Sunday, April 13, 2014

EMERGING SINGER-SONGWRITER ROXANNA TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM EXOTICA ON APRIL 29



“I believe the world is hungry to hear songs about love. Enough about bad romance and hate and war. Music should be easy on the ear.”

Entering into the music world with a devastating heartbreak, the incomparable Roxanna penned “Unforgotten,” a sorrowful but soulful song, threaded with hope for tomorrow. “That song was my therapy,” Roxanna notes. “It just poured out of me, and helped me believe all of this happened for a reason.”

With the introduction to Exotica, lead single “Close Your Eyes” takes you on a personal journey with its dramatic storyline and emotional lyrics, Roxanna’s heartfelt message is strongly emphasized by the elegance of her gorgeous vocals.  “There is a light at the end of the tunnel, after every storm there is a rainbow, just an overall hope in the end.”

Roxanna believes, “Music should bring pleasure, it should be elegant and relaxing. It’s all about friendship, pleasure, romance, love and beauty.” Roxanna’s world of experience is translated through her passion for music and songwriting. She was born in Iran in the midst of an ongoing war with Iraq. As a child, she turned to music for balance and tranquility, religiously mimicking the English-language songs of Olivia Newton-John.

After traveling the world and experiencing both heartbreak and love, Roxanna has teamed up with the best in the industry to release Exotica, a collection of stories that are universal and inspiring.

Roxanna is determined to craft every song and lyric as relatable to whomever will take a listen with the intention to always spread love and healing through her romantic songs and stories.  It was while studying to be a nurse that Roxanna witnessed first hand the healing power of music. Roxanna sang each night to a young man battling cancer. When he was released, the man’s father said to her, “My son is better because of the way you sang to him.” With that, she realized that music, like medicine is a great healer and it was then hat she realized she needed to pursue signing as a career.

For her full-length album, she contacted well-known producer Mark Portmann credited with working with Julio Iglesias, Barbra Streisand, and Christina Aguilera. It was her rendition of Aguilera’s “Lift Me Up” that convinced Portmann to bring Roxanna under his wing. And what spawned from their collaboration was Exotica, a seamless, mastered mix of adult contemporary, classic pop, and world music.

Listening through the album, you’ll be taken on a journey of love … from the first moment of flirtation to the confidence you find with everlasting love.


Featuring a string of romantic songs including new renditions of The Hollies 1972 hit song, “The Air That I Breathe,” and Lionel Richie’s 1984 smash hit, “Hello”.

BLUEGRASS MASTER RICHARD BENNETT READIES NEW RECORD In The Wind Somewhere Drops May 27 via Lonesome Day Records

BLUEGRASS MASTER RICHARD BENNETT READIES NEW RECORD
In The Wind Somewhere Drops May 27 via Lonesome Day Records



Preview two tracks from In The Wind Somewhere 
with these links to streaming music.
Advance hard copies of the album are available upon request.









           
           It’s one thing for an artist to feel like his latest musical endeavor is his best, but when you’re a music veteran with a mile-long resume, decades of recording and performing experience, critical acclaim, and more recordings than one can count, it’s quite a statement to say, “This is my favorite record I’ve ever done.”

            Such is the case with bluegrass star Richard Bennett of his forthcoming new release, In The Wind Somewhere, which is due May 27 via Kentucky-based Lonesome Day Records. “It just feels good,” says Bennett of his fifth solo release.

            Lonesome Day Records owner Randall Deaton couldn’t agree more. “I think this is Richard’s strongest work of his career,” says Deaton. “And it was recorded in an old fashioned way where all four of the musicians sat in the same room with no headphones and just played music.  Each take had to be just right because there was no going back and fixing.”

            On In The Wind Somewhere, Bennett skillfully mixes his considerable traditional bluegrass chops with songs that expand and transcend the genre in an exciting contemporary fashion. “I want to let the people hear something new,” he says.

           Joining the singer/songwriter/guitarist on In The Wind Somewhere are a group of stellar musicians, including Mark Schatz (Nickel Creek, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt), IMBA Mandolin Player of the Year Adam Steffey, celebrated fiddler Ron Stewart, and Sean Lane of the Grammy-nominated band Blue Highway on tenor vocals. The record was recorded at the Lonesome Day Studio Booneville, Kentucky, and mixed by Grammy Award winning engineer Brandon Bell.





            The album features a graceful and affecting take on Sting’s “Fields of Gold,” a jazz-inflected solo instrumental version of the Beatles’ “Yesterday,” and a spry and swinging Appalachian mountain-flavored cover of the Marshall Tucker Band song “Fire on the Mountain.” On his version of Tom Paxton’s folk classic “The Last Thing on My Mind,” his long-time pal and acoustic guitar icon, Tony Rice, enriched Bennett’s luminous double flat-picking.

            Elsewhere on the album, Bennett epitomizes the soul of old-school bluegrass on “Stronger Every Day,” harks back to the Celtic folk roots of American country, folk and mountain music on “Georgie,” renews the newgrass revolution of the 1970s on a take of folk music heroine Kate Wolf’s “Across the Great Divide,” and musically summons up the swirling forces of nature on his self-penned opening title track. The album is deliciously capped by a sublime reading of bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe’s landmark song “Wayfaring Stranger” on which Bennett and Rice engage in breathtaking guitar interplay (as they also do on the hidden track that follows, “Home Sweet Home”).





 
About Richard Bennett: Richard Bennett hails from Johnson City, Tennessee. A strong and versatile guitarist, he performed with his own band, Richard Bennett Band late ’70s thru late ’80s era. He joined as the lead singer and guitar player for J.D. Crowe and New South 1990 thru 1995 and is included on several of the recordings during this time, including their Grammy award winning record, Flashback.  1996 thru 1997 found him with Lou Reid and Carolina. In 1998, Richard branched out with the trio featuring Jimmy Guadreau and Mike Aldridge where he remained for four years.  One of his most prominent jobs was filling in for Tony Rice in The Tony Rice Unit and The Bluegrass Album Band from the mid to late ’90s. Along the way, Richard has released four solo albums and has worked with the most esteemed acts in bluegrass and country/folk music.



About Lonesome Day Records: Randall Deaton as a family-run business started Lonesome Day Records in 2002. The name Lonesome Day Records was chosen from the title of a Bruce Springsteen song from the album The Rising. Randall grew up on a small farm in Kentucky instilled with a strong work ethic and a passion for music that has kept him rockin’ for the past 20 years. Playing in bands throughout high school and college, he earned a degree in business administration and a minor in political science while wielding a guitar and mandolin. Fifteen years ago he turned his attention towards audio engineering and converted an old church into his temple - a recording studio. That studio has since expanded and spawned Lonesome Day Records which has released top-ranking records for the likes of Ralph Stanley II, Larry Cordle, and Fred Eaglesmith among other prolific artists from bluegrass to country.


Tuesday, April 1, 2014

EMERGING SINGER-SONGWRITER ROXANNA TO PERFORM PRIVATE PERFORMANCE AT THE VIBIANA CATHEDRAL IN LOS ANGELES APRIL 9



March 27, 2014 (Los Angeles, CA) Canadian singer-songwriter Roxanna will make her debut performance of her album “Exotica,” at the beautiful Vibiana Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles on April 9 with special guest and Grammy® award winning vocalist Jon Secada.

Following Roxanna’s recently released singles “Close Your Eyes” and her rendition of Lionel Richie’s 1984 smash hit, “Hello,” Roxanna will be showcasing an exclusive stunning performance backed my flamenco musicians at this private event.

Joining forces with Mark Portmann who is known for his work with artists such as Michael Buble, Barbara Streisand and world-renowned jazz trumpeter, Chris Botti who appears on the track single, “Hello.”  Roxanna will make this special CD Release performance the perfect introduction for her upcoming album to be released on April 29.

As a nurse and as a healer Roxanna is determined to craft every song and lyric to be universally relatable. “Music should bring pleasure, it should be elegant and relaxing. It’s all about friendship, pleasure, romance, love and beauty.”

Last week, Roxanna’s single, “Close Your Eyes,” reached #37 on the Medabase Chart and her video for “Close Your Eyes,” was featured on the MTVu program and beat out the competition to win for most votes.

Doors for Roxanna’s private event will open at 7:00pm with a cocktail reception with the performance starting at 8:00pm.

Roxanna links: Website - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube