On the new CD: Phil on Piano, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, and Background Vocals, Producer Steve Wallace, Engineer D. Wallace, Drummer Mike Snyder, Bassist Jon Evans, Guitarists Garrett Fonda and Erik Hansen, Background Vocalists Sarah Price and Robin Tokuno.
Influences
Ben Folds, David Gray, Rufus Wainwright, Tori Amos, David Wilcox, Coldplay, Jason Robert Brown, Nichole Nordeman, Fernando Ortega, Sara Groves, to name a few.
Sounds Like
David Gray, Ben Folds, Elton John, Billy Joel, Sarah McLachlan, Coldplay, Tori Amos, Fernando Ortega, and any number of other piano-based singer/songwriters who make the world sound better.
Grow. That’s the goal. That’s the momentum behind the life and music of Singer/Songwriter Phil Putnam. Grow. Learn. Listen more. Make more music, meet more people. Grow.
This passion for growth has defined Phil Putnam since day one, and has driven him to become one of the most seasoned and vital voices in music today. With stunning lyrical depth and a piano-based pop/rock sound, Putnam has earned a place alongside greats like David Gray, Rufus Wainwright, Tori Amos, David Wilcox, and Ben Folds. His commitment to excellent songwriting and an ever-evolving sound have produced 6 records over the past 8 years and established him as a Artist with feet grounded in the present and eyes on a very bright future.
It’s safe to say, though, that this is not the life he thought he would lead. Born into a decidedly non-musical family in Sacramento, CA, he grew up surrounded by his father’s basketball career and his sibling’s youth sports teams. As the fat, girly kid in an athlete’s world, he rode the bench and read his books while his brain got bigger and his pride shrunk smaller. With the onset of Tourette’s Syndrome at age 9 and no solid music experience until high school, he was the clear long shot for a career in music. His ambition, however, having all the subtlety of a teenager on prom night, never let up. He studied singing through high school and discovered a shockingly strong talent in piano when he taught himself to play in college. It wasn’t long before he combined his fresh musical skills with a lifelong love of writing and was introduced to his future.
The future had a lot in store: his debut album “Healer” in 2001, “Long Story Short” in 2002, “All the Courage Required” in 2004, “Best of Intentions” in 2006, and “{What Became of the} Choir Boy” and “Casualties” both released in 2008. These 6 records have the same heart, the same core of Phil with the pen, Phil at the piano, Phil on the microphone. Everything else, though…it grew. “All the Courage Required” struck the balance between the very raw sound of “Healer” and the radio-ready pop of “Long Story Short”, “Best of Intentions” explored programming and ambience with a new level of sophistication, and “Choir Boy” took it back to the basics of piano and vocals before shocking everyone’s system with “Casualties”.
His largest project to date, “Casualties” is Phil at his absolute best. Featuring sixteen songs crafted over 3 years from the best and worst moments of life, “Casualties” is about growing up and getting on. Handing over the reins for the first time in his career to Producer/Arranger Steve Wallace, the two struck a perfect partnership and blew open new ground in the sound, look, and feel of what defines Phil’s music. Under Wallace’s impeccable creative vision “Casualties” introduces new influences and instruments to Putnam’s trademark piano-rock sound, diving deep into programming and electronic music against unflinchingly evocative string quartets, woodwinds and horns. The resulting depth of communication and new sound displays dynamic growth in Putnam’s work and boldly opens the most exciting chapter in his career.
With so much already accomplished and so much to celebrate, it may be tempting to think that he is nearing the end of his run. However, if anything is true of Phil Putnam, it is this: there is always more. There is no stopping his insatiable need to live life well and make exceptional music. He will always change. He will always sing. He will discover what he needs to write about, who he can write for, and he will never stop.
There is always more, because he will always grow.
Jessica Kirson and many of NYC's funniest comics come together to raise money for God's Love We Deliver, The Center and MCCNY homeless youth shelter this Wed. June 24th 9 PM at Laugh Lounge! 151 Essex St.
Just wanted to let you know that round 1 of the this year's People's Music Awards kicked off on Friday 12th of June. And we are putting the call out to all NEW AND UNSIGNED BANDS to enter their best song into this years awards.
So if you want to hear some of the best new-music in the world and have your say in who is crowned the people's choice, then check out our myspace page, or go straight to the website: thepeoplesmusicawards.com
Come and drink, and mingle, and support your fellow GLBT brothers and sisters... and hear some great music at the OUTmusic "Out Loud" Open Mic on May 4th. Signup at 7:30 at The Center 208 West 13th Street NYC
As a member of the Association of Music Podcasting (http://musicpodcasting.org) I get to choose a standout song from my program and have it played on the association's weekly best-of program called AMPed New Music Weekly. "Sophisticated Life" is featured this week. Check it out at http://amped.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=456395
So great tunes you have out of New York there. I am betting your area has just a little more happening than here in Idaho. We are getting snowed on today, makes me crazy. Someday I may just have to run away from this little town. Any ideas, where should a girl go that wants to live life as if she is on vacation every day? Anyway thanks so so much for the friendship. When you have a minute please listen to my music and let me know which ones are your favorites. Hugs Erika
It was my pleasure to play "Sophisticated Life" on my weekly, 30-minute podcast featuring mainstream, independent music. The direct link to the show is: http://indiemusicsampler.com/2009/03/20/ims-125/
In a few days, the song will also be added to the music stream which plays out some of the best in independent music commercial-free 24x7.
