Her Make Believe Band

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Released: Jan 1, 2009

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Stay
3:33
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Last Hour
5:34
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AM Radio
4:28
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Lonely Soul Blues
3:57
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Nobody's Business
3:49
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Total Plays: 11,769 / Plays Today: 2See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Alternative / Folk / Pop
Location London - Auckland, Please select your region., Un
Profile Views: 30864
Last Login: 6/13/2012
Member Since 8/8/2008
Website hermakebelieveband.com
Record Label Old Oak Music
Type of Label Indie
Bio
.. .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .................... ..Led by New Zealanders ..Cy Winstanley.. and ..Vanessa McGowan.., ..Her Make Believe Band.. is a London born band described as a .."masterful blend of Americana fused with jazz, soul and pop"..... ..Her Make Believe Band released their debut album, ..AM Radio.. (Old Oak Music) in 2009, to critical acclaim both in NZ and in the UK, including ..Uncut Magazine UK.. who described songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Cy Winstanley as .."a potent songwriter with a voice gently reminiscent of Paul Simon".. while vocalist/bassist Vanessa McGowan .."adds beguiling harmonies"... ..Graham Reid.., New Zealand's foremost music journalist, described AM Radio as a .."delightful album...hooks you in with melodies and keeps you there by virtue of the words...very sharp stuff"... The album was an exploration of the alt-country and pop possibilities of Cy's songs and has become a timepiece of Cy and Vanessa's work with London based keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist ..Sebastian Weiss.. and drummer ..Tom Greenhalgh..... ..Cy Winstanley cut his musical teeth in New Zealand singing, playing guitar and harmonica and, after a passing teenage obsession with guitar rock, discovered bluegrass, jazz and blues, eventually meeting fellow New Zealander, bassist Vanessa McGowan in a local jazz big band. Following the urge to discover his Liverpudlian roots Cy moved to London in 2004 and spent 7 years there busking, writing and playing around the country including performances in London at The Forum supporting the Violent Femmes, Royal Festival Hall, The Borderline, Cornbury Festival and Toast Festival... ..In 2005 Vanessa left New Zealand to do a Masters of Music in Jazz Bass on scholarship at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. While in Las Vegas she performed with some of America's most revered jazz musicians including Chris Potter, Joe La Barbera, Marlena Shaw and Ruth Brown, as well as touring Costa Rica and performing in New York City at the International Association For Jazz Education Conference and Dizzy's Club at The Lincoln Centre... ..Upon their reunion in 2007 Cy convinced Vanessa she could sing, showed her how to play a country 2-feel and Her Make Believe Band was born... ..Performing as a duo, Cy and Vanessa present Cy's songs in their rawest form, with just acoustic guitar, double bass and two voices. With voices described as .."love letters between Amy Mann and a slip-sliding Paul Simon".. they evoke the work of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in their musical connection and full sound belying the duo's size... ..In April 2010 Her Make Believe Band toured New Zealand for the first time, introducing their home audience to the duo's unique blend of country/folk/pop. Since April, Cy and Vanessa have performed shows in London, Cy has spent a period living and working in Malaysia as a guest jazz vocalist and guitarist at a well established jazz club, and Vanessa has been writing and arranging for her first solo album - due to be recorded early in 2011... ...."In Cy Winstanley they have a potent songwriter with a voice gently reminiscent of Paul Simon, while fellow Kiwi Vanessa McGowan adds beguiling harmonies".. ..Uncut Magazine.... ...."...a masterful blend of Americana fused with Jazz, Soul and Pop... A truly worthwhile addition to anyone's music collection" (4.5 out of 5) ......www.themusiccritic.co.uk...... ...."A stunning debut album... Winstanley's songs are intelligent and original".. ..Country Music People Magazine.... ...."Beautiful melodies with a fragility that is a joy to behold... a little gem of a release." ....Crack Magazine UK.... ...."Their songs are as pretty and romantic as the Southern Cross itself. Sweetened by Cy’s mellifluous delivery and double bass player Vanessa McGowan’s gorgeous harmonies, they sound like love letters between Amy Mann and a slip-sliding Paul Simon...".... The Crypt Sessions...... ...."Celebrated as one of the most exciting new alternative country acts around, Her Make Believe Band have undoubtedly created some beautiful and original tunes...They have the right mix of smart lyrics and sweet melodies that appeal to the old romantic in me.".. ..Morning Star.... ...."Delightful album...hooks you in with melodies and keeps you there by virtue of the words...very sharp stuff".... Graham Reid elsewhere.co.nz.... ....“Alt-country pop perfection… irresistible in their soulfulness and pure pop quality”.... James Smith mixitup.co.nz.... ..See international CD and digital purchase options for AM Radio to the left. .. ..To join the mailing list please send an email with your name, country and city (so we can tell you about gigs in your area) to ..mailinglist@hermakebelieveband.com.. ....For further information and bookings please email.. info@hermakebelieveband.com...... ....For UK PR inquiries please contact .. Rosie Wilby on Rosie@piranha-pr.co.uk...... .......... ........ ................ .. .. .. .. .. .. ......Her Make Believe Band - "Hank".. from ..knuckle.tv.. on ..Vimeo..... .. .. .. .. .. .. ......Her Make Believe Band - "AM Radio".. from ..knuckle.tv.. on ..Vimeo..... ..
Members
.... .. .. .. .. .. .................... .. ..........To purchase "AM Radio" please go to one of the following....... ..*********************.. ......Physical Copies...... ....Direct from Old Oak Music (Paypal secure payments & worldwide shipping).... ....Rough Trade.... ....CD Baby.... ....Amplifier.co.nz.. .. ..*********************.. ......MP3...... ......itunes worldwide.. .... ....Amazon MP3 (UK).... ....Amazon MP3 (US).... ....Amplifier.co.nz.. .. ..*********************.. ..Or see us at a gig!.. ..CD packaging for "AM Radio" is printed on 100% post consumer recycled cardboard and with biodegradable Paperfoam CD tray...
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May 13

Her Make Believe Band

Well thanks New Zealand, our tour was wonderful. We had fuller crowds, sold more CDs and got to meet more... http://t.co/KG2M8YRqhX

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May 10

Her Make Believe Band

Help Raglan! We need someone to do the door for us from 7.30 - 9.30pm at Vinnie's tonight and for that we will... http://t.co/Z4rhVyXzZp

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May 10

Her Make Believe Band

This evening's performance - The beautiful Dome Cinema in Gisborne, complete with cloaked trolls lining the floor. http://t.co/beoLw6wP5J

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May 08

Her Make Believe Band

Nothing like arriving at sound check to find out the gig is sold out, nice one Wairoa http://t.co/4y2kWegRqD

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May 07

Her Make Believe Band

I posted 22 photos on Facebook in the album "NZ Tour 2013" http://t.co/wfcPr7nACj

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