Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
(December, 2006)
Material: Red Letter show a lot of courage by opening with a ballad in a town where the mere thought of playing a slow number terrifies most acts. But, in the hands of this group, it works. Haunting, mesmerizing and curiously irresistible, it's the perfect foreshadow of the eclectic fare that follows. Composed of the songwriting team of Tomich and Sorci, the material ventures into pop, country and rock. Perfectly structured and beautifully arranged, the music has an epic feel, emphasized by big pop choruses. But, it's also eccentric with unusual chord progressions that produce mood changes amid atmospheric excursions. It's easy to see why Red Letter recently signed a publishing deal. Their songs have been composed for placements.
Musicianship: Tight and polished, these players are obviously seasoned pros. Their sound is so large, it's almost as if an orchestra is onstage. Sorci leads the way with his innovative guitar work. The rest of the band follow suit and rise to his level. Jessica Tomich has an outstanding voice that soars, swoops and seduces. The only flaw noted, and it's minor, is that the backing harmonies are pitchy at times. Other than that, RL are close to perfection.
Performance: Throughout the set, Tomich presented a warmth and charm that was endearing. She frequently talked between songs and made the audience feel at ease. It would have been nice to see other members of the band relate as well, but that doesn't seem to be part of the design.
Summary: Red Letter are a unique and accomplished act. Their musical sophistication is inspiring, resulting in songs that hold a surprise. And, it's heartening to know that a group of this caliber can achieve industry validation in the form of song placements and publishing deals.
~Bernard Bauer - Music Connection Magazine
Discography
Wishbone - 2006
Under the Same Hot Sun - 2005
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
While our TV screens continue to be inundated with reality TV shows and talent contests churning out a slew of new faces famous for being famous -- authentic artists with great original songs do emerge once in a while. Red Letter is that rare gem.
Meet lead singer/songwriter Jessica Tomich and guitarist/producer/songwriter Frank Sorci, the driving forces and creative brains behind Red Letter. As finalists on NBC’s new show STAR TOMORROW (produced by top pop tastemaker and multi-Grammy Award winning producer David Foster) Red Letter is competing to be crowned ‘star tomorrow’ but is shining brightly today and enjoying quite an unexpected ride. While bands across the US frantically rushed to line up for a chance at an audition to qualify for the first round, Red Letter sat comfortably behind the console of their West LA recording studio when they received a phone call from NBC inviting them to be on the show. Why the special invitation? The electrifying performance of their current single “You Don’t Change” on the prestigious Rehearsals.com earned them the attention of some powerful ears. And rightfully so, for Red Letter has already built quite an impressive music portfolio as songwriters and also as performers.
Blending catchy pop hooks with sophisticated and compelling instrumentation, Red Letter's sound strikes a unique balance between youthful energy and wiser, well-traveled souls. Each song offers a rare emotional intensity through its gripping lyrical bite and heartfelt melody. Their music has been heard on a variety of TV shows and films including "Body & Soul" (Showtime), "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC), "Summerland" (The WB), Melrose Place DVD Box (Fox), the indie films “Eleven Minutes Ago” and “Love Happens", as well as in the upcoming feature film "The Contract" starring John Cusack and Morgan Freeman. In addition, they have headlined many of the hot clubs in LA such as The Mint, The Gig, Genghis Cohen, and the legendary Viper Room on the famed Sunset Blvd.
Red Letter’s musical journey is one that goes beyond the notes of a music sheet to paint a life canvas filled with colorful places, serendipitous discoveries and fortunate opportunities. It all began a few years ago when the two met through a mutual friend at a recording session. Jessica was laying down the vocals for her new project while Frank, who had been scouting new artists to produce, was called in to play guitar. The musical connection and creative osmosis was instant and the pair immediately joined forces, writing and recording new songs and touring under the moniker “Sorci & Tomich”. They showcased their talent across the US embarking on Borders Bookstore and Starbucks tours among others and sold thousands of copies of their first CD. Yet, they earned their biggest media exposure and name recognition with their involvement in a very unique charity endeavor that the duo ingeniously and generously created. With deeply introspective song lyrics bringing an intense sense of spirituality to their music, it became obvious that Jessica and Frank could use their art as a healing tool. They went on to perform at various hospitals, addiction facilities and rehab centers across Southern California with the goal of bringing a little hope and soothing comfort to their audiences. The performances were a success and garnered immense press coverage including a segment on Fox 11 News.
With a fan base and industry buzz growing at a rampant pace, it soon became obvious the duo needed to find a more marketable name. For lack of a better idea, they decided to leave their fate up to ……the dictionary! Frank flipped the pages of the Webster’s and randomly dropped his finger on a word. “Red Letter” (defined as “memorably happy”) was thus born.
Ever since, Red Letter has successfully infiltrated our ipods and channeled their way through the worldwide web with their recently released album “Under The Same Hot Sun”. The 11-track album featuring the hit song “You Don’t Change” that catapulted the duo onto our TV screens, is now available in most retail stores across the U.S. including CDBaby, itunes.com and on the duo's website www.Redletterband.com. Their sense of entrepreneurship combined with their undeniable songwriting skill recently culminated in the signing of a new publishing deal with Dimensional Music Publishing. DMP is a world class, full service independent music publishing company with offices in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles and is a sister company of eMusic and The Orchard and was founded with the purchase of the DreamWorks music publishing assets. The songwriting team has been embraced by the A&R community and artists alike and is currently collaborating with and writing for top artists, while recording material for their new album. Named one of the Top 100 Unsigned Bands in L.A. by Music Connection Magazine, Red Letter is one of the first bands invited to launch the website for the critically acclaimed Rehearsals.com (
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