Notes from Chris's first album
Watch Me Burn, the debut studio album from Philadelphia native, Chris Bruni, captures the soul of this emerging singer-songwriter with distinctive vocal styling, profound lyrics, and melodies that stay with the listener long after the music has ended. It takes adult contemporary rock to a whole new level. Bruni has successfully created a musical experience filled with intensity and sarcasm, complemented with an every-man’s sensibility on life, love, money, and loss. The underlying theme maintains a positive outlook, despite hard times endured and hard lessons learned. The debut album as a whole stirs emotions, evoking a tension between the storyteller and the rock musician.
Following the release of his critically acclaimed 2007 debut release “Watch Me Burn”, singer/songwriter Chris Bruni is out on his own this time around with his sophomore release, “I’ve Been Here”, a fully fan-funded album. With the confidence provided by the success of his first effort, Chris decided to take more control of his career as an emerging artist and release this new collection of songs using a complete DIY approach. After two years of heavy touring and an obvious connection with a newfound fanbase, Chris found himself with the need for new music.
Along with the freedom that came from the departure with his previuos label, Chris was also posed with the dilemma of financing a professionally produced album and releasing it completely on his own. It was at this time that he chose to take a path that many independent artists are taking in the changing face of the collapsing music industry. He decided to turn to the support of his devoted new fans to help him reach his goal in releasing the new music he had been working so hard to perfect.
“At first it was just an idea that I thought may generate a small level of interest from the people who had taken an interest in what I was doing. I wanted to keep them involved even though I wasn’t really sure what direction my career was going to take.” says Chris.
After an initial fundraiser was organized by Bruni and some helpful “business partners”, Chris suddenly found himself with enough money raised to fund the initial recording process of a new album. With this overwhelming financial support, he chose to use the services of Milkboy Recording, in Ardmore, PA, a facility that has made a huge name for itself by helping to launch the career of Sharon Little (CBS Records) as well as a highly publicized session with Dave Matthews. Milkboy Recording proved to be the perfect place for Chris to utilize his unexpected financial backing. Upon entering the studio with his live band, Chris was introduced to Grammy nominated producer, Tim Sonnefeld “Townhall”. The immediate connection with Sonnefeld would energize Chris in a way that he had not perceived beforehand. Adding the talents of Philly masterminds John Lilley (The Hooters), Devin Greenwood (Norah Jones, Amos Lee) and fellow singer/songwriter Laura Shay, this new collection of songs became more polished and dynamic than Bruni had ever imagined since venturing out on his own.
“I knew my writing had progressed tremendously since my first recording, but I wasn’t really prepared to hear what these fantastic people were able to add to my sound. Even though the song structures basically stayed the same, the talent of everyone who lent a hand in this recording made the sonic impact of this album something that I am so incredibely blown away by.”
Following a second round of fundraising, Chris was able to raise another impressive round of financial backing that enabled the completion of graphic design and duplication for “I’ve Been Here”. The album, to be released on October 20th, is a testament to the connection that exists between a rising artist and the still very prevalent support that listeners have for someone they truley believe in. In the face of a failing economy and music industry caught in a whirlwind of change, it is still encouraging to know that the bond created by musical expression can rise above the status quo.
“This album is dedicated 100 percent to everyone who has helped me keep this train rolling. In a world of constant change and financial struggle, it is a victory for me just to have people who believe in what I’m trying to do” says Bruni.
“I’ve Been Here” finds Bruni reaching a new level of emotion and depth musically. The songs on this album clearly find Bruni exploring a darker side of himself as well as touching on topics that aren’t completely personal. It is undeniable that this still young artist has matured greatly from his first release. That being said, “I’ve Been Here” still stays true to the accessible nature that Bruni carries with him in his music and his personal manner. His story telling and unique vocal talents shine through on a level that is hard not to be impressed with.
This Pop/Folk/Soul performer somehow finds a way to create a blend of simple song approach with a one of a kind soulful tone that calls to mind artists like Martin Sexton, Stevie Wonder, and David Gray. With his newfound approach as an independent artist and the support of a loyal and growing fanbase, Chris Bruni has found a way to succeed where many artists may have decided to pack it in.
CHATTER Reviews, News, & More
Chris Bruni's "I've Been Here" will appear in the upcoming film "Lebanon, PA" to be released in late 2010
93.7 WSTW | 2009 Hometown Heroes Awards
Chris Bruni Takes Home 3 Awards! Congratulations to Chris and company for winning the following:
1. Song of the Year: "4th of July"
2. Best Male Solo Artist
3. Best Collaboration: With Laura Shay, "Standing By Your Room"
Chris Bruni chosen by Helen Leight WXPN's "Pick of the Day" for 10.21.09! 2009
ARCHIVES
93.7 WSTW | Hometown Heroes
Chris Bruni wins Best Male Solo Artist 2007!
Chris Bruni has won the award for Best Male Solo Artist in 93.7 WSTW's first annual Hometown Heroes Homey Awards. Chris also received 5 nominations. Featured on WSTW's Hometown Heroes segment in 2007, this is Chris's first Homey Award. Thank you to everyone who voted and be sure to check out the full list of winners on the Hometown Heroes section of WSTW's website.
RadioVolta.org
"Watch Me Burn:" Best Song of 2007!..
"Watch Me Burn" has been chosen as the number one song for 2007 by Radio Volta. Radio Volta's program, Kinetic Cuts has selected Chris Bruni's single "Watch Me Burn" as the best song of 2007. Radio Volta is an independent internet radio station based in Philadelphia. Visit RadioVolta.org for more info.
Spark Magazine
Chris Bruni Chosen for Spark's Summer Music Series
Chris has been chosen, along with 14 other acts from the area, to be part of a summer-long competition. The winner, based on YOUR votes, will receive an INCREDIBLE prize pack. Chris will be performing with the full band on AUGUST 17TH at SPENCE CAFE in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Make sure you come out and show your support!
Watch Me Burn Reviw: First Coast News, Jacksonville, FL
"Bruni almost lapses into a Dylan-esque rasp that hints at possibilities he should explore. "Convicted No Proof," for example is a tear jerker that will stop you in your tracks. The strings and raspy vocal here is stirring to say the least. It's not dad rock and that's why it’s good." Paul Zimmerman
First Coast News
OnlineRock.com
One must wonder if somehow, somewhere, Tracey Chapman was involved in a cloning experiment that brought us 26-year-old Chris Bruni. With a distinctive voice that's somewhere on the spectrum between Dave Matthews and David Grey, Bruni deserves as wide an audience... With all that going for it, it would be a sin of the worst sort to condemn Bruni's debut album, Watch Me Burn, to a life in rotation on some random "Adult Contemporary" station somewhere. This is an album that deserves to be heard by everyone... Click here to read the full review
Greenville Community News: Eye on the Arts
Chris Bruni Named an Artist in the Spotlight! Click here to read the full article Adobe PDF (Page 12)
PuckNation.com Review "Watch Me Burn" scores 9/10
...The songs are quite catchy (“Broken Window” has definite hit single potential) and well-performed to the extent that even listeners who don’t like this kind of music will have to appreciate Bruni. Bruni’s vocals on Watch Me Burn are well performed in a soulful singer-songwriter way. The tone of Bruni’s voice is just unique enough to be interesting, without being so unique as to alienate... Read the full review
Graham Bailey, PuckNation.com
Radio Volta Review
I can't say enough about Chris Bruni and his debut CD, Watch Me Burn. I can't stop listening to it. Every song on this CD is different, from the electric guitar on Gargoyle Juice to the drum solo on Songbird. Chris has a tremendous songwriting talent. But, what's better is seeing Chris perform live, truly dynamic! Comparisons pale to this original artist. Folks will be covering these songs one day.
Cindy Wuollet, DJ/General Mgr, Radio Volta
Another Sold-Out Performance at Tin Angel!
Chris Bruni and the band sold out Tin Angel for a second time, playing to a packed house and changing up some of the tracks on Watch Me Burn to really blow the doors off the place. In addition, some new songs made their Philly debut including While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Beatles), Listen, Hey, and Revolution (Tracy Chapman).
XM Satellite Radio: RADAR Report Featured Artist
Thursday, March 8th, Chris was a featured artist on XM radio on a program called RADAR Report, which spotlights national unsigned and independent artists. The show airs on: XMU, XM RADIO Channel 43, XM RADIO Online, Direct TV Channel 831 and on AOL, XMU, XM 43, is located on XM SATELLITE RADIO in the United States and Canada.
Philadelphia Magazine
Watch Me Burn, Grade: A-
This debut album from West Chester's Chris Bruni is like the first cup of coffee on a cold morning: warm, soothing, and gratifying. Bruni's primary instrument is his voice, a cross between Dave Mathews and John Mayer, and that's the power behind this record. His lyrics which touch on life's humbling lessons-namely, love and loss-are clear and sincere. The recording captures his clean, simplistic, coffeehouse sound (he was discovered at an open-mike in Wilmington) The title track is sweetly infectious, as is Bruni's cover of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror"
Greg Shutack, Philadelphia Magazine
93.7 WSTW Album Review
Chris Bruni's debut CD "Watch Me Burn" is one of those albums that I fully enjoyed on my first listen. A great collection of acoustic-flavored songs--some mellower in the singer/songwriter mode, some with more of a rock edge--and several that resounded with me immediately. Chris has a great, memorable voice that compliments his music and songwriting. An excellent album on his first time out; and I suspect that it only hints at how he will grow as a musician. It's an album that I highly recommend.
Mark Rogers, WSTW 93.7 Wilmington
le premier album de yankel en ecoute legale ! Bonjour à tous,
<br/>
<br/>Le premier album de yankel en écoute légale !
<br/>
<br/>Je vous invite sur sa page internet afin d’en savoir un peu plus :
<br/>http://www.musicme.com/
<br/>
<br/>En attendant Le deuxième album en préparation...
<br/>
<br/>Encore merci pour votre soutien depuis le début,
<br/>
<br/>La team.
Hey! :) We have just recently got back from recording our new 3 song EP at ThinkSound Studios in North Carolina. a Studio managed by Rise Records. We also are chaning our name so stay in touch with us because we will have a new name, new music, a new layout and new promos up very soon. Thanks for you support and feel free to comment us back and talk to us. ask us anything. thanks <3
Publish and read artist interviews in English at http://groups.myspace.com/CountryHomeMagazineInterviewsEnglish , interviews in French at http://groups.myspace.com/InterviewsAvecCountryMusicStars and interviews in German at http://groups.myspace.com/CountryMusikInterviews . All these groups on MySpace are part of CountryHome, http://www.CountryHome.de , Germany's Premier Country Music Online Magazine. Everything you publish to the groups will be published in my weekly Newsletter which has over 100,000 readers.
Purchase this song on iTunes here http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-equinox/id365952319 or direct from the artist here http://stob.bandcamp.com
Buy this shirt and get 18 immediate downloads of every SToB song ever released plus the new "Duel" album delivered to your email 3 days before official release all for $15 go here http://stob.bandcamp.com/album/ikon-skull-shirt (Paypal and non paypal credit cards accepted)
Publish and read: artist press releases, news, and tour dates to the CountryHome Forum on MySpace, http://groups.myspace.com/CountryHomeMagazine , CountryHome Forum is part of CountryHome, http://www.CountryHome.de , Germany's Premier Country Music Online Magazine. Everything you publish to the CountryHome Forum will be published in my weekly Newsletter which has over 100,000 readers.
have you checked out Capacity Productions yet? They have all the hookups for rappers and bands and more! go see for yourself how they can get people 1000's of incoming fans, plays and views and more! -spread the word!
On June 14, 2010 we will be accepting submissions from artists interesting in performing in front of 25 to 50 representatives from the 4 Major Recording Labels and several of the top Independent Record Labels.
This will occur over two consecutive weekends. One weekend in New York and one weekend in Los Angeles over two days that will feature 15 of the top bands selected to perform each night at one location. In doing it this way every band that performs WILL BE SEEN by ever representative attending. Unlike SXSW and other such music conferences where if you’re not at the one or two locations where all the label representatives hang out, you’ll ever be seen, and it was a complete waste of your time and money.
NO COST or FEES, other than the artist’s own travel expenses. Compete details and submission procedures shall be posted on our MySpace page June 14, 2010. WE SHALL NOT ACCEPT ANY SUBMISSIONS UNTIL THAT DATE.
And here is why we are committing a considerable amount of time and resources to this opportunity:
Sonicbids is an Artist and Promoters Worst Nightmare
Recently we began a trial usage of Sonicbids’ service for our artist and band searches.
As a result of that test it became clear that Sonicbids is all about earning money at the expense of artists looking to break through the wall that surrounds the music industry.
Based on our experiences from both the perspective of artists we are associated with seeking to benefit from opportunities offered though Sonicbids. As well as from the perspective of promoters searching for talent through Sonicbids service.
*** Use the link below here to read the remainder of this blog about Sonicbids:
Do you like to help me to support handicapped children? Than please add HelpCharity, http://www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity , to your buddy list.
Thanks
Christian Lamitschka
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 E-Mail: Ch.Lamitschka@t-onine.de E-Mail: Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 E-Mail: Ch.Lamitschka@t-onine.de E-Mail: Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Sonicbids is an Artist and Promoters Worst Nightmare
Recently we began a trial usage of Sonicbids service for our artist and band searches.
As a result of that test it became clear that Sonicbids is all about earning money at the expense of artists looking to break through the wall that surrounds the music industry.
Based on our experiences from both the perspective of artists we are associated with seeking to benefit from opportunities offered though Sonicbids. As well as from the perspective of promoters searching for talent through Sonicbids service.
We have concluded that Sonicbids operation is nothing more than another one of these money making SCAMS that is generating as much as $8,000,000.00 a year for Sonicbids at the expense of artists and bands paying subscription fees on top of submission fees to be considered by promoters utilizing Sonicbids services. Of which many of these Promoters are running nothing but a SCAM on artists or bands that apply.
First, you should be aware of where the money goes. For every dollar an Artist or Band pays for Sonicbids’ subscription fees, it goes directly into Sonicbids pockets. Second, the first $100.00 of every listing by a promoter, as well as 50% of all fees you pay for any listing also goes directly into the pockets of Sonicbids. This means that Sonicbids is, by our estimation, pocketing over 75% of all monies collect from unsuspecting artists and bands.
We also believe that for every band that pursues any individual opportunity at least 50 artists or bands have applied for it, and in some cases 1,000’s of artist or bands. And in many instances after paying the fees and being selected the artist or band finds out they have to pay additional fees to be included, or they will receive a notice from the promoter telling them that even if they weren’t selected, if they want to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars they can still be included in the opportunity.
[First there were 3 in "What's in the Box?", Now there are 4 with "Vinny" from "Noxx"! The Party never ends with the Classic Rock and Blues Band "What's in the Box?"! www.whatsinthebox.me]
#7 in Neil Tesser’s Top Ten Chicago Jazz Discs of 2009 2009 Grammy nominating ballot for Best Instrumental Jazz Album #12 in JazzChicagonet’s Top Chicago Recordings of 2009 3 ½ Stars! (3=Good, 4=Excellent) Downbeat Magazine
“The emphasis is on group interplay, with active basslines and lively arrangements.” - John Ephland, Downbeat, December 2009.
Check out /www.cdbaby.com/cd/koppelquartet to purchase "Falling Together Falling Apart"
There is currently a search for two types of bands for record label consideration.
Group 1.
We are seeking a Pop/Rock Commercial band with female lead vocals. Band should consist of 2 guitars (Prefer both guitar players to be of lead caliber. However, one lead and one rhythm is acceptable), keyboard/piano, bass, and drums. *** Average age of the band should not exceed 28 years of age.
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract, of any type, that is related to the music industry.
Go to our MySpace Page and READ THE POSTED INFORMATION for details and how to submit your band for consideration.
Group 2
We are seeking a Modern Rock Commercial band with male lead vocals. It must be a complete band but there are no prerequisites as it relates to the make up of the band. Average age of the band should not exceed 25 years of age. (Age has been expanded since original listing)
* Group must have an outstanding lead vocalist. ** Musicianship throughout the entire band must be very strong. *** Group cannot currently be under any contract of any type that is related to the music industry.
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