Ellen Woloshin

Artist Information

Biography

The process of recording and performing music has been an important step in my personal journey. It has taught me that there is no greater gift than being able to do the thing you want to do. Therein lies the achievement…;”

In immersing myself into the reality Ellen Woloshin has achieved with her latest CD, Water Into Wine, it’s clear that we are the ones who are the beneficiaries of Ellen’s gift. And by that I refer not only to her gift as a songwriter (with her co-writer, the inspiring Jennifer Dent) or as a consummate performer… but, more importantly, her gift to share the sounds she has in her head and in her heart.

For what we have is a recording that lets us know exactly who Ellen is. Ellen says that Water Into Wine is about “transformation and growth — the possibility of all things juxtaposed with their inherent difficulties.” But it’s more than that. It’s a recording full of the juxtapositions of modern life. It’s a work that is at the same time delicate and yet innately powerful; intensely personal while connecting to our universal condition; deceptively simple but full of all the complications involved in living in today’s constantly shifting world.

The purity of Ellen’s musical vision is the thing that immediately struck me in listening to Water Into Wine. There’s no grandstanding or tricks involved here. The songwriting by Ellen and Jennifer is profoundly honest — in Ellen’s words, “in credit to Jennifer, who gave me the courage to write and the motivation to take full advantage of the power of language.” And the sound of Ellen’s voice always offers a direct line to her emotions. Immediately from the first track, “Making My Way Back (To Free)”, we are instinctively aware that this is music coming from the soul. As Ellen sings of personal freedom and “following your inner voice,” her journey becomes ours as well.

But it is as the CD unfolds that we are subtly drawn in by Ellen’s gift to connect with our common experiences. There’s the exploration of loss in the haunting “Joanna”… the intricacies of coping with what is left unsaid in “The Words”… the drive to simply forge ahead in “Let It Go Now”. It’s not the manipulative, manufactured sounds we’ve, unfortunately, come to accept as the norm. This is music with real emotion.

Artfully produced by the masterful Kevin Bents (whose credits include Steely Dan, Phoebe Snow, Boz Scaggs), Water Into Wine is gracefully enriched by what Ellen calls “Kevin’s innovative production ideas that breathe new life into songs Jennifer and I already felt strongly about.” Kevin also contributed most of the instrumental tracks as well as backup vocals. In addition, Jon Gordon (whose credits include Suzanne Vega, Madonna) arranged and produced the last track, “You Break My Fall,” and played many of the instruments on that cut. The CD’s sound is fresh and modern, buoyed by the musicianship of Kevin and Jon as well as the wonderful Doug Yowell, playing live percussion and drums on most of the cuts.

Like Ellen’s first recording, Tried and True, we are also treated to Ellen’s personal take on “weaving great and cherished, well-known songs with my songs” — in this case The Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out”. And as in Tried and True (which received wide airplay, including appearing on the playlist of BBC Radio 2), Ellen expertly rises to the “often daunting challenge of delivering a new version that can stand on its own.” Ellen makes the song very personal and seamlessly incorporates a tune we already love with her own distinctive songs.

Ellen’s connection with music is simply a part of her. She grew up studying classical piano and started singing at the age of 16. When she decided to forego a classical career, Ellen quite naturally fell into the “family business.” The daughter of Sid Woloshin —the legendary Madison Avenue jingles man who wrote one of the most powerful ad tunes of all times, McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today” — Ellen found a way to use her talents by becoming one of the voices of McDonald’s when she was still in college. From there, Ellen sang and wrote jingles for the likes of advertisers from Crystal Light to Trump Towers (including making certain the entire country knew that “Nobody Cares for Eyes More Than Pearle”).

But it is as a singer-songwriter that Ellen has really distinguished herself. Ellen’s personal appearances have reached from the college circuit to gigs in her hometown of NYC at the famous Knitting Factory and as part of the “Battery Park Concert Series” to performances at the Bluebird Café in Nashville. Ellen has opened for such artists as Laura Nyro, Bill Stains and Jim Dawson. As a songwriter, “The Promise of Life” has been recorded by Dionne Warwick and Ellen has written material for Ben Vereen and LaToya Jackson. Ellen’s unique voice as a singer-songwriter is undeniable — and I am constantly in awe of her talent as well as her generosity as a good and true friend.

Water Into Wine is just the next step in the journey we all share with Ellen. She calls the process of creating Water Into Wine a “very intimate experience of letting my true feelings show — and stopping any instinct to guard or protect them.” Personally, I’ve always been grateful for the depth and breadth of feelings Ellen lavishes on her friends… including me. With Water Into Wine, Ellen reaches a new maturity as an artist and unleashes her vision to the world at large, instantly making us all her confidants. And we are all the better for it.

Instrumentation

Ellen Woloshin - Vocals, Percussion
Rick Briskin - Guitar
Steven Donaghey - Bass
various guest artists

Discography

"Water Into Wine" (new release) "Let It Go Now" from this CD aired on the BBC Radio 2 recently.

"Tried & True" (debut release)
Received airplay on stations throughout the United States. Ellen's version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" also aired on the BBC Radio 2.

Some internet sites stream audio from Tried & True: for example "Ladies who sing the Beatles."

Audio

• The Words
  Listen  
• Joanna
  Listen  
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps
  Listen  
• Let It Go Now
  Listen  

Lyrics

• The Words
• Joanna
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps
• Let It Go Now

Video

Joanna

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Art of The Torch Singer" [+ Show ]
  

  "Woloshin’s pure alto voice has emerged as a fine, elegant vehicle in its own right, adept at expres..."Woloshin’s pure alto voice has emerged as a fine, elegant vehicle in its own right, adept at expressing sentiment without pitching into sentimentality. Water Into Wine is a smart, polished advertisement for an impressive talent."
  ...Piers Ford "Art of the Torch Singer"...read more
  
  

• New Music Critiques [+ Show ]
  

  Woloshin has an easy-listening soft as silk warm as toast alto voice that is note-perfect on her sop...Woloshin has an easy-listening soft as silk warm as toast alto voice that is note-perfect on her sophisticated original co-writes...Her decidedly female-friendly approach reaches its zenith with the inspirational "Making My Way Back (To Free)" Each tune's sound clarity is pristine, ideally conveying the artist's human, high-touch message.

• Ellen Woloshin-While My Guitar Gently Weeps [+ Show ]
  

  "Ms Woloshin has made a version of the song that is so heart-achingly beautiful and so brilliantly ... "Ms Woloshin has made a version of the song that is so heart-achingly beautiful and so brilliantly ‘un-saccharine’ that you simply cannot do other than applaud her sheer class."...Andy Snipper

• New York Songstress Fills Her Glass [+ Show ]
  

  (About Water Into Wine)..."It’s certainly a solid display from a talented artist, who with the right...(About Water Into Wine)..."It’s certainly a solid display from a talented artist, who with the right luck could have the world at her feet."
  ...Ian Fields "Americana UK"
  

• While My Guitar Gently Weeps [+ Show ]
  

  "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" has been covered by dozens of artists already however no one as emoti..."While My Guitar Gently Weeps" has been covered by dozens of artists already however no one as emotive as Woloshin's."
  
  

• Water Into Wine [+ Show ]
  

  "Woloshin is continuing to embolden in her song-writing flame that contains enough spirit, a little ..."Woloshin is continuing to embolden in her song-writing flame that contains enough spirit, a little gusto, plenty of personality and a charming poetic resonance to help her make her own mark".

• Ellen On The BBC [+ Show ]
  

  The BBC Radio 2 will be playing "Let It Go Now" one of the tracks from Ellen's new release "Water In...The BBC Radio 2 will be playing "Let It Go Now" one of the tracks from Ellen's new release "Water Into Wine." "The Music Goes Round" is hosted by Desmond Carrington and broadcast out of Scotland throughout the UK. Tune in March 31st between 2:00-3:00 PM EST.
  
  Type in this link to listen :
  
  www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/radio2
  
  
  

• 12th Annual Unisong Contest Finalist [+ Show ]
  

  “Where Does All The Time Go” from “Water Into Wine” was a finalist in this world wide competition in...“Where Does All The Time Go” from “Water Into Wine” was a finalist in this world wide competition in the song & performance category (co-written with Jennifer Dent).
  

• Soundbites [+ Show ]
  

  About Ellen's first release "Tried & True".... "Woloshin takes some great tunes and gives them ...About Ellen's first release
  "Tried & True"....
  
  "Woloshin takes some great tunes and gives them a soulful twist. Listen for her gorgeous rendition of Sting's 'When We Dance.'

• Bartlett Concert Series features Singer-Songwriter Ellen Woloshin [+ Show ]
  

  The Bartlett Arboretum & Garden Summer Concert Series continues on Sunday July 24th with the present...The Bartlett Arboretum & Garden Summer Concert Series continues on Sunday July 24th with the presentation of singer-songwriter Ellen Woloshin.
  Ms. Woloshin, back by popular demand after a stunning performance last summer, has been described by one reviewer as having "a soulful voice dripping with passion."
  Ellen's solo CD, Tried & True, moved one reviewer to write that she is "blessed with the ability to beautifully frame a song with a voice that embodies the essence of warmth and sincerity." She performs not only her own original music, but creates fresh interpretations of classic songs-with particular acclaim for her renditions of Sting's "When We Dance" and George Harrison's "WHile My Guitar Gently Weeps."

• Brennan Coffeehouse [+ Show ]
  

  BCH's inaugural performance was October 15, 2004, with Jane Kelly Williams, Barbara Beeman and Bill ...BCH's inaugural performance was October 15, 2004, with Jane Kelly Williams, Barbara Beeman and Bill Bannon. Since that first concert BCH has been proud to present some ot the most outstanding talents performing today, including Chuck Brodsky, Lui Collins, Dave's True Story, Nadine Goellner, Kim & Reggie Harris, Priscilla Herdman, Kate Jacobs, Carol Lester, Terence Martin, Bob Malone, Joe McKay, Tris McCall Gene D. Plumber, Chuck Pyle, Chrissy Roberts, David Roth, Rhond Schuster, Ellen Woloshin and Diane Ziegler.

• Ellen on Radio Crystal Blue [+ Show ]
  

  A track from "Water Into Wine" will air on Radio Crystal Blue's show "Novus Ordo" this Sunday May 10...A track from "Water Into Wine" will air on Radio Crystal Blue's show "Novus Ordo" this Sunday May 10th 5:30-6:45 EDT.
  
  www.radiocrystalblue.com
  

• Summer Gallery of Sound (The Equitable Center, NYC) [+ Show ]
  

  She's told you that "nobody cares for eyes more than Pearle," and sold millions of burgers for the w...She's told you that "nobody cares for eyes more than Pearle," and sold millions of burgers for the world's largest fast-food franchise but her true voice is magical-a Tried & True balladeer, as her latest CD proclaims. The voice belongs to Ellen Woloshin who serves up beautiful melodies in a style that is sultry and pure, occasionally ethereal and always full of heart. Joined by two backing musicians, Ellen Woloshin sends 787 Seventh's Gallery of Sound off to a smooth, sexy start as the opening act for the building's summer concert series....

Setlist

Setlists are usually drawn from current releases along with a sprinkling of famous songs in the genre. Linking familiarity with songs that are brand new can be effective. An audience is at home with something they know and love and therefore tend to be more open to new material.

Basic Requirements

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