Sylvia Patricia, coming to Vancouver, see her video ACUSTICO - Lagrimas e vodka

Brazil's Sylvia Patricia is on Violet Femmes Vol 2 and is performing in Seattle in August and doing a Violet Femmes Showcase in Vancouver in September. I will have more information soon and will keep you posted, but while waiting why not enjoy her songs and soothing voice via youtube.

Christie Rose Plays May 4th show at The Beaumont Stage

Vancouver singer/songwriter Christie Rose will be gracing the stage onMay 4th. Vancouver City Limits and RPW Records present the Violet Femmes Showcase featuring Claire Hayek, Christie Rose and Manuela, it promises to be an extraordinary evening.
Here is Christie Rose singing SAD HEART, a song that wraps itself around your heart and stays a while.

Violet Femmes Showcase April 1st at the Media Club in Vancouver.

Violet Femmes features the best and the brightest of women performers from Vancouver and beyond.
This show features Alaska's Marian Call, and AURAL Heather, both from Violet Femmes Vol 2 and Beth Southwell from Violet Femmes Vol 1
Here is some information about the artists performing in this show.

Marian Call

"...If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Marian Call. Vanilla is a Certified Desert Island Disc, and any other awards or monikers you can think to throw its way. It's the best thing I've heard thus far in 2008, and is one of the three best debut albums I've ever heard. Remember the day and time when you first heard about Marian Call, and get on the bandwagon soon. This star is going to burn bright." - Wildy Haskell, music reviewer & pop culture blogger

AURAL Heather is Heather Haley and Roderick Shoolbraid.

An interesting twist on poetry, AURAL Heather has taken an artform to higher levels of cool. Pulling no punches, AURAL Heather drops the truth on a diverse array of controversial topics relevant to society. Doing it with an undeniable allure, lead poet Haley's voice is both sensual and intriguing delivering the real to you without apology.

For most, this form of artistic release may be quite new. The artists have been plying their craft in the underground scene for years, but do yourself a favor and open your ears and mind to a complex and intriguing ageless artform.

AURAL Heather has fashioned a unique style of melding some very cool musical production with haunting realities communicated in memorable, sensual and haunting vocal stylings. The core musical aspects of this act are the essence of cool, ...
Catask Review


Beth Southwell
Beth writes with a lyrical honesty and sings with a rare sincerity and selflessness.
Beth has toured the UK, Taiwan and British Columbia, recorded three albums and is currently working on another solo project.

Violet Femmes Vol 2 CD Release Set for March 10th

Violet Femmes Vol 2 is due for release on March 10th. There will be CD Release Party at the Media Club in Vancouver featuring artists from Vol 2.

Pauline Kyllonen

Kelowna's Pauline Kyllonen is travelling down for the show and she will share the evening with AURAL Heather, featuring Heather Haley and Roderick Shoolbraid.

AURAL Heather

Special surprise guests will also brighten our stage, so keep checking back to the blog.

Rave Reviews for Pauline Kyllonen and her song, Unlucky.

The first single off of VIOLET FEMMES VOL 2 is Unlucky by Pauline Kyllonen.

Here is a review of her self titled debut CD by Nancy Dunham in the Indie Music Magazine - February 10, 2008

"Think a cleaner, less fussy version of Lucinda Williams and you'll be on the right track."

Pauline Kyllonen may hail from Canada, but her sound is right out of Nashville, or Texas, or maybe Arizona. Suffice to say she's got the Folk/Americana/Country sound down pat and has the talent to make the most of it.

What sets Kyllonen apart from others is the simplicity with which she showcases the music. Her strong yet wistful voice is the main instrument on these tracks, never overwhelmed by complex instrumentation or too slick production. Think of a cleaner, less fussy musical version of Lucinda Williams and you'll be on the right track.

The pity is that the four tunes on this CD are over much too soon.

Not surprising, the lead tune "Unlucky" has gotten some critical attention. Imagine it as a rocked up, harder edged version of early Reba or maybe even Suzy Bogguss. Without question, Kyllonen has the voice to carry the strong song and catchy "no luck at all" chorus.

"Rainbow Cafe" is straight out of a small Nashville roadhouse; straight country complete with steel guitar and a haunting tale of despair. Yet Kyllonen pulls it off without going into the cornball alley where many balladeers languish. The same can be said of the love song "Like A River."

"Wasn't Thinking About You" is a down tempo, percussion heavy tune that just begs for a contemplative listener.

Come on, Pauline. Think about us. We definitely need more of your sound in our lives. Read article online at: http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8110

-Pauline Kyllonen
http://www.reverbnation.com/paulinekyllonen

VIOLET FEMMES ARTIST, SARAH NEBEL RELEASES HER SECOND FULL-LENGTH ALBUM:
"Great White" proves to be an oasis of warmth in a winter wonderland

Singer-songwriter Sarah Nebel released her second full-length album "Great White" on February 4th. The album’s producer is Vidar Lunden with Park Grammofon and features such artists as Kjetil Steensnæs, Torstein Lofthus, Palle Wagnberg, Kjetil Dalland, Torjus Vierli, Roar Vangen and more. The songs vary from slow roots ballads to alternative pop/rock songs with a definitive twist.
"Great White" is a sublime follow up to her first full-length album, "Time to Fly", as it exemplifies Nebel's unique and ever-evolving approach to song-writing. The intense and often provocative lyrics are coupled with thoughtful and exquisite musical arrangements that at times defy gravity.

This is Sarah Nebel at her best: penning her own songs and spinning personal stories that are both a dedication to her art and a tribute to her own internal strength. "I can't remember a single day when my heart and mind hasn't been busy writing music or feeling music." In "Great White" Sarah Nebel has discovered a sense of renewal so profound that it may very well set the stage for a future of appetizing prospects for both the artist and dedicated fans. Within the same breath she leaves the door wide open for new listeners to fall under the spell of her provocative magnetism.

Sarah Nebel released a double-single from the new album earlier this year, which included the songs "Blindfolded Star" and "Maybe A Song". Both songs feature a duet with one of Sarah Nebel's favorite Norwegian singers, Trond Granlund . Her radio single "Time" was featured for an impressive 11 weeks on national radio (NRK P1) between December and February 2007. Sarah Nebel’s first solo album "Time to Fly" was released in Norway on her own music label MyStory Productions in 2004. In 2005, She signed a recording deal with the Norwegian label Park Grammofon.

"Jasmin" was written for a young lady who dared to stand out as "different" at a very you ng age. "I was smitten by her soul, her courage." The music video for "Jasmin" was created by Sarah Nebel with the help of Paula Legault - and features notable American actress Jill Bennett and Jamie Blake, who is part of the rock group Vixtrola. Sarah Nebel transformed her inspiration for this mature, young advocate into a song that is a dedication to her muse's determination. The haunting piano arrangement that opens "Jasmin" mystically escalates through peaks of guitar riffs and atmospheric touches that blend into a cacophony of pure rapture. The video is set to be released soon.

If "Jasmin" establishes itself firmly as a rapturous tribute on Great White, "Blindfolded Star" is its melodic, organic counterpart. Here Sarah Nebel peels back another layer of herself with a ballad that is as eccentric as the Johan Hastard book it was based on: Buzz Aldrin, what happened to you in all the confusion?. The song devoted to Ennen tenderly unfolds as the percussion compliments both Nebel's and the book's emotional directness. The addition of Trond Granlund's charismatic vocals exude a tangible familiarity that blends seamlessly with Sarah Nebel's lush tones. Sarah Nebel's storytelling talent is breathtaking in its simplicity with "Blindfolded Star".

With a recording process done in live sessions in the studio with a band that was presented with only Sarah Nebel's homemade demos, Great White was given shape and form. The additional attention of producer Vidar Lunden - who expertly captured it all and gave it an intricate touch when working with the recordings before mixing it adds to the album's essence. Great White is a sophomore album of subtle touches, capturing achingly emotional flourishes, entwined with dreamy and memorable vocals. It's the type of musical offering that reminds us of endless winter dreamscapes, yet transports us into such a warm and comforting place that we can't possibly protest its chilled poise.

By day, Sarah Nebel runs her own creative design agency, and is also displaying her art at local exhibitions. By night, she works tirelessly on the music that has been her lifelong companion. Sarah Nebel lives withdrawn in the Norwegian countryside with her husband, where she enjoys the close proximity to nature, outdoor activities, and spending quality time with her family and friends. In addition to releasing her second studio album, Nebel is performing live in a trio format with Roar Vangen and Øivind R. Nilsen.
She also sings and co-writes with the band "Zoo Lounge". The duality of Sarah Nebel's nature is the element that births music that makes repeated listening an endlessly revivifying delight. It ascertains that Sarah Nebel's musical journey has yet to come full circle, but remains in a continuous cycle of artistic reinvention and restores belief in the influence of song and the lone vigilance of the songwriter.

Great news for our Violet Femme, Laura Roppe.
KENNY CHESNEY SONG CONTEST WINNER
LAURA ROPPE BREAKS THROUGH AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER
WITH HER POPULAR ANTHEM “MAMA NEEDS A GIRL’S
NIGHT OUT”

Laura's song “Mama Needs A GIrl's Night Out” is number 31 on the ECMA charts in Denmark and 39 on the Netherlands charts right now.
Also Hot Country Radio selected “Mama” as number 9 on their list of the Top 50 Country Songs of 2008!

Rebel Red gets Airplay in Scotland

Just as the media mailout for Violet Femmes Volume 2 is underway I got great news from one of our featured artists.
Rebel Red got a publicist for Christmas so just released a track from
her new CD
Red got an airplay request from a radio station in Scotland ! This is great news and congrats Red.
As Rebel Red says to her fellow artists out there:
"Good luck to all -- it can be done!"
Here are her websites if you care to take a visit.
http://www.reddsings.com
http://www.redd.tv
http://www.myspace.com/reddsings

Gotta Go by Claire Hayek

Winner of 'Best Provincial Pop female Artist' and 'Best Provincial Pop CD' by Toronto Exclusive Magazine, Claire Hayek's very distinctive voice, reminiscent of Cher, Paula Cole and Alanis announces the arrival of a singer-songwriter who should be around for a long time to come.
Divided between love and deceit, hope and desperation, mystery and day to day reality, her debut album 'Intention' says it all.
A blend of mixed emotions, colorful melodies and textures, the songs aim straight to the heart and to the human conscience. With the majority of the album written and produced by Claire, 'Intention' announces the arrival of a singer-songwriter-producer with an unbending purpose.
Claire's song 'If Only I' is featured on Violet Femmes Volume 2, out in January 09. as is her own solo CD, Intention.

The official album launch for Intention is now scheduled for the month of February 09.
In the meantime, I invite you to watch 'Charmer' music video teaser on her
Facebook page

The complete video version will be broadcast on Feb 1st.

Listen to Claire at her MySpace page.

Rebel Red sings Love Is A Power Divine

Red's main influences are 60's Folk-Rock, Old-School Rhythm & Blues.

Rebel Red is the project of roots rock singer/songwriter Red - her vocal style is sassy '60s r&b, her raunchy guitar playing sounds like a cross between Duane Eddy and early Keith Richards.....

Red's song "On My Guard" was recently awarded an honorable mention by the 15th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest. This is the song featured on the Violet Femmes Vol 2 CD.
Red was born in New York City and grew up in England. She cut her performing teeth fronting English bands on U.S. overseas military bases for several years, in Germany, Italy and Greece.

“It was hard work - four to six sets a night, six nights a week - but I learned a lot and the soldiers turned me on to some great r&b, soul and country singers, taking me back to my American roots. Hence the cross fertilization in my songs.”

She eventually returned to the States and worked with producer/guitarist Steve Burgh (Willie Nelson, John Prine, Steve Forbert), who produced her first album, "Water Planet", before his untimely death in 2005.

“ Steve gave me my first chance to play and record with authentic roots musicians - another learning curve.”

Red continued to perform on the New York City club circuit, recording three more projects with drummer Richard Crooks (Dr. John), before disappearing for a while to raise two boys, which she threw herself into wholeheartedly.

She re-appeared on the music scene in 2008 with a new cd, "Sex, Religion, Politics".

"Although I am a seasoned performer, when I emerged from the sidelines of motherhood I had to start from scratch in the music world and felt kind of lost. But love of performing is a powerful force, and I soon discovered that I couldn't NOT do it. So, I said OK here goes! and took the plunge. "

"No more doubts now!! Glad I took that plunge!"

Red is currently in the studio tracking the next Rebel Red album (projected street date March 1, 2009).

Musicians Red has collaborated with, past and present: Jeff Pevar (Ray Charles, Crosby, Stills and Nash), Erik Lawrence (Levon Helm), Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan), Richie Crooks (Dr. John), the Uptown Horns (Rolling Stones), and many more.

Addie Loy sings at Cincinnati Midpoint Music Festival

One of the new Violet Femmes, Addie Loy, performed at the Cincinnati Midpoint Music Fesitval this weekend, Sept 25th-27th.
Here is a video of Addie singing live at the festival. Her powerful performance style comes across and we welcome her to Volume 2 of Violet Femmes.