Heidi Maria

Friday February 21, 2014 | By:Brian Campbell |
ANGOLA — Lake Shore High School alumna Heidi Maria has just released “I’m Done Playing the Game,” an album full of folksy Americana entwined with undercurrents of alternative country.

She called certain parts of the release, such as “A New Song” and “The Star Song,” more emotional, while other parts of “I’m Done Playing the Game,” such as “Make Up Your Mind,” can get bouncy at times, she said.

She credited her sound to the place where she recorded the album, The Sound Kitchen in Nashville, Tenn., an award-winning studio that has listed Taylor Swift (“Fearless”), Brad Paisley (“5th Gear”), Dolly Parton (“Better Day”), Bruce Springsteen (“The Rising”) and Carrie Underwood (“Some Hearts”) among its past clientele.

“I feel so extremely blessed and grateful to have been able to work with such an amazing group of people on this album,” Maria said. “Everyone at The Sound Kitchen was so wonderful. Recording there was such an awesome experience.”

Maria listed the Southtowns, specifically its vast array of beaches, as one of the main inspirations in her music and her songwriting. She said that the local beaches were such a big inspiration that they inspired the album art for “I’m Done Playing the Game.”

“The beautiful beaches stretching across our Southtowns have always been an inspiration for me in my music and my songwriting,” she said. “I did my album cover shoot down at the beach, to tie in my love for it to this album.”

Purchase “I’m Done Playing the Game” at www.cdbaby.com/cd/heidimaria2. For more information about Maria, her music and all of her upcoming live performances, visit www.heidimariaandmariapeach.com. - THE SUN

On I’m Done Playing the Game, local hidden gem Heidi Maria is a kindred spirit; a passionate old soul sonically well beyond her years. Her voice is soft, sweet and hauntingly beautiful, and it’s her warm, welcoming docile tones that engulf the listener from start to finish on I’m Done Playing The Game, an EP brimming with heaping helpings of hearty, folksy Americana entwined with subtle undercurrents of beguiling alt-country. Maria’s voice is a revelation thanks to her powerful emotional delivery (“A New Song,” “The Star Song”), though I’m Done Playing the Game can get a bit bouncy at times (“Make Up Your Mind”). I’m Done Playing the Game is an EP equally befit for rainy days, chilly nights and enjoying the wind whip through the trees and wind chimes from your front porch, though after one listen, there’s a good chance you’ll want to spin this EP a hell of a lot more than that.

Grade: A-
Go Download: “The Chess Game” - Get eXposed! Music

Friends, family and former students of retired Lakeshore science teacher Bill Sheehan got together for a Billapalooza Sunday to raise money for Sheehan, who was gravely injured in a car accident. - The Buffalo News

Heidi Maria and Maria Peach

Traveling to Syracuse from nearby Buffalo, Heidi Maria and Maria Peach each bring a wealth of experience to their country music partnership.

In addition to being a model with Wilhelmina Rochester, Heidi Maria has performed at South Buffalo’s Shades and Sounds Music Festival, as well as in Hollywood and Toronto.

She’s currently at work on an album.

Her band mate, Maria Peach, has traveled to military bases to entertain Canadian troops, and appeared on TV shows like “Country Roads” and “Juliette and Friends.” She has also recorded an album, “Chasing Dreams.” - Syracuse Post-Standard

"Westside Stories started a weekly singer/songwriter series every Thursday night @ 7 PM. We have a different performer each week - this week it's Heidi Maria and Maria Peach." - Buffalo Rising

Heidi Maria performs with her fellow musicians Saturday at the Shades and Sounds Festival outside Charlie O'Brien's on Elk Street in South Buffalo. - The Buffalo News

GEM’s Top Albums of 2014
Heidi Maria – I’m Done Playing The Game
Her voice is soft, sweet and hauntingly beautiful, and it’s her warm, welcoming docile tones that engulf the listener from start to finish on I’m Done Playing The Game, an EP brimming with heaping helpings of hearty, folksy Americana entwined with subtle undercurrents of beguiling alt-country. Maria’s voice is a revelation thanks to her powerful emotional delivery (“A New Song,” “The Star Song”), though I’m Done Playing the Game can get a bit bouncy at times (“Make Up Your Mind”).
- See more at: http://www.getexposedmusic.com/2015/01/gems-top-albums-of-2014.html#sthash.oZWjvAj9.dpuf - Get eXposed Music