Artist Information Biography Artists are proverbial sponges of their immediate worlds: they absorb what it is to be alive, in love, heartbroken, full of joy, joyless, in the here and now. But an adept artist also remembers to look back, listening hard and learning from the musings of vintage pianos, carefree ragtime, dusty blues: a time when music was not just the melody, but the deeper story behind it. Old Things are wonderful, especially when we reinvent them, like the rocking of Grandma's old sweater. Singer/Songwriter Margot Blanche, with her eclectic background, smart ear and soulful voice, is determined to not just scrapbook old sounds, but reinvent them. Margot Blanche, a Hong-Kong raised, French-Filipino songstress with a classically alluring voice, announces the release of her first independent debut album ‘Pages in My Diary’. Collaborating  with upcoming producer Kevin ‘12’ Samuels (The Pussycat Dolls, Jordin Sparks) and talents Ronnie Magri (Dita Von Teese) and Terrence Lewis (Cincinnati DJ), the album features intricately written songs penned by Margot, all of which reflect her musical influences and life experiences. With this album, she shakes the constraints of popular music standards, breaks rules, and takes all artistic decisions into her own hands. With her ear for soul and sharp music, she is known for rejuvenating delightful old sounds, pulled from a slew of cultures, with her modern sensibilities. Blanche was inspired at a young age by both popular and classical music. She held heroes like Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin, but also received rigorous training at the ripe age of 9 with a noted local opera soprano. From a young age, she developed an utmost respect for artists who sing truthfully from their hearts, admiring the imperfections of such vocal honesty. Add the delicate blending of her heritages to boot, the result is a sound unlike any other, paired with a deep level of storytelling. Reigning over all of these eclectic choices is her voice: clear, pure, an astounding range, and universally appealing. NYC was taken by storm in 2001 by this poignant, feisty Belle. Over time, Her live performances at venues such as The Bitter End and Blue Note generated industry buzz and public interest, also landing her on the official 2009 Grammy Ballot for Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. If this wasn't enough affirmation, her songwriting career has skyrocketed, winning national awards, and her singles have been included on a slew of compilations. She is currently performing in the New York area with a brilliantly assembled live band. Riding the raucous success of her songwriting and live performances, this album is guaranteed to break down musical barriers and charm the pants off any willing listener. As Blanche herself boasts such a broad mix of influences. Her music knows no limits of time or genre. Rather, it is a universally refreshing sound: truthful, happy, and inventive. From this album, expect bold choices and a rebirth of the best that old jazz and blues have to offer. From this artist, expect honesty, determination, and the unexpected. Instrumentation Margot Blanche Discography Single ‘Stay Awhile’ in score and soundtrack of movie ‘The People I slept With’ directed by Quentin Lee, set to debut at the 2009 Sundance Festival DISCOGRAPHY Pages In My Diary (October 2008) At The End (Single) 2007 Margot Blanche (EP) 2006 T.B.R.L. CD Compilation Volume 1 (2006) Positively Music Benefit Music Compilation (2006) RADIO AIRPLAY 94.5 WKTI "Celebrate Radio!", US www.celebrateradio.com QFM 94.3 "R&B with Roxy" http://www.qmusica.com Radio Crystal Blue, US http://www.radiocrystalblue.com BandRadio, US http://www.bandradio.com Starpoint radio "The Winddown Zone", UK http://www.starpointradio.com Acoustic Fuel, US http://www.acousticfuel.com Alexa Digital Radio "Soul of Amsterdam", Netherlands http://www.thesoulofamsterdam.com Celebrate Radio, Podcast, US http://www.celebrateradio.com/ Alexa Digital Radio, "Music4iPods", US http://www.music4ipods.com FirstFunny Podcast, Italy http://www.freispoetic.altervista.org Shorties FM, Netherlands http://podcast.xs4all.nl/user/johnpiek/Shorties+FM+podcast Fredio Podcast, Japan http://fredio.seesaa.net Capripodia Podcast, "Capri Musicscape", Japan http://www.voiceblog.jp/capripodia Buster and Donna's charity show, US http://music.podshow.com PRESS FEATURES Blogcritics Review, Nov 2008 Wildy's World Top 40 albums of 2008, Dec 2008 Music Zeitgeist, Nov 2008 Singer & Musician Magazine, 2008 Advance Copy, Dec 2008 Artistic Pursuit, Jun 2008 Synthesis, "Band of The Day" Apr 2008 Lyrics Ink Magazine, 2007 The Unsigned Review Magazine, 2007 Skope Magazine, 2007 UBO Magazine, 2007 Gospel Synergy Magazine, 2007 Generation Next Magazine, 2007 SingerUniverse Magazine, 2007 AWARDS 8th Anual Independent Music Awards Top 5 Finalist in R&B Category The Great American Song Competition Outstanding Achievement Award Cooch (BMI) Songwriting Competition First Place Winner USA Songwriting Competition Top Finalist Singer Universe Magazine Singer of the Month Les Vignes D'Or Top Finalist Peacedriven Songwriting Competition Top Finalist Links http://www.margotblanche.com