Biography
"solo, or with her band, she has proved to be a singer/songwriter to be reckoned with...the petite powerhouse is one part poet, one part social crusader." --Tucson Lifestyle Magazine
"Amber Norgaard's passion for her music is evident in every song she sings...Hints of Ani DiFranco peek through; elements of Melissa Etheridge, Patty Griffin and the Indigo Girls are all present..." --Annie Holub, TUCSON WEEKLY
"The love child of Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant and Melissa Etheridge..." --Coyote Moon Resort
Growing up on an Iowa farm, Amber Norgaard had a calling to be of service to others and see the world. After graduating Creighton University School of Nursing, she set off to do volunteer work in the Dominican Republic, and then joined a volunteer corp for two years. During this time, she worked as a nurse in a migrant clinic in Oregon, and then proceeded north working as a community health nurse with the indigenous population of the southwestern Alaskan bush region.
During the six years she worked in Alaska, Amber discovered that music was a source of connection for people that could transcend language and cultural barriers, often relaying messages, evoking emotions and fostering healing on a profound level.
In 2004, Amber left her Alaskan lifestyle to pursue a musical dream. Since then, the nurse-turned-musician has released two full-length albums and one acoustic EP. She was voted the 2007 Up & Coming Artist of the Year in the Tucson Area Music Awards (TAMMIES), has received several honors from international songwriting competitions and placed second out of nearly 100 bands at the California-based 2007 Winery Music Awards. TUCSON LIFESTYLE magazine comments that Amber "combines a nurturing spirit, with a keen sense of melody, mixed with trenchant social observations and a strong dash of on-the-mark humor," calling her "one part poet, one part social crusader." Indeed, she has an ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, and her compassionate life experience and knack for the healing arts shine through in her music.
Amber has toured and is currently touring throughout the nation. She has performed at events such as the Winery Music Awards (Paso Robles, CA), the Invasion of the GoGirls at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, TX, the Provincetown Women’s Kickass Independent Songwriters showcase (Provincetown, MA), Big Arizona Music Festival (Tucson, AZ), McDowell Mountain Music Festival (Scottsdale, AZ), the Alaska Women’s Music Festival (Anchorage & Fairbanks, AK), the Sedona Jam Emerging Artist Music Festival (Sedona, AZ), and multiple pride festivals, music festivals, street and art fairs, charity events, and many other venues nationwide.
Amber presents at Creighton University's School of Nursing on the topic of "Music as a Healing Art & Instrument for Social Change." She also performs her music with the White Tiger's Girl Conference events. Paul Henry's White Tiger group tours internationally, raising awareness for violence prevention and sexual assault issues among adolescents and young adults.
HONORS:
~2008 - Amber's song "Rectify" selected for the Women of Rock compilation CD (MJR Films, Hollywood, CA)
~2008 Radio Crystal Blue Airplay Vote EP Winner
~2007 "Up & Coming Artist of the Year" in the Tucson Area Music Awards (TAMMIES)
~2007 Second Place Winner in the Winery Music Awards
~2007 Runner-up in the TAMMIES for female vocalist, songwriter and best new release
~Voted BEST SONG in the 2007 Winery Music Awards Semi-Finals
~Finalist - Unisong Songwriting Competition (2007)
~Finalist - Give Us Your Poor Compilation CD featuring celebrity, homeless and indie artist songs (2007)
~Two Honourable Mentions - 2007 We Are Listening Singer/ Songwriter Awards
~Amber's song "Turquoise Sea" is included on Music Independence Summit Connection's compilation CD (2007)
~Runner-Up: Tucson Area Music Awards (2006 TAMMIES)
~Honorable Mention, 13th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Competition
TV APPEARANCES:
~Good Morning Arizona Show (Arizona-FOX)
~Midday Show (Arizona-NBC)
~D-Town (Tucson, AZ, Channel 12)
~Connecting Cultures (Tucson, AZ)
~Harrigan Afterhours Live (Tucson, AZ)
~Big Word Show (Arizona)
~SMU Cable TV (Iowa)
Instrumentation
Amber's SOLO performance: Vocals, keyboard, acoustic guitar
Amber's BAND performance features five-time GRAMMY nominee and two-time NAMA winner WILL CLIPMAN on drums and percussion, MARY REDHOUSE on bass and vocals, and 2007 Tucson Area Music Award winner DOUG FLOYD on electric guitar.
Amber also performs as combination of a duo or trio act with any of the above band members.
Discography
ACOUSTIC DREAMS EP (October 2007)
RISING (May 2006)
SOUL IN MOTION (2004, debut album)
Links
| http://www.ambernorgaard.com |
| Follow Amber on TWITTER |
| Amber on FACEBOOK |
| Amber's YOUTUBE Channel |
| Amber's MYSPACE Site |
| Amber's CDBABY Page |