inspired by their shared passion for American history and their love for their adopted home in the
American south, musical colleagues Thomm Jutz, Peter Cronin and Paul Schatzkin have collaborated
to create The 1861 Project, a one-of-a-kind collection of songs that imagine the lives of the real people
who lived through and fought the American Civil War.
With A-list guitarist/producer/songwriter Jutz (Nanci Griffith, Mary Gauthier) at the helm, the acoustic,
roots-based, Americana sound of The 1861 Project comes brilliantly to life with the help of songwriting
and creative direction from Cronin, executive production from Schatzkin, and stirring performances
from some of Nashville’s finest singers and songwriters, including country legend John Anderson,
Grand Ole Opry star Marty Stuart, Americana stalwart Dana Cooper, rising Bluegrass star Chris Jones,
and a host of others. Under Jutz' direction, these distinctive artists have collaborated to create a
musical collection that not only explores this historically rich era, but also seeks out the wisdom and
warnings latent in countless Civil War stories.
Brought together by their interest in the Civil War and their shared belief in the inspirational and
restorative power of music, Jutz, Cronin, and Schatzkin were naturally drawn to the stories of everyday
people who experienced the war. The 1861 Project pushes beyond the broad strokes of Civil War
history with compelling, emotional songs. “I Have” tells of a man counting his fallen friends as he walks
the hundreds of barefoot miles home from the surrender at Appomattox. Another song, “Eyes,” relates
the story of an Irish immigrant, one of many drafted into Union service from their new home in New York
City, while the exuberant "Gospel Train" is sung in the voice of a runaway slave "riding" the
Underground Railroad to freedom.
The songs on The 1861 Project explore this fascinating history from the perspective of the people who
lived it, relating these stories from an entirely new and fresh perspective. These songs relay a
message of hope and community, reflecting on the issues that drove the country to civil war without
rancor or partisanship.
“This project seeks to bring change via affirmation, not defamation,” Schatzkin explains. “Though the
Civil War was won by the North, the inequality at the heart of the fight remains an issue that continues
to be worked out in American society. This music is our way of contributing to that effort.”
The founding principles of America, and the great fight over those ideals by the Union and the
Confederacy are especially relevant and poignant to German-born Project producer Thomm Jutz, who
is currently in the midst of the naturalization process to become an American citizen. It's what gives Jutz
– and The 1861 Project – such a unique perspective, and it's at the heart of his heartfelt desire to
express that distinctly American idea through music.
The sounds, the stories, and the people that populate The 1861 Project are uniquely American, and
deeply human.
“We love our country, but not in a ‘my country right or wrong’ way,” Schatzkin says. “In the song ‘Ridin’
Like a Rebel,’ the lyrics state ‘One thing can not be denied, brave men fought on either side.’ We’re
presenting the Civil War story in a non-partisan manner, in the hope of initiating a sincere discussion
about what the Civil War means in American society today.”
For more information, visit 1861project.com
resonates today with lessons that can be expressed in the language, stories and songs of the present.
Inspired by their shared passion for American history and their love for their adopted home in the
American south, musical colleagues Thomm Jutz, Peter Cronin and Paul Schatzkin have collaborated
to create The 1861 Project, a one-of-a-kind collection of songs that imagine the lives of the real people
who lived through and fought the American Civil War.
With A-list guitarist/producer/songwriter Jutz (Nanci Griffith, Mary Gauthier) at the helm, the acoustic,
roots-based, Americana sound of The 1861 Project comes brilliantly to life with the help of songwriting
and creative direction from Cronin, executive production from Schatzkin, and stirring performances
from some of Nashville’s finest singers and songwriters, including country legend John Anderson,
Grand Ole Opry star Marty Stuart, Americana stalwart Dana Cooper, rising Bluegrass star Chris Jones,
and a host of others. Under Jutz' direction, these distinctive artists have collaborated to create a
musical collection that not only explores this historically rich era, but also seeks out the wisdom and
warnings latent in countless Civil War stories.
Brought together by their interest in the Civil War and their shared belief in the inspirational and
restorative power of music, Jutz, Cronin, and Schatzkin were naturally drawn to the stories of everyday
people who experienced the war. The 1861 Project pushes beyond the broad strokes of Civil War
history with compelling, emotional songs. “I Have” tells of a man counting his fallen friends as he walks
the hundreds of barefoot miles home from the surrender at Appomattox. Another song, “Eyes,” relates
the story of an Irish immigrant, one of many drafted into Union service from their new home in New York
City, while the exuberant "Gospel Train" is sung in the voice of a runaway slave "riding" the
Underground Railroad to freedom.
The songs on The 1861 Project explore this fascinating history from the perspective of the people who
lived it, relating these stories from an entirely new and fresh perspective. These songs relay a
message of hope and community, reflecting on the issues that drove the country to civil war without
rancor or partisanship.
“This project seeks to bring change via affirmation, not defamation,” Schatzkin explains. “Though the
Civil War was won by the North, the inequality at the heart of the fight remains an issue that continues
to be worked out in American society. This music is our way of contributing to that effort.”
The founding principles of America, and the great fight over those ideals by the Union and the
Confederacy are especially relevant and poignant to German-born Project producer Thomm Jutz, who
is currently in the midst of the naturalization process to become an American citizen. It's what gives Jutz
– and The 1861 Project – such a unique perspective, and it's at the heart of his heartfelt desire to
express that distinctly American idea through music.
The sounds, the stories, and the people that populate The 1861 Project are uniquely American, and
deeply human.
“We love our country, but not in a ‘my country right or wrong’ way,” Schatzkin says. “In the song ‘Ridin’
Like a Rebel,’ the lyrics state ‘One thing can not be denied, brave men fought on either side.’ We’re
presenting the Civil War story in a non-partisan manner, in the hope of initiating a sincere discussion
about what the Civil War means in American society today.”
For more information, visit 1861project.com
| ©2011 NewMusicUSA.biz |