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

Beth Southwell at Vancouver CIty Limits

Vancouver City Limits is a great weekly showcase featuring three acts at the Beaumont Studios theatre that seats 60 in an intimate setting.
So if you are in Vancouver on a Monday, check out Vancouver City Limits, hosted by Bruce Gerresh and Colin Speirs.
They also film all the acts and post a song from each on their youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/vancouvercitylimits

Kat Gillis at The Beaumont Studios

Here is a great singer songwriter from Vancouver, an up and coming force to be reckoned with.

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.