Early influences are Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Roberta Flack. Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen are oceans of inspiration.
Joni Mitchell is the queen and king of "the song".
I'm also hooked on Devendra Banhart, Jolie Holland and Richard Hawley. I listen to Feist, Jacques Brel, Johnny Cash, Nitin Sawney, Fela Kuti, Radiohead, Odetta, Bob Dylan, Led Zepplin, PJ Harvey, Manu Chao, Donny Hathaway, The Bad Plus, Herbie Hancock, Goldfrapp, Curtis Mayfield, Martina Topley-Bird, Bebel Gilberto, Beth Gibbons, Bjork, Buena Vista Social Club, Charles Mingus, Cinematic Orchestra...ah name it, I'll listen.
Sounds Like
Gravel being dragged through honey!
A potent cocktail of Joni Mitchel, Tori Amos, Shirley Bassey and Nina Simone.
"Smoky piano lauded balladry with vintage croons." Black & White Magazine
Allo lovelies! To buy a signed copy of "Lips' Decision" (produced by my dear friend Charlie Winston) complete with artwork & lyrics using paypal or credit card, click on the album cover below & I will throw in copies of my two EPs, Barber and My Tomorrow for free...or simply download from itunes!
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Here are twelve taster tracks from my first full length release, Lips' Decision (produced by my very dear and talented friend Charlie Winston). These songs are my Lips' Decisions. Stir them into your coffee or let them breathe with a bottle of red... the world can wait.
"There's a certain type of nightclub that seems to exist only in film. Candlelit booths surround a dancefloor that no one dances on. Chandeliers suspended from the ceiling create light and shadow. There's a grand piano on a stage that's too small for it and the rest of the band struggle to find space. Sat behind the grand piano, in a black cocktail dress, is a slightly quirky, but original and angelically voiced singer who distracts the plot away from the cigarette girls. Miranda Barber is that girl, "Lips Decision" is her night club. Mellow jazz with 60s vibe the sound." Fatea Magazine http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/releasesaad.html
[Lips' Decision] "is an album oozing sexuality, in 1950's smoky jazz bar feel. There are some gorgeous bluesy piano moments and soul that would melt even the coldest of hearts..." Leigh Rafferty, Glasswerk.co.uk
"Soulful, sophisticated and fun, Lips' Decision mixes the smouldering, late night jazz singing of Billie Holliday with piano-led Joni Mitchell-style confessionals......With a little luck the smooth MOR of Lips' Decision may just end up being the soundtrack to your summer." Ian Sinclair, Tourdates
"...no gimmicks and no overstated production. Miranda can be serious, jazzy, cheeky, raunchy even; but always classy, as this album illustrates...a truly excellent debut album." Peter Coulston, Seatwaves
Here's a spanking new golden music video for the last track on my album, "King Of The Island", shot by Oz Smith on La Gomera shortly after Christmas. It was tough! I hope you enjoy.
5 star album review, Rock n Reel Magazine, November 2008
Blues Matters, album review, December 2008
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Live footage from the recording studio during the making of debut album, Lips' Decision - meet the musos!
Live recording of My Roof has Got A Hole In It @ Goldtop Studios
Australian-born Miranda Barber moved to the feisty fray of East London in 1999 and has not quite made it back home. Her brew of smoky piano lauded balladry with vintage croons, is a fresh mixture of intelligent lyricism, melodious hooks and the kind of song writing that hasn’t been heard since the 60s. Likened to Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush & Billie Holiday, Miranda's influences include the likes of Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, Tom Waits and Jolie Holland. This might account for why she holds high the banner for the acoustic singer/songwriter, whilst effortlessly sailing in and out of the waters of blues, jazz, soul and folk. Miranda has a stunningly powerful voice - soulful, husky and sultry, and her ability to also tell a great story makes for a curious mix of the real, the romantic and the quirky.
On 7th September 2007, out of 600 songwriters, Miranda won the first ever singer/songwriter showcase on www.slicethepie.com by public vote, and received finance to make her first album. Produced by Charlie Winston, the album was recorded live at Goldtop and Mi7 Studios in London, and was released on Miranda's own label, Barbershop Records on 30th June 2008.http://www.mirandabarber.com/listen.html
Below & above are some silly Album Video Blogs put together during the course of making the album. See them all at http://www.youtube.com/mirandabarber
Video blog 4 & Eliza...
Cheeky ditty on ukulele, live at home...
Video Blog 1
Video Blog 2
Video Blog 3
Theremin Blog
Album launch photos taken by http://www.rogerkellerphotography.com
Studio photographs taken by www.myspace.com/stephdray
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SOME WEE REVIEWS
GLASSWERK.CO.UK, 29 July 2008
[Lips' Decision] "is an album oozing sexuality, in 1950's smoky jazz bar feel. There are some gorgeous bluesy piano moments and soul that would melt even the coldest of hearts..." Leigh Rafferty http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/index.php?db=national&page=reviews,review&id=7054
"Soulful, sophisticated and fun, Lips' Decision mixes the smouldering, late night jazz singing of Billie Holliday with piano-led Joni Mitchell-style confessionals...Barber's music is all about escape...With a little luck the smooth MOR of Lips' Decision may just end up being the soundtrack to your summer." Ian Sinclair
VANGUARD ONLINE - Lips' Decision album review, 30.06.08
"Skinny legs, check; jazzy backings, check; jazzy inflection, check. Could Miranda be coming from the school of Amy Winehouse circa debut album - Frank? Well, just a bit but not too much. The style and sass and swing are there though. The voice is the difference, not a soul-jazz voice like Amy, this is a quirky voice.
The sound is jazzy and runs on piano and strings and a double bass. Organic sounds like cello and viola are added, along with, oh joy, a man impersonating a trumpet. The whole thing is full of catchy tunes and quirky inflections. The tone is a lot like early Ben Kweller in its joie de vivre and it’s nice to catch something leftfield like this and give it a boost.
It’s the joy that wins through, with a bounce and a sexy swing to the backing – simple-ish arrangements and a nice acoustic like you dream it might be in the front room of your local with your favourite singer. The darker, slower pieces are full of atmosphere too and, as Captain Beefheart said – “if you’ve got ears, you got to hear”. Ross McGibbon http://www.vanguard-online.co.uk/0807AMB.htm
"If you like some old school soul and husky vocals sound, with a twist of jazz and live piano then Miranda Barber is well worth listening to. Her tracks are intriguing and chilled out alongside a few surprises. For a listen be sure to stop by her MySpace." http://www.urbanplanet.co.uk/showArticle.aspx?loadid=00957
SEATWAVES BACKSTAGE PASS, ALBUM REVIEW LIPS' DECISION, 30.06.08
"As for the album, it has been eagerly awaited and is everything that I hoped it would be. Having been a keen follower of Miranda for some time, I am glad to say that it is all about Miranda and her music; no gimmicks and no overstated production. Miranda can be serious, jazzy, cheeky, raunchy even; but always classy, as this album illustrates...It was produced by Charlie Winston and recorded at Goldtop Studios in London and is a truly excellent debut album." Peter Coulston http://backstagepass.seatwaveblogs.com/2008/06/album_review_miranda_barber.php
ENTERTAINMENT FOCUS UK, ALBUM REVIEW LIPS' DECISION, 17 June 2008
"Lips' Decision is a 12-track collection of piano-led songs that dip their fingers into jazz, blues and soul. Opening track The Num Num Song is a finger-snapping, uptempo jazz-tinged number that sets the album off on a happy vibe. Elsewhere on the album Bad Man is the kind of jazz number that requires the singer to be draped over the top of a piano is a smoky New York bar whilst My Roof Has Got A Hole In It is a surprisingly fragile and moving ballad.
Barber's refusal to stick to one genre is definitely one of her strengths. Lips' Decision succeeds in being a varied and interesting record. The songs aren't over-produced and their raw magic is intact.
Lips' Decision is money well-spent as far as our ears can tell. We like the fact that the album isn't over-polished. The raw quality and energy of the record shines through and it reminds us of what so many albums these days are missing. Barber is a refreshing new talent and she has proven the public made the right choice with this impressive debut." http://music.entertainment-focus.com/reviewalb355.php
This Australian born, London based singer/songwriter excels at crafting smoky piano lauded balladry with vintage croons. "Blues Day" starts off this 7-song EP (5 songs + 2 worth while bonus tracks) with the eerie presence of old time greats (Ella, Billie, etc...). While it's evident that Barber is a very capable musician, handling the elaborate keyboard work on this EP, she definitely possesses a monstrous talent as an accomplished vocalist. Her strange versatility as a seductive lounge singer meets operatic diva makes for some stunning moments. "Paprika Haze" is the EP's most straight-forward pop arrangement, and very immediate...but Barber is in her natural element when sparse and haunting pianos, guitars, and double bass lurk in the background of her powerful vocals. This is an artist who definitely won't stay on the outskirts of indie-dom forever. A major label talent for sure. www.theblackandwhitemag.com
Thanks for the add Miranda. Your voice is stunning. I missed your gig at la Cigale in Paris ! I hope you plan to come back to France soon. Your videos are back!!! great !
Dedicated to all the women, men, gays, lesbians or heteros, to all who have different politic opinions who are persecuted all over the world by laws, dictature, religions and corrupted states. From north to south, from west to east...
Hi Miranda, thank you for supporting me and my music! I wanted to let you know that my new single, "Live For Today", will be out on the 12th of October! The new album, "Fragile", is due out in November. http://www.tanjamaritsa.co.uk
Hello, it's always a pleasure to contact my friends. First, thanks for your support and if you have time, there are some new videos on my page. Life is beautiful. All the best - Pat.
the widgets of reverbnation, cool tools, with the button share one can spread the word, or hit play and hear the music right away and you can link all your accounts as well as see your stats, I like that and i am not working for them, lol, have a great day, Christos
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