Music
Press
"It was easy to heap accolades on Vienna Teng's debut recording, Waking Hour, and its impeccable set of songs that overflowed with intelligence and sensitivity...With Warm Strangers, Vienna Teng has taken a confident step forward to create a set of songs that are sharper, deeper, and even more enchanting than her debut, proving that her talent and music are worthy of the accolades that continue to stack up around her." - Aaron Latham
"Our next guest is a talented singer-songwriter from the Bay Area who is making her television debut with us tonight. This is her CD entitled 'Waking Hour.' I've heard the entire CD and there's not a dud on this. You get your money's worth here, ladies and gentlemen." (January 20, 2003) - David Letterman
"Rare for a tyro performer, her stage presence is as assured as her singing... She strikes a wonderful lyrical balance between the past and the road not yet taken that feels singular among her peers." (July 25, 2006) - Phil Gallo
"An unforgettable set of chamber-folk compositions, which showcase her sharp lyrical prowess as well as her skills as an accomplished pianist. Clearly her most ambitious work to date, 'Dreaming Through the Noise' confirms Vienna Teng as a brilliant young songwriter at the top of her craft." (July 25, 2006) - Alanna Nash
"Engaging voice, insightful lyrics and reflective piano-driven chamber folk packs quite the punch. 'Dreaming Through the Noise' simmers and soars." (July 20, 2006) - Lawrence Everett Forbes
"With lilting vocals reminiscent of Tori Amos and lush strings that underscore her intricate piano arrangements, Teng serves up sharp songs that tackle relationships, religion, and her native San Francisco. Need another reason to 'Warm' to her? Check out the ethereal bonus track sung in Chinese." (February 27, 2004) - Catherine Wise
Discography
LPs:
Dreaming Through The Noise [European release] (Universal), 2006-2007.
Dreaming Through The Noise (Zoë/Rounder), 2006.
Warm Strangers [European release] (Rounder Europe), 2005.
Warm Strangers (Virt), 2004.
Waking Hour (Virt), 2002.
Singles:
"City Hall" from Dreaming Through The Noise, 2006. In rotation on 20+ AAA radio stations, XM satellite radio, internet radio. Featured on primetime ABC-TV show Six Degrees.
"Whatever You Want" from Dreaming Through The Noise, 2006. In rotation on 20+ AAA radio stations, XM satellite radio, internet radio.
"Harbor" from Warm Strangers, 2004. National AAA airplay, XM satellite radio, internet radio.
"The Tower" from Waking Hour, 2002. National AAA airplay.
EPs:
World Cafe Presents Modern Troubadours: In the Round. Live recording includes a cover of Damien Rice's "Cannonball."
Photos
Bio
This spring, renowned singer/songwriter/pianist Vienna Teng launches her national Green Caravan Tour (http://greencaravan.viennateng.com), which includes both environmental initiatives and an ambitious program with Habitat For Humanity. The 35-date headlining tour will see Teng and her four-piece band volunteering at Habitat For Humanity affiliates, fueling their van with biodiesel, and raising money to combat poverty and global warming.
The tour van will run B20 biodiesel whenever available, and all flights will be offset with donations to Native Energy, an alternative energy company. Band members will ride bicycles locally and use reusable containers for food and drink. Additionally, the tour will feature eco-friendly merchandise, including organic fiber t-shirts and recycled-paper note cards, with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to a environmental group selected by her fans.
Not content to tackle environmental issues, Teng and her band will be volunteering with Habitat For Humanity on their days off, donating part of CD sales to the local affiliate in each city, and offering a "proof of participation" form that grants backstage access and other V.I.P. treatment at shows to fans who volunteer as well.
"We’re trying all this in hopes that other artists will start doing the same," she says. "You can’t change the whole paradigm overnight, but every small step is worthwhile."
Not so long ago, being a musician was merely a hobby for Teng, a Stanford computer science grad who was on the fast track to a lucrative career, working as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. But she gave all that up to pursue her musical passions—a risky career move, but one that paid off. The 28-year-old's first two albums, 2002's Waking Hour and 2004's Warm Strangers, landed on three Billboard album charts and reached #2 on Amazon's best-seller list. She's appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, been interviewed by NPR's Liane Hansen and XM's Bob Edwards, and opened for Grammy-winning artists such as Shawn Colvin, the Indigo Girls, Joan Baez and Marc Cohn.
Her most recent release, 2006's critically-acclaimed Dreaming Through The Noise, was produced by renowned Larry Klein (Madeleine Peyroux, Joni Mitchell) and features a stellar cast of musicians, including virtuoso violinist Carla Kihlstedt (Tin Hat Trio) and drummer Jay Bellerose (Paula Cole, Suzanne Vega). The eleven songs on the album range widely, both musically and in subject matter, from the deceptively bright pop melodies of "Whatever You Want" to the jazz/cabaret/tango explorations in "I Don't Feel So Well." Two standouts are "City Hall," a joyful Dolly Parton-inspired tune with a subtle political statement, and the chilling "Pontchartrain," whose eerie string arrangement and disembodied piano pay somber tribute to events in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"I'm just trying to make good music and do something useful for the world," Teng says simply. "That's the kind of success that really matters."
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