Long Island, New York, has long enjoyed a varied and beloved history as a singular musical destination on the map. It’s turned out such mega-star personalities as Billy Joel, Deborah Gibson and Mariah Carey. The newest addition to that exclusive list is singer/songwriter CHRISTINE VASKAS.
Vaskas readily joins the music-rich tapestry of Long Island as a fully evolved performer and songwriter, with two CDs under her belt.
“Music has always been in my life. Ever since I was a child it has been my outlet and something I could escape to. That’s why I love writing … I know someone out there is relating to it and is moved by it.”
She’s been performing on a regular basis since the age of seven, where in addition to formally beginning her legitimate training, she began to appear in several local community theater productions. A subsequent tenure at Bent Pussycat Recording Studio, located in West Hills on Long Island, introduced her to the technological end of recording, showing her what was available to her. Working with the studio’s Tom Cavanagh, she wound up having some of her initial recordings appear on the studio’s label (Bent Pussycat Records) Christmas Compilations. To date, she’s appeared on their last 7 holiday releases. “I was fortunate to have the experience at 16 to work in a studio. I learned so much about production, writing, and even the business aspect of the industry. It was a terrific apprenticeship.”
Her first formal CD release, produced by Cavanagh, DARE, was released in April, 2003. The package contained 11 original songs penned by Christine and Cavanagh. Rich Hughes of WUSB Radio called Vaskas, “A young woman with a world of potential”, and said of the CD’s title track, “Fast-paced and sharp, this song amply displays both the powers of Vaskas’ voice, and her ability to craft a catchy pop song.”
The package was heralded as a major new work from a major new artist, and she was voted ‘Queen of the Long Island Music Scene’ by Aural Fix magazine … which featured her on the cover and contained an extensive interview with her.
After a flurry of activity, where the CD and select songs were regularly programmed on local-radio and TV, she released an acoustic version of the CD, which garnered considerable interest.
Her follow up CD, STEPPING OUTSIDE MYSELF was released in July of ’08 (with a release-event at NYC’s Bitter End), further expanded her vision with several songs containing an unmistakable hint of country. Ironically, her song “Love Story” was written and released way before Taylor Swift’s current hit version. “Lyrically this new CD has a more definitive direction; most of the songs are about self discovery and self awareness.”
She also participated in an MTV-online sponsored competition called ‘Addicted to Noise’, where people had to vote for their favorite submitted song. She entered the competition with her song “Love Story” and made the Top 20 in their first go-around. The last round determined the final Top 10, and her song made it to 5.
Aware, accessible, and, exemplary. CHRISTINE VASKAS … remember the name!
I think you get a amazing future in front of you with your music, because you have a amazing, beautiful and wonderful song voice and you have real good and amazing songs and I wish you all the best with your music and your future with music in years forward:)
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