Andrea Wittgens (lead vocals, keyboards)
She is lucky to get to collaborate with many talented musicians including:
Vincent Gates (guitar)
Johnny Sangster (guitar)
Jeff Blancato (bass and guitars)
Joel Grow (bass)
Kevin Emerson (drums and backup vocals)
Kelly Paletta (drums)
Jimm McIver (backup vocals)
Influences
in no particular order...Aimee Mann, Rufus Wainwright, Tori Amos, Astor Piazzola, Carole King, J.S. Bach, Gillian Welch, The Shins, The Beatles, Duke Ellington, Sigur Ros, Bjork, Ella Fitzgerald, Tom Waits, Anita O'Day, Bartok, Madonna, Queen, Stravinsky, Thelonius Monk, Elliot Smith, XTC, Fiona Apple, Ray Charles, Mozart, Stevie Wonder, U2, Me'Shell Ndegéocello, Bill Evans, Nina Simone, Neko Case, k.d. lang, Radiohead, Martin Sexton, Death Cab For Cutie, Wayne Horvitz, Bill Frisell, The Police, Feist, Steven Bernstein, Gershwin, Sarah Vaughn, Coldplay, Bonnie Raitt, Pallestrina, REM, Sloan, Annie Lennox, Billy Joel, Jessica Williams, Jill Scott, Joni Mitchell, Martha Wainwright, Peter Gabriel, Tom Petty, Prince, Shawn Colvin,
Brand new album "In The Skyline" is now for sale at CD Baby!
"A silver tongue rides a voice that flitters with the wonderful unpredictability of a butterfly and the laser precision of, well, a laser…this imaginative pop maestro’s delivery and message are so delightfully refreshing that it’s hard to remember she’s working from the pop music playbook." --Seattle Sound Magazine, review of "In The Skyline", Jan 2009
"Incredible! Her songwriting sensibilities are the ilk of Edie Brickell, Carol Bayer Sager, and Joni Mitchell. And her voice just soars! You've got to invest your time to hear this." - Q-tip (A Tribe Called Quest and solo Artist)
"Magnetic, compelling. People are just drawn to the sound of her voice. She is the real thing." -- Bob Power, multi-platinum, Grammy record mixer/ producer
"exquisitely evocative of the finest popmeisters of the past three decadesmusic that is very new and fresh, unlike anything I've ever heard before." -- Bill Fisher, Victory Review*****
Common wisdom in the entertainment business dictates if you can't describe it in two sentences, go back to the boards and refine your pitch. However, those experienced and well traveled in the business know that in truth, it's the ones that you can't describe easily that are the true and lasting artists (think Rufus Wainright, Erykah Badu, Jeff Buckley).
Seattle based singer-songwriter Andrea Wittgens is the freshest original new voice on the scene in years. Combining sultry, engaging vocals (she has been compared to artists as varied as Rickie Lee Jones, Regina Spektor and PJ Harvey) with original songs that are both hypnotic and exuberant, and always showing immaculately appropriate musicality with clever yet disarmingly honest lyrics, she has been holding audiences in rapture throughout the Northwest.
Originally from small-town Antigonish (pronounced anna-ga-'nish), Nova Scotia, Andrea's earliest stage experiences were tap dancing as a precocious four year old, then twirling in pink tutus at the local ballet school, as well as atop (several) telephone books at piano recitals. Eventually outgrowing the telephone books (and hanging up her size 2 taps), she continued with both classical piano lessons and dance classes, which combined to form a deep physical connection to music which carries forth through today. Continuing with piano through high school, Andrea eventually spent several years teaching music, dance and movement, while refining her chops playing keys and singing in the high school jazz band. She continued with advanced classical music studies, graduating as a dual major (French and Music) at Queen's University, Ontario.
Moving to Seattle in the mid-90's, Andrea began her pop writing career in earnest, playing late nights at raucous beer and joints bars in Pioneer Square, Seattle (with what was to be future members of Sugartown), while next morning slogging in bleary-eyed to her day gig programming interactive music at Microsoft. By 1999, Sugartown was more than an idea, and in 2000, they released "Blue Eyed Fool." The EP stirred up a wave of notice in Seattle, despite being an earnest fun-pop outfit pushing against the considerable tide of flannel-shirted insouciance.
After the release of Sugartown's second LP, "How Do You Love, Aquamarine?", the band hit the road, up and down the West Coast-- Seattle, Portland, Ashland, Eugene, San Francisco, and on to LA.
Finally, after 5 years, Sugartown seemed to have run its course, and rather than being the voice and face of a band, it was time for Andrea to shine as a solo artist. With the help of Grammy producer/mixer Bob Power (Erykah Badu, Maktub, Citizen Cope), Andrea released her first solo effort "Alibi" in October 2006. The EP and Andrea's instantly arresting voice garnered excited reviews both at home in the Northwest and on the east coast where Andrea performed to packed houses at legendary NYC venues like The Living Room, The Knitting Factory, and The Bitter End.
While touring to support "Alibi" she was of course plotting and writing material for her full-length follow up album. "In The Skyline" arrived two years later in November 2008.
An adventurous mix of instrumentation, "In The Skyline," is a 12-song ode to escapism, a vividly spun world where reality meets fantasy. Working with rock producer/mixer Johnny Sangster (Mudhoney, The Briefs), the album represents a return to a more viscerally emotional live band setting. From dreamy ("Empires of Straw") to dramatic ("Cardboard Cutouts"), from playful ("Summer Escape") to ironic ("Creature Feature") the songs jump out of a dynamic foundation featuring Andrea at the helm on piano. As befits the fantastical lyrical content, evocative arrangements make use of a broad and colorful sonic palette weaving spooky Mellotrons, quirky Farfisas, and luscious string quartets into the mix. The album also includes a reunion with producer Bob Power (on the hypnotic "Beautiful You") as well as some magical co-production teamwork between Wittgens and guitarist/producer Vincent Gates (check out the disarmingly starkly honest opening track "Punchline" the darkly humorous "Marching Orders" or the stunning final track, her first original French recording "Comme tu veux")
"In The Skyline" is a convergence of the writing, singing and riveting stage presence that mark Andrea Wittgens' arrival as a singer/songwriter of the highest order.
"A silver tongue rides a voice that flitters with the wonderful unpredictability of a butterfly and the laser precision of, well, a laser…this imaginative pop maestro’s delivery and message are so delightfully refreshing that it’s hard to remember she’s working from the pop music playbook." --Seattle Sound Magazine, review of "In The Skyline", Jan 2009
Andrea is featured in the new Radio 8 Ball Trailer. Watch it now! Radio8Ball Trailer
Buy songs from Andrea's EP "Alibi" and download them INSTANTLY from the Snocap shopping cart below!
OR Do you prefer to buy the EP "Alibi" the traditional way (you know, have it mailed to you, caress it, thumb through the lyrics and glossy artwork?) Just Click on the CD Baby icon below
.. CDBABY LINK for ANDREA WITTGENS: "Alibi" (EP) -->
Hey, we just released two new albums, “Armageddon on the
Rise” and “The Man with No Name” and they are available for free download if
you’re interested. You can download them for free off our site if you like or
you can just go to the following link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FQEJFBDH
You may have heard about the tragic death of Neda - a young brave woman who was murdered in Iran just for peacefully protesting with her father on the street.
When is the last time you can remember having a GOOD Monday? Let me help! Come out for some BBQ, drinks and live music at Fremont's High Dive. You won't regret it!
Hey, Meltdown Festival Fans!
It's that time of year again, festival season is approaching. So a couple very important things to share with our friends, we moved the date of Meltdown this year a week later, August 14th-16th, 2009, same awesome location at the awe inspiring Darrington Whitehorse Mountain Amphitheater! This is an initial line up below with many more bands about to be announced in the coming weeks! Click on the poster image and you can visit our website for more info on the bands and what is to come. Now is the time to mark your calendars and tell your friends about Meltdown Number 9. This is going to be one of the best years yet, but we are dependent upon people like you to spread the word and get your friends out to see what Meltdown is about.
Hola! How’s it going? Just wanted to stop by and invite you to stop by the Lo-Fi on Thursday. I will be playing a few sets, and afterwards, there is a sweet JAM night, so be prepared for a heaping portion of RAD!!!
I hope to see you there!!!
Please check out our new music video. The guy who directed Madonna's first music vid directed this, too. It's pretty funny, we think. Thanks again for being our friend!
Just attempting to post a counter comment to the curious comment entered earlier about your recent photo with one word that could get me into a whole lot of trouble, "provocative". In a good way I might add.
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