Amy Vee

Artist Information

Biography

Management by Emerald Violin
For bookings and enquiries:
e: emeraldviolinmanagement@gmail.com
ph: +61 (0)402 478 805

Publicity by Oscars Publicity
For publicity, promotion, media and industry relations:
e. oscars.publicity@live.com.au
ph.: +61 (0)427 227 503


AMY VEE INDUSTRY BIOGRAPHY 2011


Ethereal folk songstress Amy Vee has solidified her reputation as a fierce Australian music presence performing tirelessly in her home country and overseas.

"...when she starts to sing, you realise that this demure Australian is anything but ordinary." - Wohomusic, UK

Since the launch of her award-winning EP Sleeping Dogs Lie in late 2009, Vee has performed scores of live shows along the East Coast, along with performances in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and many places in between. In June 2010, Vee’s tenacity was exemplified when she single-handedly embarked on a month-long tour of England and Scotland.

The extraordinary songstress saw out the year with two performances at the prestigious Peats Ridge Festival alongside Australian acts such as Angus & Julia Stone and international acts such as Trentmoller (Denmark), Lightspeed Champion (UK) and The Shout Out Louds (Sweden).

“Along with Laura Marling, Lisa Mitchell and Florence and the Machine, Amy Vee has made a sterling contribution to the recent surge of female-fronted folk music” - Jennifer Peters, The AU Review

Unashamedly proud of her Newcastle roots, Vee continues to sharpen her industry presence through support from Emerald Violin Arts Health Management & Consultancy and promotional backing from Oscars Publicity.

As well as being staunchly passionate about home-grown live music, Vee is also an advocate for mental health and wellbeing, spending the last four years on a national mental health promotion project which supports people working in the Australian film, television and theatre to develop dramatic works that reduce stigma around mental illness and promote help-seeking among vulnerable people.


AMY VEE SNAPSHOT:

• Vee’s music is beautifully distinctive, yet aligns closely with the indie/folk movement currently gaining momentum in the UK, North America and increasingly, Australia;
• Vee is a seasoned and professional live performer and musician, having toured and recorded extensively in Australia and overseas in the last 7-8 years (including UK in 2010 and Canada in 2009);
• Vee is currently promoting her latest EP, Sleeping Dogs Lie to excellent reviews. Vee has recently performed at Peats Ridge Festival, New Beginnings Festival (Newcastle), FUSE Festival (Adelaide) and Tamworth Music Festival.
• Vee has won several industry awards (including a former MUSICOZ Artist of the Year) and songwriting awards (including the ABC Songwriters Recognition Award) and highly regarded among industry peers (she has shared her vocals with various successful Aussie acts such as ONinc and Groove Terminator, with whom she toured in support of Moby)
• In the last year, Amy has shared the stage with a variety of successful and exciting emerging artists such as Newton Faulkner, Jeff Martin, Adalita (from Magic Dirt), The Seabellies and many more;
• Oscars Publicity will be raising awareness of Vee’s unique brand among international, national, regional and local media. Vee is media trained.
• Vee is actively involved in mental health promotion and suicide prevention on a national level.


AMY VEE ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
By Nick Milligan

They say that the only constant in life is change. The shifting career of Amy Vee is no exception. Beguiling solo performer. Electric popster. Virtuosic rocker. In 2010, Vee will come full circle, her talent stripped bare on a captivating acoustic release called Sleeping Dogs Lie.

Amy Vee began her musical life as a solo writer and performer, eventually forming the musical collective The Virtues. Through natural evolution Amy Vee and The Virtues became a rock band, with their singer putting down her acoustic guitar in favour of an electric.

Ears took notice and Amy Vee and The Virtues became hot property on the live circuit, touring hard and garnering awards, from the 2005 MusicOz Artist Of The Year to a nomination for an LA Music Award. Her vocal work with Groove Terminator would see her tour Australia in support of Moby.

But in late 2008, Vee felt an instinctive pull toward her original sound - the soft introspection of timeless folk music. Deciding to “shake things up a bit”, the songwriter decided to distance herself from The Virtues’ sizzling, electrified approach and wrote a collection of solo acoustic songs. Recording a series of demos and taking a tour of Canada, Vee was ready to share her changed direction and recorded five tracks in the studio of Newcastle-based producer Gareth Hudson.

The resulting work, Sleeping Dogs Lie, is a gentle, drifting collection that unravels further with every listen. The instrumentation is minimal, yet no less absorbing. Vee’s lyrics carry themes of the necessity for change, even if that means personal sacrifice. It’s about seeing the positive influences in the world around you and embracing them.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes in myself - personally and musically, internally and externally. Some only minute, others quite profound. This new recording represents me acknowledging and accepting these changes,” explains Vee.

There is an inherent honesty in Sleeping Dogs Lie that can be heard in Vee’s personal revelations. One example is the final track ‘Fall To Zero’. “I think ['Fall To Zero'] is really about that fundamental need that we all seem to have to find a kindred spirit. Not necessarily a partner or a soulmate in the romantic sense… just that desire to be understood and respected and to have one’s thoughts and beliefs reflected back. I wrote this song during a time when I was feeling a bit lost and I think you can hear that longing in there,” explains Vee.

This restlessness finds its way into the song ‘Borrowing From Thieves’. “This song is about being comfortable with knowing that sometimes the things you want aren’t meant to be yours,” explains Vee. “It’s told through the story of two people who share an incredible bond but the paths of their lives mean they can never truly connect. By the end of the song, they’ve acknowledged the relationship for what it is - and never will be - and moved on.”

In 2009, Vee’s new material was recognised with a sweep at the 1233 ABC Music Awards. The singer received the ABC Music Publishing/APRA Songwriters and Composers Recognition Award, Best Folk Song for ‘Borrowing From Thieves’ and the Best Contemporary Song for ‘We Are The Hours’.

2010 will be an affirming year for Vee, as she takes the songs of Sleeping Dogs Lie to live audiences around Australia and the UK, with only her voice, lilting acoustic guitar and occasional use of live loops, percussion and melodica as her weapons of choice. While an artist’s future is never predictable, one thing is for certain. Vee is welcoming change.


AWARDS AND CREDITS:

* 2009 Semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition for Adult Contemporary.

* 2009 WINNER of the APRA / ABC Publishing Songwriter of the Year Award

* 2009 - Shortlisted for the Vanda and Young Songwriting Prize

* 2009 WINNER 1233 ABC Music Award - Contemporary

* 2009 WINNER 1233 ABC Music Award - Folk

* 2007 Nomiation for LA MUSIC AWARD - Alternative.

* 2005 MUSICOZ ARTIST OF THE YEAR.

* 2005 Semi-Finalist UK Songwriting Competition.

* 2004 WINNER – “EXPOSE YOURSELF” band competition.

* 2004 “Songwriters Live” Artist of the Year.

* 2005 WINNER 1233 ABC MUSIC AWARD - Pop.

* 2004 WINNER 1233 ABC MUSIC AWARD – Pop.

* 2006 Nomination 1233 ABC MUSIC AWARD - Rock.

* 2006 Nomination 1233 ABC MUSIC AWARDS - Alternative.

* 2006 Nomination 1233 ABC MUSIC AWARD - Pop.

* 2004 Nomination 1233 ABC MUSIC AWARDS - Soft Rock.

* 2003 WINNER MUSICOZ AWARD - Acoustic Rock.

* 2003 Nomination MUSICOZ AWARD - Alternative.

* 2003 OSCA SONGWRITING AWARD 2003: 1st and 4th place in full production category.

* 2003 Nomiation 1233 ABC AWARD - Folk.

* 2003 Nomination 1233 ABC AWARD - Pop.

* 2003 Nomination 1233 ABC AWARD - Soft Rock.

* 2003 Nomination 1233 ABC AWARD - Best Female Vocalist.

* 2003 www.mp3.com.au - Track “All in Me” made it to #1 on adult alternative song and artist charts within 1 week of debut and remained so for 8 consecutive weeks. Track “Still Waiting” also made it to #1 on adult alternative song charts in 2003.

Artists supported/shared bill with:

Netwon Faulkner (UK)
Jeff Martin (Canada)
Hawksley Workman (Canada)
An Horse (USA)
Mike Rosenberg (UK)
Adalita
Little Birdy
The Whitlams
Bertie Blackman
The Seabellies
The Boat People
The Fumes
Blue King Brown
Lior
iOTA
Diana Anaid
Monique Brumby
Sarah McLeod
78 Saab
Diesel
Fourth Floor Collapse
The Falls
Ember Swift
The Screaming Jets
Daryl Braithwaite
Mental As Anything
James Reyne
Jon Stevens
Matt Finish
Fruit
Anthony Snape
Jason Lowe
Renny Field

Other points of interest:

• Amy has performed regular gigs, residencies and showcases for the last 7-8 years in Australia, Canada and the UK. Some of her favourite venues have included The Troubadour, London (UK); The Vanguard, Newtown; The Basement, Circular Quay and Lizottes, Newcastle.

• Amy a strong internet following through the establishment of their official website www.amyvee.com and active involvement in social media and the independent music scene online.

• Amy sends regular email newsletter that go out to a list of hundreds of subscribers. Join by emailing info@amyvee.com with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line.

• Amy has featured print media such as "The Sydney Morning Herald", "The Daily Telegraph", "Drum Media", "Brag Magazine", "Reverb Magazine", "Rave Magazine", "The Newcastle Herald", "Voyeur" (VIRGIN in-flight) magazine & American music magazines "ROCKRGRL" and "Unsigned", among many others.

Instrumentation

Amy Vee - Guitar, Melodica, Vocals., Percussion., Live Looping

Discography

"Sleeping Dogs Lie" (EP) 2009
- Amy Vee

Tracks:
Enough for Now
We are the Hours
Borrowing from Thieves
Heart-Shaped Space
Fall to Zero

Available at www.amyvee.com


"Archetype" (LP) MGM 2007
- Amy Vee & The Virtues

Tracks:
Of Nothing
Letting You Down
Outside Looking In
So New
Still Waiting
All That Remains
Another Surrender
Searching For Somnia
Say Goodnight
Walls
Time Doesn't Mind

Available from most CD retailers and on iTunes(Australia only)


"Searching For Somnia" (single) MGM 2005
- Amy Vee & The Virtues

Tracks:
Searching For Somnia
Say Goodnight
Habit


“quintessence” (EP) Independent 2004
– Amy Vee & The Virtues

Tracks:
Where You Are
One Hand
Walls
Keeping To Myself
Still Waiting (live)


“All In Me” (EP) – Independent 2003 – Amy Vee
Tracks: All In Me
Friendly Fire (acoustic)
Where You Are (acoustic)
All In Me (acoustic /live)

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Reverb Nation

Audio

• Enough for Now ("Sleeping Dogs Lie" EP, 2009)
  Listen   Download
• Heart-Shaped Space ("Sleeping Dogs Lie" EP, 2009)
  Listen   Download
• We Are The Hours ("Sleeping Dogs Lie" EP 2009)
  Listen   Download
• Outside Looking In ("Archetype" LP, 2007)
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Outside Looking In
• Heart-Shaped Space

Video

Borrowing From Thieves - Amy Vee LIVE @ Lizottes Newcastle, September 2009

Photo Gallery

Press

• Amy Vee Live at The Cuban, Camden (UK) [+ Show ]
  

  I met up with Amy Vee on the twelfth date of her 14 date UK tour. A busy schedule for a stay of only...I met up with Amy Vee on the twelfth date of her 14 date UK tour. A busy schedule for a stay of only 28 days, that has seen her travel the length and breadth of the country. Tonight’s venue was a themed bar nestled amongst the markets of London’s trendy Camden - a drinking hole adorned with Che Guevara pictures and Latin American knick-knacks.
  
  Amy had agreed to let me interview her so after initial greetings and introductions, we chatted above the din of The Cuban’s clientele. Realising that we would never hear each other over the noise, we wandered out to the side of the bar, drinks in hand, to find a spot quiet enough to record. Amy was easy to talk to and her answers were insightful and honest. A confident yet humble character, Amy refreshingly lacked an over inflated ego. I suppose I could say that Amy Vee is just like any other normal person. However, when she starts to sing, you realise that this demure Australian is anything but ordinary.
  
  Her set at The Cuban consisted of five or so songs spanning her career from her time with The Virtues all the way up to her new EP – Sleeping Dogs Lie. Accompanied by guitar, melodica and the occasional vocal loop, this was as stripped back as it could possibly be and it demonstrated just how accomplished an artist Amy truly is.
  
  Amy sings with a clarity that is rarely heard nowadays. Her voice floats through the air and washes over you leaving an indelible imprint of the purity her vocals provide. Lyrically, Amy manages to connect with one’s heart; soul even. Both uplifting and melancholic, she uses her song writing skills to communicate what so many of us can’t.
  
  As the night came to an end, I walked with Amy along Camden High Street towards the nearest Tube station, chatting as though we had known each other for a lot longer than the 3 or 4 hours it had actually been. It was a fitting end to what was a fantastic evening and one that I will remember for a long time.
  
  - Lou Stevens, Wohomusic

• Music on the Menu: Amy Vee Live at Lizottes Newcastle [+ Show ]
  

  ...With just a guitar, some effective use of the loop pedal and of course her voice, a sweet sensiti......With just a guitar, some effective use of the loop pedal and of course her voice, a sweet sensitivity seemed to resonate around the room and make you just want to melt away. And indeed this was the act that made the crowd put down their forks, end their conversations and just soak up the music.
  
  Now not knocking any of the acts before it, but Amy’s was a clear example of an experienced and clearly solidified singer. Such a strong vocal performance that matched any album recording, but with an additional warmth that comes with a live performance. Her set mainly consisted of songs from her latest EP ‘Sleeping Dogs Lie’ which Amy described as an album all about rocking the boat, saying “in order to make big positive changes in your life, sometimes you’ve got to shake things up a bit”. She also included songs from her previous band The Virtues.
  
  ‘Enough for Now’ Amy introduces as the first “political song she attempted” and went on say that it “couldn’t be more relevant than it is now”. And undeniably this upbeat, animated acoustic pop track with driving lyrics and trouble free yet slightly haunting melody is definitely one of the strongest on the EP, and somewhat reminiscent of Sarah Blasko. Some really intricate guitar playing was shown for ‘Heart Shaped Space’, and with Amy essentially creating her own backing track with just her voice and the loop pedal, a subtle guitar riff proved enough to carry the song through. ‘Borrowing from Thieves’, perhaps the most lyrically driven song on the EP, was sung with the soul, hunger and passion of an artist so clearly on the verge of that ‘big break’. And although the sound guy might have been signalling her to wrap it up after only a small set, the crowd certainly weren’t. Nevertheless, she ended with the beautiful closing track of the EP ‘Fall to Zero’, with the line “Curling up to a warm cup of resolve, I forget what I was frightened of” pretty much summing up the mood that had by now permeated the room.
  
  Confessing her love for this local venue, Amy admitted it’s been a while since she had played at Lizottes, and despite her recent international tour in the UK, admitted to the crowed “I know everyone sais this but I still consider this venue to be my favourite place in the world to sing… and they don’t pay me extra to say that”. I got to talk to her after the show to find out what was coming up next, and it’s definitely going to be a busy year, but all promising news. She’ll be heading further north, continuing her regional tour of NSW and Qld, as well as working on an album of live recordings so keep an eye out for that. She also said she wanted to go back to the UK in 2012 and hopefully get on some festival line-ups, and who knows maybe even some Australian ones.
  
  I really can’t recommend her EP more, so for more information on where to buy it go to her website: amyvee.com
  
  Jessica Willard, Optus Sounds Scribe

• "Sleeping Dogs Lie" EP review [+ Show ]
  

  Distancing herself from the sizzling, electrified approach of her pop-rock outfit The Virtues, Newca...Distancing herself from the sizzling, electrified approach of her pop-rock outfit The Virtues, Newcastle’s favorite rock-chick Amy Vee has swapped her searing electric guitar for fingerpicked, nylon-string acoustics for her first solo foray, the recently released EP Sleeping Dogs Lie.
  
  A fine, folk-infused collection of acoustic songs, the five tracks present on the record carry Vee’s signature warm, nocturnal vocal delivery, with the slower, unhurried pace and laid-back delivery lending her songs an often melancholic feel, even when she exercises her wry and ready sense of humor.
  
  Meandering through Sleeping Dogs Lie, listeners will find Vee accompanied only by a lilting acoustic guitar, thumping double bass and her melodic voice, often double-tracking her vocals, to create an effect of spaciousness inside her beautiful songs.
  
  Long-time fans of The Virtues’ signature eclectic rock musings may find Vee’s change in direction hard to digest, with her gentle lyrics of love and life more reminiscent of the world-weary folk ruminations of Joni Mitchell than the howls of classic female rockers, such as Debbi Harry and Chrissy Hynde, that she once evoked.
  
  Along with Laura Marling, Emmy the Great, Lisa Mitchell and Florence and the Machine, Amy Vee has made a sterling contribution to the recent surge of female-fronted folk music with this lovely little EP.
  
  Taking the songs of Sleeping Dogs Lie to live audiences around Australia and the UK later this year, audiences can expect wonderful performances from Amy Vee, a truly impressive yet grounded Australian singer.
  
  Review Score: 7.5/10
  
  Jennifer Peters, The AU Review

• "Sleeping Dogs Lie" EP review [+ Show ]
  

  Having built a live following as the singer of smouldering rockers The Virtues, Amy Vee is returning...Having built a live following as the singer of smouldering rockers The Virtues, Amy Vee is returning to her roots as a solo folk singer with Sleeping Dogs Lie. This intimate five-track release is sparse and minimalist, Vee's voice and guitar occasionally picking up a string part like a sleepy hitchhiker.
  
  Opening with the slinking gallop of 'Enough For Now', Vee's sweet, breathless vocals are as playful as they are wistful. There's a dreamy introspective quality to tracks like 'Borrowing From Thieves' that make the whole release feel like it was recorded one early, reflective morning as the sun is rising.
  
  It's a truly beautiful EP and repeated listens reveal lyrical gems that sparkle like droplets of water in the sunlight. Here's to the ongoing evolution of Amy Vee.
  

• "Sleeping Dogs Lie" EP review [+ Show ]
  

  Plucking guitar strings, violin strings, heart strings Over the last decade Novocastrian singer-...Plucking guitar strings, violin strings, heart strings
  
  Over the last decade Novocastrian singer-songwriter Amy Vee has been a soloist, frontwoman of rock outfit The Virtues
  and a vocalist with Groove Terminator. Her latest release sees Vee come full circle with a five-track EP of moody,
  acoustic folk-pop. One constant in her career has been Vee’s vocal ability – there’s no denying the sweet crispness of her
  voice and the emotion she is able to convey. The EP’s weakness is that the emotional spectrum ranges from gentle
  melancholy to a more general sense of gloom and dismay. This isn’t to say it lacks beauty – the sparsely arranged,
  percussionless Borrowing From Thieves is ethereal stripped-back folk. Heart-Shaped Space, complete with vocal
  harmonies and gently brushed snare, is an enchanting study of unrequited love. Then there’s Enough For Now, which
  canters along as cello and violin swirl around the intricate vocals. All pretty, if only she’d smile.
  
  NILS HAY
  

• "Enough for Now" and "Heart-Shaped Space" tracks reviewed [+ Show ]
  

  There’s a flowering blossom in which some voices can carry a song. Some voices nurture a melody, uti...There’s a flowering blossom in which some voices can carry a song. Some voices nurture a melody, utilises instrumentation like a hammock to an overall piece of music to accompany it. Some voices are simply dripping sweetness. Amy Vee’s
  voice I think is somehow neither of those, but at the same time uses elements
  that compliment this new folk turn in her musical career. There will be the obvious Angus & Julia Stone comparison here, but a distinctive drifting dark romanticism hovers in both of these tracks off her debut solo effort Sleeping Dogs Lie.
  
  - The Band Next Door

• "quintessence" EP review [+ Show ]
  

  "What is it about the Newcastle original music scene and that city's penchant for producing great Au..."What is it about the Newcastle original music scene and that city's penchant for producing great Australian original bands. The Screaming Jets, Silverchair and now Amy Vee & the Virtues. Much like Adelaide in the 70's & early 80's Newcastle has become a melting pot for great australian original music.
  
  The first thing that struck me about the 'Quintessence' (EP) was how well produced it is. I mean there is not a single note out of place here, everything just fits together perfectly like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, right down to the last breath and yet, appears like it just happened that way, naturally.
  
  One of the aspects that has always drawn me inexorably to music is it's intrinsically transient nature and it's ability to move me emotionally and spiritually, reaching beyond. Amy Vee's more than capable vocals and rock solid acoustic rhythm guitar work, weave their way seemingly effortlessly through each song. It was not so much her great voice that impressed me because after all there are many great vocalists out there. More so it is her unique ability to interpret each song so it comes to life right before your eyes taking on a meaning and personality all of it's own. Couple that with the "kick arse" rhythm section of the Virtues (those guys are tight, I mean real tight) and Gary Arnolds creative, quirky lead guitar style - as they say in the classics "your cooking with gas".
  
  If I were asked to pick a favorite song on Quintessence ... I would be pushed to say this one or that because they are all works of art on their own merits. This album reeks of professionalism and meticulous attention to detail in every way, no stone was left unturned to bring out the best each song had to offer.
  
  OK , you got me the song that most appealed to me was Track 2 "One Hand" a reflective, slow moody song about a relationship on the ropes. Amy delivers it with real honesty and objectivity. Her vocals soar from chest voice to falsetto with such controlled energy and ease it's almost her trademark. Once again the Virtues were with her all the way.
  
  Amy Vee & the Virtues should be proud of their latest offering "Quintessence" as I'm sure they are. They have produced a truly magical album definately worth having on your must play list. Put Amy Vee & the Virtues and their Quintessence (EP) under the category of great Australian original bands."
  
  - Paul Brennan- Australian Musicians Media - www.ozsongs.com
  
  More press/reviews available at www.amyvee.com
  

• "quintessence" EP review [+ Show ]
  

  "Angelic. Sensitive. Ethereal. Insightful. Poetic. Five words that could best describe "quintessence..."Angelic. Sensitive. Ethereal. Insightful. Poetic. Five words that could best describe "quintessence", the latest release from Australia's Amy Vee & The Virtues. Opening the 5-track EP is a friendly pop-rock tune, Where You Are, drawing listeners effortlessly into the beautiful vocals of lead singer and acoustic/rhythm guitarist Amy Vee.... One rarely hears such natural talent... "quintessence" is modern, chick-influenced rock with a melodic, indie twist with songs so radio-friendly they will appeal to the masses outside of Australia. The broken-hearted will feel a healing touch and those who appreciate a true talent will toast in admiration to Amy Vee."

• "All In Me" EP review [+ Show ]
  

  "Vee is a fine vocalist, with a unique style and delivery that are captured expertly on the title tr..."Vee is a fine vocalist, with a unique style and delivery that are captured expertly on the title track "All in Me." However, it is on the stripped down tracks "Friendly Fire" and "Where You Are" where the raw talent of Amy Vee finally takes center stage... before she leaps to conquer new musical ground, take some time to enjoy this charismatic and talented young artist.”
  
  Gregory Joseph, 2 Walls Webzine

Setlist

Sets can be arranged to suit venue or event. A typical performance is normally around 45 mins, however this can be extended up to 90 minutes.

Original music repertoire:

(This is an ever expanding list....)

All In Me
Another Surrender
Borrowing from Thieves
Enough for Now
Fall to Zero
Habit
Heart-Shaped Space
Of Nothing
One Hand
Outside Looking In
Say Goodnight
So New
Still Waiting
Time Doesn't Mind
Walls
We Are the Hours

Also known to occassionally play a number of acoustic interpretations of songs by other artists.

Basic Requirements

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