Album Notes

"...takes the listener on a sonic, cerebral ride that clearly displays Amy Jo's penchant for arrangements, songwriting and lyrics. Add in that she's gorgeous, and you wonder how she was never asked to a high school dance. Well she gets her revenge on 'Dancing With Oscar.'"

-Harder Beat Magazine

"Darker...dramatic...on the deep end of the keyboards."
-Buddy Magazine



Singer/songwriter Amy Jo Hylkema makes her solo debut with her new album, "Dancing With Oscar." Amy Jo came out of the womb singing, dancing, making funny faces, anything to get attention. And she's getting it- but now from the Dallas music scene. Her poppy blues tunes and delicate fingertip dances on the piano have won over even the most cynical of rock venues.
Of course, not all this can be done alone. Providing the driving rhythm behind the drums is Brad McMurtry and moving on the low end is the bass player's bassist, Eric Schepis. Top it off with some tickling of the ivory keys, and they have a tight trio ready to make the room move from hushed confession to playful jazz.

Amy Jo was first lured to the piano at age five, composing original songs from the very start. In her college dorm she found an audience forming around her as she played. Ok, drop the Political Science aspiration- she knew she had to do music full time. She first dipped her toes into the Dallas music scene by fronting the industrial rock band, Crush 66, and later the acoustic ensemble, One Big Dream. One Big Dream featured Amy Jo's original piano/vocal compositions, which gained praise from all over the DFW music circuit. Time to branch out alone. Hence, "Dancing With Oscar."

Amy Jo will pull you in and have you for her own. Inspired by the energy of front men like Bono, Ed Kowalczyk, and Eddie Vedder, she delivers intense performances and hooks that glue themselves inside your ears.