Adrien Reju
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Adrien Reju is a tiny muse that seems borrowed from another era, churning out songs that are half 70s AM radio gold and half Tin Pan Alley. Her melodies bear a cloying instant familiarity in the tradition of Carole King or Carly Simon, but in practice they’re more kin to the poppier efforts of the Dixie Chicks or indie-darling Feist. Occasional hints of whimsy like tickled barrel-house piano or muted horn solos help to define her produced tracks, but even stripped bare her songs retain their heft thanks to her distinctive vocals – somehow both powerful and girlish at the same time. - CBS Philly
Locals may recognize Adrien Reju’s lilting voice and classic Renoir good looks from her work with bluegrass outfit the Lowlands and rootsy trio Angel Band. Now, on solo debut A Million Hearts, Reju waxes in a new style, burnishing her timeless sensibility into laid-back sparkly pop that registers on the familiarity meter somewhere between Feist and Petula Clark. Reju’s classically trained voice (she was a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s children’s choir) does crazy things here in the pop life, rising steady and high and then parachuting softly into the phrasing. The new songs (including a fun cover of the euphemistically optimistic Melanie’s “Brand New Key”) swish along with big harmonies and handclaps, holding a jaunty walk-along vibe where the living is breezy and hearts rise like little hot air balloons on the first day of spring.
- Tara Murtha - Philadelphia Weekly
"...very original and artistic...contemporary folk with beautiful and different chord progressions. Wow!" - USA Songwriting Competition
This interview is one of 6 rotating banners on the New York Sonwriters Circle Website Home page. To read the interview with New York Songwriters Circle click on the link. At the end of the interview are links to videos of Adrien's performance during their July showcase in 2009 at the Bitter End. - NY Songwriters Circle
Adrien was one of the most impressive artists that made the top 12 finalists of the New York Songwriter's Circle contest. She was a joy to behold..., with a strong, sweet voice and a smile to match - how she managed to elude top honors is a complete mystery to me. - BJ Barratt, B-Line Entertainment
Adrien was one of the most impressive artists that made the top 12 finalists of the New York Songwriter's Circle contest. She was a joy to behold..., with a strong, sweet voice and a smile to match - how she managed to elude top honors is a complete mystery to me. - BJ Barratt, B-Line Entertainment
Adrien Reju is not just another self-taught aspiring singer-songwriter toting her mom’s old guitar. This pixie-cut, homemade scarf sporting songbird, with a degree in classical guitar from Ithaca College, will make you take notice with her unrestricted vocal capabilities and jaunty musical accompaniment, including rootsy guitar flourishes, muted trumpet, and swinging piano chords. - The Deli Magazine
Adrien Reju is not just another self-taught aspiring singer-songwriter toting her mom’s old guitar. This pixie-cut, homemade scarf sporting songbird, with a degree in classical guitar from Ithaca College, will make you take notice with her unrestricted vocal capabilities and jaunty musical accompaniment, including rootsy guitar flourishes, muted trumpet, and swinging piano chords. - The Deli Magazine
Discography
Adrien Reju - A Million Hearts (2009) (Available on iTunes and CDBaby.com)
The Lowlands - Bark & Twine (2008)
Photos
Bio
Genre: Adult Contemporary/Roots/Soul
Hometown: New York City/Philadelphia
Contacts & Affiliations:
Booking & Publishing - rejumusic@gmail.com
BIO:
Adrien Reju has captivated audiences with her clear, lilting voice and sparkling stage presence since she was a child performing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. After studying with Argentinian classical guitarist Pablo Cohen at Ithaca College, the New York City raised singer-songwriter took to the music circuit of Philadelphia, toured nationally with the rootsy trio Angel Band with folk legend David Bromberg, and was the creative force behind the Philadelphia-based bluegrass outfit The Lowlands.
On her debut solo release, A Million Hearts, “Reju waxes in a new style, burnishing her timeless sensibility into laid-back sparkly pop that registers on the familiarity meter somewhere between Feist and Petula Clark.” (Tara Murtha, Philadelphia Weekly).
In her solo work, Adrien explores a more serene side of herself through clarity in voice, depth in lyric, and an understated delivery that allows her to build up to key moments in a song. Her voice has been compared to the old-timey “crying tone” of Patsy Cline, and the sultriness of Bonnie Raitt. But a good voice is hardly anything without a good song.
A Million Hearts features Reju’s original songs as well as writing collaborations with the album’s producer Pete Donnelly (Mike Viola, Soul Asylum, NRBQ) and Philadelphia music-scene luminaries Chris Kasper and Andrew Chalfen (The Trolleyvox). The album’s highlights include a fun cover of Melanie’s classic “Brand New Key,” a vocal duet with pop prodigy Jim Boggia, full vocal harmonies, toy piano, and handclaps.
CBS Philly listed her as one of the 10 Best Local Songwriters in Philadelphia: “Adrien Reju is a tiny muse that seems borrowed from another era, churning out songs that are half 70s AM radio gold and half Tin Pan Alley…. Occasional hints of whimsy like tickled barrel-house piano or muted horn solos help to define her produced tracks, but even stripped bare her songs retain their heft thanks to her distinctive vocals—somehow both powerful and girlish at the same time.”
Reju’s “When the Curtain Falls” earned 1st place in the Pop/Adult Contemporary category and 2nd Place Overall in the 2009 100% Music Songwriting Contest, and earned top-12 finalist status in the 2009 NY Songwriters’ Circle Competition
Two songs from the album, “Heartless” and “The Waiting Room,” appeared in the Hallmark movie Flower Girl, which first aired in November 2009.
Now living in her hometown of New York City, Adrien Reju continues to tour regionally while collaborating on a new solo project with Brooklyn-based bassist/songwriter Steven Mertens (Regina Spektor, Joan as Police Woman, Moldy Peaches).
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