Roxi Copland

Artist Information

Biography

Roxi Copland performs throughout the US, entertaining with an engaging combination of original songs and innovative jazz/pop arrangements of everything from Ella to the Offspring. Copland’s unique genre is probably best summed up in the words of one particularly eloquent reviewer as “a possibly schizophrenic but absolutely brilliant concoction of jazz, pop and soul.” She’s recently been described as “Norah Jones with bite”. Beautifully blurring the boundaries of blues, jazz & pop, this talented singer/songwriter/pianist won’t disappoint.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Copland lived in Des Moines, IA for several years and built a following touring the Midwest – she was twice voted Des Moines’ Best Local Musician, in 2009 and 2011. Copland is new to the Milwaukee scene, having moved to the area in July of 2012.

In addition to her own tours, Copland has opened for a number of prominent national and international acts, including most recently pop sensation Vanessa Carlton, jazz virtuoso Jason Lindner, the Mingus Dynasty Band, and the acapella powerhouse the Manhattan Transfer. Her live performances have over 155,000 views on YouTube, and her latest release, a stripped-down solo acoustic effort entitled ‘Pretty Lies’ is garnering impressive reviews from critics: Cityview Magazine raves “Roxi Copland has got a gorgeous set of pipes – her voice is big, sultry and rich...if you’re going to pump out an album that’s just you and a baby grand, you’re counting on your voice to do all the heavy lifting. And Copland’s is clearly up to the task.”

Copland has released two EPs, a single, a collaborative live album, and a solo acoustic LP to date: Streetwise (2008), Black Out the Blue (2010), Youthful Indiscretion (2010), Max & Roxi: Live at the Temple Theater (2011) and Pretty Lies (2012).

Instrumentation

Roxi Copland- keys/vocals
additional members if needed

Discography

'Pretty Lies' LP (May 2012)

'Max & Roxi: Live at the Temple Theater' (released October 2011)

'Youthful Indiscretion' Single (released December 2010)

'Black Out the Blue' EP (released March 2010)

'Streetwise' EP (released December 2008)

Official Website

http://www.roxicopland.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Roxi's Official Website

Audio

• Heavy Load
  Listen  
• In Love with Trouble
  Listen  
• Youthful Indiscretion
  Listen  
• Perfect For Me
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Streetwise
• Straightaway
• In Love with Trouble
• Thank You, Libby

Video

Black Out The Blue

Photo Gallery

Press

• Q&A with Roxi Copland [+ Show ]
  

  Q&A with Roxi Copland by Erika Rae Owen March 29th, 2012 You should know Roxi Copland. Rick N...Q&A with Roxi Copland
  
  by Erika Rae Owen
  March 29th, 2012
  
  You should know Roxi Copland. Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick does–and he’s on her mailing list. And if you already know her, this rockstar following will come as no surprise to you. For those of you who are a little behind, let me help. She got her start in the Des Moines music scene, and while she may have taken her act elsewhere (lucky for Vancouver!), Roxi, 29, hasn’t forgotten Des Moines. And the city hasn’t forgotten her, either. With a new album out, Pretty Lies, she’s scheduled to make her way back into town on her upcoming tour.
  
  Read on to get a better feel for this jazzy bombshell.
  
  Band Bombshell: Describe your new album, Pretty Lies, in three words that begin with an “S.”
  
  Roxi Copland: Oooh, word games. Fab. Let’s say sophisticated, yet slightly scandalous.
  
  BB: Tell me about your musical career. How did it get started, where was your first show, the bands you’ve been in.
  
  RC: Semi-Succinct (hey! Two more S’s!) version: I started playing the piano at age four. My first solo performance was also at that age–I think I sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem” at my church. After that, I listened to every album I could get my hands on and tried a variety of different instruments (tenor sax, alto sax, flute), but I always came back to the piano. As a kid I liked the fact that I could play a bunch of notes at once. I played in as many groups as I could throughout school, and studied Music Performance & Composition at Grinnell College in Iowa. I had just graduated and was trying to figure out how the hell I was going to make a living playing music when I sat in with a friend’s band at Summerset Winery. A guy there heard me and hired me to sing with a Des Moines-based Top 40 cover band. I made a living doing that for about a year-and-a-half while working on some of my own material and playing shows under my name on the side occasionally . It allowed me to meet a lot of Midwest musicians and figure out the local scene. I quit the cover band in September of 2006 because I wanted to perform my own music, and I’ve been doing this ever since.
  
  BB: How long did it take you to write and record Pretty Lies?
  
  RC: The album is a mix of old and new tunes–I think the oldest song on Pretty Lies is one I wrote while in college, and the newest one I finished just a couple months before I recorded the album, so it’s kind of hard to say. But the recording process went pretty quick. I spent a week recording it in November of 2011 at Capp Audio Productions in Norwalk, IA. It’s a solo acoustic album, so it was just me & a baby grand, which meant we could get the tunes down pretty quickly.
  
  BB: How has your sound progressed as you’ve grown as a musician? Any giant changes?
  
  RC: When I first started performing under my own name I was playing other peoples’ tunes, especially jazz standards, and that showed in the writing of my early original songs. With every recording project I’ve done, I think I’ve gotten a little closer to figuring out what ‘my’ sound is. The first couple EPs I recorded I labeled as ‘jazz/pop.’ I would say Pretty Lies is more along the lines of ‘Rootsy Jazz/Pop’. I’ve noticed elements of blues, southern rock & soul making little appearances in the tunes I’ve been writing most recently, and I’m totally fine with that.
  
  BB: Give me a success story, a moment when you’ve felt, “Yeah, I really love doing this.”
  
  RC: I’m fortunate to have had a number of those. The easy answer here is anytime I’m on tour, sharing songs I’ve written with people. A specific example was a show in Rockford, Ill. when Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick came up to me after the performance, said, “You’re pretty good, kid” and signed up for my email list. I’m a little ashamed to admit I didn’t even recognize him until a friend there freaked out because Rick was talking to me. (I’m going to blame that on tour fatigue and context—honestly, who expects to see Rick Nielsen at some r

• Roxi Copland plays a fan appreciation show at the Cosmo [+ Show ]
  

  As a rock ’n’ roll guy at heart, jazz can be a little hard for me to assimilate at times. Two years...As a rock ’n’ roll guy at heart, jazz can be a little hard for me to assimilate at times. Two years ago, I might not have even gone to a free jazz concert. However, early last year, I came upon a YouTube video of a local jazz/pop artist named Roxi Copland that changed all that. Roxi’s sultry voice drew me in and made me a convert.
  
  Fast forward to about three months ago: as fast as I had come to admire Copland’s work, she was gone—moved to Vancouver. I was not the only Central Iowa fan who felt the loss, as evidenced by Copland’s triumphant return to Des Moines music scene last night.
  
  While gone, Copland had not forgotten about her home for most of the last six years. So, about three months after moving to Vancouver, British Columbia, Roxi was back in Iowa. Copland was in town to record her first full-length album, a stripped down acoustic solo effort, in the studios of Norwalk’s Capp Audio Productions. She was also here to give back to her fans.
  
  Advertisement
  
  Last night, Roxi played a free, invitation only show for her Iowa fans at the Cosmopolitan Lounge (800 Locust) in Des Moines. The show details were only emailed to fans that had signed up for Copland’s email newsletter at www.roxicopland.com. The free show was a way for Roxi to reward her most loyal and devoted fans, and engage them in the small, intimate setting of the Cosmopolitan.
  
  The show allowed Copland to display the sultry voice, seductive delivery, and piano skills that had earned her her large Des Moines following. Funny, flirty songs like “In Love with Trouble”, “Perfect for Me”, and “Play” had the crowd smiling and nodding, as Roxi delivered them. The Cosmo couldn’t contain all of Copland’s followers throughout the night, and so, some were relegated to watching from chairs in the hallway at times. They didn’t seem to mind; they were just happy Roxi was back performing in Des Moines again—even if it was only for one night.
  
  Copland would play 2 full sets, and a short 2-song closing. She played most of the songs from her 2 EPs, along with a song entitled “Heavy Load” from her upcoming acoustic album, and sprinkled in covers of songs from Michael Bublé, Nora Jones, Amy Winehouse, Steely Dan, Cat Stevens, and more. The dark, intimate setting of the Cosmopolitan was perfect for the show, as Copland revealed the stories behind several of her songs. She took time between sets to mingle and talk with the crowd. Roxi’s immense talent is not the only reason for her following—it is her accessibility, as well. She and her music are an open book on display for all to see.
  
  In a day or two, Roxi Copland will pack up that big voice of hers, along with the rest of her gear, and leave Iowa behind again. But Iowa will not soon forget Roxi, and Roxi has vowed not to forget about Iowa either. Copland has promised that when her new album comes out in the summer of 2012, she will play a release party here in Des Moines. Those who have grown to love her music will have to be content with that, for now.
  
  To keep up with everything Roxi, sign up for her email list at www.roxicopland.com. To keep up on all the Central Iowa music news and shows, click the link above this article. Both are quick, easy, and free.

• Singer Roxi Copland back on her hometown stage [+ Show ]
  

  Singer Roxi Copland back on her hometown stage Friday, October 21, 2011 - 11:11 BY DAVID HAERLE ...Singer Roxi Copland back on her hometown stage
  Friday, October 21, 2011 - 11:11
  
  BY DAVID HAERLE
  
  The Daily World
  
  For many aspiring musicians, the path to potential fame and fortune goes through the big city, whether that be New York, Nashville, Los Angeles or the like.
  
  But Roxi Copland, who was raised in Aberdeen, found her first success in Des Moines -- as in Iowa.
  
  Copland, 29, went by Rachael most her life until high school pals dubbed her with the "Roxi" nickname, which stuck and now works quite well as a stage name.
  
  She takes the stage Saturday night at the D&R Theatre, headlining a show that benefits the Breast Cancer Alliance of Grays Harbor. Tickets are $10.
  
  After graduating from Aberdeen High School in 2001, Copland headed for tiny Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, an institution with an impressive academic reputation. In 2006, The New York Times included Grinnell in its profile of the 20 colleges and universities of "established or rising scholarship" which are fast becoming viable alternatives to Ivy League institutions, and it is considered one of the 30 "Hidden Ivies." According to U.S. News and World Report rankings, Grinnell is one of the top 20 liberal arts college in the United States.
  
  Copland, who started playing piano when she was 4, double-majored in music performance composition and international law at Grinnell. She was serious enough about the latter that she applied for and received a job as an aide in Parliament -- as in England.
  
  But upon graduation, a music career was calling.
  
  "For me, political science will always be a backup to music," she said with a laugh.
  
  She launched into a musical career and started playing the club scene in Des Moines, where she received rave reviews and built a loyal Midwest following. She was named "Local Musician of the Year" by the Des Moines CityView in 2009 and 2011.
  
  A Des Moines Register reviewer gave this description: "She interprets jazz standards with a maturity well beyond her years. From her 5-foot-4-inch frame springs an alto voice that attacks every phrase with a deliberate force that hearkens to Diana Krall and Diane Reeves."
  
  "I really like cross-genre music," said Copland, who describes her style as a blend of jazz and pop. Most of the music she performs is her own, though she throws in an occasional cover of artists such as Amy Winehouse, Norah Jones and Colbie Caillat. She said a few of her musical influences include Herbie Hancock, Winehouse, Sting, Adele and Cassandra Wilson.
  
  She also said her father, Tom Copland, a District Court judge, was a big help.
  
  "He's been a huge influence musically," she stated, "and some of my earliest memories are of attending jazz festivals with him."
  
  Copland and her husband recently relocated from the Midwest to Vancouver, B.C., where he received a one-year visiting professorship. That gets her closer to home, and Copland has been spending some time in Aberdeen visiting family and friends while she does a "mini tour" of the Northwest. She has already performed in Seattle, Spokane and Portland and plays in Olympia tonight, before her D&R appearance on Saturday night. Local singer Ivy Lyles will open for Copland, who has never been inside the D&R.
  
  "I've been told it's an absolutely beautiful place," she said. "I'm looking forward to it."
  
  In the meantime, she's enjoyed her time back in her home town.
  
  "It's been really, really good catching up with family and friends," she said. "I think sometimes on the Harbor we forget how beautiful the scenery is here. Maybe it's more noticeable when you have been away for a while. I certainly miss the greenery and being next to the mountains and the ocean, and it's certainly hard to get good seafood -- which I really love -- out in the Midwest," she said.
  
  But she's happy about where her career path has taken her so far.
  
  "I love to travel, and I feel real fortunate that I am doing what I love for a living ... and for all that I am very grateful," she said.
  
  Saturday's benefit show at the D&R begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Rosevear's Music Center and Backstage Espresso, both in downtown Aberdeen, or at the door.
  
  

• Out of Aberdeen: singer gets taste of big-city shows on her own [+ Show ]
  

  After fronting for other acts and then moving to Vancouver, jazz-pop musician Roxi Copland played Se...After fronting for other acts and then moving to Vancouver, jazz-pop musician Roxi Copland played Seattle for the first time at the start of a Northwest swing.
  
  By Deanna Duff
  
  Jazz-pop musician Roxi Copland is a petite powerhouse. Even when hidden behind a Baby Grand, her presence is huge thanks to a voluptuous voice and fierce piano skills. Raised in Aberdeen, Washington, she is unlike her hometown predecessor, Kurt Cobain (there are no Doc Martens nor flannel) except for what may eventually make Copland a household name — innovation, showmanship, and passion.
  
  Copland has released two EPs and another is scheduled for spring 2012. Her Oct. 13 show at Egan’s Ballard Jam House marked the launch of her solo, Pacific Northwest tour and first-ever Seattle show. “I’ve been ridiculously excited to be playing a show in Seattle. It’s a thrill,” says Copland, who moved to the Midwest for college and recently relocated to Vancouver, B.C.
  
  “I probably know 90 percent of the people in the room!” Copland quipped at the beginning of her Egan’s gig. An intimate venue, it was packed with fans both old and new.
  
  Copland’s shorthand description of her sound is jazz-pop, but it is clearly evolving with her career. She grew up listening to jazz thanks to her father, who played trumpet, and was exposed to gospel, blues and country courtesy of her mother. “I was heavily influenced by the American songbook. By my second EP (“Black Out The Blue”), without realizing it, the music started going in a slightly different direction,” says Copland. She cites elements of folk, roots, rock, and Southern blues unfolding in her compositions.
  
  The Seattle set list included songs from her debut EP, “Streetwise,” such as the eponymous title track, “Straightaway,” and “Look Me In the Eyes.” Copland describes the latter song as her quintessential, bluesy breakup song. The beautiful heavy-heartedness makes it the perfect soundtrack for drowning your sorrows.
  
  Copland particularly shines, however, on the slightly cheeky, spirited tracks. “Perfect For Me” has an appealing pop influence (with jazzy scatting) and charming lyrics. An ode to her husband, the song engaged the audience thanks to lyrics such as “I’m happy to report most of his Dockers are gone/For my part, last night I made a passable flan ... You’re perfect for me.”
  
  “In Love With Trouble” is an example of how Copland successfully contemporizes jazz. Both the vibe and devil-may-care lyrics follow the tradition of classics such as Billie Holiday’s “T’ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do.” Copland further endeared the audience by explaining that she wrote it after a raucous night with her brothers. “It ain’t no fun for me unless it’s considered a sin, which probably explains the state I’m usually in.” Copland’s bluesy side can wring tears from the piano, but she can also inspire a rip-roaring good time.
  
  Copland’s Seattle show focused on her own work, but a compelling reason to hear her live is for some of her excellent covers. As part of a collaboration effort last summer, she wrote an arrangement of the song “The Kids Aren’t Alright” by punk-rock band The Offspring. “I grew up in the Pacific Northwest listening to Nirvana, The Offspring, and everything else. I wanted to do a tribute to grunge and rock. That particular song just spoke to me as having an interesting arrangement,” says Copland. Whereas the original is infused with rock fury, Copland’s cover brings out the fragility and tragedy of the lyrics.
  
  Copland also played new work from her upcoming release and “Play” is one not to be missed. It is a toe-tapping song that will easily be on your iPod’s constant replay. Her songs, such as “Play,” are often inspired by personal experience and her sharing the background history adds depth to her concerts.
  
  “It’s a truly amazing experience to watch creators of art, musicians, perform it the way they interpret it. You’re getting the whole story, not just what was laid down electronically. Live performances are always ten times better because it’s not detached,” says Copland.
  
  “Play” and the newer songs she previewed at Egan’s indicate a positive direction for her career. Earlier work sometimes blends together due to an occasional feeling of repetitiveness, particularly during mellow songs. Incorporating other genres, a pop beat or slight country twang, adds diversity, establishes a distinct personality, and has broader appeal. After opening for The Manhattan Transfer and Vanessa Carlton, her profile seems to be on the rise.
  
  She plans on a national tour next summer and undoubtedly will return to Seattle, where she visited local clubs as a fan while growing up on the coast. She's already gotten a taste of seeing her own name in the big city lights, posting to her Facebook page a picture of the Egan's marquee with the evening's performers listed and commenting, "Lots of love to Seattle for the packed house tonight! And the sign out front was pretty cool, too."
  
  Upcoming Northwest shows: Friday, Oct. 21, Olympia, WA, The 4th Ave.; Saturday, Oct. 22, Aberdeen, WA, The D&R Theater.
  
  Deanna Duff is a freelance writer who has contributed to publications such as Everett’s Daily Herald, Issaquah Press, Seattle Magazine, Seattle Business, 425 Magazine and SeattlePI.com. In 2011, she was recognized by the Washington Press Association for her arts/entertainment writing as well as consumer affairs/business/technology. A Northwest native, she grew up working on her family’s organic farm and selling at the Pike Place Market.
  

• Annual Music Festival Heats Up City Pavilion
  

  "...her voice is multidimensional, capable of resonating the essence of lost love..."

• Copland finds time to 'Black Out the Blue' while touring [+ Show ]
  

  MUSIC: THE SOUND SCENE SCRIBE By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com Copland finds time ...MUSIC: THE SOUND
  
  SCENE SCRIBE
  By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
  
  
  Copland finds time to ‘Black Out the Blue’ while touring
  
  When it comes to matters of the heart, whether it is her love life or her musical career, Roxi Copland knows how to black out the blue as the title of her new EP suggests.
  
  Gone are the days of looking for love, as Copland prepares to marry her boyfriend of two years on July 3 at a ceremony in the East Village. And the 27-year-old Grinnell College graduate, having spent the last four years developing a band, a sound and an audience, has become one of Des Moines’ hardest working artists, performing more than 600 shows during the last three years.
  
  With that said, “Black Out the Blue,” the second independent EP released in two years by the jazz and R&B singer-pianist, is as much a celebration of Copland’s personal triumphs as it is an indication of her professional successes as she prepares for a three-week Midwestern tour.
  
  “This album reflects what’s going on in my life and the lives of those around me,” said Copland.
  
  She credits fellow musicians like drummer John Kizilarmut, alto saxophonist Damani Phillips and 20-year-old, younger brother-bassist Ian Copland (who moved from Copland’s family home near Seattle to Des Moines six months ago), as well as engineer Steve Capp of Capp Productions in Norwalk, for the contributions they made to “Black Out the Blue.”
  
  “I’m really happy with the way it turned out, and I’m really thankful for the collaboration with the musicians and Steve on the album,” said Copland, who added, “It’s been a blast having my little brother around. We feed off each other, and he’s really funny.”
  
  She is also grateful for her friends who helped provide some of the material for the EP’s four original songs. “Thank You Libby,” a bluesy number, is about a friend who was rejected by a girl “who may or may not be named Libby.”
  
  “He was head-over-heels in love with her. Then one day she told him that she was dating him to make her ex-boyfriend jealous and that she had been seeing her ex-boyfriend the whole time, too,” Copland said. “When I heard about it, I thought, ‘What a horrible person,’ so I wrote the song.”
  
  Copland penned “Perfect For Me” after a friend teased her about her melancholy material, challenging her to write something upbeat.
  
  “My favorite upbeat songs are about love, so I wrote a song about me and my boyfriend,” she said. “It’s about how people balance each other out when they’re complete opposites. I’m a musician and he’s an academic who can’t carry a tune, but he’s an awesome guy and it works for us.”
  
  The EP’s title track and the closing, stripped-down ballad of piano and vocals, “What’s It To You?” are also autobiographical in nature, Copland said. She decided to record them after testing them out live at her shows.
  
  “I’ve had a great audience response to all the songs on the record, including those two,” Copland said. “I’ve had people tell me a variety of reasons why they like those songs. I love it when I play for people who listen. They’re interested in the artistry and the words and the story the song is telling.”
  
  Copland, who said she prefers to record EPs so as not to interrupt her busy touring schedule to make a full album, is hoping to find new appreciative audiences when she kicks off her three-week tour of the Midwest at a CD release show at People’s Court on Saturday, March 6. If all goes well, she wants to embark on a national tour later this year.
  
  “I’d love to do a full-length record, but that will have to wait until I stop putting thousands of miles on my truck,” she said. “My goal is to be out on the road as much as possible.” CV
  
  Caption: Roxi Copland performs Saturday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at People’s Court. General admission is $15 and includes a copy of Copland’s new album, “Black Out the Blue.” VIP reserved seats ($45) include a concert ticket, CD, poster and autograph session before the show. Call 324-4472 or e-mail afinetime4wine@aolo.com. Also, visit www.roxicopland.com.

• RawRip Review [+ Show ]
  

  "With her tracks 'Are You At Home Tonight' and 'What You Thought You Knew', the pop/jazz/groove/soul..."With her tracks 'Are You At Home Tonight' and 'What You Thought You Knew', the pop/jazz/groove/soul artist Roxi Copland has charmed her way through the RawRip Top20 chart with her smooth and sexy timbre. . . being of a naturally gifted nature, Copland sings as well as plays the piano, and she does both with vigor and ease, contriving to find ways to express herself in a variety of musical genres like pop, jazz, blues, folk, etc. The artist admits that the genre closest to her persona is jazz, and taking the latter as the ultimate foundation of her music, Roxi builds upward by interlacing the elements of a number of other genres. . . the result is an original blend: fun and yet with a certain inner elegance . ." RawRip Review, April 2007

• Copland exudes versatility, wisdom on debut EP [+ Show ]
  

  The title of Roxi Copland’s debut EP, ‘Streetwise,’ suggests a hardened toughness that belies the De...The title of Roxi Copland’s debut EP, ‘Streetwise,’ suggests a hardened toughness that belies the Des Moines jazz/pop/soul singer’s petite 5’4” frame and youthful looks, yet is true. Listen to the mature timbre of her alto vocals, astute lyrics and sophisticated compositions for the EP’s six original songs, and it is also true that Copland exudes a wisdom beyond her 26 years that can only be garnered through experiences gained on and off stage.
  
  Perhaps nowhere is that dichotomy more ubiquitous than the two versions of the title track that bookend the EP. One leads off the disc wht a pop-like, contemplative feel. The other concludes the EP with a Hip-Hop groove and rap vocals remixed by fellow Des Moines musicians Cleo’s Apartment. Both, however, deliver the same message.
  “They each have a different attitude, but the bottom line is it’s a song about going through a rough patch and believing in yourself and overcoming obstacles,” Copland said.
  That’s the kind of answer you might expect from an artist with as much versatility and perspective as Copland.
  
  The Seattle native and singer/pianist/composer moved to Des Moines after graduating from Grinnell College in 2005 with degrees in music and law. During the last three years, she has supported herself as a full time musician, continuously working as a solo jazz pianist, a member of the dueling pianos pop act Ladyfingers (with Megan Hill and Whitney Maxwell), and leader of her own jazz/pop/soul band that includes keyboardist Jason Danielson, drummer John Kizilarmut, bassist Dave Altemeier and guitarist Seth Hedquist.
  
  “I listen to every type of music,” Copland said. “I think I would be bored if I played one genre.”
  Copland’s hectic performing schedule is due in part to her manic musical influences that range from artists like Sting to local jazz master Susie Midget. She is most at home under the wide umbrella of the jazz community, which allows her the creative freedom to merge urban forms of music like Hip-Hop and funk with traditional jazz and swing. The integration of Hip-Hop and jazz is more commonplace in large cities, though Copland is one of the first local musicians to tastefully and successfully combine them in Des Moines.
  
  “You look at artists like Jamie Cullum and Amy Winehouse and you see them adding something new to traditional forms of music,” Copland said. “I’ve been listening to hip-hop since I was a little girl living in Seattle. In Iowa it’s more country, rock and blues dominant. But in Des Moines the scene is changing to include new genres, more so than when I came to town.”
  
  As Copland’s reputation as a live performer has blossomed so too has her fan base, which demanded that she record her music. ‘Streetwise’ hits the streets this week and Copland and her band have scheduled a CD release party to be held Friday, Dec. 12 from 8 to 11:30 p.m. at the Cosmopolitan Lounge in downtown Des Moines.
  
  “I’m so thrilled to finally have something out,” Copland said. “The fans have been asking for along time. It’s been a long process, but a great learning tool.”
  
  Copland shares the success of the EP with her bandmates, whom she credits for their quality musicianship and friendship.
  
  “I love playing with the guys. We teach each other and it’s a total collaboration” she said. “You play with certain people because you like their ideas and their interpretations and then you let them do what they do best.”
  
  The jazz/pop/soul singer is hoping her group’s recorded collaboration will lead to a full-length album next year, as well as increased bookings out of town at bigger venues and festivals. On Dec. 18, they open for the internationally renowed jazz/pop acapella group the Manhattan Transfer at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.
  
  “Clubs and festivals want merchandise when you play there,” Copland said. “Hopefully the EP is a door opener.”
  
  Meanwhile, Copland continues to busy herself with multiple bookings and writing new music for the next album.
  
  “I don’t sleep much, and I’m Starbucks’ best customer,” she said. “It can be a tough balancing act because all of the groups require learning new things and you worry you don’t have enough time to write your own songs or promote your music. But if I can make someone happy by playing music, that’s a great thing.”
  

• CD Review: Roxi Copland [+ Show ]
  

  Roxi Copland’s soulful voice and sassy lyrics leave listeners lost in her music, which is best descr...Roxi Copland’s soulful voice and sassy lyrics leave listeners lost in her music, which is best described as modern jazz-funk with a blues twist. This isn’t your stereotypical jazz mix, though. Roxi’s creativity and obvious knack for music show in her latest EP, Streetwise, which came out in December.
  The title track “Streetwise” lives up to its name, which boasts of experience. At the beginning it brings a brilliant mix of piano, drums and bass, but later on in the EP “Streetwise (Remix)” bears the same clever tune fused with tasteful rap and other specially recorded effects.
  
  Favorites include “In Love with Trouble” and “Straightaway.” Saxophone is gently integrated with the song “Straightaway”, making you want to close your eyes and let it all in. Roxi Copland smoothly sings “Are You at Home Tonight?”, complete with a flute solo that is sure to leave you wondering how the instrument you once tried out in 5th grade band could sound so good.
  
  She makes you want to dance; yet at the same time, the cool composure of her songs makes listening to this collection perfect for a refined evening of relaxation. My only complaint is that there are not enough tunes here to keep me satisfied – I can’t wait for the next CD!
  
  Roxi Copland and her music is Des Moines’ best kept secret, but after hearing her latest recording, she won’t be a secret for long!
  

• Opening for Manhattan Transfer, new EP make Copland optimistic [+ Show ]
  

  There is a fire inside Roxi Copland. You can see it in her hectic performance schedule and hear it i...There is a fire inside Roxi Copland. You can see it in her hectic performance schedule and hear it in her dark, sultry voice on stage. There are signs this month that the hard work is beginning to pay off for the vocalist/pianist/composer as she celebrates the release of her first recording and, tonight, opens for legendary jazz acappella group the Manhattan Transfer.
  
  “I believe that if you send out positive energy and try to help people achieve what they believe in, the world returns that to you,” she said.
  
  A graduate of Grinnell College with degrees in international law and music in 2005, Copland has been playing the local music scene since. Copland is busy touring with her band playing jazz, soul, and blues standards and original songs.
  
  She also plays solo jazz piano, dueling pianos in the act known as the Ladyfingers with Megan Hill and Whitney Maxwell, as well as with groups like The Max Wellman Trio.
  An average week for Copland includes three to five live performances, but that can rise to seven or eight during the holiday season.
  “It is not the safe route. It’s scary and daunting,” she said. “if you want to be truly fantastic at something, you have to give it your whole heart and soul.”
  
  This year has found Copland concentrating on writing and recording original jazz-influenced tunes. A big step forward for her was the completion of the EP “Streetwise,” with five original tracks and a remix, which was recorded at Cap Audio Productions in Norwalk.
  Copland has opened for more established groups before, but opening for Manhattan Transfer, signing with Jason Danielson on keyboards and Dave Altemeier on bass, will be the biggest audience of her career.
  
  “It is an honor and a privilege,’ Copland said.
  On her blog, Copland quotes “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, which seems to echo her philosophy for overcoming obstacles in following her dream life.
  
  “It takes time to build up a career as an artist, to get your music out and to develop a reputation for dedication to your craft,” Copland said. These [The EP and the Manhattan Transfer gig] are some wonderful rewards for work that I have been doing for the past few years.”
  

• CD Review: Roxi Copland's 'Streetwise' [+ Show ]
  

  At age 26, jazz/pop/soul singer Roxi Copland has become a fixture of the Des Moines jazz scene thank...At age 26, jazz/pop/soul singer Roxi Copland has become a fixture of the Des Moines jazz scene thanks to her abundant talent as a vocalist, pianist, and composer with a work ethic to match. Already an established live performer, Copland can add “recording artist” to her burgeoning resume with the release of her luminous debut EP, “Streetwise,” an astute and mature mix of six original songs spanning traditional jazz, pop, soul, and Hip-Hop genres. Two versions of the title track (jazz/pop and Hip-Hop) open and conclude the disc in fine form. In between, Copland (strong alto vocals, stellar keyboards) and her crack band churn out tight-knit jazz/pop ('Straightaway'), straight jazz ('In Love with Trouble') a ballad ('Look Me in the Eyes'), and funk ('Are You at Home Tonight?'). Streetwise indeed, sophisticated, too.

Setlist

Sample hour-long set (all songs are originals unless otherwise noted):

Step On the Gas
Black Out the Blue
You Can't Do Me (Madeleine Peyroux cover)
Perfect
Look Me in the Eyes
In Love with Trouble
Streetwise
Youthful Indiscretion
Straightaway
The Kids Aren't All Right (Offspring cover)
Thank You Libby
Play

Basic Requirements

Calendar