sara genn

"Stunning vocals wrapped in a robust melancholy of chords and delicate percussion, nom de plume has spun a web of hypnotic lyrics and haunting melodies in "songs for longing" that you can't help but remain comfortably stuck to. A must own CD!" (Prose and Cannes) - itunes

"The Dean's List" from Village Records
Choice cuts: "Constellation," "Trinity," "Get Classy"

NYU's Village Records, a nonprofit, student-run label, aims to discover and promote fresh talent. Its latest project, "The Dean's List," is a compilation of 13 young artists from across the country.

Greenwich Village, by way of Canada's Nom De Plume, contributes "Constellation," using violin and piano melodies to add layers and depth to leader Sara Genn's emotive narrative. To add a little bit of soul, the husband-and-wife duo Sabrina & Giorgio offer rich, bluesy vocals over jazz instrumentation. The young couple exude chemistry that seeps through in their song "Trinity" - a cross between gospel and R&B. The track is one of the compilation's best, with powerful vocals and interesting guitar riffs. "Get Classy," by NYU hip-hop hipsters The Makeout Party, features eccentric lyrics like "If you want to get nasty/Maybe we could bring it on home like Lassie," spit over dance beats that fulfill their promise to "make your pimples pop." Minneapolis-based girl-rock band Sick of Sarah picks up the tempo with the catchy "Mr. Incredible." Small-town emo-funk band Akudama from Connecticut presents the bleeding-heart song "Cool Kids Stay Out."

While Village Records succeeded in its goal to produce a compilation "showcasing an eclectic mix of music" that would span all genre types, it feels thrown together and suffers some glaring inconsistencies. On the whole, "The Dean's List" lacks cohesiveness, with no thematic or stylistic link between artists. The mix is available this month on eMusic.
- Jenna Goudreau
- Washington Square News NYU

This is a great CD for listening on a rainy night, glass of wine in hand, amid memories of lost loves... - Mimi's Golightly Cafe

I love this CD. This is the one that I listen to when I am painting, driving or just hanging out. Love it!
(Mary Lindsey) - CD Baby

Surfing in silence? It's time to pipe in the sweet, soulful melodies of a Canadian chanteuse while you, uh, work. Vancouver native Sara Genn's new site songsforlonging.com is fast being added to the favourites list of folks-in-the-know. Already an accomplished visual artist in these parts — her father is famed West Coast painter Robert Genn — the now NYC-based songbird (stage name: nom de plume) has added singer/songwriter to her resumé (she is accompanied by Keith Witty), and the iMac-iPod crowd is swooning. So pour a cup of vanilla rooibos, click play, and take flight to tunes like "Sleepless" and "Any Girl". (Susie Wall) - FLARE

"truly....completely...magical." (Louise Cairns) - MySpace.com

"Music needs this kind of creativity and grace...the best i've heard in ages. A lovely warm acoustic sound, and beautiful angelic voice...chorus harmony amazing. Why isn't this woman famous?" (David Newsome)
- Overplay.com

"...the song you want to put on at the end of the night when you can listen to nothing else, but you still want to listen." (Eric Gorman) - Numedia, NY