Dana's album "Easier" features:
DANA LAWRENCE guitar & vocals
ARCH ALCANTARA guitar
BRETT SIMONS bass
MATT WALKER drums
Influences
Ani DiFranco PJ Harvey Liz Phair Fiona Apple Aretha, Ella, Etta, Nina, Billie, Bessie, Joni, Patsy Phoebe Snow Ricki Lee Jones Siouxsie Sioux Jeff Buckley Steven Gillis
Thick, fluid, soothing & impassioned folk rock with an unmistakeable Chicago blues influence; featuring musicians who have been a part of bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Filter, The Mighty Blue Kings, Peat Moss and more...
"Her voice is like gravy. Once it's being poured, it falls in thick and fluid waves without any limitations. It's also soothing, impassioned, and whether deliberate or not, fierce. Dana Lawrence Gillis sings with such emotion and intensity that her songs breed this all-consuming force of energy. It almost feels like her voice is bursting through the walls, snaking underneath the floorboards and hovering around the ceiling's light fixtures in Chicago's Gunther Murphy's back room. Nearly 60 people have gathered around the stage to hear her croon, and virtually all of them have these transfixed expressions on their faces. They look hypnotized, roused by her expressive lyrics. Few musicians can get up on stage and truly hold an audience captive... Yet, Lawrence can do it with just her voice and an acoustic guitar."
*testimonials... Dana's 2001 debut release Easier, produced and engineered by Baby Doin' The Jig Productions' Suede and Matt Feddermann, is "the first CD I play when I get into work," says Kevin Rehban, a bartender at Chicago's live music club Pops for Champagne. "I would say that I've played it close to 4,000 times. I'm not kidding. Dana has this unbelievable voice that just lures you in. It's so mellow, and when you listen to her music, you instantly feel this tranquility. I have customers come up to me all the time and ask, 'Who is this girl?'" "Dana is brilliant at her craft," says Chicago-based independent filmmaker and producer Bill Jablonski. "She shows a true passion for singing and writing songs. There's nothing artirficial about her. We are inundated with so much crap music, but her music is uplifting, thoughtful, good for my soul." Chicago based artist & poet Eden Holend states, "Dana possesses the confidence to speak the truth like no other vocalist I've heard lately. She has the ability to address deeply internal issues without being overbearing. She knows how to gently touch the subconscious mind. If there was a category for a fresh and vibrant sound mixed with a killer voice and the power of a tsunami, that would be Dana."
*the early days... Lawrence's desire to create music has been a lifelong passion, starting with the violin when she was only 2 years old, and adding piano and percussion along the way. But it wasn't until the age of 14 when she discovered the guitar that her desire turned into an obsession. "Because I had played the violin for 12 years, I had a good ear for figuring things out. I just fell in love with the guitar and started writing my own songs," she explains. Lawrence's creative process was kickstarted and forever defined by a serendipitous teaming both writing and recording with Chicago based musician Pino Farina, whom she refers to as "an enigmatic, powerful and inspirational musician, singer and songwriter," and who's band Dearborn took home the Chicago Music Award for Rock Album of the Year in 2004. Throughout her teenage years Lawrence also sang, wrote songs and played the guitar in many bands. At 17 fate crossed her path with the Loeffler brothers, and they created what was to be their first real original rock band. Although the band only lasted a year, the Loeffler boys went on to start the now known rock group Chevelle, whose major label debut sold more than a million copies. "I like to think I had something to do with their success," Lawrence says in jest. "I got them their first gig at a Battle of the Bands at my high school! I'm really proud of what they've accomplished."
*recent happs... The past decade Lawrence has canvassed the Chicago music scene, playing locally both solo and with her acoustic group The Dana Lawrence Trio. Her debut release Easier, recorded at Baby Doin' the Jig Productions in Lake Bluff, Illinois in 2001, features musicians who have been a part of bands including Smashing Pumpkins, Filter, The Mighty Blue Kings, Peat Moss and more. Currently she is laying down tracks for her next release at Transient Sound Studios in Chicago, owned and run by producer and drummer Steven Gillis.
ADD Dana Lawrence Easier to your cd collection! Also makes a great gift... Available atcdbaby.com/cd/danalawrence
Keep your eye out for her new single the damning game coming soon to MySpace!
As I have told you, your Franco-American version of "Summertime" kicks. "Easier" and the others on the disc are mighty fine, too. We share some of the same great album musicians, by the way. Thanks for bringing me into your musical realm.
Date: March 1st Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Place: Black Rock, 3614 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60618 Cover: For $20.00 at the door, you can enjoy an open bar of domestics and well drinks throughout the evening. Music: Chicago Farmer!, Kirk Sonnenberg, Dana Lawrence
Free giveaways include a brand new acoustic guitar, four hours of free recording time at a Chicago recording studio, poetry books, visual artwork, and passes to the most prestigious acting workshop in Chi-town!
Hey you hot thing!! I miss your face - and it's pathetic that I still have your wedding present sitting in my 2nd bedroom! HA! Will I see you again?!? Love you!!
Hey Dana! I'm back in town now with another guitarist in tow. We're making moves and hope to get the truck rolling within the next couple months. Are you still hosting your open mic sessions?
Steve told us we do not have the option of being good if we are to become "rockstars" as he put it....
We will do all we can to hold fast, unfortunately, if Jeremy puts a fake mustache on ...... our fate may not be decided in whole on our individual activities...
Hello Dana. I am going to get up to Metro as soon as I can to see you. I have to go back to PHX briefly, but I will come out that way when I get back. Thanks for the add. Ben
Hi, Dana,
I'm finally playing in Chicago again next week, so maybe I'll get a chance to meet you in real life? I'll be at The Hideout May 18 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. as part of Larry O. Dean's Folk You! songwriter showcase.
