Deborah Lombardi

With a soulfully distinct voice and a well-sharpened songwriter’s pencil...Lombardi's vocal style and instrumentation are right up the alley for fans of everyone from The Pretenders to The Jayhawks. - Good Times Magazine

Singer-songwriter Deborah Lombardi has licensed her songs for use in Animal Planet's "Horse Power." The program used two of Deborah's songs, "Ghost of You" and "My Dog's Life". - Good Times Magazine

A gem of a folk rock record...Despite a definitive alt-country style, Lombardi certainly sounds like she has been influenced by 90's alternative and grunge rock...something akin to Throwing Muses or Liz Phair if they played country music. - Perpetual Toxins

Deborah Lombardi is breaking out on her own terms, and doing it in the best possible way: She's garnered national notice through the strength and quality of her compositions and performances...It would be all too easy to compare Lombardi to other female vocalists, but her work shows surprising depth, passion, and self-awareness. The tunes range from Americana to rock to pop effortlessly.

- Good Times Magazine

Ranging from ballads to acoustic folk rock... (On The Fringe is) a mixture of folk, country and pop with incredible sharp lyrics. Deborah takes on some Alt.Country vibes, that are certainly not to be missed and will please fans of the Jayhawks and assorted outfits. - http://www.billybop.be/

(Every year) we ask our readers to vote for their favorite female artist...This year they chose Deborah Lombardi! - Aural Fix Communique

What kept jumping out at me was the solid writing. Lombardi’s twangy country/folk/rock songs are packed with vivid imagery, quirky lines, and unexpected descriptions. - Indie-Music.com

Deborah Lombardi
5 Song EP
Rating - B

Don't be taken aback by the B rating that Deborah's debut release receives. It is based more on production quality than on the music. The songs are well written, she can certainly play guitar, and she has a wonderful voice. Deborah is just starting out and I am certain when the right people find her she will release a top quality CD. Besides she gives the CD away free at all her shows, what more could you want.

On 'Ghost of You' Deborah pines over a lover lost two years ago. The stark accompaniment of acoustic guitar adds to the loneliness of the song. She sings of being mended but knowing that a part of her died and will never come back. It is nice to hear a woman sing of the happy memories rather than the painful ones of a past love.

'Something About A Man' continues the theme that not all men are rotten, being a man myself, it is somewhat refreshing to hear a woman sing of the positive attributes of men.

She has a distinct and interesting style on the guitar, the phrasings are not always what you are expecting and they draw you into the song. 'Cure For Tears' uses piano rather than guitar as backing. This gives her a chance to show off her chops on piano. The song is a search for a cure for tears after a loss. No matter what she does she is left empty and full of tears.

Lombardi returns to the guitar for 'A Taken Man' the story of wanting a married man, but knowing the problems and negativity it would cause. It's nice to see a woman longing for a man when so many songs are written about men longing for a woman.

'City Limits' is a real toe tapper. The acoustic guitar phrasings and timing is different and interesting.

Deborah is an artist that is soon to be discovered and hopefully we will get a fully produced release to see what she is truly capable of accomplishing. - Dennis Halsey

June 2003 issue

Deborah Lombardi
Independent

Deborah Lombardi is yet another talented female acoustic artist who is starting to make a name for herself on the Long Island original music scene. This, her debut CD, is a 5-song demo of her music.

A couple of things strike me about Lombardi that make her stand out. For one thing, she has a voice that is both strong and distinctive. I can pick her voice out, even if I’ve never heard a song before. The other thing that makes her stand out is her songwriting. She tends to piece together unusual chord patterns that make you listen to her songs -- you expect to hear one chord next, but instead, she goes in another direction entirely. There’s something circular about her songs -- they spin around a theme rather than plowing directly through it.

The production here is very sparse. It’s just Lombardi and her guitar (or piano). The song that blows me away on this CD is called "A Taken Man". It’s sung from the viewpoint of a young woman obsessing over a married man, and making herself want him more even as she tries to tell herself she can’t have him. ("I drove the circumference of the city / To calm down and shake off this feeling / You’re wiser and your life’s complete / I’d serve no purpose, give you nothing"). There’s a dark and desperate feeling here. "Something About a Man" is also a winner.

Over the years, I can think of quite a few songs written by men about how much better the world is because women exist. This is the first I can think of where a woman sings about all the good things she sees in men. "Ghost of You" and "City Limits" are also pretty strong guitar songs, whereas "Cure for Tears" is a slow piano song with a double tracked vocal.

Deborah Lombardi has a website at www.deborahlombardi.com. I’d encourage anyone who appreciates the whole singer/songwriter thing to check her music out.

- Rich Hughes - Aural Fix Communique

Oct. 5, 2004 – Oct. 18, 2004 issue

Singer-songwriter Deborah Lombardi began the night with a strong set that featured her prowess on both guitar and piano. Deborah brings a strong presence to the stage, and her abilities as a musician and performer made her the perfect choice to open this indie artist showcase. The crowd was with her every step of the way, and highlights of her 30-minute set included her original tunes "Ghost of You" and City Limits".
-Dan Brown - Good Times Magazine

Dec. 27, 2003 – Jan. 12, 2004 issue

The Acoustic Blizzard: The Village Pub South, Amityville

Armed with a keyboard and six string, Deborah Lombardi brought her soft tones and heavy lyrics to the stage and stole the crowd's attention with music from her independent EP. "At The Bottom" showcased both Lombardi's darker voice and jazz piano training, while guitar selections "City Limits" and "Something About A Man" lifted her poetic abilities into the forefront.

Though having only about a year of stage performing experience under her belt, Lombardi has a presence and command of the room which is usually only found in more seasoned artists. - Dan Brown
- Good Times Magazine

July 2006 issue

Deborah Lombardi is a local singer-songwriter who is looking to take her music to the national level, as her songs have recently been featured on Animal Planet's TV show "Horse Power." Her country-tinged song "My Dog's Life" oddly enough was placed in that reality show about horses, and the song also was honored with a Runner Up award from the VH1 Song Of The Year contest.

Deborah just released her first full-length album On The Fringe which is an 11 song CD featuring a full band behind this acoustic based artist. The disc stretches her sound to a variety of genres, as her acoustic guitar and piano playing are backed by guest musicians on slide guitar, mandolin, harmonica, violin as well as steady rock drums and electric guitar. The CD was co-produced by Deborah Lombardi & Doug Kwartler, another local singer-songwriter well known for his signature Americana sound.

Deborah is heavily promoting On The Fringe not only to local audiences, but taking it on the road to shows in Washington DC, Connecticut, Virginia and recently to the Block Island Music Festival, RI.

Song clips from the album can be heard on her website, where you can also buy the CD, at:
www.deborahlombardi.com
www.myspace.com/deborahlombardi

- Aural Fix Communique