Featuring a rotating cast of talented co-conspirators:
Misty Boyce - Piano, Backing Vocals
Jamie Alegre - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
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Debbie Miller - Piano, Backing Vocals
Jeremiah Birnbaum - Lead Guitar, Slide
Jorge Pertuz - Drums
Paul Ogunsalu - Bass
Influences
Leslie Feist, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Tori Amos, Ani Difranco, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Aimee Mann, Frente, The Decemberists, Radiohead, Lisa Loeb, Damien Rice, Bjork, Modest Mouse, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Buckley, Jamie Lidell, David Bowie, Laura Veirs, M. Ward, Pat Benatar, Heart, Sparklehorse, Iron + Wine, The Beatles, and due to a copious amount of listening to the Beach Boys and Peter, Paul and Mary as a child, probably them, too.
"The word "passivity" pops up in Zell's track "The Dig" and it just doesn't sound right coming out of her mouth. That's because there is no passivity in this young singer-songwriter's power folk that channels Tori and Ani in equal measure, with a ripping rock core."
Download.com Editor - www.download.com
For 22-year-old Shanna Zell, sex, drugs and rock and roll is old news. She has been singing about the gritty details of love, the truths of sex and teaching veterans about rock since she first picked up a guitar at 16. With her dark, intelligent lyrics and sexually charged, emotional performances, Shanna transcends any notion of chick rock and opens up a new genre; she's a contemporary kind of drug.
After only one year in New York City, Shanna has entertained large crowds at notable venues including The Knitting Factory, Southpaw, Rockwood Music Hall, Mo Pitkin's and Makor. The release of her first full-length album, Hurricane Season, is already receiving rave reviews. The album was featured in the CD Spotlight on L.A.s 104.7 FM iRADIO LA, on Cincinnati's 88.3 WAIF FM and her song The Flatlands is included on the soundtrack of the feature film, "Dykeotomies." Shanna has recently been selected as an Editor's Pick on www.download.com and as of April 2006, by popular vote, Shanna has been selected as a GEM on Radio Crystal Blue (www.radiocrystalblue.com/gems) where she receives featured airplay and ongoing promotion for her hot new album.
Hurricane Season features an all-star cast of players including Matt Walker (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt), Bill Ruppert (Beach Boys, Tony Bennett) and Alan Berliant (Rachel Yamagata, Mavis Staples). Producer Jon Seiller has worked with artists including Kaiser Chiefs, Lisa Loeb and Shawn Colvin. From the flamenco-style trumpet solo in the violently active The Flatlands, reminiscent of Loves Forever Changes, to the echoing, somnolent piano of Kitchen Light, Hurricane Season is a tumultuous experience that reels you in and spins you around, but sets you down gently.
Within a moment of song, Shanna captures the actual experience. She combines the deepness of wants with imagination and with a magical twist, can explode the briefest second into all of its parts. Whether singing of Hells Kitchens street walkers, sitting under a dimming light in Scotland, or loving people goodbye, her visual lyricism, strong and sensitive alto voice, and vulnerability while still standing in the wake of honest realizations, lead to Shannas proud heritage in the canon of female rockers such as Pat Benatar and Lucinda Williams.
Check out this great new download site featuring Shanna's music!
Hey Shanna. OF COURSE we have some of the same friends, that seems to be the way it goes...still working on getting my cd finished, it may be a while. :(
The Flatlands, what a great vibe, what great execution, lyrics that cut to the core. If you are reading this comment you know what I'm talking about. If you have lovers of great songwriting who have not experienced this yet, what are you waiting for?
Hi Shanna, thanks. wow! what a stark departure from Flatlands to Spilt Milk. love them both, especially spilt milk. it's like your whispering into the listener's ear... my best to ya...pete
hey shanna :) que pasa? good to hear your stuff on here! sounding lovely. so... weirdest thing! i saw chris huff had posted on your page and i passed him an email. turns out we were in this theatre production way back when i was teeny tiny. i was gretl and he was fredrick in the sound of music. guess he went to wesleyan (where i went) as well. anyway, the w
