Biography
The powerful live presence and deeply emotional voice of singer and songwriter Laura Vecchione (pronounced Veck-ee-oh-nee) are captivating audiences nationwide. Vecchione's catchy lyrics and beautiful melodies exude pop appeal. What sets her apart as an artist, though, is rare depth and maturity. Listening to her songs makes us connect instantly with the heartbreak of humanity, leap at her message of hope, and clap along with her celebration of resilience. A soulful convergence of gospel, blues, country, and rock, Vecchione's music evokes wide rivers of the South that seem far beyond her origins in New York and Boston.
Girl in the Band is Vecchione's triumphant sequel to her impressive debut album, Deeper Waters, which ranked as Top 5 most added on the AMA chart in its first weeks out and hit #14 on the well-respected Roots Music Report. Set for release in the fall of 2008 on Vecchione's indie imprint Selkie Records, Girl in the Band was recorded in Nashville and Boston with an all-star cast of seasoned session players including George Marinelli (Bonnie Raitt) on electric guitar. Mixed primarily by multi-Grammy-Award winner Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco, The Dixie Chicks) the album shines with Vecchione's unique balance of pop-appeal and gravitas, and is already generating buzz and acclaim including:
Television Placement: "Fly Home Flag Boy" and "Magnolia" played on Season Two of TNT's hit show, Saving Grace, starring Academy Award winner, Holly Hunter.
Charitable Collaboration with Sweet Home New Orleans: Laura continues to make efforts to help rebuild New Orleans after her visit post-Katrina. At live shows she has continued to direct people to sign up for www.levees.org. On Girl in the Band, Laura covers an a cappella piece, the Mardi Gras Indian sacred song, "Indian Red," and penned her own song for New Orleans called "Fly Home Flag Boy." Proceeds from digital downloads of these songs will be donated to Sweet Home New Orleans, (www.sweethomeneworleans.org) working to preserve the artistic and social fabric of New Orleans musical and historic culture.
MLK, Jr Dream-On Compilation: "How We Choose to Hold" was selected out of over 400 submissions to be included in the Dream On project, an independent musical compilation set for release Nov. 2008. The project will include a charitable website honoring the continued work and vision of Dr. MLK, Jr. (www.the dreamcontinued.org).
Other points of interest include:
Boston Theme: Vecchione's song, "This Town," chronicles the memory of lost love through Boston landmarks, which will be familiar to Boston residents.
Women's Empowerment: "Don't Come Creepin" is the narrative of a woman escaping slavery and acts as a commentary on sexual exploitation and the freedom of the human spirit.
Emerging Artist Collaboration: Girl in the Band features guest background vocals from other up and-coming independent artists: New York's Nicole Nelson (of Dwight and Nicole) and Maryland's Victoria Vox.
With all of her refined talent as both a writer and performer, Laura's most generous gift to her audience is her on stage magnetism. She is a singer who looks you in the eye with compassion and playfulness. You are torn between sitting still to hear every nuance of her extraordinary voice, and moving irresistibly to her delicious rhythms and infectious melodies.
Instrumentation
Laura Vecchione- solo artist (voice, guitar)
Bass: Mark Prentice
Electric Guitars: George Marinelli
Drums: John Gardner
Acoustic Guitar: Mike Noble
Keys: Michael Rojas
Discography
Laura's released her debut CD, Deeper Waters in November of 2006. It hit #60 on the Americana charts its first few weeks out and continues to garner stellar reviews and continued radio play including Boston's Commercial Triple A station, WBOS and on XM Satellite Radio.
Her sophomore album, Girl in the Band will be released in October of 2008. Already tracks from it have been placed in TNT's Saving Grace, starring Academy Award winner, Holly Hunter.
Tracks can be heard at www.myspace.com/lauravecchione and www.lauravmusic.com
Links
| http://www.lauravmusic.com |
| Laura Vecchione Homepage |
| Laura Vecchione MySpace |