NEW CD "Grin" COMING SOON!!
with MATT DEMATTEO, BEN SPIVAK,
TONY NESBITT-LARKING, BEN KOBAYASHI,
MAXIME ST. PIERRE and MUHAMMAD ABDUL
AL-KHABYYR
Influences
Janis Joplin, Radiohead, SunRa, Violent Femmes, Ella Fitzgerald, THE WHO, John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, Bessie Smith, Oumou Sangare, Mercedes Sosa, Virginia Rodrigues, Soda Stereo, Elliot Smith, Bjork, Emma-Lee, the Clash, Ramon Taranco, Bob Moses, bob dylan's "Bring it all back home", Led Zepplin, Curtis Mayfield, Stax recordings, Portishead, Fiona Apple, Latcho Drom soundtrack, Tom Waits, Afro-Cuban music, Rolling Stones, Jay-Z, Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, P-Funk, Maggot Brain album(that guitar solo!), Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, B52's, Pink Floyd, YOU! and any music that makes us or our spirits dance!:)
Sounds Like
Think of a house party with Feist, Ella, Fiona Apple, The Police, and Radiohead in a swimming pool full of electric jello!
FOR BOOKING AND MEDIA ENQUIRIES
CONTACT: ablejanerecords@gmail.com
"These days it’s getting harder and harder to find something to smile about. Grin, the second album of Toronto-based blueVenus offers itself for consideration. Grin is a tale of hurdles; the overcoming of them, the outright avoidance of them, and the tracks of tears and smiles of the miles in between.
The album starts with the title-track and for a few seconds it sounds like you’re about to head down to O Brother, Where Art Thou? country. But right before you get to the crossroads, blueVenus hits the breaks on Bourbon Street and the dancing ensues. By the time you hear, “Everyone will say life gave you a lemon/You just got to grin” it’s too late; grief or not, you’re feeling funky and ready to go along for the ride. On guitar Devrim Eldelekli is a virtuoso of cool, wielding his axe with a dizzying precision, transitioning seamlessly from the bad-ass bluesy riffs of “In Between” to the radiating roar of the Johnny Greenwood-reminiscent rumble of “Lucky Well” and “The Life” to the jazzy jamming on the Fiona Apple-ish “No Time To Waste,” which also showcases the potent pipes of Andrea De Boer. To say De Boer has a powerful voice is selling her short; she can sound as delicate as fine China—and we’re talking the good stuff that momma only brings out only for holiday dinners—and as powerful as a cabaret crooner from a bygone era of women singers who only needed one name because they were that damn good: Ella, Billie, Janis, you name it, Andrea De Boer can hold her own.
Together, Eldelekli and De Boer are as much sound mates as they are soul mates, and as listeners we’re treated to their sweet intimacies. Difficult to squeeze into a genrelization, there’s no doubt Grin has a pop sensibility to it; the album is catchy, laden with tunes tailor made for the tapping of toes. Even when it threatens to get cheesy with a song like “Happy Tune”, the ska/early No Doubt vibe that starts things off gives way to a perfectly happy-go-lucky ditty, summing up everything that’s good and bad about those parts of adolescence that we’re supposed to grow out of, but never do (if ever a song was made for a John Hughes movie it’s this) and by the end you find yourself with a fitting grin. You could call the album jazz, pop, rock, or any number of other modifiers and they’d all fit, but above everything else Grin is fun. Take “Ohrwurm”, just when it sounds like you’re getting a long-lost outtake from Sgt. Pepper Eldelekli goes Jay-Z and busts out a German rap. If you don’t know German what he says is anybody’s guess, but it fits, and it’s fun, and there’s not just something to that; there’s something to be said about that. Smiling might not be as easy and organic as it used to be. But there are no sour lemons behind this Grin; in matters of sound, blueVenus is as sweet as they come. Drink it up."
Justin Holt-OXYFICATION.NET
blueVenus has an interesting story behind their musical journey, one which takes a transatlantic journey from Germany all the way back to the bands stomping grounds in Toronto, Canada. Newly married Berklee College grads, singer/songwriter Andrea de Boer and guitarist/co-songwriter Devrim Eldelekli inject their latest effort, Grin from various lyrical and instrumental sources to produce a sound that is uniquely their own.
The album begins with the title track “Grin” which introduces an eclectic arrangement of instruments that simply works, and works well to float Boer’s voice in its slightly melancholy journey to redemption at the fruition of the track. The jazz horns and jaunty guitar plucking are welcome aural notes needed to forward the songs trajectory.
The arrangements then change suite on “Happy Tune” with its boogie like backing and orchestral elements. Similarly, “In Between” wastes no time in changing the albums sound with its jazz horns and Ska like guitar elements. Further on, “Ohrwurm” introduces German rapping into the mélange when the listener has just begun to reminisce in a full swung Beatles homage circa Sergeant Pepper.
The album is obviously an autobiographical journey chronicling an obstructed path and steps taken to achieve the sometimes impossible. “Wait and Go” describes the angst and uncertainty involved in following ones path and persevering through the different shades of life’s ups and downs. “Lucky Well” is a hushed melody that builds slowly with its billowing bridges and soft verses.
de Boer has a powerful voice that can come off as disengaging and fragile, then amp itself up to a lovely growl....
Overall, Grin.. gives the record that touch of much needed originality. Listeners will be happy to know that blueVenus has produced a deeply personal, yet relatable album with its bittersweet lyrics and lush delivery.
Rukshan Thenuwara – MuzikReviews.com Staff
"GRIN, the latest release by Toronto alternative band blueVenus starts on a high note. Opening with the title track, the album gets off to a fine start...“Wait and Go” and “Killing Time” are songs you won’t be able to resist listening to on repeat." -THE FULCRUM
"Canadian lo-fi pop singer/songwriter is rife with nuance and culture.."
-SMOTHER MAGAZINE
4 stars-
"Take a ride out of this world to the planet of blueVenus.
On arrival to blueVenus, be prepared to be black-holed into an album of refreshing, transcending and hypnotic music. Accompanying the jazz vocals of Toronto-based lead singer Andrea de Boer, are her Latin violin and the captivating guitar chords of husband guitarist Devrim Eldelkli. Also added to the cultural mix are some German lyrics and rap. So jump into your rocket ship and take the journey to blueVenus, because there’s no lack of musical adventure awaiting you!"
-YOUTHINK.CA
BIO
Five years ago, blueVenus played a sold-out CD release show at the Drake Underground in Toronto. blueVenus not only delivered a captivating performance, but were about to make a legitimate mark on Canada's music scene. The next day the heart of the band - two newly married Berklee College grads, founder singer/songwriter/violinist Andrea de Boer and guitarist/co-songwriter Devrim Eldelekli - left for Germany. What they didn't know was that for the next two years they would be living on two different continents courtesy of some mean, outdated immigration regulations.
Making the best of a bad situation blueVenus scrounged up funds to reunite briefly; for love, and to share a bill with Garbage and Megadeth at Rock Istanbul, tour Germany, and garner rave reviews.
Their live show has been described as "Hypnotic and Impressive" (Frankfurter Allegemeine) and their self-titled debut CD which was produced Juno Award winner by L. Stu Young (Prince) was dubbed "One of the best albums I have heard in a long time" (Guitarre&Bass).
Upon returning to Canada Andrea suffered the sudden loss of a close friend and found herself in another kafka-esque maze of beauracracy, featuring constant harrassment from a collections agency, thanks to a data glitch in her student loan file.
“I was given a lot of lemons,” says Andrea of the ordeal. “What you don't hear about so much is how sick of lemonade you can become."
When Devrim was able to return to Canada, the couple had to make strides to patch up their personal and professional lives. The result: “Best Live Acoustic Act” and “Best Female Fronted Band”
nominations for the 2006-07 Toronto Independent Music Awards, showcases at NXNE 2007, NewMusicWest 2007, CMW 2008, Big Rock Battle of the Bands Finalists and an Ontario Arts Council grant to help with the production of a full length CD album.
It was at CMW 2008 where Casablanca Media's Amy Eligh caught blueVenus's showcase. She would later invite Andrea to a writer's retreat where Andrea would meet Juno award-winning writer/producer Matt DeMatteo.
Lemonade was made, and shaped the writing of "Grin" -blueVenus' brand new full length CD produced by the acclaimed DeMatteo (Mobile, Big Wreck, Esthero). With the CD title song's subtle latin violin pizz intro and the horn build-up to the reprise "Everyone will say life gave you a lemon you've just got to grin" speaks of the white lies we all use to avoid sharing our grief which, incidentally, you can do while dancing. "In Between" marries the post 9/11 desperation of those caught in the middle with a "Low Rider" feel and belting Jazz vocal tones. The smokey intro to "No Time To Waste" builds into a near classic soul song a la "Hey Jude" complete with cheering horns. "Ohrwurm" marries a late 60's pop/rock sensibility with bilingual lyrics, and a German rap.
The Toronto CDRelease Party will be at the Revival on Tuesday, September 22nd at 8pm. Erin Hunt (www.myspace.com/hearerinsmusic) will be opening. A tour will commence on Sept 10th in
Burlington, including dates in Montreal and Ottawa.
"Grin" CD for sale in Toronto at Soundscapes (572 College St.) www.soundscapesmusic.com and Beach City Music (2146 Queen St. East) www.beachcitymusic.ca
To get the new CD "Grin" NOW! Go to http://www.bluevenusmusic.com
That was a great set at The Revival. A lush sound that employs a wide range of culturally rich influences, combining alternative pop/rock with jazz, soul, and Latin music. With a vocalist that oozes lounge-pop sass, the band’s tight unity resulted in dynamite musicianship, a breezy and rhythmic concoction replete with a horn section. A fittingly joyful set.
hey guys it was really nice meeting you last night...any word yet on what happened?, i've heard nothing........ if its not terrible, we should demand a re-show! i was really pumped to play there!
Thank you very much for friendship ... Great voice and sond ... Wishing you all of the best about ispiration and your plans ... Greetings from Italy ... Alex .
I have finally hit the road on a busking tour to raise money for War Child, Coast-to-coast – 50 cities – ALL PROCEEDS TO WARCHILD. Why? 66% of all war victims are CHILDREN. Shocked like me? War Child helps these children that have been affected by war. Check out the new blog – the whole story is up there. Love to have you be a part of it.
You’ll find a Blog, Tour page and a Bio page. I’ll be blogging daily from the road.
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