She shares her name with the Austrian home of Mozart and Beethoven. And she herself studied classical piano from the age of five. But there's nothing old-world about the music of Vienna Teng, whose Zoë/Rounder Records debut brings to mind artists as diverse as Tori Amos, Simon & Garfunkel and Radiohead. "People used to ask what kind of music I played and I never knew how to answer that," says Teng. "I work a lot with classically trained musicians, but most of my influences are from 1970s-era folk music. So now I call it chamber folk." She adds: "I'm always looking for the perfect pop song combined with an unexpected amount of depth; that's my idea of great music."
Alex Wong (http://myspace.com/highceilingsmusic) is a Brooklyn based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who likes to keep himself very busy.
In 2008, he co-produced and arranged Vienna Teng’s latest album, Inland Territory, and co-wrote a song with her. In addition to touring/recording with Vienna, he is a lead singer/guitarist for The Paper Raincoat (myspace.com/thepaperraincoat), a collaboration with acclaimed Brooklyn singer/songwriter Amber Rubarth. The duo was picked as a featured artist on iTune’s Indie Spotlight in 2008. Their full-length record will be available in September 2009. He is also the drummer for the NYC modern rock band Deadbeat Darling (www.deadbeatdarlingmusic.com). He co-produced their upcoming full length album, “Weight of Wandering” (due out June 2009).
Ward Williams (Cello, Electric Guitar)
North Carolina native, Ward Williams, graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts with a Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance. From 1994-2005, he was a member of international touring rock band, Jump, Little Children. Ward was also the lead guitarist/emcee for Charleston's infamous "Metal Monday" from 2004-2006. In May 2006, he released his self-titled solo CD, which was co-produced with Ash Hopkins, and toured the Southeast extensively as a solo artist. After relocating to New York City in the Fall of 2006, Ward has performed onstage with Brendan James, Chris Mann, Avi Fox-Rosen, Alicia Witt, and Danny Ross. He has also performed his original music both solo and with his musical partner, singer-songwriter Christina Cone, whom he also accompanies ..o, guitar and vocals. He can be seen regularly in the NYC area with Christina when he's not touring with the amazing Vienna Teng.
Influences
My parents' record collection: Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Mozart and Beethoven, 60s Mandarin pop. That's what I started with and it'll never leave me. Later on, pianist-songwriters: Elton John, Billy Joel, Tori Amos. These days I'm influenced by whoever intimidates me. I hear them, I'm astounded by them, I think daily about quitting music because I'll never be able to do it as well as they do. Then I try to steal from them without imitating. A tricky thing.
If you take photos at a show, send them our way so we can see 'em too!
Please send your concert pics to fanpics at viennateng dot com. You can send a link to the pics, and/or send the pics directly. Thanks!
Since MySpace has increased their available number of pictures, there's enough room for a fan gallery! Get a pic taken with Vienna or a Vienna-related object (VT merchchandise like a CD or a shirt, a location in a song, or some other related thing). Send a message with the URL of your pic, or e-mail it directly to fanpics at viennateng dot com. Include your name(s), and location/date of the pic if you'd like to include it in the caption. You'll find the pics in the Vienna Teng Fans album.
The official music video for Gravity, produced by Fat Monster Films, is now available to watch.
Director: Tim Hyten
Producer: Mark Johnson
Director of Photography: Steven Dempsey
Production Assistant: Scott Bullis
Actor: Norm Sanders
Piano Technician/Host: Dean Petrich
I once said to a zoo keeper "Never put your monkey where your mouth is" He practically threw a fit I covered my laugh and stayed hidden
When I was a kid I never really fit in But got comfortable standing outside of inner circles That were motioning me in
But I liked the taste of "Ah Ah Honey" To much to sell out my monkey jokes Getting excitement from writing in ways others don't comprehend I've pledged "Boo love" to my pen So when I say
"Never hire a lawyer who has no regrets about their turrets" Maybe you'll understand Having fun creating is not my plan It's my "Way King Life"
I’ve been a music journalist for more than 10 years. Over the years, many artists and managers have asked me what the best way to break into the European music market is.
Here are some things you can do:
Publish artist press releases, news, and tour dates to the CountryHome Forum on MySpace, http://groups.myspace.com/CountryHomeMagazine , CountryHome Forum is part of CountryHome, http://www.CountryHome.de , Germany's Premier Country Music Online Magazine. Everything you publish to the CountryHome Forum will be published in my weekly Newsletter which has over 80,000 readers.
Send me CDs and DVDs for review and set up an artist interview with me. All reviews and interviews will be submitted to the magazines I'm writing for. More information for which magazines I'm writing can be found at http://www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Upload artist videos to http://www.MyVideo.de and http://www.ClipFish.de . Both websites are like http://www.YouTube.com and uploading videos is free. The websites are completely in German. If you don’t speak German and need assistance, I will help you open an account and upload a video for 25 Euro. Each additional video upload for the same artist name and at the same video website is 10 Euro.
If you have more questions about the European music market or about any of the information I send to you today, please contact me at Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de too.
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
hey, please go have a listen to my song "Stupid For You" and let me know what you think. Also, follow me on twitter if you'd like. twitter.com/vanessamartinas
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP & SUPPORT, ITS MUCH APPREICATED.
WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, STOP BY MY SITE AND GIVE A LISTEN TO MY NEW CD ( BACK TO MY ROOTS ) THE RAIN & ROCKBOTTOM ARE DEDICATED TO VICTIMS OF THE FLOODS & FAILING ECONOMY
LEAVE A COMMENT OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU HEARD.
Online Now!
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, HAVE A GOOD WEEK
