Sonya Maria Cotton, Nick Stargu, Anna Perlmutter, Gabe Dominguez, Sean Jones. In previous (and hopefully coming) incarnations, also: Chris Kiehne, Joe Kille, James Riotto, Rob Shelton, Nick Tardiff.
Influences
Nina Nastasia, Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, Joanna Newsom..... birds in the sky, animals by the roadside, the breeze from the water, the murky canal.
Sounds Like
Wild horses red with smoke.
"Sonya Maria Cotton is a really damn fine singer..." -Pitchfork Media
"Cotton has one of those rare, distinguishable voices you can't possibly forget, and her music should stick with you long after the album is over." -McKeesport Daily News
Having just finished a demo of new songs, Sonya Cotton is currently gearing up to record her third record, with the help of lovely bandmates Anna Perlmutter, Nick Stargu, Gabe Dominguez and Sean Jones. Stay tuned for more on this...
Also in planning stages is a short Utah Tour, from May 10th-23rd, with Gabe Dominguez's band SHAKE YOUR PEACE! The bands will be traveling by bicycle, stopping often to swim in rivers and look at hawks, and playing many shows outside.
Sonya's second record, Out of the Ocean, self-released in December 2006, and recorded and produced by Chris Kiehne is available at www.sonyacotton.com -- there you can also find some of Sonya's artwork, an EP of Halloween songs (free to download) recorded with Chris Kiehne in 2007, as well as her debut record Baltimore Trees for sale, which was completed in the spring of 2005.
Read what one kind lady had to say about Out of the Ocean:
"I expect a lot from my sophomores, and Sonya Cotton gets an A. To her second album of sorrowful folk—the lyrics evoke loss and yearning—she has added piano, percussion, and backing vocals here and there. I wish we could clone her, so everyone can have Sonya doing their harmonies; the end of "The Dying Light" has achingly beautiful ones. Her voice is just lovely, as if Karen Peris, Natalie Merchant and Judy Collins mixed theirs together to create one that wasn't babyish or throaty or reedy. Just lovely." -75orless.com
1! Stay up late making art for hours. 2! Explore, explore, explore. If you are not learning, you are not living. 3! Document your existence through art, poetry, photography, music, anything. Make your mark. 4! Respect and offer constructive criticism. 5! Respect the greatest work of art of all: our world. Gather in parks and forests, and embrace nature and one another. 6! Love all you can. 7! Create. Collaborate. Connect. Communicate.
Hey Sonya, I got the message from Gabe. I'd love to do a song with you all. Maybe we can meet up one of these days for a quick jam and figure something out. Looking forward to the 11th at Hotel Utah : )
Lou Dog Trio at Red Devil Lounge this Saturday night with Little Bitches a tribute to WEEZER. Plus Audiodub's CD release party (our original band) get there at 9 p.m.!
Hey Sonya. Does April 10th (thurday) work for you to play at Hotel Utah and headline? - I have Selena Garcia from L.A. opening, Myself, You, and maybe Shake Your Peace to close the night. Let me know if that works for you. It would be good if each act brought at least 30 people and we'd have a great vibe there. : ) great music
Thanks for the response. Bring some good cold weather gear or at least something fashionably toasty when you come to SLC. If you are near downtown SLC, be sure to visit Slowtrain Records and pick up a limited copy of "Around The Bend". It's a fantastic, mellow compilation of some of SLC's finest. It's only $7.99 and well worth the coin. Introduce yourself if Chris or Anna is there. You'll become instant family. DO NOT LET YOUR BOYFRIEND TAKE YOU TO THE GATEWAY!! Be well.
Dear Sonya, Thank you so much for making one of my favorite albums. Your music IS beauty and your voice is impossibly pure and stirring beyond my ability to describe. While I would have thought this impossible I can tell from what I hear on your player that your next release is going to eclipse your latest. I cannot fathom what makes a person like you tick that such beautiful art should flow in your veins and that you have somehow found a way to convey it so clearly. Maybe miracle or just pure genius -- I don't know but I hope you continue the journey so that others like myself can say they heard such things in their life.
Have a safe and happy holiday and may 2008 bring to you some of what give.
I just wanted to thank you for your music. You have a beautiful pure voice that has the power to take you to a place outside yourself. I had a really crappy week, but your music helped me get through it. Thank you, Lexy
great great job last night. i loved those vocal harmonies.
come on out and play some music if you are free. should be a good time.
upcoming dates (the 2nd thursday of every month):
january 10
february 14
march 13
april 10
all forms of sound-art are encouraged: spoken word, performance art, singer/songwriter, noise music, anything and everything. let me know if you are interested in being the featured performer.
