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Christine Anderson's Official Press Biography

One hot summer afternoon in Los Angeles, CA, Christine Anderson sang into a simple instrument mike at a Yamaha digital piano and recorded an entire album, live in a single take. Guided by a foot high stack of her scribbled, half-finished lyrics, she composed as the tape rolled, turning out inspired performances of 17 original songs. Today, highly improvised Live Summer Session is hailed by critics as "creative brilliance," served "as raw and real as music gets."

With an intriguing stage presence that seems to rise up and take over during her performances, Christine is best known for her talent as a live performer and impromptu composer. Thanks to internet technology, word of mouth, and a little marketing savvy, she's begun amassing an enthusiastic following with her soulful voice, passionate songwriting, and world class piano playing. The Los Angeles Music Award winner has appeared in special features on ABC, MTV, and MuchMusic, but has turned away traditionally coveted "record deals" to remain independent and in complete creative control of her art.

Following the success of Live Summer Session, Christine left Los Angeles and moved to Ashland, OR, where she has penned upwards of 77 new songs. This new music is being recorded and official releases are in the works.

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In My Own Words...

I love music more than I can say in words. When I was really little, I wanted to be like Schroeder from the classic Peanuts cartoons. There was something about that Beethoven he played that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. When I was nine, I discovered my friend's piano and BOOM that was it. I knew no matter what, I was going to play that thing. Determination or not, I was lucky enough to be really good with the instrument, a natural, so when my very first piano score won first place in the first State-wide composition contest I ever entered, I had the confidence to find every other piano competition available to me, and win it. Thanks to various wonderful teachers, I began to gain experience playing with symphonies, and I honed my craft at every masters class and summer music camp possible. I loved it. It made me who I am, and it made me happy.

By the time I was a teenager, I'd even begun making a name for myself, thanks to some mentions in the local newspapers and little stories about my piano competitions on the evening news. I was on my way to becoming a classical recording artist when I had an experience that, in one delicious electric moment, changed the course of my life forever. I was 14 years old when, on a hot summer afternoon (summer is such a magical time, lol), inspiration struck me as it often did like a lightening bolt outta the sky and into my head, and filled me with instant, beautiful music. I'd composed a lot of solo piano music by then, but something was different this time, because along with the music... came words!

By the time I was seventeen, I had a notebook full of original songs, and I was writing a new one almost every day. Contrary to my experience with the piano, however, I was no natural vocalist. My range was barely five notes, and they came out sounding constipated even on a good day. But something in my heart told me that yes, somewhere down in there I had a voice, so I just kept at it, and kept waiting for it to come out. All this was a hobby, though; I wasn't even allowed to play "my" songs until I'd practiced my syllabus repertoire for at least a solid hour (and that's not counting the 30 minutes of scales and arpeggios I always warmed up with), and then at 18 I headed off to college.

I spent the next four years practicing 2-3 hours a day, eyeball-deep in advanced music theory, earning degrees in music composition and piano performance... but just I couldn't help how bored I felt every time I had to play more of that damned Bach. I know, I know: Bach's only the greatest composer-intellectual of all time. hello! Right? But still, that's how I came to realize I'm happiest writing my own songs and telling my own stories. My professors were not at all pleased, of course, but I followed my heart.

I worked hard for years, playing gigs all across the US and writing as many songs as I could. But it wasn't until discovering MySpace that everything seemed to blow up. I'd just recorded Live Summer Session, which was forty-five minutes of me singing, improvising, composing songs impromptu, and succumbing completely to the inspiration as it consumed me. I posted four of the 17 tracks here on MySpace, and once again, in what seemed like a matter of no time at all, my life changed course forever.

Years of hard work and hours of daily practice finally paid off, as word spread, my fanbase exploded, and Live Summer Session began selling by the hundreds, then thousands, on my website, ChristineAnderson.net.

When radio deejays stumbled across my music here, all they had to do was send me a message, and before I knew it, "Hollywood Trainwreck" was getting airplay on actual radio stations............ even some of the traditional corporate whores like KISS FM. Kinda cool, right? But by the time that happened I'd been growing as an artist and improving as a vocalist, so even getting airplay and being a guest on radio shows wasn't satisfying, because, to me, that was now old music. And I could do better. So on to the next thing, right?

Which brings me to Ashland, OR, a place that looks like it came straight out of a Mary Poppins sidewalk chalk drawing, and which appears, from all empirical evidence, to be the most romantic place in the world, full of a lot of talent and surprises in unexpected places. And where I've discovered that making cool music doesn't require a big expensive studio in Hollywood, just a Zoom mic, some maryjane, and the sweet vibe of home. And that spelling and grammar and syntax aside, for all intents and purposes, and hopefully for all the right reasons, all u need is luve. But more directly to the point, I'm making some pretty cool music out here. And new creative prospects are suddenly on the horizon. Good thing I looked up.

I'm hoping to release a lot of new music this year and possibly a video too. If you're a local musician or audio-visual guru and you want to collaborate, let me know by emailing littlemissmozart@gmail.com. If you're with a music magazine or website and you want to review my material, email me and I'll get you a press kit. If you're with a record label that respects creativity and doesn't think I'd be better off if I tried sounding more poppish and lowest-common-denominator-esque, then you can email me too. But if you think I'd be a good fit for the next all-girl act you're pitching to Sony, forget it. I'm not interested in being anyone but me. And I mean it. I've been approached by agents, attorneys, A&R guys, label suits, you name it, and I've heard it all as far as people promising me the world, or promising to make me a star. I decided long ago that I don't want fame and recognition if it's at the cost of my artistic vision, so it has been pretty easy to stay true to myself and not sell out. I could have a very different life right now, if I'd so chosen, but I only take on projects that speak to my heart, I always write my own music, and that's that!

From where I'm standing, it looks like I made the right choice. I may not have the exposure of a sell out, but my fans are devoted and they'll buy anything I release, even before it's released. That's why it's so important to me that I never betray them by releasing crap just to make money. I spent the last three years growing and learning as a pianist, singer, songwriter, woman, human and while I surely could have been releasing music all that time (if I'd had the resources), I believe that I am just now, in 2009, starting to find my true voice. Even so, I know from all the letters I receive how long you've been listening. It's so humbling and incredible to know that, somehow, my songs are touching people's hearts. Truly, it is a gift from God. People tell me my music has changed their lives, that it helped save their relationship, or it made them realize they wanted to play the piano again. One 15 year old girl wrote to me and said, "you don't know me from adam, but i was gonna kill myself because i'm stupid and i hate my life. I dunno why but I heard one of your songs and I didn't want to give up."

In this crazy world we call the music business, I've learned that your greatest accomplishment isn't always the one that pays you the most money, but the one that enables you to touch the hearts of others on your journey towards the stars.

~:o) Christine Anderson




Buy Christine Anderson's CD, Live Summer Session.

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Bookings/Commissions: Hire Christine!

You can hire Christine to perform for you, anywhere in the world!

Make your special event one to remember with an unforgettable musical performance by Christine. Christine is available for hire and travel worldwide. Send a message to littlemissmozart@gmail.com requesting rates, riders, and availabilities. Please include your name, address and phone number(s), as well as detailed information about the nature of the event you are planning, beginning with the date, time, and location. A booking agent will be in touch with your promptly. Inquiries submitted without a vaild phone number will not be considered.

You can also hire Christine to compose an original song for you!

Does your heart long for someone, but you cannot find the words to tell them? Or the melody? Whatever your situation, Christine can compose an inspired, beautiful, one-of-a-kind song for any occasion, based entirely on your story and what you want to express to someone. Depending on your individual needs, you can have CDs manufactured with your special song on it, a live performance of your special song, or both. Send a message to littlemissmozart@gmail.com requesting a price quote. Please describe in detail what kind of song you are looking for, and if there is a deadline to consider, such as a birthday or anniversary. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number(s). Inquiries submitted without a valid phone number will not be considered.