Christa West
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Christa West

Band Jazz Singer/Songwriter

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Music

Press


"Siren Song Magazine Album Review"

"Although Christa West is often compared to Norah Jones, her pop/folk sound is actually more attuned to the earlier work of the Indigo Girls. Her songwriting skills infuse idealism with a yearning that's well-suited to her airy voice. Befitting its acoustic guitar backdrop, West's music is textured, arresting and utterly authentic."

http://www.sirensongmagazine.com/2004/issue13.html - Siren Song Magazine


"Performing Songwriter CD Review"

"Christa West's NOTHING IS NOT ENOUGH is the kind of superb debut that few songwriters create, much less ever record. West crafts dreamy pop jazz with a voice that will remind you of Natalie Merchant. The opening track "Just Drive" could be a Norah Jones B-side, about a roadside cafe waitress yearning for a lost love to return and "save me from this place". Romantic desire, consistent determination, and strong independence emerge lyrically, sparking a connection to Jewel (that's early-career-living-in-a-van Jewel, not disco-hot-pants Jewel). Inspired by day-job sweat and spotlight ambition, she accomplishes what many only dream of." By D.F.
http://www.performingsongwriter.com - Performing Songwriter Magazine


"Collected Sounds Album Review"

"Seattle Native (now in LA) Christa West has released a very nice debut CD. She's on the jazzy side of pop. Her deep smooth voice is very comfortable and makes you want to sing along. Reminiscent of early Natalie Merchant minus the mush-mouth thing (don't get me wrong, I love Merchant's voice...she just tends to slur a little).

The songwriting is far from the ordinary. The melodies take great little turns and the lyrics are smart and heartwarming.

She's been compared to Jewel and Norah Jones. I have to say I don't see either of those, I only hear Merchant, but the Jones thing must be because she's a tad jazzy. Either way you look at it, she's really good. If you like pop with a touch of jazz check out Christa West."
By Amy-Collected Sounds Producer
http://www.collectedsounds.com/cdreviews/nothing.html
- Collected Sounds Magazine


"Roots Music Report"

"Christa West releases her debut release and this new release should have a significant affect on the folk and pop music industry. Her marvelous vocal performance will definitely raise eyebrows from music industry people around the world. The song writing alone will more than prove she is a professional that is prepared to be dealt with.

“Nothing Is Not Enough” takes Christa West to the next level and we anticipate more great music to come. "

http://www.rootsmusicreport.com/CDreviews/christawest.php3
- Roots Music Report


"Top Ten"

Christa's song "Take a Moment" from her debut album is currently in the Top Ten at Sveriges Radio in Scandanavia.
http://www.sr.se/p4/latlistor/date/20050507_1303.stm
- Sveriges Radio


"Christa's music hits Scandinavia-(CD Review)"

"Much of later days great music heralds from Seattle, and it's not only grunge. One of the more interesting names from there is Christa West, with her brilliant new album "Nothing Is Not Enough" (Time Clock). The U.S. has greeted her music with open arms. The times should be right also for Europe for this talented singer, and her tight, swinging band. With a touch of jazz, she delivers
a personal and interesting blend of music, sometimes a bit like Norah Jones, but definitely harder around the edges, in both lyrics and music."
http://www.musikindustrin.nu/

If you want to read it in Swedish, here you go...

"En hel del god musik har kommit från Seattle och trakterna runt staden under det senaste dryga decenniet, och det handlar inte enbart om grungerock. Ett av de senaste namnen som sprungit ur denna miljö är sångerskan och låtskriverskan Christa West vars debutalbum Nothing Is Not Enough [Time Clock] mottagits mycket väl i hemlandet. Nu är det dags också för Europa att njuta av denna begåvade
sångerska och hennes tajta band som med en akustiskt klingande ljudbild backar upp henne. Med stark doft av jazz levererar hon personlig och intressant pop med innehåll, lite som Norah Jones men med lite vassare kanter både i text och musik."
- Music Industrin


Discography

•Debut Album - "Nothing is Not Enough"
•Radio airplay on 100+ stations in U.S. & Europe
•Top 40 album: WEFT Radio, Illinois
•Top 12 Indie Albums-Performing Songwriter Magazine, Nov. ‘04
•Distribution (starting Nov. 2005) throughout Scandinavia
•Singles selected for promotion/sale on 32 digital distribution sites incl. Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Sony Connect
•National/Internat'l online distribution through CDBaby.com & TowerRecords.com

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Christa grew up in a small Pacific Northwest town near Seattle. After she finished school, Christa spent some time figuring out what she wanted to do with her life and became serious about being a singer/songwriter. She briefly tried the Seattle scene, ultimately deciding to move to New York City. In New York, she played her own music at regular gigs around the city and sang back up for two different bands (recording with one of them). Christa then moved to Los Angeles where she concentrated on writing and playing out with her band (Guitar: Shea Welsh-Mya/Britney Spears/Daryl Swann, Acoustic Bass: Larry Steen-Flora Purim/Sandro Albert/Larry Steen World Jazz Ensemble, and Drums: Dave Karasony-The Rippingtons/Pat Benatar/Art Garfunkel). With them and producer Brad Cobb (Rufus Wainwright/Jane's Addiction/Steve Reynolds) she recorded her debut album, Nothing Is Not Enough (now available at CDBaby.com and TowerRecords.com).

Christa is excited to see that her songs are getting airplay both nationally and internationally. Within the U.S., her songs have been heard on over 100 indie and college radio stations such as WEFT in the college town Champaign, Illinois where her album landed in the Top 40. Her music has also hit the airwaves throughout Europe. Her singles are getting spins in the U.K., Spain and in Scandinavia where on Sveriges Radio her songs are played alongside such huge acts as Kaiser Chiefs and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Christa's CD has so rapidly gained popularity in Scandinavia, she just signed a distribution deal with Rootsy via Border Music.

As for distribution in the U.S., Starbucks Hear Music is currently considering placing her album within their stores. Thirty-two digital distribution companies, including such names as Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Napster and Sony Connect have all recently picked up singles off her CD to promote and sell.

Besides garnering popularity on air and online, her debut album is also getting fantastic reviews. Her CD was featured as one of Performing Songwriter Magazine's Top 12 indie albums in their November issue citing "Christa West's Nothing Is Not Enough is the kind of superb debut album that so few songwriters create, much less ever record." (PSM vol. 81) International reviews are equally favorable. Two Scandinavian publications, Musik Industrin.nu and Sonic Magazine have seperately featured Christa, praising her music and songwriting, "Much...great music heralds from Seattle...One of the more interesting names there is Christa West, with her brilliant new album, Nothing is Not Enough."

Christa's sound can be best summed up as jazz/pop, infused with hints of Norah Jones, The Indigo Girls, and "sparking a connection to Jewel" (PSM vol. 81). Her music is complimented by her lush and comfortingly smooth voice "that makes you want to sing along...reminiscent of early Natalie Merchant" (Collected Sounds Magazine).

A Northwesterner at heart, Christa moved back to Seattle a few months ago and is continuing her music career there.