This is the debut of a brand new feature here at Blogcritics.org. Every month we will be choosing an artist to feature, giving you the reader an inside look into their music and career. Sometimes you will recognize the name, sometimes it may be someone you've never heard of, but it will always be a great talent, and we hope to shine a unique light on our featured artists.
Gretchen Lieberum is breaking ground all over the jazz and soul communities with her innovative mix of old jazz and all things popular. The recent release of her third album, Siren Songs is being hailed as a sultry, sexy collection of warm songs for a rainy day. For this and many other reasons you will read about in the coming weeks, Blogcritics is proud to make Gretchen Lieberum our very first "Featured Artist of the Month".
The Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter was born and raised in Berkeley and credits that environment for having a big impact on her sound today. Gretchen says,
There is a very specific sound that reminds me of the Bay Area. When I was growing up in Berkeley there were a lot of local bands that were mixing jazz, soul, and hip-hop, and it is a sound that has effected what I write today.
And what is it exactly that she writes today? It's an eclectic mix of old and new jazz, with drum loops and samples that will remind you of what's being played on the hip-hop charts. It has the feel of classic jazz, with a bright new shine and it's delivered with a warm and solid voice.
Gretchen also credits her father with turning her on to jazz, saying he is a "huge fanatic." While growing up she listened to Billie Holliday, Nina Simmone, and Sarah Vaughan as well as the greats of 70's soul such as Stevie Wonder and Shuggie Otis. Zero 7 and Koop, a Swedish band that incorporates samples of old jazz records with live instrumentation are just two of the newer artists who have influenced her on Siren Songs.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Fantastical -- looks and reads like a dream, can't wait for more !
2 - Baby Man
Great story. Click on the URL under my name and see what other people have written on CDbaby.
3 - Adebayo Onabule
Earnest and dedicated Gretchen Fan here, ever since the old mp3.com days...I'm overjoyed to finally read her getting the exact kinds of attention she's deserved all along. Siren Songs despite it's late entry at the end of the year, was still my number 1 album of the year, and that's really saying something.
Congrats to Gretchen and Jacob on the birth of their little girl, and I also look forward to seeing how the new arrival influences future tunes by gretchen.
top notch article...look forward to the rest throughout the month.
peace
4 - Connie Phillips
Thank you, Eric, that's a high compliment coming from you - and I appreciate it!
5 - Connie Phillips
Thank you, Baby man and Adebayo Onabule - I have enjoyed working on this project and I'm very excited about what we have coming up in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
6 - justice
Connie - awesome story. I love this music.
Silly thing, typo reads:
Gretchen's Websiter
and I think Greg Porcee is Greg Poree?
7 - Phillip Winn
Correct on both counts; thanks, Justice.
8 - Connie Phillips
Justice -
Thanks for the compliment, and for pointing out my errors, all corrected, thanks to you.
9 - Eric Berlin
This story has been chosen as an Editors' Pick of the Week. You now have the grave yet giddy honor of selecting a story for next week's best of column if you like (time frame 2/1 " 2/7). Simply leave the title, URL, and a brief description of why you dig it on this week's post (link above).
Congrats!!
10 - Teutates
dang...she pretty!
11 - Jacob
Bonnie - Gretchen has a new video on her website, check it out
-Jacob
12 - Jacob
Sorry, did I say Bonnie, I meant Connie!