Driftwood Fire

Artist Information

Biography

SHORT BIO
Driftwood Fire’s How To Untangle A Heartache is a rarity in today’s media mad world — a debut album by an organically creative female fronted group whose vivid songwriting and prodigious playing skills display uncommon artistry.
         Striking for its balance of variety and seamlessness, and for exceptional storytelling, the disc covers a wide palette of emotions and sounds in multi-instrumentalist Charlotte Formichella’s and singer-guitarist Lynn Scharf’s 11 original compositions. Together they embrace the roots of country, blues, pop and rock to create their own unique blend of Americana.
         The eponymous 2008 EP propelled them to the stages of the National Women’s Music Festival, the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists showcase and Far-West Folk Alliance Premier showcases. The CD gained Suggested Artist status in VH-1’s Song of the Year contest.
         Even before its release How To Untangle A Heartache received accolades from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, the International Narrative Song Competition, and the Telluride Troubadour contest. Since it's release Driftwood Fire has been invited to perform at SXSW (WAMU 88.5 FM Capital Bluegrass showcase), at Robert's Western World (Tony Doolin's Americana Carnival Live broadcast) and enjoyed a romp across the US in a highly successful 2011-2012 CD release tour.
         When asked what they love most about writing, performing and touring, “Our goal is for people who come to our shows or listen to our album to leave a little lighter,” Scharf explains. “We want to give people an experience that slows down time a bit and encourages them to sit back and catch their breath” says Scharf, “and maybe find a part of themselves in this music, like we did.”

FULL BIOGRAPHY

Driftwood Fire’s How To Untangle A Heartache is a rarity in today’s media mad world — a debut album by an organically creative female fronted group whose vivid songwriting and prodigious playing skills display an uncommon artistry.

Striking for its balance of variety and seamlessness, and for exceptional storytelling, the disc covers a wide palette of emotions and sounds in multi-instrumentalist Charlotte Formichella’s and singer-guitarist Lynn Scharf’s 11 original compositions. Together they embrace the roots of country, blues, pop and rock to create their own unique blend of Americana.

To songwriting aficionados, this comes as no surprise. The eponymous 2008 EP that introduced Driftwood Fire to the world at large also propelled them to the stages of the National Women’s Music Festival, the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, the Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists showcase and the Far-West Folk Alliance Premier showcases. The strength of its recordings also gained them Suggested Artist status in VH-1’s Song of the Year contest.

Even before its release the new How To Untangle A Heartache has already received accolades from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, the International Narrative Song Competition, and the Telluride Troubadour contest.

“In the four years we’ve been together — starting from a point when we were really raw — we've devoured every style of music that spoke to us as we’ve expanded the sound and the grasp of the band,” Scharf explains. “We’ve worked hard; we’re both perfectionists. But at the heart of it all, whether we’re playing a song that has a more complex electric guitar arrangement or is written for just voice and banjo, it’s all grounded in our rural Virginia childhoods, where seeing live music meant going to the local firehouse to hear the neighbors play bluegrass – and there were some amazing players to learn from.”

With How To Untangle A Heartache, Scharf and Formichella present themselves as a formidably versatile and emotionally powerful band on their own terms. The opener “Turn On the Radio” achieves a beatific symmetry, balancing sounds from their musical roots — banjo, dobro, accordion and guitar — with a warm vocal performance steeped in pure pop melodicism.

Similarly the arrangement of “Appalachian Hills” evokes the misty valleys of the Shenandoah, while the storyline threads through the region’s history of Civil War and racial violence, contrasting nature’s beauty with a glimpse into the clouds of the human psyche. That potent blend won the tune first place in the 2007 International Narrative Song Competition.

“No matter how far we travel, physically and musically, the visceral memory of growing up in that region never leaves us,” Scharf observes.

“The Salty Sea,” which won first place in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest 2011, is a pure-hearted love song tinged with longing — a theme for the ages, set simply to Scharf’s voice and Formichella’s banjo. And “Small City Nights” is a rocker with a universal underpinning: the desire for something bigger than one’s self — whether it be true love, a calling, or the promise of a more satisfying tomorrow.

Perhaps that song and ‘Let It All Go,” which won honorable mention in the Telluride Troubadour Contest this year, tell Driftwood Fire’s story best. Both are about taking steps into uncharted territory to pursue a dream.

For Formichella and Scharf that process began when they were introduced by a friend in college who knew their similar musical interests. Yet it took two years for their collaboration to come to fruition. Both graduated and sought careers in natural science: Formichella as a recording engineer gauging the impact of man’s sonic debris on the American wilderness, and Scharf mapping out the territories of endangered species.

“As much as we enjoy those jobs, we really found our hearts in our live shows,” Scharf relates, “and the more we did that the more we realized being professional musicians was what we truly wanted and that we needed to follow a different path.
“Once we accepted that, we got out the metronome, Charlotte switched to playing the banjo, electric guitar and cello, and I started spending some quality time with the guitar. As we built our skills we also went back and began to dissect what we loved about great American music from the Carter Family to Bonnie Raitt to Dolly Parton to Gillian Welch & David Rawlings.”

As scientists, it’s no surprise that Scharf and Formichella diligently picked apart the elements of tone, harmony and technique that make the classic American songbook so haunting and evocative, and then began applying what they learned to their own compositions.

Similarly, the duo’s passion for learning both in the studio and on stage made recording How To Untangle A Heartache a two-year process. Their first trip into producer-engineer John McVey’s Coupe Studios in Boulder, Colorado, was to lay down skeletal versions of the songs, so they could be analyzed for structure and spirit. Ultimately some grew more elaborate while others, like “The Salty Sea,” were stripped down to more simple incarnations. In that time Formichella’s command of the electric guitar grew to play a larger role in the band’s palette, and dobro player Sally Van Meter, keyboardist Scott McCormick and percussionist Christian Teele were drafted for the final recordings.

“Our goal is for people who come to our shows or listen to our album to leave a little lighter,” Scharf explains. “We write our songs to have space and a sense of openness, and to tell their stories at an unhurried pace. They’re not meant to jump out at you from an iPod as part of the constant barrage of media we’re exposed to today.
“We want to give people an experience that slows down time a bit and encourages them to sit back and catch their breath — and maybe find a part of themselves in this music, like we did.”


RECENT PERFORMANCE REVIEWS

Dru Van Doren, Events Organizer, Out on the Town Colorado and P-Town Productions
"Currently my favorite band in Colorado... love the CD, but what a treat to see them live!!"

Jenny Gamble - Festival Director, Hyperactive Festival
"You were amazing!!! I am so very glad you made it to our event and hope you can make it again next year too. What a sweet addition."

Shannon Brunet - Festival Coordinator, Midwest Acoustic Music Festival
"[Driftwood Fire has] a ton of talent…we picked the right act!”

Kelley Kunz Crosbie - Program Manager, Des Moines Arts Festival
"Enjoyed your time at the Festival! We received so many positive comments…Thanks for a great performance!"

Instrumentation

Lynn Scharf - Lead vox, acoustic guitar

Charlotte Formichella - hollow body electric, banjo and backing vox

Bass, drums and keys, when performance permits.

Discography

How To Untangle A Heartache
Released 2011
-- Americana Radio airplay (Songlines: Leslie Rouffe)

Driftwood Fire (2008)
Released June of 2008
-- Colorado regional radio play

Audio

• Let It All Go
  Listen  
• Appalachian Hills
  Listen  
• The Salty Sea
  Listen  
• Small City Nights
  Listen  
• Grey Eyed Sunshine
  Listen  
• Sailor Song
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Appalachian Hills
• The Salty Sea
• Grey Eyed Sunshine
• Holes in the Sky
• Slept too Soundly
• Blown Asunder (CD cut)
• Sailor Song

Video

Appalachian Hills - visit dwfgirls youtube channel for live performance video

EPK_INTERVIEW.mov

Photo Gallery

Press

• Recent Press for Driftwood Fire [+ Show ]
  

  "Brilliant. This is one of the best CDs I have heard in a long time. These girls are unreal." - To..."Brilliant. This is one of the best CDs I have heard in a long time. These girls are unreal." - Tony Doolin, Americana Carnival
  
  "2011 has been quite the year for duos. So far, this year has seen the advent of The Civil Wars, and now come Driftwood Fire...a refreshing sound that is completely unique but feels familiar...Driftwood Fire is one of the most promising new bands of the year.
  With strong folksy harmonies and a sound that falls somewhere between The Waifs and Tres Chicas, their debut album How to Untangle a Heartache, is a gorgeous album that carries a lifetime of experience."
  -Roughstock.com
  
  "Wow. I kind of want to steal the song [The Salty Sea]" - Corb Lund, Songwriter
  "Paper Bag [is a] crowning achievement...Driftwood Fire has taken the Appalachian to the Rocky Mountains with style and substance."
  -Glide Magazine
  
  "...understated perfection. What stands out here is not only the heartfelt songwriting and skilled instrumentation, but also Scharf’s vocals, which are reminiscent of a cross between Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt...The tracks have a depth to them that belie their simplicity and clean style."
  -Colorado Music Buzz
  
  "...this duo’s [new] album blends Brandi Carlile’s passion, Sarah McLachlan’s gloss and Indigo Girls’ grit for an impressive effort."
  -88.9FM KRFC
  
  "Folk-pop at its best."
  -The Advocate
  
  "Lynn Scharf's smooth-as-ocean-polished-glass voice coupled with the sweet sounds Charlotte Formichella can coax out of a banjo and a guitar make this duo stand apart. It's not a surprise to hear the lonesome soul-touching songs of Appalachia at the root of their music; both artists were raised in those Scottish mountains of Virginia.
  In fact, the second song on the album, Appalachian Hills, is without a doubt my favorite of the bunch, though all the selections are stand-alone hits. Scharf's voice was made for this music; timeless, mournful, and distinctive.
  ...Of course they have a Facebook page! Go ahead, click that "Like" button! You'll do more than like this cd....you'll love it. "
  -Blogcritics.org
  
  "Musings on relationships intermingle with meditations on coal mines."
  -OnEarth Magazine
  Full-Text Link
  
  "On their debut album, this Fort Collins, Colo., duo strike a nice balance between the banjo-led, rustic sounds of Appalachian folk (there’s even a song here called “Appalachian Hills”) and the bright melodies of contemporary country-pop. Lead singer Lynn Scharf brings Sarah McLachlan sultriness to tunes like “Turn on the Radio,” while her and partner Charlotte Formichella’s love of Gillian Welch and early Dolly Parton shines through on quieter numbers like “The Salty Sea.” An understated but impressive debut."
  -MetroMix.com
  
  "How To Untangle A Heartache doesn’t sound like music that scientists would make, but when you consider that one of those scientists studies man’s sonic debris on wilderness, and the other maps endangered species’ territories, it’s no wonder that this Americana duo from Fort Collins put together such a tender and beautiful album. The playing is extraordinary, the songwriting is sincere, and it’s astonishing that this is a debut."
  -Marquee Magazine
  
  "Driftwood Fire will release their debut album, How To Untangle A Heartache on August 23rd. Though Driftwood Fire are billed as an Americana duo comprised of former scientists – singer-guitarist Lynn Scharf and multi-instrumentalist Charlotte Formichella – the two women were joined by several other talented musicians for the recording of How To Untangle A Heartache. The resulting album is truly a delight.
  The opening tracks are airy pop-folk songs that fall somewhere between Crooked Still and Beth Nielsen Chapman, but How To Untangle A Heartache really finds its footing with the panoramic “Let It All Go.”
  “Appalachian Hills” is the album’s biggest stunner. The haunting folk ballad explores the beautiful landscape and horrific racism in the Shenandoah valley during and after the Civil War.
  Other highlights are the jaunty Tin Pan Alley instrumental “Intermission” and the gentle pluck of banjo in the atmospheric finale “The Salty Sea.”
  -Muruch.com
  
  Tim Maddocks (The Scene Magazine)
  “While their musicianship is more than capable, it’s the song-writing that comes to the forefront…carried by the strength of Lynn Scharf’s sultry vocals. As the album’s sound begins to settle into a pattern of tastefully sustained emotion and melody…‘Holes in the Sky’ suddenly pops. Frankly, the song is great. The melody swings into your ears, the chorus is catchy and it’s sad when it’s over, reminding you why there’s a rewind button on the player.”
  
  Peer Bataille (Radio Alt Country Netherlands)
  “Many of these songs fall somewhere between Joni Mitchell and Michelle Shocked, however, the imminent Appalachian Hills, is reminiscent of Gillian Welch. This song examines the impact of civil war and racism the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and demonstrates musicianship of the highest class.”
  ___________________________________
  Colorado Daily
  "These are really great musicians…wonderful and captivating"
  ___________________________________
  Jenny Gamble - Festival Director, Hyperactive Festival
  "You were amazing!!! I am so very glad you made it to our event and hope you can make it again next year too. What a sweet addition."
  ___________________________________
  Shannon Brunet - Festival Coordinator, Midwest Acoustic Music Festival
  "[Driftwood Fire has] a ton of talent…we picked the right act!”
  ___________________________________
  Kelley Kunz Crosbie - Program Manager, Des Moines Arts Festival
  "Enjoyed your time at the Festival! We received so many positive comments…Thanks for a great performance!"
  ___________________________________
  Nancy Anderson - Board of Directors, Lincoln Association of Fine and Traditional Arts
  "We want to bring you back for our Main Stage series!”
  ___________________________________
  Karli Frerichs, Owner and Entertainment Buyer, Shaky Tree Coffeehouse
  "Completely in love with you guys…any chance of getting you back?"
  ___________________________________
  Butch Hause - Engineer/producer (Norman Blake, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice)
  "No wonder [Driftwood Fire is] creating a buzz…Some of the best stuff I've heard in quite a while."
  ___________________________________
  Dru Van Doren, Events Organizer, Out on the Town Colorado and P-Town Productions
  "Currently my favorite band in Colorado... love the CD, but what a treat to see them live!!"
  _________________________________
  Vance Gilbert (Singer/Songwriter)
  “Sure to be a true success story.”
  

Setlist

Set length: up to 120 minutes

Backdoor
Appalachian Hills
Let it all go
Blown Asunder
Sailor Song
Small City nights
Grey Eyed Sunshine
Salty sea
Neither Here nor There
Slept Too Soundly
Anyway
All My Demons
Holes in the Sky
Turn on the Radio
Georgia Avenue
One Thing Left
Separately
Jolene (Dolly Parton)
I'll Fly Away (traditional)
Other traditionals

Basic Requirements

Calendar