Amy England
Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | SELF
Music
Press
One of England's greatest strengths is her exceptional songwriting. Depending on different album projects, I listen to hundreds if not thousands of songs, and her songs caught my ear. - Bil Vorndick
My fav for Best in the Industry:
Amy England / Heart Like Mine
- JC Shepard
"A writer and singer destined to make a major impression on the Americana scene" - Alan Cackett
A songwriter of uncommon warmth, with a dash of salty honesty and great great songs. The hickory in her voice reminds me of the great Sammi Smith. - Joe Hagan, writer for Rolling Stone, New York Magazine
... a singer-songwriter of great talent...An excellent first time out, look for big things from Amy England.
- Roots Music Report
Heart Like Mine transforms the pastoral American sound into beautiful textures that draw on nostalgia and evoke a warm sense of province. From the malevolent meter of “Heart Like Mine” to the bluesy lament of “All Over You”, England serves up a most palatable portfolio of heart break, confession and of course waiting on tables. While every song is worthy of praise, I thoroughly enjoyed “Twenty-twenty Vision.” With its breezy stride and rustic tone, this little shanty is authentic Americana reverie – I love it! Heart Like Mine is a treat for any roots music fan. - Ryan Hoffer, A&R
A great debut from an artist to watch! - Charley Walters, owner
More than a beautiful release, she's damn good... - Music Director, Raymond Swennen
I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this CD, it is now in heavy rotation on my IPOD and I recommend it highly. Amy truly has the voice of an angel. I hope she will get busy and make more music, her fans in the south are getting restless! - Jerry Hagan
Nantucket native Amy England mixes sassy vocals, folksy warmth and bluesy swagger on her first album, Heart Like Mine. The singer/songwriter is a magnetic presence and inviting storyteller, with a conversational style that kicks around tales of small town life that transcend their secluded island origins. Her voice is rich and expressive, conjuring Patsy Cline or Bonnie Raitt with an acoustic guitar and a folk side. Additional fretwork by Josh Stacy and Rudy Dauth is fiery and tastefully placed, supporting this fresh and feisty debut effort. - www.milesofmusic.com
Heart Like Mine is extremely addictive, as in 'stick in your head'-catchy. - Michael Dixon
Nantucketer Amy England wove together a refreshing mix of country meets blues then runs off with a folk-rock sound. In her debut album, “Heart Like Mine”, this small islander releases a big voice that can be heard universally in her heart-on-her-sleeve songs. She digs deep into her roots and combines into her songwriting everything from love, relationships, nature and a ferry ticket with a message in the song, “void if detached”. She’s raw, edgy and one amazing artist definitely worth giving a listen to. Her creative songwriting skills are bound to lure you into her spellbound lyrics and sensual voice. If you’re looking for a remarkable blend of uplifting tunes, charismatic showcase of words as well as pensive soliloquies, you've come to the right place.
- www.gogirlsmusic.com
Discography
Summertown 2012-Produced by John Simpson
Nantucket to Nashville 2007- Produced by Grammy winner Bil VornDick
Heart Like Mine - 2003
CDs available online from
www.cdbaby.com
Photos
Bio
Summer 2012-
Amy's lastest release “Summertown" is a collection of tribute songs to summertime. There is such nostalgia and longing surrounding summer months- they cut so deeply and pass so quickly, leaving dreamy threads etched in our minds. I have tried to catch some of that essence in these songs.”
After opening for country great, Kathy Mattea, England toured in the southern states last spring and was featured on NPR stations in Florida and Georgia. In April she went back into the studio with engineer John Simpson of East Nashville. "Creating an unaffected sincere sound was important- not to let the production get in the way of the music." The eleven tracks on the album give the feeling a campfire on the beach or a barn party with guitars, mandolin and fiddle. “Working with John was wonderful” says England, “it was a very comfortable, informal setting allowing me to relax and perform naturally. He brought it some great players and we had a lot of fun.”
Amy has been touring to promote her last cd, “Nantucket to Nashville”, performing at festivals & concerts including opening for Martin Sexton, Kathy Mattea and Jo Dee Messina. Amy is a two-time finalist in the New England Songwriting Contest at Ossipee Valley Music Festival where she showcased this summer. Maverick Magazine says, “She is a writer and singer destined to make a major impression on the Americana scene.”
England recorded her previous cd in Nashville under the direction of multi-time Grammy winner Bil VornDick. He also helped England to get songs from “Nantucket to Nashville” signed to prominent Nashville publisher Denny Music and cut on several bluegrass albums. “One of England's greatest strengths”, says VornDick “is her exceptional songwriting. Depending on different album projects, I listen to hundreds if not thousands of songs, and her songs caught my ear.”
Born Amy Harding Hunt, England was raised in Pound Ridge, NY to a large family of six children. Her music and writing is steeped in family tradition. "Our dad brought us up on Country music. He was an editor, but played banjo on the side and my mom was always playing the piano and singing with us. My grandmother made sure we all had piano lessons; she was a great fiddle player herself. She loved us to be in touch with our Irish roots through music. Amy often performs with her siblings, including Andrew and Nancy of The Hunts.
England hosted a fundraiser/benefit concert this summer for Plan USA, “Just Because I’m Girl” which donates funds worldwide to girls in need. Her song “Big Love” off the new cd is donated to Plan USA and all proceeds from this song will go to the Plan’s “Just Because I’m a girl” program.
Recently England has been singing with her husband/manager Peter. “I’ve brought Pete up on stage because I’ve been writing a lot of duets, and though he was shy at first, he has a beautiful, deep Johnny Cash voice and a calming presence onstage.” Their daughter Ella is also a regular on stage and recently sang on with her mom on the radio.
Roots Music Report, where England's songs charted on the top 40 Folk chart, says, "It's interesting that a singer/songwriter of great talent would live on a small island. This folk singer guitarist finds a lot of great hooks around Nantucket but you don't have to live on an island to identify with Amy's words ... her stories are universal."
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