 Amanda West
From the time she first began performing regularly at age 15, Amanda noticed that when she sang, the invisible walls which usually keep each of us enclosed, softened and sometimes even disappeared. Her curiosity to further explore that experience is at the heart of Amanda's music.
Her mother says that Amanda sang before she talked. And when she was still very small she liked to make up songs, especially in "Spanish." After some failed piano lessons, Amanda found her way to the guitar, and to several teachers who encouraged and nurtured her interest in singing and songwriting. Amanda was initially attracted to the guitar because it gave her someone to sing with. She started writing songs around age 12, and has maintained her music as an ongoing side-project ever since.
Hippie parents offered Amanda Peace, Love, and Understanding as moral values to uphold, which makes the business side of music (i.e. competition) rather frustrating and challening at times. Nevertheless, Amanda continues writing songs, singing, and playing shows, (and releasing albums!), because it just seems to her the most sensical thing to do: sharing the experience of being human, and honoring the gift that is Being Alive.
After completing a B.A. degree at the University of California in Santa Cruz, Amanda attempted to settle down and become an adult in the "Real World". She had a car, several bank accounts, lots of keys on her keychain, and even a 9 to 5 office job! (or something close to that). But she kept having this nagging sensation that she was forgetting something. In fall of 2006, Amanda decided it was time to stop waiting for the manifestation of the 3 socially expected "H's" (Husband, House, and Happy children) and start doing something meaningful with the dwindling years of her young adulthood.
So last winter she began the bi-weekly journey up the winding road of Empire Grade into the magical forests of Bonny Doon to Bear Creek Studio. There she spent numerous and thoroughly enlightening hours, recording, mixing, mastering, and producing, her first full length studio album, aided by the experienced ears of recording engineer Pete Coates.
In the past year Amanda's life has slowly shifted to accomodate the growth of her musical career, so that by this point, she must admit to having abandoned (at least for the moment), any thoughts of financial stability and long-term practicality, and is instead living the life of an artist: abundantly wealthy in inspiration, creativity, joy, gratitude, and love. With the release of her debut album, "The Way to the Water", Amanda is steadily expanding her playing circuit up and down the Pacific coast, continuing to build her fan base around her home in Santa Cruz, California, and opening to inspiration for more good songwriting.  Ali Marcus
What began as a meditation on the constellations and our irreverent mimicry has predictably morphed into a messier, more interesting enterprise. Seattle-based songwriter Ali Marcus is hard at work on her fifth-ish record, presumptively titled “Orion” - only she is pretty sure that the celestial namesake will not stick. For now, we’ll go with “Forthcoming,” so that the intentions are clear.
“Forthcoming” will be her first release since April’s “Mostly Piano EP,” and it’s tracklist has spent all spring and summer getting road-tested for, among other things, rhythm, ‘tude, and sincerity. Audiences from New York to Carolina to New Mexico to California to the Great Northwest have been responsible for determining this criteria and making the call.
Additionally, Ali has rounded up a handful of accomplished musicians to add to the new record, finally bringing the oft-requested ‘full band’ sound onto tape – well, ok, onto chip. Keep your ears peeled for drums, upright bass, and banjo among the usual guitar, piano, harmonica.
Touring plans for the rest of the year include a trip to the Bay Area for some solo shows as well as a Sweetheart Army appearance, and a four-month long regional push casually dubbed “The Coffeehouse Tour.”
What happened with the whole “Orion” thing, anyway? Well, there are still plenty of stories about Gods and Goddesses – their various pursuits and what exactly they did that landed them in the heavens for eternity. It’s turns out, though, that the heavens are merely a reflection of the land, this land, Woody’s land – more varied and stunning than the outlines in the sky will ever be.
Please visit www.alimarcus.com for all the updated information, and join her mailing list too. She sells t shirts that are beautiful and soft, vintage style, and they help to pay for things like more music. Almost half of the new album is available for free download, and all the songs can be previewed!
www.alimarcus.com |
