VERMONT ARTIST AMBER deLAURENTIS RELEASES FIRST FULL-LENGTH CD, “HEY SADIE”
(Burlington, VT) Former Philadelphia-area songstress now Burlington, VT resident, Amber deLaurentis has announced the release of her long-awaited full-length studio debut, “Hey Sadie,” due out in early March, 2008. deLaurentis’ signature pounding piano style and powerful vocals drive a diverse collection of original songs, written with her longtime musical collaborator, lyricist, Sarah Blue. Their award-winning songs are at once contemporary and timeless, and have been characterized as “Instant Classics.”
“Hey Sadie,” which was recorded at Charles Eller Studios in Charlotte VT and MAJA Audio Group in Philadelphia, was nearly two years in the making. Explains lyricist Blue: “It was a huge undertaking. We really wanted to try to bring the material to life. Even when we’ve just begun writing a song, we fantasize about large instrumentation and arrangements, so it's been a dream come true to witness the making of this record. So many incredible people have poured their energy into trying to capture our visions in a permanent recording. It's been amazing.”
Each of the 12 tracks is painted with a large emotional and musical palate. Lush string arrangements, sophisticated horn parts, sweet yet complex vocal harmonies, and energetic, seemingly effortless rock-and-roll performances by deLaurentis’ Philadelphia-based band (David Anstine on bass, Mark Schreiber [Slo-Mo] on drums, and Mark Tucker on guitar/steel guitar), showcase the evocative lyrics and compelling melodies which characterize the deLaurentis/Blue sound. Guest appearances are also made by some of Vermont’s finest musicians, including Paul Asbell (guitar), Steve Blair (guitar), Tom Cleary (horn arrangements), Chuck Eller (organ), Juliet McVicker (vocals), and Gordon Stone (pedal steel guitar).
The result is an impressive and sophisticated recording with what feels like a very “live” energy. deLaurentis and Blue grew up listening to artists such as Elton John and Carole King, and while “Hey Sadie” is an undeniably contemporary recording, it also has something of a vintage feel to it which reveals these roots, and which is not accidental. “One of my favorite moments during the mixing, was listening as our engineer, Lane Gibson, attempted to match the string effects to some of the string productions on Elton John’s ‘Madman Across the Water,’” recalls deLaurentis.
Amber deLaurentis left Philadelphia for Vermont in October of 2003, where she became the Instructor of Jazz Voice and Co-Director of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble at the University of Vermont. She continues to perform her and Blue’s award-winning songs (Billboard Magazine 2nd place for “Lonely in Love;” Discmakers’ Independent Music World Series best of 1,200 bands; honorable mention John Lennon Songwriting Contest, etc.). As a performer, Amber has supported the likes of NRBQ, Amos Lee, Marshall Crenshaw, Patty Larkin, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, and Five for Fighting, and as a recording artist, she has collaborated with keyboardist Chris Cameron of Sonia Dada and Jim Tullio (producer Mavis Staples, Los Lonely Boys), among others.
deLaurentis is planning a tour with her newly formed Vermont band including Caleb Bronz, Tom Cleary, and Steve Blair, to promote the release of “Hey Sadie.”
Celebrate the Vermont release of “Hey Sadie” with Amber and the band at Flynnspace, Thursday, May 22nd, in Burlington, VT.
For music, JPEG’s, interviews and more information, please contact: Amber deLaurentis: (802) 878-3721; treesapper@hotmail.com
Sarah Blue: (315) 559-4705; SarahEBlue@gmail.com
WEBSITES: www.myspace.com/amberdelaurentis; www.purevolume.com/amberdelaurentisband; www.sonicbids.com/amberdelaurentisband2 www.myspace.com/sarahbluelyricist
Timeless vocals, serious piano chops, and a band that "rocked us so hard we peed our pants" are Amber's concert stock in trade. She blends the best of R&B, rock, singer/songwriter pop and gospel into hook-laden, thoughtful, original material. "Like a femme version of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, (Amber) deLaurentis and (Sarah) Blue craft rockin’, soulful, piano-driven tunes that leave little choice but to draw deserving comparisons to Carole King." Ben Hardy, Seven Days, Burlington, VT Amber deLaurentis’ signature pounding piano style and powerful vocals drive a diverse catalogue of melodic original songs, carefully crafted with her long-time lyricist Sarah Blue. Their songs are at once contemporary and timeless – characterized by one music industry executive as “Instant Classics.” deLaurentis, both individually and with her band, has compiled a considerable resume. The Amber deLaurentis Band was one of six finalists (chosen from over 1,200 entrants by the editorial staff of Billboard Magazine) to play before a panel of 12 heavy-hitting industry judges, in the Northeast chapter of the 2002 Independent Music World Series, where their “home run” performance won the Grand Prize. deLaurentis and Blue then went on to take second place in the pop/rock category of Billboard’s International Songwriting Competition for their song “Lonely in Love,” and earned an honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for “Calliope Calling.” The Amber deLaurentis debut ep “By George! Live at the Tin Angel,” was voted “Best Live Album” by the Just Plain Folks Musicians’ Network. Chosen as the only local act to perform before a crowd of 15,000 at 88.5 FM WXPN Philadelphia’s prestigious Singer-Songwriter Weekend, Amber kicked off a season of touring and went on to wow festival audiences throughout the country, including Bethlehem’s Musikfest (making two appearances at the east’s largest outdoor music festival, before a combined audience of over 9,000), the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festval, and Toronto’s North by Northeast. A solo tour of Scotland followed, where Amber played a number of prominent venues and made a guest appearance on the Janice Forsyth Show on BBC Radio Scotland. Amber has been a featured artist in two different venues within Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, enjoyed a residency at New York City’s legendary Bitter End, and has been repeatedly invited to join the intimate New York Songwriters’ Circle. deLaurentis and her band (featuring David Anstine on bass, Mark Tucker on guitar, and Mark Schreiber on drums) will be releasing their first full-length CD, “Hey Sadie” in March, 2008.
