Music
Press
"Mellow, earnest and melodic, Shelley exudes an old school folk charm on Storyteller that's refreshing and timeless."
-MTV Asia.com
- MTV Asia
"The Shelley Leong song for me is 'So Good'. Mm. It isn't just her voice - though if it were just her voice that would probably do the trick too - it's also the way she moves on stage, hampered by guitar and perched on a stool...Her songs contain a gentle non-conformism."
-Sonia Randhawa,Kakiseni.com - kakiseni.com
"Good thing for Leong, her odes to romance never get drowned in sappiness and she's got plenty of song writing muscle to make all the tunes work. It's not all just love songs though; she also touches on other subjects close to her heart. There's a bit of Vonda Sheppard, Joan Osborn and Paule Cole in what Leong does that will keep fans of the genre interested."
- Adlin Rosli KLUE magazine - KLUE Magazine
"Some people just have it all; the looks, the voice and the amazing talent. Shelley Leong is definitely one of those blessed few. Already the buzz in the Kuala Lumpur, she looks set to be Malaysia's answer to American singer/songwriter, Jewel. After taking over the show from Pat Chng, she began to charm the audience with her eloquence and amazing stage persona."
"An excellent performer, she's like a seasoned veteran on stage as she grooves into the soul of her music."
www.audioreload.com
- www.audioreload.com
"There is something that remains authentic about the simplicity of acoustic singer/songwriters. No exception is made for Malaysian singer/songwriter Shelley Leong's album Storyteller, a mellow collection of acoustic songs that land somewhere between Natalie Merchant and Norah Jones.....Most of the songs are rooted in the comfortable feeling of Leong's gentle piano. Her voice at times reminds me of a harsher version of a 70s Joni Mitchell, and the jazziness of numbers like "Crime" are similar to Mitchell's Court and Spark era. Most of the album's songs are relaxed wine-sipping music, while other songs, like the album's best, "Innocent Girl," are driven and pop-ish.
Storyteller is slow--but a good slow (not drawn out). Leong's feelings are felt through her passionate songs, complete with stories about breakups, make-ups, and memories."
- Jeremy Stanifer, www.eomentertainment.com
"Her intimate debut album, Storyteller, is certainly a worthy addition to the local singer-songwriter catalogue. Self-released through Leong's own Soundtrax Productions imprint and produced by Nick Lee, the 13-track album contains radio-friendly folk and pop-rock tunes sprinkled with lazy Sunday jazz touches"
- The Star newspaper
Discography
EP 2002: Anacrusis
LP 2004: Storyteller
Vocals on:
2004: Acoustic Gestures - Az Samad
2006: Youth - The Night Visitors
Piano on:
2006: Midnight at St. Kilda - Broken Scar
MUSIC VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v-D_e59Y0
MORE AUDIO recordings available on:
www.cdbaby.com/shelleyleong
Photos
Bio
With an unorthodox and clear voice,- multi-instrumentalist, Shelley Leong moves surprised listeners. She is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In 2005, Shelley was nominated for Best New English Artiste for the AIM (Malaysian Music Industry) awards. Her songs were awarded honorable mentions from the Billboard World Songwriting Contest in 2007.
She performs either as a soloist, duo or with her band. Her arrangements are a blend of contemporary styles of folk, pop/rock coupled with hints of jazz and ethnic. She also plays piano,guitar and frame drums. Her audience have often described her as having a strong presence with a warm, friendly vibe.
Performance venues have been wide ranging, including intimate settings like No Black Tie in Kuala Lumpur, Caffe Trieste in San Francisco, scenic open air stages like The Esplanade in Singapore, Major Music festivals like the Mont Kiara Jazz Festival and Penang Jazz Festival, and celebratory large concerts like the New Year Concert at The Mines......she is happy to share her music everywhere.
Shelley was awarded for her popular single "Resident Fool" that recently charted number two on musiccanteen.com "Top Monthly Downloads." 4 of her songs in the album have received radio airplay on major radio stations in Malaysia. Acoustic and organic, Shelley's debut album - 'Storyteller' is the latest original album to stand out from Malaysia's independent music scene.
Shelley won a scholarhip to study at the famous Berklee College of Music in 2005 and graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. Shelley produces Songwriter's Avenue, which features upcoming singer-songwriters. Her single "Forgiveness" is currently on Malaysia's English Top 10 charts (hitz tv).
With a keen interest in music education for all, Shelley also keeps herself busy with giving workshops and private lessons in voice and songwriting. She recently led a workshop for the KL SingSong Festival at the Kuala Lumpur Arts Performance Centre.
Shelley currently directs and plays keyboards and sings for Bogofusion, a world-fusion music band produced by Boris Goldmund Productions.
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REVIEWS
"Thanks in part to a vocal style that is as unorthodox as it is accessible, Shelley is one of those singers whose music is familiar yet differentiated."
- Songwriters Round organizer, Pete Teo
"Some people just have it all; the looks, the voice and the amazing talent. Shelley Leong is definitely one of those blessed few. Already the buzz in the Kuala Lumpur, she looks set to be Malaysia's answer to American singer/songwriter, Jewel. After taking over the show from Pat Chng, she began to charm the audience with her eloquence and amazing stage persona."
"An excellent performer, she's like a seasoned veteran on stage as she grooves into the soul of her music."
www.audioreload.com
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Previous performances include:
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco Asian Art Museum
San Francisco City Hall
Palace Hotel, San Francisco
Old Federal Reserve Building, San Francisco
Caffe Trieste: Songsalive! Showcase, San Francisco
Swiss Human Rights Exhibition, Logan International, Boston
Marriott Copley, Boston
La Luna Cafe, Boston
David Friend Hall, Boston
Stain Bar, New York
Alexis Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
No Black Tie, Kuala Lumpur
Avanti's, Kuala Lumpur
Penang Jazz Fest, Penang Island
Mont Kiara Jazz Fest
Heineken Octoberfest
Fete de la Musique, French Music Festival
Traxx.fm Jazz Show @ Bangkok Jazz
Launch of Chulan Square
Merdeka Celebration @ Time Square
KL SingSong Festival @ KL Performance Centre
Traubadours
Songwriters Round
Moonshine @ Laundry Bar
Paul's Place
Le Benardin
TecAsia CEO Convention, Shangri-La Hotel
Sheraton Hotel
Equatorial Hotel
Actors Studio, Dataran Merdeka
Fasta Pasta
Sunday jazz @ BSC
Sunrise Annual Dinner
Launch of Dunhill cigar @ Tamarind Hill
Acoustic Jam @ Commonwealth Club
Esplanade, Singapore
Home Bar, Singapore
Singapore Art Museum
KLUE Starbucks Series
Radio & Television Live performances and interviews:
RTM, TV3, Hitz.tv, 8TV
Traxx.fm, Xfresh.fm, Red.fm
Hitz.fm, Light & Easy, Mix.fm
The Star's - football show webcast
The Mr.Brown show - live podcast
Workshops given include:
Vocal workshop @ The Music Hut
Vocal and Songwriting workshop @ KL SingSong Festival
Organizer of Songwriters Avenue
Links
