Tia McGraff

Canadian singer /songwriter Tia McGraff’s new body of work is maybe her finest to date. Sometimes by album number 5 an artist becomes complacent, satisfied with rehashing and redoing their past work. Same old wine in a different bottle. Fortunately Tia has not fallen into that trap. She continues to grow and expand her talents as a songwriter and as a fine singer. McGraff has that quality, naturally, that singers strive for; believability. She sounds like she means every word she sings without being over the top. In other words the emotion in the song is genuine. That’s because Tia has learned in her songwriting to sing of what she knows and can feel,which produces the honesty in her delivery.
The opening cut, "Nighthawk" sets the mood for the 12 song collection and is a perfect lead in to the masterful “Reckonin’” and acoustic masterpiece, very southern backwoods feel, warning of the reckoning that’s coming to us all. Partner Tommy Parnham, who produced the album in conjunction with McGraff, uses his understated harmony vocals to their full potential. A perfect blend.
There is not a weak track on this album and there is a thread that runs through the whole collection. It sounds like McGraff and Parnham sat in a cabin far away from the plugged in and busy world of the 21st century and wrote the whole album completely focused and unbothered by outside distractions.
Tia McGraff“Stranger to Paradise” and “Break These Chains” lead into “Conductor For a Day” a great train song, masterfully written and performed. “Messed Up World” with it’s haunting slide guitar talks of the world we have made for ourselves. “Safer Place” shows McGraff softer vocal prowess while “Saints and Angels” showcases the vocal blend of McGraff and Parnham.
“Between the Bed And The Door” is a unique way of telling a common story. So well done, deserves to be heard.
“Come Up Roses” is very Mary Chapin Carpenter in feel, content and performance. Love it! “Abagail”, a historical story song in a comfortable waltz feel, leads up to closing song “Whiskey Ship”, another sea song about a prohibition whiskey ship set to a singalong chorus.
The production of this CD was split between Ottawa, Ontario and Austin, Texas. Jonathan Edwards at his Corvidae Studio in Ottawa did the tracks and vocals which were mixed in Austin by Rick DeLellis. The CD was mastered in Caledonia, Ontario by Nick Blagona.
This is, in this writers mind, the finest album Tia McGraff has done to date. If you are a Tia McGraff fan run out and buy it. If you’re not a Tia McGraff fan, run out and buy it. You will become a fan in 49 minutes. - Cashbox Canada: Don Graham

Listening to one of Tia McGraff’s songs is a lot like watching a good cinematographer at work, as the images unfold before you and sometimes the colors are vivid and bright, while at other times they consist of poignant and lonely figures, - Riveting Riffs

HPPR Brings Back Tia McGraff
Tia McGraff has added to her repertoire since the last time she played in Amarillo.
And the folk-rock musician, who performs with her husband, Tommy Parham, is ready to share the new material.
“The songs we’re writing now have a darker edge to them,” McGraff said. “We’re digging down a little more in our music.”
McGraff and Parham will perform at 7:30pm Thursday at High Plains Public Radio, 101 W. Fifth Ave., suite 100. Doors open at 7pm
The concert is part of HPPR’s 2009 Living Room Concert Series.
The duo last played in Amarillo in April 2008.
Since then, McGraff and Parham, who live in Canada, have been working toward their upcoming release, “Radical Road.”
The record, due out in early 2010, is the third project from the pair, who met in Nashville.
“The new songs sound a little less country than songs on our previous records,” McGraff said. “We’re heading toward a more Americana, folk-rock genre.”
McGraff sings lead with Parham on backing vocals. Both perform on guitar.
“We had such a great time in Amarillo last time, and we’re ready to come back,” she said. “I hope people come away really excited about our new songs.”
The concert is free, but a $10 artist donation is suggested. The Ground Cafe will provide coffee; refreshments will be provided by Belmar Bakery. For information, call 806-367-9088.
What: High Plains Public Radio Living Room Concert Series
Who: Tia McGraff
When: August 20, 2009 @ 7:30pm
Where: HPPR, 101 W. Fifth Ave., suite 100
How much: Free; $10 artist donation suggested
More Info: 806-367-9088
Online: www.tiamcgraff.com
Writer:
Brad Newman
Related Sites:
- Amarillo News by Brad Newman

“Tia McGraff is a fantastic singer with her own vocal personality which reminds me of an early Linda Ronstadt. She is a very intuitive songwriter who knows what a song needs to make it tick. A joy to work with. It’s just a matter of time till that magic moment when everyone agrees it’s Tia’s time”…….. Randy Bachman (BTO and Guess Who)



“ I have seldom run into someone with a gift that needs to be heard as much as Tia. She colors outside the lines, and stands outside of the circle of tuned perfection. Tia McGraff is real, and is really needed in today’s marketplace of music.”…. Devon O’Day
( Hippie Chick Twang Records, Nashville)


"Tia McGraff is truly one of God's angels.
She is a wonderful singer and songwriter- and an even better person and Christian."…Phil Sweetland
(Country Music and Radio contributor, New York Times)


- various

Press release distributed in partnership with ...
Canadian Captures the Sentiment of The American People with "Angry Eagle"

Veteran songwriter and recording artist Dan Hill, who has three times enjoyed songs ranked in the top three on the American charts and twice had # 1 hits in Canada, comments on Tia McGraff's hot new song, "Angry Eagle," It captures the times that we're living in perfectly! It is so wrenchingly topical that it's impossible not to relate to every word." - (Billboard Publicity Wire) October 13, 2009 -- Tia McGraff -Canadian singer / songwriter has been at

On Friday, October 23, 2009, Estee Lauder will celebrate its 10th Annual Global Landmark Illumination initiative. Join us as we flip the switch to illuminate our world-famous Niagara Falls in PINK lights for the 10th consecutive year. Following the illumination ceremony there will be a spectacular PINK fireworks display in tribute to families who have been affected by breast cancer. This year’s event will be held at the beautiful Table Rock Center, which overlooks the magnificent Niagara Falls. Guest speakers include The Honorable Robert Nicholson, Attorney General, and breast cancer survivor, Heather Fisher. As well, Canadian musician, Tia McGraff and her band will perform.

The event will include a fantastic silent auction featuring a trip for two to Montreal courtesy of Porter Airlines and Marriott Hotels as well as many other great beauty baskets from brands like Estee Lauder, Clinique, Bumble and Bumble and many more! Come out and help support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and take home some amazing prizes.
- Estee Lauder-world wide press release

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 - - - - - - -

We’ve recently been very impressed by new music from TIA McGRAFF and FRANK LIGHT. Tia (www.tiamcgraff.com) is one of Nashville’s most gifted Canadian imports. She and her boyfriend TOMMY PARHAM co-produced Tia’s 14-song CD, Outside of the Circle. Legendary engineer GENE EICHELBERGER, who worked with Neil Young and many others, mixed and mastered the album. Tommy is a superb guitarist, producer, and arranger, and he and Tia co-wrote most of these uniquely evocative, Americana-flavored tunes. Highlights include the title track as well as Love-Lies-Bleeding, Love Calls the Shots, and Catfish Deacon. Tia and Tommy are a wonderful couple who both look like movie stars, and they have become a popular live duo at house concerts and other venues around the Southeast . .

- Phil Sweetland’s Country Insider

"Canadian-born Tia McGraff, now residing in Nashville, is a gifted songstress and songwriter. Her album "Small Town Life" was nominated by the European Country Music Assoc. awards for Indie album of the year.
Possessed of a strong, clear voice and a gift for imagery and the turn of a phrase, in Jewel's Cafe McGraff has recorded an album of high quality that bears repeated listening." - Roots Productions, Ventura, Ca

Tia's previous release, Small Town Life, was by far and away my favourite Independent release for last year. Why? Pristine vocals deeply pleasant to the ear, clear as a bell recording quality, and beautiful photos of a delicate, almost elfin young woman? These are all strong elements, but you will find those qualities on releases by the hundreds each and every year.
The difference really came down to the wonderful emotional pictures Tia painted with the words she sang. An insightful, intelligent woman, that chooses to view life's twists and turns as lessons and often as gifts. She has once more painted us a masterpiece. Jewel's Cafe! In summary, this is her best work to date. - Real Music Magazine

Tommy Parham is attracting a lot of attention from a lot of very important people in Nashville's music community.
Jeffrey Steele, country music's hottest songwriter with more than 40 Top 5 singles ot his credit, recently said: "Tommy takes the long road, the good road, the music road. I think that's the cool road."

Jon Michaels, who co-wrote Paul Jefferson's "Check Please" and "Stones" from Tracy Lawrence's new album, Strong, said, "Tommy has a tremendous sense of melod. He understands chords and uses them extremely well. Even his simplest progressions are fresh, and that is really hard in a songwriting environment where three chords are king."
Michaels then brings up a facet of Parham that everyone who knows Tommy well mentions. "The only thing equal to Tommy's talent," Michaels says, " is his attitude. Tommy's attitude about life and music is inspiring and genuine. They say that nice guys finish last .... Tommy will finish last and have the last laugh." - Phil Sweetland, Country Music and radio contributor, The New York Times