SONiA - guitar, harmonica and piano.
helen hausman - violin
laura cerulli - percussion/vocals
howard markman - guitars
freebo- guest bass
CiNDY FRANK - guest vocalist
dylan visvikis - guest vocalist
Sam Weiser - guest violin
Lulo Reinhardt - guest guitar
maurie mulheron - banjo/mandolin in OZ
tara guiness- cello/violin in OZ
mike- bass in OZ
bruce - drums in OZ
Influences
Phil Ochs, Irving Berlin, Rogers and Hammerstein. Leonard and Elmer Bernstein, Debbie Fried, Shlomo Carlbach, Grateful Dead, Bob Marley,
Gypsy Kings, Eddie Palmieri, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Joni MItchell, Ennio,
Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, Billie Holiday, Simon and Garfunkel, Danny Elfman
Check out our new video "big giant planes/Metzotzim Anaquim" from the album "t a n g o"!!!!!!
disappear records
artist bio
SONiA & disappear fear
The amount of press the little independent folk-pop duo disappear fear generated in their first ten years of existence could fill several volumes of add space in the NYC yellow pages. “Armed with an acoustic guitar and the most exquisite harmonies disappear fear has nothing to fear.” CMJ
In this way nothing has changed, SONiA as a solo acoustic artist or with her whole band has become one of the most prolific troubadours of our time. Writing frank and captivating love songs while confronting the hypocrisies and biases of American Culture with a positive message of openness and optimism.
SONiA and sister CiNDY Rutstein formed disappear fear in their hometown of Baltimore, Maryland in late 1987, the energy and passion in their live performances is undeniable. Mushrooming up as a widely popular college and folk act touring relentlessly across America, they signed their first publishing deal with Carlin Music (Nov 89). After releasing two full length albums on their own label disappear records and developing a strong and loyal national following with national distribution, disappear fear signed with Philo/Rounder Records (94).
disappear fear’s self titled CD produced by Craig Krampf, won the GLAAD Media Award for Best Album, an award previously won by Elton John. It also earned THE BEST OF…Stereo Review Magazine and sold over 20,000 in the first 30 days of its release. It remains to be among the highest in CD sales for Philo Records. DF’s follow-up CD, ‘Seed in the Sahara’ in 1996 produced by Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band Oscar/Grammy winning pianist, Roy Bittan won the GLAMA for Best band and SONiA signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music in Nashville.
CiNDY left the band (95) to master her own creations (two sons) and is raising them with her husband Tom in Seattle, Washington. While SONiA embarked on her new solo career appearing on selected dates of the Lilith Tour along side Sarah McLaughlin, Jewel and long time fans the Indigo Girls. Unfortunately for SONiA as she went solo without the name disappear fear even some of her most devoted fans thought she had disappeared.
SONiA’s first solo album, ‘Almost Chocolate’ earned her Female Artist of the Year at the 1999 GLAMAs winning top place over many incredible women including fellow folkie Ani DiFranco. SONiA has won more GLAMA awards then any other artist. Later that year she chose to leave Rounder and jump started her own label disappear records once again. This CD accelerated her first European Tour including the Gay Games in Amsterdam, Europride in Stockholm and the 50 Year Celebration of Gay Rights in Copenhagen, Denmark. SONiA then began her first full tour in Israel, a place that she considers her spiritual homeland.
The first release on the newly re-formed disappear records label was the very popular, ‘Me, Too’ containing the song of the same title that was chosen to be included in the 40th anniversary CD for the Philadelphia Folk Festival right next to Richie Haven’s song. "Me, Too" was also requested and then donated to the HRC (Human Rights Campaign)CD to benefit that campaign. It was the featured song broadcasted on NPR (National Public Radio) commemorating the anniversary of the Mathew Shepard tragedy.
SONiA kicked off her first Australian tour at the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, and as a result has developed a loyal group of fans where ever she performs there. She continues to be invited to perform at Woodford and looks forward to her time there. Disappear records released what became her first Grammy nominated CD down under on New Year’s Day 2004 titled, “No Bomb is Smart”. While the CD did not win the Grammy it was accepted into the category for Best in Contemporary Folk Music Album.
SONiA began spending more time abroad touring in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Israel, and in 2006 was invited to perform at the World Pride in Jerusalem. The 2nd Lebanon War broke out and gatherings of 5 or more people could only take place in a Miklat, a bomb shelter. So, that is exactly what she did; SONiA ‘s concert was in a bomb shelter. “it was this experience that defined again what is truly important to me…Was the idea of disappear fear going to be some tres cool phrase or was I going to live into the reality of my own words and go into a divided battle ground and even perform in the West Bank? I knew with 150 rockets aiming for us each day that I could easily be killed. I decided that I could face, I could not face the hypocrisy of not going. One of the best decisions I have ever made."
Inspired by her experiences in the Middle East SONiA continues on her quest to bring the world together through the languages of music. She wrote and released ‘t a n g o’ on disappear records in October 2007. It is a rare World CD that is written and recorded in four languages English, Hebrew, Arabic and Spanish and it contains songs mirroring those cultivated sounds. In addition to the soundtrack there is an accompanying 24 page full color booklet with SONiA’s original artwork and with each song translated into all four languages. ‘t a n g o’ also received nominations for several Grammy Awards.
Her tours in Middle East also led to the creation of a non-profit corporation called, Guitars for Peace that donates guitars and other musical instruments to children in war torn countries particularly but not limited to the Middle East. It is an upstart organization that is gaining good momentum. Since February 2006 disappear records has donated 18% of all music downloads to the United Nations World Food Program . SONiA believes that if we feed the World we are one step closer to peace. Her involvement in projects that reach out to bring people together through music led to her joining another project that is dear to her, Fodfest (the Friends of Daniel Pearl National Tour). SONiA performed most of the dates on the 2008 voyage and led to her meeting Sam Weiser, the recipient of the Daniel Pearl Violin. Sam asked SONiA to produce his debut CD. ‘Sam I Am’ which will be released in February 2010 on disappear records. In addition to this CD launch, disappear records will release, SONiA‘s 13th CD in early 2010. This time it is composed of her Blues tunes currently titled, ‘Blood, Bones and Baltimore’.
From stages of Winnipeg in Manitoba, or a house concert in a barn in the middle of Ohio or the camp fires at Kerrville Folk Festival or Camp Louise 20 years and counting you can hear SONiA’s heart keeping beat above the clamour and clang a little clearer each day. SONiA is disappear fear; as she says, "when you disappear fear what you have is Love."
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CLICK HERE to see a slideshow of SONiA at the Willy Street Fair 2008
CHECK OUT SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR NORTH AMERICAN TANGO TOUR!!
Greetings. I just wanted to thank you for your continued support and invite you to have a first listen on myspace to the tracks off the new EP "Monster & Minstrel" due out later this month. Bright stars to you! Ahmond
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Hello from FRANCE …..… Thank you, I’m very proud to be one of your friends. I enjoy your songs, it was a pleasure to listen You can leave me a comment if you want, I would appreciate it !! All the best for you …. Pascal
Hey Sonia hello from scotland. the problem is the 26. February. my tour starts at the 26..and i have to be there at the 22. i am so sorry.... i wish you all the best... big hug..
Hey Sonia i am just back from Australia today. and straid to Scotland tomorrow. how are you? good luck with your blues CD. my Australien tour for next Year, start, in 26. February.
Everything fine there? Many thanks for the friendship! I really appreciated it. I want to let you know there is a new release "Just Believe [Radio Edit]".
To support me listen here: http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=1181169/group=11405
I hope you come back often, because there is more to come...and don't forget spread the word!
Have a nice sunday !
DJ Solano (DJ and Producer Trance Productions) Website: http://www.djsolano.nl E-Mail info@djsolano.nl
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