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Passive-aggression can be an art form in its own right. I'll give you that. But used in conjunction with more accepted forms of artistry like songwriting and performance, it can reveal humanity as it is – beautiful imperfection. As singer, songwriter and performer, Chiara Angelicola may be guilty of such crimes. Her advocacy for all that is simple and honest is coupled with an innate ability to deliver soul-drenched vocals. Nestled in a folk/soul backdrop, Angelicola's vocal styling demands a category of its own. As Chiara continues to perform at some of San Francisco’s most prestigious venues (i.e. Café Du Nord, Great American Music Hall, The Independent and Bottom of the Hill), she has also managed to garner the title of Amoeba Records’ “Home Grown” Artist of the Month (March, 2009). In addition to joining soul singer and Grammy-nominee Blu Cantrell in a live duet, she has also showcased at the International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, TN (February 2009).

Angelicola's interest in the vintage flavors of music started with childhood raids of her mother's LP cabinet. Too young to work the record player, she studied the cover art of classics like Roberta Flack's “Killing Me Softly” and Stevie Wonder's “Talking Book.” She recalls her mother's jazz tapes and Creatura, the Bossa Nova band her mother belonged to in Guatemala. Angelicola places her mother at the top of her list of influences and still listens to her play classical and jazz piano. Angelicola's musical training began with jazz standards and from there she went on to front the funk/pop band Morning Theory. Her solo pursuit led her to explore the stories within the songs of such greats as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Patsy Cline. Now with stories of her own to tell, she makes it difficult for an audience to remain untouched by her inherent passion and sincerity.

Her November 2008 release Masquerade propels her into the limelight as a solo artist in her own right, taking her love of folk, rock, and soul introspectively deeper as she explores the world around her through the eyes of songwriter and storyteller. “Like a breath of crisp autumn air, Chiara Angelicola is wonderfully refreshing amidst what can sometimes seem like a monotonous supply of local music offerings,” says Sara Ferracone of the SF Daily.

written by Rachel Allgood October, 2008

Angelicola distributes her music online via her website, iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon. Purchase a hard copy of Bird Songs EP and Masquerade at any Amoeba Records as well as at Streetlight Records in Santa Cruz and San Francisco.

"...her surprisingly powerful soulful vocals definitely left an impression, lingering over bluesy piano rhythms with a touch of Bob Dylan and Rufus Wainwright..." -WearsTheTrousers.com (UK Webzine)

"...Her vibrant, soulful wail at times recalls the romance of Billie Holiday or the sideways grin of Macy Gray, while challenging young contemporaries like Adele and Duffy. Stellar guitar and organ accompaniment help make this a standout local album." -East Bay Express, Nate Seltenrich, November, 2008

"...Her latest offering, the full-length Masquerade, highlights the tremendous vocal prowess of the angelic singer against soulful, folk-inspired instrumentals..." -Good Times, Brian Echon, Santa Cruz, November 2008

"Top-ranking artist from OurStage, and URB agrees." -Urb Magazine.com

" The rich, viscious vox of this SF based songwriter draws you in; her sound, a sassy gospel, and lyrical references to 'Mr. self-righteous,' rampant masqueraders and 'misplaced self-interest' keep you put." -Amanda Martinez, Good Times March 2008, Santa Cruz

"...The five tracks on Chiara Angelicola’s new Bird Songs EP show her to be a fine vocalist, capable of setting her uncommonly pure voice to Silky, Gutsy, Sad, Sultry or Pissed with the flick of a dial...." -Damon Orion, The Good Times 2007, Santa Cruz

"And now for something completely different. Like a breath of crisp Autumn air, Chiara Angelicola is wonderfully refreshing amidst what can sometimes seem like a monotonous supply of local music offerings..." -Sara Ferracone, SF Daily, September 2007

"Angelicola has songs like "Sake Of", which recalls the haunting atmospherics of Portishead, along with the stripped-down, piano-based "Unkind." -Stuart Thornton, Monterey County Weekly, May 10-16, 2007 Edition

"Chiara Angelicola has the voice of a deity..." -Bunny LaValliere, BEAT Newsletter, San Francisco Art Institute

"What stands out like a snowflake in a sauna is that voice: sweet, vulnerable, yet prone to lapse into a bluesy growl..." -Damon Orion, The Good Times 2005, Santa Cruz, CA

"I simply loved the music. It is so different and so wonderfully compelling! Romantic with an edge, rough and yet lyrical in all the right ways! And her voice is undeniably one of the finest musical instruments I've heard!" -Douglas Newsom, BBS Radio (www.bbsradio.com), August 2007