Music
Press
New York City native Olivia Greer has the good looks of actress Ashley Judd and a gorgeous, ultra feminine voice that draws its essence from pop vocal legends like Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. Specializing in singer-songwriter folk-based pop with some jazz overtones, Olivia's voice doesn't quite have the heft of Baez but she's able to change it up to fit whatever delivery the song calls for. On the down tempo, jazz/folk "In The Quiet," her voice is a feather wisp that makes Norah Jones sound like Grace Slick, especially against the space made with the song's sparse piano and hand percussion accompaniment. Her vocals take on an appealing spoken-sung quality on "I've Wanted to Fall," a more up tempo song with vocal and lyrical hooks galore. "I've Wanted to Fall" benefits from an amazing electric guitar solo on the bridge. This song was stuck in my head after one listen. Olivia Greer's music has a somewhat elusive, early 70's feel to it, and I find that compelling and refreshing. She also has a keen ear for the kind of instrumental accompaniment and musical arrangements that best serve her songs, because her band is flawless. Judging from the three songs on Starpolish, I'd guess that any album by Olivia Greer would be worth owning. - Starpolish
Olivia Greer makes wonderful and uplifting folk style music with a strong pop sensibility. She's been compared to the likes of Sarah Mclachlan and Ani DiFranco but she's definitely got a style all her own. Rhyme & Reason is a breezy track that highlights Olivias formidable vocal and songwriting talents. - PodcastNYC
Discography
4 Songs
The Park Slope Sessions
Leave The Water (working title, coming Summer 06)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
LATE-BREAKING NEWS: Olivia is currently in the studio with her band, working on an EP they plan to release this summer. 2 sneak previews are available in her EPK music section.
Olivia is also the recent co-author of a book: www.actionsspeaklouderthanbs.com.
Friends have joked that Olivia Greer may have to sleep her way to the top. No traumatic childhood to overcome, no dusty emigration to New York from parts unknown. But the truth is that it’s the strength of her songs and the force of her performances that are taking Olivia Greer to the top, as she emerges as a powerful new voice for her generation.
In 2002, an auspicious white lie led Olivia to write her first song. Since then, her work has been received with great enthusiasm by fans and fellow musicians. As a songwriter and onstage, Olivia is like the daughter of Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen. Her bell-like voice has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro, and her band rocks out on genre bending, folky-pop songs that intimately examine a personal relationship at one moment, and expand to take on the world at the next.
Olivia is currently at work producing and singing on a new EP, which will include some new songs and old favorites. Her debut EP "4 Songs" was recorded at Kampo in spring of 2004 and has been enthusiastically received. "4 Songs" was followed up in the winter of 2005 by a demo of 4 new songs, "The Park Slope Sessions", produced by Ben Wittman (Patty Larkin, Jonatha Brooke) in his Brooklyn studio. Both CDs are currently for sale on CD Baby, and are available as downloads at most major music sites.
Olivia performs regularly at great New York venues including CB’s Gallery, the Cutting Room, the Knitting Factory, Makor, Pianos and 169 Bar.
As a songwriter, Olivia is also making waves. She received a 2005 ASCAPlus award for emerging songwriters, and was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2005 Great American Song Contest for her song "In The Quiet" (on "4 Songs"). In June 2005, she was comissioned by acclaimed theater company The Culture Project to write a song ("For A Friend Who Isn't Well) for the opening night of their festival Women Center Stage 2005.
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