Tricia Mitchell
Austin, Texas, United States
Music
Press
“The girl power precociousness displayed on assertive opener ‘For This’ gives way to a wealth of styles and moods. Tricia Mitchell’s not afraid to tackle Texas country (‘Bobby Joe Plays Violin’ and ‘Never Say I Do’), though the Houston native really excels at new wave power pop (‘Valerie,’ ‘Learn You Like A Book,’ or what could have been a fine Blondie B-side, ‘Crybaby’). Produced by Colin Boyd, who also supplies guitar, bass and harmony vocals, Mitchell’s heart seems to reside with a singer-songwriter ethic, though when she gets too personal things get shaky. Her tale of spousal abuse ‘Twenty Years to Life,’ which earns points for descriptions of physical pain but misses the mark emotionally, is a prime example of a song that doesn’t work despite hard won integrity. Purple Room is an album of self-expression (many songs were recorded in a purple room of her South Texas home) that proves some of the most unexpected surprises can come from just about anywhere. — David Pyndus - Pop Culture Press
The spark and originality of a great writer coming into her own is immediately apparent and consistent through this Texas debut. We became aware of Tricia Mitchell in our interview this month with Sarah Hickman, who covered two Tricia co-writes on Motherlode.
Stylistically, Purple Room is unabashedly all over the place, but not without the charms of eclecticism. I love the tune “Learn You Like A Book,” written with producer Colin Boyd. His playing is not exactly my cup of tea, nor is the sonic atmosphere of the record–much of it sounds like it was recorded on a multi-track cassette in somebody’s house, by people with very good songs who play pretty good. Many find that kind of thing endearing, I’m just not usually one of them.
Nonetheless, the open-faced allure of Tricia Mitchell is indeed revealed, and the artist and producer get kudos for that. Besides “Learn You Like A Book,” the other tune that Sarah Hickman covered, “Twenty Years To Life” (co-written with the mighty talented Monte Warden, veteran of many cuts including the George Strait hit “Desperately,” and several records with the seminal alt-country group The Wagoneers), gets an excellent read here. Another noteworthy departure from that grave tune is “Girlfriend Of The Band.”
Milo Deering contributes some very spirited tracks on pedal steel, violin, and mandolin; his pedal steel appearances on “Bobby Joe Plays The Violin” and “Lilly’s Verses” bring a new ambience to the sessions.
Tricia Mitchell is curiously self-assured on this debut, and sounds vocally like she has several records under her belt. She’s in full possession of her songs, and her delivery is very present. All fans of good songwriting should pick this record up and catch the rise of a new voice. This songwriter is going places. — Frank Goodman - Frank Goodman
Purple Room (Pigtail) * Tricia Mitchell
Tricia Mitchell’s songs feel familiar in their soft country-folk settings (“Lilly’s Verses,” “For This”), but they bear a lyrical sharpness at once clever and provocative (“Bobby Joe Plays Violin”) and even laugh-out-loud witty (“Girlfriend of the Band”). One of Mitchell’s literary tricks is a flat resolution in her storytelling: “Twenty Years to Life” spins the tale of an abused woman who kills her husband and yet mourns his death. Mitchell also fires off fine rock (“Crybaby,” “Valerie”) and Texas-flavored twang (“Never Say ‘I Do’”). — Margaret Moser - The Austin Chronicle
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Meet Tricia
A wife. A mother. A singer. A songwriter. One very busy woman!
I used to say, If life were a buffet, I would want to taste every dish. I dont have that kind of time anymore! Now, my favorite word is decide. I am looking and listening for the songs that only I could write. About my life, about the world inside of my head, about the people around me. About moments that might seem small. About things that confuse me. Above all, about feelings Ive never heard anyone sing about.
I taught myself to play the piano at age five, inspired by a Joni Mitchell songbook my sisters left sitting on the piano. I also played the flute, but quit Band after 7th grade, because I thought it wasnt cool. Cool was important, once.
My long and winding resume includes having been a professional modern dancer, performing almost every job one could ever do in a restaurant (including telling a joke to Bruce Springsteen), driving a delivery truck for a bakery, working at the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade, studying American History, and coming very close to going to medical school. I have worked at a law school, a brokerage firm, a software company, and a hospital.
I have an MBA. I have survived numerous New England winters, and I used hypnosis to birth two babies without painkillers.
Meanwhile, I have cultivated an entrepreneurial spirit, formed warm and juicy lifelong friendships, balanced work and life, and facilitated groups for moms on self-care. My primary passions are studying the intricacies of the human heart and striving to maintain a bright and spunky light no matter what others may say or do. Last but not least, I have devoted myself to developing as a writer and performing artist and hopefully, winning fans as a singer and songwriter.
My two young children have kept me close to home for the past several years. But I have performed at festivals such as SXSW and the legendary Club Passims Cutting Edge of the Campfire, as well as in local venues and on radio.
Fellow Austinite and 2011 Official Texas State Musician Sara Hickman snagged two of the tunes from my debut CD Purple Room for her Motherlode double CD.
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