Carla Lynne Hall
New York City, New York, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Sparse, with usually just a guitar and maybe a conga accompanying her, Hall's velvet voice and heartbreaking songs draw you in with their richness. Front & Center is a strong mix of folk, blues, and jazz all taken down to the bare minimum, allowing the best of Hall and her accompanying musicians to shine through. Indeed, every piece seems very carefully placed. It's like eating nouvelle cuisine at a fancy restaurant: when your meal arrives, the small amount of food is carefully arranged on the plate like a painting. Every bite stands on its own but each item complements the others beautifully, and when you are finished you are completely satisfied. I will certainly be looking for Carla Hall to be appearing in a smoky lounge in my town, or during my next visit to NYC. - Rockrgrl
Carla's smooth, soulful vocals held my attention, as she laid down powerful, obviously personal stories of past love and relationships. Carla definitely has the voice to carry her through a live performance, and hold the attention of the audience flawlessly the whole way through. Where other artists may fall short outside the studio, Carla excels. In my opinion, Carla's unplugged, live style was one that exceeded any other artist that I have heard live. Definitely an artist worth keeping an ear out for, and checking out. - In Tha Mix (New Zealand)
Carla Hall celebrates the release of her debut CD, Front & Center on Moxie Entertainment. Hall's a folkie with a voice even more interesting than the lyrics it gets to deliver. The album's a mix of studio and live tracks (such as CB's Gallery and The Bitter End). - Time Out New York
Wow. That about sums up Carla Hall's release of Front & Center. It's intense, musically sound, and takes the listener for a ride, but not a ride into fantasyland. Hall pulls her own situations from deep within her soul and lays them out bare for the listener to poke and prod and examine and digest. The listener can't help but take a bite. Thanks to Hall's soulful, emotive voice, she forces you to listen, since the musical accompaniment is present, but not to the point of overpowering. Musically, the CD is fine, but you can put Carla Hall on a fence full of alley cats and she would shine. Dig up this CD and give a listen if you want to be moved by a talented lady indeed. - Good Times (Long Island, NY)
Totally worth a longer review and more glowing words than I am physically capable of providing, Carla Hall’s "Front & Center" spotlights her voice to wonderful effect. Recorded in what seems to be a series of small recording studio gatherings (friends & family audience?), her voice is mixed in the title position and left alone to be flawed or even awkward, never fixed, processed and made "better". She may be better as an interpreter than composer but The Voice is her selling point and this is its showcase. Wowzah! Get her with some real musicians and this girl is going to the top someday. Someday soon. - In Music We Trust
Discography
Hybridized, for University of Miami Music Biz Dept.
Front & Center CD
Galileo – EP
"My First Child" – CD single
Supernova – CD
Dirty5 - Live EP
Photos
Bio
Mixing soul, jazz, and country twang, New York City’s Carla Lynne Hall is a singer/songwriter playing pop by her own set of rules. The Manhattan Mirror has described Carla’s music as “Norah Jones meets Sade for tea on their way to visit The Beatles”. A visit to Manhattan’s Hayden Planetarium inspired SUPERNOVA, the title track of Hall’s third CD, on her independent label Moxie Entertainment.
From the haunting “My Body’s Keeper” to the sassy “Left Side Blues” to the heartfelt “Lucy & Ethel”, Hall’s SUPERNOVA boldly tackles topics like friendship, addictions, and motherhood, and showcases a charismatic vocal style that has drawn comparisons to Roberta Flack and Sheryl Crow.
With lush production by Christian Cassan, SUPERNOVA hints at the producer’s fondness for the Beatles – the legendary band’s musical style, as well as their sonic experimentation in the studio. Instrumentation such as pedal steel, trumpet, and accordion treats the listener to Cassan’s sophisticated approach to producing. However, simple guitar/vocal arrangements are also featured as an ode to Hall’s acoustic roots.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Carla began dance and music lessons at the age of 5, performing in local recitals and talent shows, and later touring with school choral groups. After high school she studied voice with then-fledgling pop star Jon Secada, and successfully auditioned for the Studio Jazz and Vocal Program at his alma mater, The University of Miami School of Music. Carla has opened for veteran bluesman Taj Mahal, and toured Latin America as a backup artist with Spanish artist Rafael before moving to New York City in 1995.
Carla’s debut CD, FRONT & CENTER was released in 2001, and reached #3 in college radio playlists. She signed with the Barbara Coppersmith and Associates booking agency for her college performances. Her second release, the “My First Child” lullaby CD single, found popularity in 2004 with the baby shower set, as well as with pregnant celebrities Courtney Cox and Debra Messing who were expecting their first children that year.
Known in musician circles as “The DIY Diva”, Hall found an audience online when she began writing articles for musicians on MusicDish.com. Her informative articles on songwriting and performing made her a favorite with readers, who also started sharing her song MP3s on file-sharing websites. This led to her debut CD, FRONT & CENTER selling out with no radio airplay. Soon after, Vibe Magazine contacted her to start their new music business column called “The Biz”, in which she interviewed celebrities like Russell Simmons, Mary J. Blige, and Patti LaBelle about their career successes. She later compiled her articles and interviews into an eBook, The DIY Guide to the Music Biz, which is available at http://DIYGuide-MusicBiz.com.
Hall has also expanded her performances to the classroom. Teaching seminars for organizations such as The Learning Annex and ASCAP (American Society for Composers and Publishers), Carla has inspired attendees at standing room only lectures such as Making Money Making Music, Guerrilla Music Marketing, and Networking in the Music Biz. In addition to the performing end of the business, she has also worked on the other side of the desk. Her industry experience includes Juna Entertainment, as the former director of marketing, EMI Music Publishing, Criteria Recording Studios, and WHQT-FM in Miami, Florida.
Like a diamond with endless facets, Carla Lynne Hall has many creative gifts. Also like the precious gemstone, Hall’s SUPERNOVA is a testament of one woman’s resilience and her journey toward self-fulfillment, with “a pinch of strength and hope” – The Hudson Current
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