Dana Falconberry is a musical natural. Hailed by the Austin Chronicle as one of the city’s “most promising singer-songwriters” and “most arresting female vocalists,” her distinctive talents and singular creative vision find full and brilliant fruition on her debut full-length national album release, oh skies of grey.
It’s one of those rare musical works that defies any immediate references and transcends the usual genre pigeonholes, prompting listeners to hear Falconberry on her own unique and highly engaging terms. And what you’ll delightfully discover is a “voice [that] is a study in paradox: delicately soft yet powerfully dynamic, warmly inviting yet brazenly defiant, emotive yet wise beyond her [now 28] years,” as the Austin Chronicle observes. She applies that gift to “thoughtful, beautifully written songcraft,” as the Chronicle puts it, citing her “astounding” songs rich with “achingly intimate narratives” and “brazen, bluesy power,” among their many compelling qualities.
But rather than describe, categorize, parse or analyze Falconberry’s musical and lyrical creations, it’s best advised to just listen to oh skies of grey. And simply feel its effects on the heart, mind and soul, as such unfettered expressiveness and emotionality is how she creates music of such power and inescapable allure.
As you’ll hear, oh skies of grey travels a spectrum of moods and modes between the gently buoyant romanticism of the opening track “Someday” to the airy closing grace note of “Clementine.” The songs swing (“Love Will Leave You Alone”), lilt (“Do You”) and enchant like mesmeric mantras (“Silver” and “Fluorescent”) as well as revel in the natural world (“Pine Tree”), plumb the depths of solitude (“Satin Dress”) and even ponder the moments following Falconberry’s own passing (“Singing Lullabies”). There are moments of piquant delicacy like “Blue Umbrella,” “Birthday Song” and “Baby Blue Sky” within a musical rainbow of stylistic splashes that range across folk, blues, jazz, Southern mountain music, ambient modernity and more.
Ultimately it all plays like no one else but Dana Falconberry. Produced by her manager Roy Taylor, who has recorded such Austin acts as Glass Eye, Stick People and Craig Ross, oh skies of grey is anchored by the deft rhythm section of drummer Michael Longoria (known for his work with Patty Griffin) and bassist Luis Guerra (who, with Longoria, is the core of their band Terremoto, and has played with Griffin, Alejandro Escovedo, Marc Ribot and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck) and sweetly iced with the alluring harmony vocals of Erika Maassen and Gina Dvorak.
-Rob Patterson
***FOR BOOKING PLEASE EMAIL: booking (at) danafalconberry.com***
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Hi Dana! I just want to thank you for your friendship. I think your voice and music is very pretty and very relaxing. I hope you keep in touch. Take care!
Hope you are ready to rock Granada here in Dallas. I have my ticket an look forward to seeing you play. Hope to buy a CD from you only if you sign it. Rock it steady.
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