Album Notes

Singer-songwriter Eileen Hazel is a passionate yet whimsical musical talent. Hailing from the cold reaches of Minnesota, she has brought her singular brand of acoustic music to the Bay Area. She versifies a range of songs that span the gamut - from self-reflective ballads to quirky examinations of the trials & tribulations of 21st century romance.

With an exquisite songwriting sensibility, Eileen writes thoughtful, sophisticated songs about love, laughter, pain, heartache, and the contradictions of our emotional minds. With solid vocals and acoustic guitar, she has been entertaining Bay Area and Midwestern audiences with her compositions for several years.

Starting out as a bass player with Minneapolis bands Easter Island and The Skivvies, Eileen moved into the world of contemporary folk and acoustic guitar around the time she moved to Berkeley. After a 3-year stint as half of the duo Eileen & Anna, Eileen began performing as a solo performer in the year 2000. She recorded her debut CD, My Interesting Condition, in 2001.

In the process of recording My Interesting Condition, Eileen pulled together a wide array of talented musicians to create a unique tapestry of songs. Produced by Lisa Zeiler (of Rebecca Riots), My Interesting Condition features cellist Jami Sieber, vocalists Green, Root, Andrea Prichett (of Rebecca Riots) & Avram Siegel (of True Blue and Kathy Kallick Band), drummer Paulo Baldi (of the Ali Khan Band), guitarist Rick Auerbach, bassist Charles Gasper, violinist Daryl S (of Naked to the World), pedal steel player Jeff Baldwin (of Harmony Grits), and Ian Willson on clarinet.

Eileen is a founding member of the Berkeley-based independent record label FolkDiva Records, with fellow musicians Green, Helen Chaya, and Root. FolkDiva, in addition to releasing CDs by the founding artists, has also produced successful fundraisers for organizations such as The California Coalition of Women Prisoners and Circle of Love. Eileen has been instrumental in organizing these benefits as well as performing at them.

A woman of many talents, Eileen plays instruments as diverse as flute, recorder, Appalachian dulcimer, electric bass, and of course acoustic guitar. For several years she was also a stilt performer with the Bay Area troupe Women Walking Tall.

"This collection of original and flavorful tunes offers a range of sonic environments to rest and reflect in. Eileen Hazel is a unique and engaging new voice on the folk music landscape."
-Andrea Lewis, co-host of KPFA's Morning Show

"Not your run of the mill folk. Her songwriting is excellent and her singing will stop you in your tracks. Definitely worth checking out"
-Lisa Zeiler of Rebecca Riots

"Humorous music with a heart"
-Irina Rivkin, Rose Street producer