Photo of Gillian Grassie

Gillian Grassie

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Album:
Released: Jan 1, 2007
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Folk Rock / Jazz / Pop

    Location Philadelphia, Un

    Profile Views: 80531

    Last Login: 8/13/2011

    Member Since 4/19/2005

    Website www.gilliangrassie.com

    Record Label None

    Type of Label Unsigned

  • Bio

    <iframe frameborder="0" height="380px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1113362654/the-hinter-haus-a-new-album-by-gillian-grassie/widget/card.html" width="220px"></iframe> ..Gillian Grassie (say: Jillian) is a 24 year-old harpist/singer-songwriter whose signature brand of jazz-minded indie folk/pop showcases her "knack for turning seemingly insignificant events into songs worthy of everyone's attention," (Origivation Magazine)... .. Frequently weaving humorous banter into sets more evocative of Joni Mitchell and Regina Spektor than Joanna Newsom or Loreena McKennitt, Grassie's natural live performances have won her a growing audience of devoted listeners across the United States and as far abroad as France, Germany, India, China, and Russia. Of her live performance, Grammy-winner Marc Cohn has said: "After hearing only one song, I became an instant Gillian Grassie fan. It's rare to hear a young singer with such control and understated soulfulness, and even more rare to hear a harp provide such a deep percussive groove. I was immediately captivated by her sound." .. Grassie holds a degree in Comparative Literature from Bryn Mawr College and her music is often inspired by literary works, with references to Philip Larkin, Robert Frost, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Francis James Child woven throughout. In her youth, she studied opera and sang with choirs in such prestigious venues as Heinz Hall, Symphony Hall, and The National Cathedral. Her interpretations of traditional Scottish harp repertoire earned first place prizes in five competitions and an invitation to perform at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, where she debuted at the tender age of fourteen... While living abroad in Switzerland at fifteen, Grassie departed from her traditional background in Classical and Celtic music and began writing original songs. Since then, she has independently released two critically acclaimed recordings: in 2005 the EP To an Unwitting Muse, and 2007's Serpentine — a full-length album composed, recorded, and released while she was still a student at Bryn Mawr, hailed by Music for America as "an album that belongs on every critic's top-ten list not only for the year, but for the decade." Both sold out of their original pressings. Her song "Silken String" finished second in the 2008 New York Songwriters Circle Competition and has since been picked up by triple-A radio stations nationally... Grassie has been profiled in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Times of India, and on NBC 10, but perhaps more telling are the glowing fan reviews on iTunes, Pandora, and CDBaby, whose praise is often as articulate and sensitive as the music it describes. One listener wrote: "Serpentine is really impressive, in the traditional sense of the term; it's left an imprint on me. Her music is completely unique; you take her music on her terms; she isn't derivative at all. Gillian knows what she wants to say and knows exactly how to say it. At an age (and in an age) when younger performers are either finding their style or – mostly – copying others', Gillian Grassie has already clearly established her sound and her voice.".. She was most recently awarded a coveted Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, which sponsored her for a year's worth of travel with her harp, studying and participating in emerging music scenes in Europe and Asia. During her Watson year abroad, Grassie penned a new album and is expected to go into the studio this winter to begin production on the project, tentatively titled: The Hinter Haus... .. .. ..PRESS QUOTES:.. .... "After hearing only one song, I became an instant Gillian Grassie fan. It's rare to hear a young singer with such control and understated soulfulness, and even more rare to hear a harp provide such a deep percussive groove. I was immediately captivated by her sound. I'd love to have her open some shows for me. I'm sure my audiences will be captivated by her too." –..Grammy-winner, Marc Cohn.. .. "[Grassie] seems to have one thing most of her contemporaries lack, the ability to turn seemingly insignificant events, such as throwing up at a party, into songs worthy of everyone's attention. Her lethal combination of melody, introspection and deeply personal lyrics places her high in the running for first in the "next big thing" category." -..Origivation Magazine.. .. "Forget for a moment Grassie's dulcet harp work. She writes haunting, well-crafted songs and sings them in that lustrous voice." -..David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer.... "[Serpentine is] an album that belongs on every critic's best of list not only for the year, but for the decade." -..Music for America.. .. "Serpentine is really impressive, in the traditional sense of the term; it's left an imprint on me. Her music is completely unique; you take her music on her terms; she isn't derivative at all. Gillian knows what she wants to say and knows exactly how to say it. At an age (and in an age) when younger performers are either finding their style or – mostly – copying others', Gillian Grassie has already clearly established her sound and her voice." – ..iTunes Customer Review.. .. "Diese Frau ist wirklich Megaklasse. Die Kombination aus filigran gespielter Harfe zu einer Stimme, die sich mit weltklass Stars vergleichen lässt, und einer Titelauswahl, die einem jeden Zuhörer den Mund vor Staunen offen stehen lässt. Musik zu Versinken in seinen schönsten und/oder auch emotional einfühlsamsten Gedanken. Brillant! Danke." – ..Das Consortium, Hamburg.. .. "Infectious. Addictive. Enchanting, up-lifting voice with interesting tales to tell: told in a different way. Who knew the harp could be so versatile and fresh and natural for such jazzy, bluesy, story-telling songs? One of those albums that stays in play. Each hearing offers something new even as the songs linger between plays. A refreshingly different, joyously talented artist who is awesome live and delightful on recording." – ..Frank D. Banta, CDBaby Customer.. .. "For pop fans with a craving for something a little different, Serpentine is a treat." -..Philadelphia CityPaper.. .. "…flaunts harp convention with a sassy assuredness." -..The Intelligencer.. .. "Superb!" -..TAXI.. .. "…she makes [the harp] sound like any string instrument that has been a part of pop and rock for the last 50 years." ..-Music For America.. .. "Her music deftly blends jazz, pop, folk and rock with mesmerizing effectiveness, with forays into techno and even bossa nova further blurring the boundaries of tradition." -..The Intelligencer.. .. "…the harp in this context is simply exciting." -..TAXI.. .. "…an innovator par excellence. She is a harpist/singer/songwriter who is bringing the harp into the 21st Century." -..Ticket Magazine.. .. ..
  • Members

    ..One Harp Chick. Now available with Full Band: .. Guitar: Ross Bellenoit.. Upright Bass: Ryan Kuhns.. Drums: Matt Scarano.... .. ..Booking..: booking@gilliangrassie.com .. ..Press..: press@gilliangrassie.com.... .. .. ...... .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .......... .. .. .. .......... .. .. .. .. .... .. .......... .. .. ...... ..
  • Influences

    Joni Mitchell, Bjork, Ani Difranco, Portishead, Debussy, Belle and Sebastian, Erin McKeown, Ben Folds, Kate Campbell, Feist, Jeff Buckley, Billie Holiday, Damien Rice, David Mead, Leontyne Price, Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Tracy Chapman, Dar Williams, Kathleen Edwards, Corrina Hewat, Deborah Henson-Conant, Park Stickney, Catriona McKay, Grainne Hambly, Isobel Mieras, Maire Ni Chathasaigh, Rudiger Opperman, Rufus Wainwright.
  • Sounds Like

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Stream

  1. Gillian Grassie

    New Gig announced in Dusseldorf at Brause on 6/15/2012 http://lnk.ms/bWLwj

  2. Gillian Grassie

    New Gig announced in Kiel at Polar Station on 6/2/2012 http://lnk.ms/bgdJS

  3. Gillian Grassie

    New Gig announced in Kiel at Prinz Willy on 6/1/2012 http://lnk.ms/bgdJD

  4. Gillian Grassie

    New Gig announced in New York, NY at TedxEast at the Times Center on 5/11/2012 http://lnk.ms/bWLX1

  5. Gillian Grassie

    New Gig announced in Bremen at Kito on 2/5/2012 http://lnk.ms/Z52lS

Videos

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Comments

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  • Richard Harris


    Sending You LOTS OF LOVE Gillian!
     

    I AM RECORDING A NEW ALBUM THIS SUMMER - WATCH FOR IT @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT SUCCESS ...

    "SUCCESS

    is

    simply A MATTER OF LUCK.

    Ask any FAILURE."

     ~ Earl Nightengale

    SUCCESS IS FOCUSING THE FULL POWER OF ALL

    YOU ARE ON WHAT YOU HAVE A BURNING DESIRE

    TO ACHIEVE!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    3 days ago
  • Richard Harris


    Thank You for the GIFT of your FRIENDSHIP Gillian!
     

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT FRIENDSHIP ...

    "TRUE FRIENDS are NEVER FORGOTTEN,

    they live within our HEARTS and SOULS ....

    FOREVER , and ALWAYS ,

    DANCING on our stage of memories."

    PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID

    OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

    HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!  FRIENDS LET YOU KNOW

    THAT YOU ARE NEVER ALONE ON THE ROAD OF LIFE!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.myspace.com/richardharrislive

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com


     

    19 days ago
  • Tim Cheatle

       Lunapic Photo Editing

    3 months ago
  • Richard Harris



    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    The FUTURE Comes 1 Day at a Time Gillian!

     

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT THE FUTURE ...

    "STOP ACTING as if LIFE is a REHEARSAL.

    LIVE this day as if it were YOUR LAST.

    The PAST is OVER and GONE.

    The FUTURE is not GUARANTEED."

    ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

    MAY THE DREAMS OF YOUR PAST BE

    THE REALITY OF YOUR FUTURE!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.myspace.com/richardharrislive

    Please give my music a listen!

    Cool Jazz CD's @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    OR

    CDBaby.com / ITunes

    3 months ago
  • Richard Harris



    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Don't WORRY be HAPPY Gillian!

     

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT STRESS ...

    "When you find yourself STRESSED, ask yourself ONE QUESTION:

    Will this MATTER 5 years from now?

    If YES, then DO SOMETHING about the situation.

    If NO, then LET IT GO."

     ~ Catherine Pulsifer

    STRESS IS AN IGNORANT STATE.

    IT BELIEVES THAT EVERYTHING IS AN EMERGENCY!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.myspace.com/richardharrislive

    Please give my music a listen!

    Cool Jazz CD's @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    OR

    CDBaby.com / ITunes

    3 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS FROM MY NEW CD "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Sending you some FRIDAY LOVE Gillian!

     
     
    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT WALKING THE WALK ...

    "Start doing the things YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE, and start BEING what you think society should become.

    Do you believe in free speech? THEN SPEAK FREELY.

    Do you love the truth? THEN TELL IT.

    Do you believe in an open society? Then ACT IN THE OPEN.

    Do you believe in a decent and humane society? Then behave DECENTLY and HUMANELY."

    ~ Adam Michnik

    IT'S TIME TO WALK THE WALK ~ TO LIVE THE THINGS WE SAY WE BELIEVE IN!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.myspace.com/richardharrislive

    Please give my music a listen!

    Cool Jazz CD's @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    OR

    CDBaby.com / ITunes

    4 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    LISTEN TO SOME SWEET MUSIC FROM MY NEW CD "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Sending you LOTS OF SUNDAY LOVE AND LAUGHS Gillian!

     

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS GEORGE CARLIN AS THE MODERN MAN ...

    "I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading.

    I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond!
    I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable.

    ... I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal. Lean and mean! Cocked, locked and ready-to-rock. Rough, tough and hard to bluff. I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide. I’ve got glide in my stride.

    Drivin and movin, sailin and spinin, jivin and groovin, wailin and winnin. I don’t snooze, so I don’t lose. I keep the pedal to the metal and the rubber on the road. I party hearty and lunch time is crunch time. I'M HANGIN IN, THERE AIN'T NO DOUBT AND I'M HANGIN TOUGH, OVER AND OUT!"

    ~ George Carlin

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.myspace.com/richardharrislive

    Please give my music a listen!

    Cool Jazz CD's @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    OR

    CDBaby.com / ITunes

    4 months ago
  • Max Lombardo

    I am happy that you have nominated me for the newcomer award  @ PARTYSAN for 2011

    please take a few seconds to vote.

    http://poll.partysan.net/

    thanks and have a nice day

    cheers max

    www.facebook.com/max.lombardo

    www.facebook.com/pages/Delicious-Beats/134044373332392

    5 months ago
  • Richard Harris



    LISTEN TO SOME SWEET MUSIC FROM MY NEW CD "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Have a PEACEFUL NEW WEEK Gillian!

     

    White Dove of Peace

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT PEACE ON EARTH ...

    "THIS IS THE WAY OF PEACE:

     overcome EVIL with GOOD,

    and FALSEHOOD with TRUTH,

     and HATRED with LOVE."

    LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH ~

    AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.myspace.com/richardharrislive

    Please give my music a listen and let me know what you think!

    Cool Jazz CDs @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    OR

    CDBaby.com / ITunes

    5 months ago
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