Alan Semerdjian

Artist Information

Biography

New York-based indie singer/songwriter Alan Semerdjian has quieted down considerably since his days fronting the sonic alt-pop outfit Surreal. Although the driving grooves and swirling guitars are missing, Alan's current work still has the same attention to craft and poetic sensibility of his earlier days as well as the deep melodic longing that earned him the respect of critics, fans across east coast and beyond, CMJ attention and radio airplay, and television and film credits.

Alan has had music placed in LIFETIME and WB network programs as well as a song in the short film "Whatever We Do" starring Robert Downey Jr., Tim Roth, and others. The unreleased short film is written by actor Kevin Connolly, produced by Tobey Maguire for FOX SEARCHLAB, and is currently only available online.

His 2005 independently-released CD “When There Was Something Wrong With You” - which features the production work of longtime friend and collaborateur Michael Bloom (Rilo Kiley, The Elected, Jenny Lewis), Philip A. Jimenez (Wheatus, Gordo Gringo, Beat Radio), and Brian Blackburn (Peggy Lee Sings Lieber and Stoller) – created quite a buzz in NYC. Alan was a featured performer on WFUV’s City Folk Sunday Breakfast in 2006 and participated in its Under the Radar Series at Makor. His recent shows at clubs like The Living Room and The Knitting Factory have been packed, and the response across North America has been growing as well. Alan has toured every summer in support of the last release, performing in such rooms as The Hotel Café in LA and Casa Del Popolo in Montreal.

Songs on "When There Was Something Wrong With You" are currently receiving airplay on internet stations such as Indie Artist Radio, Fearless Radio, Harris Radio, and Buzzplay, and the award-winning “cityfolk” station WFUV in NYC.

Alan is currently working on a new album with the production team of Bloom, Jimenez, and Blackburn. Basic tracks were recorded with Matthew Cullen (My Morning Jacket, Rachel Yamagata and many others) at The Clubhouse Studios in Rhinebeck, NY and special guests include Franz Nicolay from The Hold Steady and accomplished duduk player Jivan Gasparian.

A volume of his poetry is also going to be released through Spuyten Duyvil in 2007.

Instrumentation

Alan Semerdjian - vocals, guitars

with accompaniment by any combination of the following players:

Matthew Iselin - piano, keys
Michael Bloom - guitar
Christopher Kuffner - bass
Tom Karcher - bass, chapman stick
Carol Thomas - vocals
Chris Lovrin - bass
Nick Gianni - tenor sax, upright bass
Daniel Carter - alto and tenor sax, flute, clarinet, trumpet
Ian Katz - drums
Bopa King Carre - drums, percussion
Dave Diamond - drums, percussion
Maureen Keenan - flute
Melinda Hirsch - viola

Discography

Melting Palette Records

- DRAWING BRIDGES AND BASEMENT SKETCHES
Surreal 1998

- SURREAL Surreal 1999

- GIFT Surreal 2000


Alan Arts Music

- Two releases by improvisational jazz project Stratosphere 2001

- OUT Watercats 2001

- THREE Milquetoast 2002

- HERO CITY Alan Semerdjian 2003

- WHEN THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU Alan Semerdjian 2005


Approximate total CDs at performances, through soundscan (retail, cdbaby, etc.), and online since 1998: 10,000.

Audio

• Your Love (demo 2007)
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• When There Was Something Wrong With You (2005)
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• Halo (demo 2007)
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• Siren Song (2005)
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Lyrics

• When There Was Something Wrong With You
• Your Love

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Alan Semerdjian [+ Show ]
  

  some reviews of "When There Was Something Wrong With You": “One of the best CDs I’ve heard in a l...some reviews of "When There Was Something Wrong With You":
  
  “One of the best CDs I’ve heard in a long time.”
  - John Platt WFUV
  
  “Tastefully played, well-organized, filled with excellent musicians and a strong singer, there’s a wealth of good songs in the collection…like a greatest hits of someone you’ve never heard of.”
  - Jon Berger BOOG CITY
  
  “Because this CD encompasses many styles, it would appeal to a multitude of music lovers. It would probably appeal most to fan of Phish or Dave Matthews Band because several of the tracks are in that vein of music. The title track, “Siren Song,” “Bucket in a Well,” “Wade,” and “Almost Good Enough” are acoustic pop built around acoustic guitar strums and harmonized vocals. In particular, “Wade” is reminiscent of The Wallflowers with its interplay of organ and strummed guitar. Alan’s vocals also sound similar to Jakob Dylan’s vocals on this song. “Calling Out,” “Melody,” and “Memoir” all feature bluesy licks on an electric guitar and gruffer vocals than the pop songs. On “Only Gets Better,” Alan sounds like Elliott Smith both vocally and as a result of the lo-fi production.”
  
  - Aubrey Rocheleau NORTHEAST IN-TUNE
  
  “This album begins with the title track, which is similar in style to the music of Josh Rouse. "Siren Song" is a good rootsy tune that could just easily have been performed by David Lindley on banjo and Bruce Springsteen on harmonica. "Calling Out" and "Bucket in a Well" are particularly rich songs. The richness and complexity of these songs remind me of Adam Mugavero. "Bucket in a Well" is a dream for lovers of stringed instruments. It features guitar, mandolin, and viola all layered together with Semerdjian's easy vocals. Easy is probably the best way to describe his voice. His delivery sounds effortless… Semerdjian pretty much covers the whole spectrum.”
  
  - Gary Schwind ROCKNWORLD.COM
  
  “[This] beautifully packaged self-released debut marks the arrival of a singer-songwriter the likes of which Long Island has not birthed since Lou Reed and Billy Joel with a delivery that reminds one of American Music Club produced for Asthmatic Kitty.”
  
  - Ron Hart INTERBORO ROCK TRIBUNE
  
  ”With a knack for composing well-crafted lyrically charged pop songs, fans of Fiona Apple, John Mayer, or The Wallflowers might appreciate Semerdjian’s latest musical offerings. His songs blend cadenced acoustic folk ballads and pop songs alongside electric rockers backed by a full band…a fair mix of introspection, sentiment, romance, and honesty…”
  
  - M.J. Kessel GOOD TIMES
  
  “New York native singer/songwriter Alan Semerdjian writes driving guitar-centric pop-rock. There's a bit of shoegazing to be sure but this album doesn't have time to stop and smell any roses. With some folk rock and harmonica blues in hand, Alan Semerdjian casts a wide net and pulls back a wonderful variety of music fans. Produced by Michael Bloom, Phil Jimenez, and Brian Blackburn whose collective resume speaks of greatness-Rilo Kiley, The Elected, Gordo Gringo, Wheatus-the album breathes a collective sigh of light pop, folk rock, indie rock, and alt.country. I started Smother so I could help struggling artists and occasionally I'm granted the license to find some that simply should be groups that musicians everywhere turn to for inspiration, Alan is one such artist.”
  
  - J-Sin SMOTHER.NET
  
  
  
  general praise for Alan Semerdjian:
  
  “sweetly crooned lead vocals” – Jersey Beat
  
  “such a good artist because he is not readily definable” – Musician’s Exchange
  
  “full of dream pop” – Long Island Voice
  
  "an impressive, contemporary sound...rich, textured songs and poetic lyrics" – Relix Magazine
  
  one of “the new faces in poetry” – Newsday
  

Setlist

Alan writes and performs original compositions though he has been known to rework songs from such artists as Elvis Costello, John Lennon, Peter Gabriel, Aimee Mann, and others. His sets have ranged from four minutes to four hours.

Basic Requirements

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