Canadian Singer-Songwriter Dahlia Wakefield creates heart-felt lyrics, memorable melodies and pours her soul into vocal performances that immediately captivates listeners. Her new album "Down This Road" represents just over a year and a half of dedicated effort and follows her well-received debut CD, "Close to Home", both released on her independent record label, Squirrelly Girl Music. With a strong, unique voice capable of interesting complexity, Dahlia spans easily from angelic and sensitive, to smooth and sensual, to raunchy and gutsy. Her musical direction explores popular avenues combining contemporary rock, pop, blues and a hint of what might be considered modern country. If one must compare styles, the likes of Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, and even Shania Twain come to mind. And then, of course, there are her influences of Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt, Amanda Marshall, Jann Arden and so on. Dahlia’s rich voice and contemporary-with-roots style allows her music to fit comfortably into almost any play-list or program.
Like many artists from humble beginnings, Dahlia was raised in a small rural town but left when rock 'n' roll and bright lights of the big city beckoned. As a graduate of Edmonton, Alberta’s highly regarded Grant MacEwan College Music Program, Dahlia earned an award of Distinction as a Vocal Performance Major, was the recipient of the EZ Rock 104.9 Vocal Entrance Scholarship, along with the Barbershop Harmony Society Award, and was also featured on the school's recording "Music From Within". During the following years, Dahlia’s original songs have earned well-deserved high ranking as a finalist in many top international songwriting competitions, including the 2003 International Songwriting Contest and both the 2003 & 2001 Windrift Music Songwriting Contest, resulting in a spot on a compilation CD called "Faces in the Crowd”. More recently, two songs off her debut album “Close to Home” appear on the 2005 Cyclone Records release “Heart of Alberta”. In total, her music has landed on four compilation albums thus far.
Dahlia has performed on stage since the tender age of five, and throughout the years, has given her time and talent to perform as a solo act, a duo act and alongside different bands at various telethons, showcases, and festivals such as the Saskatoon Folk Festival, Lloydminster's annual Mardis Gras, the CKUA FM Radio Benefit, the Tri-City Fringe Festival and the annual Guitar Extravaganza in Edmonton.
In addition to live shows focusing on her original material, Dahlia also keeps her vocal chops highly tuned by performing with cover bands such as The X-Factor and Brass Bedpost, which has only strengthened her ability to feel naturally comfortable on stage. Songs from the hot-off-the-press release "Down This Road" have caught the attention of local radio (as well as in Europe and Australia) and Dahlia, as always, is keeping busy with more songwriting, performances and promotions.
With albums "Close to Home" and "Down This Road" released, Dahlia Wakefield is a rising star set to shine bright and long.
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