Amanda Lepre: vocals/guitars Andrew Stone: lead guitar Rich Heller: bass David Conger: drums
Influences
The spectrum is wide. We start at the basic female requirements: Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett, Sarah McLachlan, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, and Fiona Apple were some of the root artists that influenced Amanda to even pick up a guitar in the first place back in 1997.
She soon after discovered metal. The intensity of the palm-muted speed strumming, the accurate, intricate melodies, time signatures, and perfectly structured songs all made her instantly fall in love with this genre. Artists like Metallica, Judas Priest, and Iced Earth gave her motivation to learn to play this complicated style.
Sounds Like
Her songwriting, voice, presence, and style have been compared to artists ranging from Joan Jett, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Ani DiFranco, to as far as Iron Maiden.
------- "Right--
At the bottom of night
I was lost
Perilous
Distraught
And taking my armor down..."
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"Metal-Folk"
In-your-face solo singer/songwriter Amanda Lepre (pronounced leh-PREE) has managed to combine two distinct genres of music into her own original sound. Her pounding acoustic rhythms are like flying fists. Each strike is a pummel of super-speed guitar strumming. Along with rock-solid beats and impressive hooks, her voice is etched into the listeners memory.
Originally from Brownsville, Texas, this half-Mexican, half-Italian was into neither metal nor folk as a child. "I proudly grew up on Madonna", admits Amanda. Although still a die-hard fan of 80's pop, she has expanded her musical interests towards multiple directions. As a young teenager, she fell fast for the inspiring mid-90's explosion of female songwriters. Soon after came her fascination with early-80's metal. Ever the indecisive, Amanda couldn't establish which sound she liked better. So she fused them together.
As a live solo act, Amanda stays compliant to the true purpose of a performer: to entertain a crowd. Her guitar skill is unmatched in her genre -- simultaneous with spot-on vocals -- and unforgettable song hooks. Not only can she coax a small audience into the palm of her hand by snagging a first-place win at Emergenza's 2007 Austin Acoustic Hero showcase, but her tactics were able to outrank dozens of full hard-rock bands to place second at MTV's 2004 Independence Rock Festival at South Padre Island.
Inspiration is the key. Amanda picked up her first guitar as a 13-year-old adolescent and molded herself into the player she is today with absolutely no formal instruction. She is also a novice slide guitarist. She self-released her 2007 EP A Premonition after recording every track single-handedly with one microphone in her apartment. Amanda taught herself HTML language and graphic design software for the sole purpose of being able to create and care for her own website and CD/poster artwork. Amanda Lepre embodies "do-it-yourself' in the strongest sense of the phrase. Now a 24-year-old living in Austin, Texas, Amanda (with the help of fellow Austin singer/songwriter Andrew Stone on lead guitar, bassist Rich Heller and drummer David Conger) continues to perform around the country. Although currently unsigned, her drive to accomplish her lifelong dream is untouchable.
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Please welcome more than this, Amanda's 666th Myspace friend!
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Amanda Lepre has formed a side musical project called The Descendants of Erdrick. This is soley dedicated to re-create classic video game music!
Hopefully you'll be able to make it out to the July 12th CD Release at Rock City. If you haven't already gotten a chance to check out our new stuff - give it a listen and let us know what you think!
Well this years Beat Night was yesterday. I performed "I Bet It Stung" by our very own Tegan and Sara alone. Wow it was awesome! I rocked the place! & I will ask Mr. Hixon (is dat how u spell it?)
Well 5 and 6 are technically old-school, just also never-released-in-America. They are supposed to be really good, but yeah they were released on the Super Famicom in '92 and '95, respectively. American RPG fans who were aware of them have been waiting for this day for well over a decade, and I'm definitely one of them!
Hi Amanda, Longtime!!! Wanna Unwind b4 hitting DT today? I'll be playing a Happy Hr 2day @ da light Bar(4th & Congress. Door opens @ 7:30pm and goes on till 9:30pm. No Cover! Hope to c u there, Hope all is well Kalu James
I love coming to your page and listening to your awesomeness. I wish I had a cd. I'd put you with Andrew Stone on my playlist for sure...or maybe even make a playlist just for you!!! You're incredible. Hope you're doing well,
Undying Hero and Halves are your best tracks of what you have posted here. Good lyrics singing presence production and instrumental/melodies are smooth and easy listening...stay at it...
