Music
Press
8 out of 10 --
Bliss infuses her ethereal chops with enough ironic street smarts to win over, well, just about anyone.
-Troy Johnson, music editor, Citybeat
- CityBeat San Diego
The music of Austin-based singer-songwriter Cheryl Bliss is difficult to describe, which is probably a good thing as she isn’t immediately similar to anything else I’ve heard of late.
Bliss possesses the unconventional approach of Kate Bush, the lyrical aptitude of Aimee Mann and sheer otherworldliness of Alison Goldfrapp. Her songs live on a different plane - one where everything is more rich and colorful and soars along with little effort. And while a cohesive set, each song is distinct, it’s only true commonality being Bliss’ ethereal voice.
Bliss’ latest album, the appropriately titled The Sweet Soul Light, is an amazing and lush collection of songs that feature the songwriter at a place where magic is surely happening.
Womenfolk is proud to introduce the fifteenth in its This Woman’s Work series with the inclusion of Cheryl Bliss.
- This Woman's Work (womenfolk.net)
Cheryl Bliss is a wonderful new artist in town with beautiful songs. I really enjoy her music. Please go see her perform.
-John Aielli, host of Eklektikos,
KUT 90.5 FM Austin
- KUT 90.5 FM Austin, TX
Cheryl Bliss' last name perfectly describes the experience of hearing her voice. It's startlingly beautiful ...?
-Indie-Music.com
- Indie-Music.com
Cheryl Bliss is that very special type of artist that has the ability to transport the audience member to another place and time. Her vocals and her overall musical approach are mystical, yet gritty ... supernatural and surreal, yet grounded in solid conviction. She possesses a tangible intensity that reaches out and pulls the audience in.
-Beach Coast News, San Diego
- Beach Coast News, San Diego
Not overlooked is the noteable release from Cheryl Bliss ...
Cheryl Bliss' The Sweet Soul Light (Grab a Mic) brightens the void for lush indie pop ... The San Diego transplant sings with a waifish tone that suits her ethereal compositions ("Wild Wild World," "All This Will Have to Keep") as well as the disc's velvet production.
- Austin Chronicle
Cheryl's voice is beautiful ... she reminds me of Julee Cruise, who has possibly the most beautiful ethereal voice ever. -Daniel Lanois
(producer for U2, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson, Bob Dylan)
- Daniel Lanois
Not your typical singer-songwriter, Cheryl Bliss' sophomore release 'The Sweet Soul Light' is an eclectic mix of obscure musical references. The first track "Fast As I Can" shimmers, and "Take What You Need" triumphs as a fine example of atmospheric pop. The record's centerpiece, "Last Chance," with its indelibly catchy drumbeat and Bliss' assured vocals, showcases the singer-songwriter at her most distinctive and promising.
- Robert Winterode, Austin American Statesman - Austin American Statesman
The Sweet Soul Light, the recent release by Cheryl Bliss, is refreshingly complex and strong. It's not another pop album, but a strong feminine pop collection. By that I mean that even though the tone is soft, the music and the lyrics are deep, rich and meaningful.
Lyrically, the album is as strong as it is musically, if that is possible. There is wisdom to the songs, and the tracks flow one to the other to combine and form a real concept for the album. It all comes together with a theme of digging deep and achieving your goals no matter how scary that can be.
All in all, The Sweet Soul Light is exactly that, sweet and soulful as well as soft and on some fronts moody, and definitely worth a listen. - blogcritics.org
"Cheryl's songs are beautiful, and not lacking in atmosphere, that's for sure."
- Malcolm Burn - Malcolm Burn, producer (Chris Whitley, Nevilles)
Discography
Album "The Sweet Soul Light" (2005) Grab a Mic Records airplay on KGSR 107.1 FM (Austin), KOOP 91.7 FM (Austin), KUT 90.5 FM (Austin), KSYM 90.1 FM (San Antonio), WPTC 88.1 (Selinsgrove, PA), Yellow Beat Shonan Beach FM78.9MHz (Japan), and WVIA 89.9 FM (Scranton, PA), live365.com, freeworldradio.com, artistlaunch.com, netteradio.com, and more.
Album "Angels Running After" (2001) Grab a Mic Records - airplay on live365.com, KPRI FM (San Diego), CFRC 101.9 FM (Canada), Yellow Beat Shonan Beach FM78.9MHz (Japan), CKZP 102.7 FM Radio (Canada), artistlaunch, whole wheat radio, and more. Singles "All I Was With You" and "Spinning" charted #1 on mp3.com's Brit Pop and Alt Pop charts, respectively.
Single "St. Ann's Gold" on "The Unbreakable Chain: A Tribute to Daniel Lanois" (2000) Poetic Wax Records
Photos
Bio
Lisa Coleman (Wendy and Lisa, Prince) says:
"Cheryl's music is like a dream about the ocean--how scary it can be and how beautiful and timeless."
The songwriting and singing of Cheryl Bliss have been described by critics as "stimulating, refreshingly different, and completely cool" and feature an eclectic mix of her ethereal, emotive vocals, solid songwriting, and lush, earthy arrangements. Her most recent album, "The Sweet Soul Light," was co-produced by Phil Keaggy and Cheryl Bliss.
"This album was an amazing journey," says Cheryl. "I began by recording some tracks with Mark Howard (U2, Tom Waits, Peter Gabriel) and Daryl Johnson (Emmylou Harris, Neville Brothers), and while what we had sounded quite good, it was missing that magic. So I called on my friend Phil Keaggy, and that's when everything fell into place."
Cheryl started from scratch, recording all her initial tracks for a new collection of songs in her own studio, playing keyboards, piano, and Wurlitzer, and adding drum programming and vocals. She brought these tracks to Keaggy's Kegsworth Studio in Nashville.
"What happened next was one of those experiences you just can't plan or pre-arrange," enthuses Cheryl. "Phil was having trouble with his new recording system, so when I arrived he had a group of friends there, helping out. One thing led to another, and soon an entire band was creating this sound that was so amazing--it was bigger than any of us alone. It was one of those serendipitous moments you always hope for. "
The remainder of the album was recorded in short spurts over the period of a few months, using the same small group of musicians. It was mixed by John Paterno (Robbie Williams, Badly Drawn Boy, Elvis Costello) and mastered by Richard Dodd (Tom Petty, Green Day, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Cash).
Cheryl tours extensively in the U.S. and U.K. and has been invited to share the stage with Chris Whitley, Michelle Shocked, Johnny Ramone, and many other great artists and bands. She's currently in the studio recording her third album.
Both "The Sweet Soul Light" and the award-winning (San Diego Music Awards, International Songwriting Competition, Just Plain Folks Awards) debut album "Angels Running After" are available at CDBaby, Amazon.com, www.cherylbliss.com, and iTunes.
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