Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"As attractive as her voice is, it's the flow of Rachel Gaudry's songs that is immediately attractive. There are no visible joins in the construction to distract the listener from the dreamy combinations of words and music... Gaudry's voice is a cool breeze, rising in the country and blowing intimacy and intrigue through the lovingly crafted songs."
- John Shand
"Native Aussie Rachel Gaudry has a gorgeous voice - malleable and exotic... Rachel finds herself surrounded by a coterie of fine musicians concocting cinematic moments of avant-garde fervor on 'Screaming Alone' as well as a groove of optimism on the acoustic 'Sunny Wings' " - James Close
"Beauty and clarity... sensuous pop melodies"
"The music she's making... is the equal of any of the intelligent, articulate young women currently on the international landscape, from Sarah McLachlan to Heather Nova to Ani DiFranco... songwriting and arranging of a very high order indeed" - Michael Smith
"Rachel Gaudry has the intelligence of a Dar Williams or Tori Amos, her singing voice is angelic and uniquely hers, and her piano playing is well thought out. 'Moving On' has hit potential with a beautiful chorus... Rachel has been a favorite of mine since her debut release 'Leaving Traces', and her growth as a songwriter, singer, and musician continues here. Rachel Gaudry is poised on the doorstep of international success with 'Bright Window'. "A" rating" - Dennis Halsey
“Crystal-voiced... spinning poetic ballads with quirky choruses” - Clare Barker
"a poetic singer-songwriter with a promising career ahead of her" - Heather Johnson
"Real and heartfelt... refreshingly different to the usual commerical radio fare"
- Christina Myers
"...angelic grace and voice" - Karla Blume
“Orbiting a tranquil, mood-laden, unhurried ensemble was the strikingly aural delicacy of Rachel Gaudry. A Rhodes organ gently pressed by Ms Gaudry, a bass releasing a bottomless soulful warmth, and the rhythmic waves of the drums solidified lingering folk/rock song formations. Slightly up-beat in tempo, ‘Loose Inside My Head’ released a sassy sway, whilst ‘Weightless Empty Spaces’ unleashed a solemn slither of organ undertones. It was the lucid ‘Come Away’ where Rachel’s piercing pitch reaches its sugary and rapturous sweep. This woman was born to sing” - Domenica Acitelli
Discography
ALBUMS
2003: Rachel Gaudry ‘Bright Window’ - 12 original songs. Produced by Sam Hawksley
2001: Rachel Gaudry ‘Leaving Traces’ - 10 original songs. Produced by Chad Wackerman
COMPILATIONS
2004: ‘Sounds Like Cafe’, Foghorn Records
2003: ‘The Best of Songwriters Live One’, Kream Music
2002: ‘Totally Adult Tune Up #65’ September 2002 compilation, The Album Network USA
2001: ‘Starstruck Highlights’, BMG Music Australia
1998: ‘Bloomers’, Roadshow Music/Warner Music Australia
1997: ‘Songsalive! 97’, Indigo Moon Music
OTHER, AS BACKING VOCALIST
2004: Simon Kinny-Lewis 'Open The Letter'
2004: Duffo featuring Jeff Duff CD ‘Ground Control to Frank Sinatra’
2004: Steve Hunter CD ‘Conditon Human’, ABC Jazz
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Rachel Gaudry's musical journey has been an exciting one so far, taking her from Australia to Japan to North America and back again several times. With a varied musical background in jazz, piano and performance, her music displays both a sophistication and down-to-earth quality that resonates emotion.
Born on Christmas Day in Australia's capital city Canberra, the youngest of nine children, Gaudry began piano lessons at the age of six. At eleven, she won a music scholarship to a boarding school in rural New South Wales and immersed herself in the thriving music culture at the school, performing in musical theatre and choirs, taking piano exams and singing lessons. Later, after spending a year living in the town of Albi in France, and then travelling around Europe, Gaudry returned to Australia to study jazz performance at the Canberra School of Music. She graduated and moved to Sydney in 1995.
Gaudry released her critically-acclaimed debut album 'Leaving Traces' in 2001. Produced by Frank Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman, the album proved to be a confident, sensitively-delivered debut, “spinning poetic ballads with quirky choruses” (Rolling Stone), taking her on several American tours with a subsequent licensing deal and North American release of the album by Virt Records. In 2005, 'Leaving Traces' was licensed and released in Taiwan by Noble Music.
In North America, Gaudry has performed at many well-known venues including the House of Blues (Boston), Bitter End (New York), Eddies Attic (Atlanta), The Mint (Los Angeles), Knitting Factory (Los Angeles) and Twiggs (San Diego) to name a few. Her festival performances in North America have included NXNE in Toronto, CMJ music festival in New York, 2NMC in Nashville.
In Australia, Gaudry performs regularly at many of Sydney's most popular venues (The Basement, The Vanguard, Wine Banc, Side-On Cafe to name a few), and has toured and performed at many top music festivals around the country including Darling Harbour Jazz, Wangaratta Jazz, Manly Jazz, Australia Day, Bellingen Blues, Venus Rising and International Women's Day. Her music is played on radio stations around Australia and is a favourite on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) network. Gaudry has also performed in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Gaudry’s work has been recognised with a Johnny Dennis Music songwriting award, judged by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers), numerous grants from the Australia Council and songwriting competitions from MusicOz to UNISONG. Her music has been featured in film (‘The Perfect Man’) and she has performed on TV in both Australia ('Star Struck', 'Mornings with Kerri Ann Kennerley') and North America (Foxtel breakfast show Detroit, Rogers TV breakfast show Toronto, 'Nitelife' on CMFT-TV Canada).
Gaudry wrote the songs for her second album 'Bright Window' during a 4-month stay in Japan. The album was produced by songwriter/guitarist/producer Sam Hawksley and was released in Australia in 2003 to fine reviews. Michael Smith from Drum Media magazine noted the "beauty and clarity" and "sensuous pop melodies" of the album. John Shand of the Sydney Morning Herald wrote: "As attractive as her voice is, it's the flow of Rachel Gaudry's songs that is immediately attractive. There are no visible joins in the construction to distract the listener from the dreamy combinations of words and music... Gaudry's voice is a cool breeze, rising in the country and blowing intimacy and intrigue through the lovingly crafted songs".
Rachel Gaudry is currently completing songs and making plans for the recording and release of her third album. She is also currently searching for performing and licensing opportunities in Europe, and continues to make in-roads into the North American and Asian markets.
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