Local Singer On the Verge of bigger success

For singer - actress Althea Cunningham, graduating from University a decade a go only marked the start of another set of career and life lessons. "You get out into the real world and there are all these things you weren't taught in school,"So for a few years I felt as if my career was on the verge of exploding, of reaching the sort of international level that I would like to be at. " Hence the title of Cunningham's new, EP On the Verge. She calls the set of five original love songs "urban soul"and that tag fits well enough even as they reflect her wider experience in jazz, R&b, and musical theatre. The relatively spare backing of guitar,bass, a bit of piano and percussion only serves to highlight her deep, powerful vocals. Here's hoping the new disc and her tour of Western Canada- kicking off tonight at Jeffrey's- will be avenue to greater opportunities for this serious vocal contender. Edmonton native Cunningham is the daughter of Jamacian- Canadian parents who encouraged her musicial interest early on. Following her eclectic listening and her experience in choirs, she hit the theatre program at Grant MacEwan and along the way started focusing on singing jazz. Since finishing school she has balanced her career with work in musical theatre and film on the one hand and singing varied styles in clubs on the other. A two year stint in Vancouver from 2007 to '09 earned her valuable experience in several major films and the television series The L Word. "They were only small parts as an extra, but you can learn alot spending eight hours a day of on a film set." Most songs for On the Verge we written in the past few years and stage tested before Cunningham returned to Edmonton to start recording. Once she got into the studio on April Kevin Marsh put in minimal guitar and bass parts and Charlie Austin played piano on a couple of tracks. Cunningham added her own backing vocals and hand percussion. The singer doubled as a voice teacher for several years, but hopes to find more touring opportunities as her music gets out. On the Verge is available through CDBbaby. For more information, see altheacunningham.weebly.com
Her CD release tonight at Jeffrey's Cafe (9640 - 142 street) will focus on material from On the Verge, more originals than covers with a backing trio. The show starts at 8 pm with a $10 cover reservations at 780 451- 8890. 

Roger Levesque - The Edmonton Journal 
Published September 24, 2010

Music Notes Feature 

"The most interesting moment would have been coming together with close friend Kevin Marsh on the CD, recalls Althea Cunningham, a local musican who is set to release her debut EP, On the Verge. We had been working on separate parts before going into the studio. We did some stuff together, just coming in and getting ready to record, when we had realized that the stuff that we had worked on separately had matched up. We didnt actually have to change much. Cunningham says that co- producing with her long time friend , whom she used to perform jazz music with, was a great experience. She adds that it helped give the EP a different feel because there was a communication of stories about the characters, which were based on her life as well of the lives of those around her. She also says that if something wasn't working the two of them could be up front with one another. However, Cunningham notes that working with a friend,where both friendship and a working relationship are present, is different from working with someone she hardly knows. She says that the artist and producer have to be on the same page and be able to arrive at the same outcome when the process ends. "Music is one of those things that transcends all boundaries. I think working with someone that I hadn't known would have been more work in terms of communication because we all have different styles. When you're creating a relationship with people, you have to learn how to each other communicates so that you can communicate effectively. Working with a friend was a like we were in the same mind set. Yardbird Suite May 18, 2010. 

Heather Skinner - Vue Weekly 




  
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Local Singer On the Verge of bigger success

For singer - actress Althea Cunningham, graduating from University a decade a go only marked the start of another set of career and life lessons. "You get out into the real world and there are all these things you weren't taught in school,"So for a few years I felt as if my career was on the verge of exploding, of reaching the sort of international level that I would like to be at. " Hence the title of Cunningham's new, EP On the Verge. She calls the set of five original love songs "urban soul"and that tag fits well enough even as they reflect her wider experience in jazz, R&b, and musical theatre. The relatively spare backing of guitar,bass, a bit of piano and percussion only serves to highlight her deep, powerful vocals. Here's hoping the new disc and her tour of Western Canada- kicking off tonight at Jeffrey's- will be avenue to greater opportunities for this serious vocal contender. Edmonton native Cunningham is the daughter of Jamacian- Canadian parents who encouraged her musicial interest early on. Following her eclectic listening and her experience in choirs, she hit the theatre program at Grant MacEwan and along the way started focusing on singing jazz. Since finishing school she has balanced her career with work in musical theatre and film on the one hand and singing varied styles in clubs on the other. A two year stint in Vancouver from 2007 to '09 earned her valuable experience in several major films and the television series The L Word. "They were only small parts as an extra, but you can learn alot spending eight hours a day of on a film set." Most songs for On the Verge we written in the past few years and stage tested before Cunningham returned to Edmonton to start recording. Once she got into the studio on April Kevin Marsh put in minimal guitar and bass parts and Charlie Austin played piano on a couple of tracks. Cunningham added her own backing vocals and hand percussion. The singer doubled as a voice teacher for several years, but hopes to find more touring opportunities as her music gets out. On the Verge is available through CDBbaby. For more information, see altheacunningham.weebly.com
Her CD release tonight at Jeffrey's Cafe (9640 - 142 street) will focus on material from On the Verge, more originals than covers with a backing trio. The show starts at 8 pm with a $10 cover reservations at 780 451- 8890. 

Roger Levesque - The Edmonton Journal 
Published September 24, 2010

Music Notes Feature 

"The most interesting moment would have been coming together with close friend Kevin Marsh on the CD, recalls Althea Cunningham, a local musican who is set to release her debut EP, On the Verge. We had been working on separate parts before going into the studio. We did some stuff together, just coming in and getting ready to record, when we had realized that the stuff that we had worked on separately had matched up. We didnt actually have to change much. Cunningham says that co- producing with her long time friend , whom she used to perform jazz music with, was a great experience. She adds that it helped give the EP a different feel because there was a communication of stories about the characters, which were based on her life as well of the lives of those around her. She also says that if something wasn't working the two of them could be up front with one another. However, Cunningham notes that working with a friend,where both friendship and a working relationship are present, is different from working with someone she hardly knows. She says that the artist and producer have to be on the same page and be able to arrive at the same outcome when the process ends. "Music is one of those things that transcends all boundaries. I think working with someone that I hadn't known would have been more work in terms of communication because we all have different styles. When you're creating a relationship with people, you have to learn how to each other communicates so that you can communicate effectively. Working with a friend was a like we were in the same mind set. Yardbird Suite May 18, 2010. 

Heather Skinner - Vue Weekly 




  
11:39 AMComments (0)
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