Holly Leer
Fire In My Bones
© 2007 Holly Leer (700261224596)
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From haunting ballads like "Bitter Harvest," to in-your-face rock anthems like "Tell Me," this singer/songwriter blends influences from Tori Amos, Tracy Bonham and retro rock, with a dash of Alicia Keys, into a potent brew all her own.
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"Holly Leer has an amazing voice and commanding presence that highlight her enormous talent. Perhaps one of the most entertaining singer/songwriters that I have heard in a long time..." JC Online Magazine
From haunting ballads to in-your-face rock anthems, Fire In My Bones, the impressive debut release from Portland, Oregon songwriter Holly Leer, will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions that will have you singing the infectious tunes for days after you’ve heard them.
Drawing comparisons to Tracy Bonham, Alanis Morissette and Tori Amos, Holly’s finely-crafted songs run the gamut from the beautifully introspective “Sister Moon” to the angst-ridden “Fire In My Bones” and touch on just about everything in between — love, anger, regret, and hope.
And her voice refuses to be ignored. Able to be soothing and soft one moment, and loud and raucous the next, her vocal control and ability allow her to deliver dynamic and emotional performances that will keep you coming back again and again.
A few points of interest about the album:
• In the final choruses of “Bitter Harvest,” Holly quotes musical themes from the “Dies Irae” movement of W A Mozart’s Requiem.
• The solo section of “Sister Moon” features Holly playing a Native American flute over a synth-like choir, which is actually dozens of layers of Holly’s voice.
• The song “Fire In My Bones” has recently been on the playlist at WMHB in Waterville, ME (www.wmhb.org), WWUH in Hartford, CT (www.wwuh.org), and is also included as track 16 on the Oasis Rock & Roots Radio Sampler, Volume VII #8
• The album Fire In My Bones is available for purchase at CDBaby.com, as well as several digital download sites including iTunes and Napster.
On the album....
Holly Leer: Vocals, backing vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, native flute, cello
Jeff Gray: Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Leah Hinchcliff: Bass
Rob Schnell: Drums, percussion
Additional Guitar, synth, percussion and arrangements by Bob Stark.
Produced by Bob Stark and Holly Leer
Recorded and mixed by Bob Stark at Kung Fu Bakery Recording Studios, Portland OR
Mastered by Ryan Foster at Freq. Mastering, Portland OR
AN INTERVIEW WITH HOLLY.......
(Questions from taxi.com)
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Everywhere and nowhere would be a good answer to that question. I spent my earliest years in North Dakota, and Colorado, and the majority of my school years in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe was a wonderful place to spend my most formative years, and would be the closest thing to my hometown.
Q: What made you realize that music was your path?
A: I was musically inclined from an early age. My dad was a Lutheran pastor, and I can remember as a small child, sitting in the pew and singing harmony to all of the church hymns. I started playing piano when I was 6, flute at about 10, cello at 12, and sax around 17. I took a year off between high school and college, and that is when I decided that I couldn’t deny the pull that music had on me. When I started my college studies, I discovered I could sing, which was shocking to me and my friends and family because I had always been an instrumentalist. So I ended up as a vocal performance major, singing and performing classical music. Then, before my junior year of college, a friend and I spent a summer at Berklee College in Boston, where I sang in 5 different bands, and got my first experience in a recording studio. After that, I was forever hooked on performing contemporary music. I did complete my college studies in classical music and graduated with a BA in Music with a minor in German, but I have never performed professionally in the classical music world.
Q: How would you describe the music that you typically create?
A: Ah….that’s the hardest question for an artist to answer! My music spans many categories. On one end, you have lovely, haunting, beautiful ballads that bring a tear to your eye, and on the other, hard-rocking, sometimes pissed-off anthems that get stuck in your head. And then there is the middle-ground of seething and smoldering not-quite ballads and the more bubbling and hopeful make-the-world-a-better-place tunes. Welcome to my world!
Q: Who are your biggest musical influences?
A: Many people tell me I sound like Tori Amos, which is a huge compliment, but somewhat off the mark. Her music definitely is one of many influences including Tracy Bonham, Beth Hart, Alicia Keys, and Alanis Morissette. And I grew up listening to groups like Van Halen, Journey, Foreigner, Styx, ELO, Heart, and The Police. And later on, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, STP, Nirvana, among many, many others, so all of that is in there too.
Q: What makes your music unique?
A: I think that anyone who writes music has their own uniqueness spurred from their own life experiences. Growing up a pastor’s daughter gives me an insight into human nature that I don’t think everyone has, and that perspective definitely comes through in my songwriting. As far as the actual music goes, I think I am able to blend unconventional and mainstream elements together resulting in a mix that appeals to a wide audience.
Q: Has there been one particular moment in your musical career that you're most proud of?
A: To date, the thing I’m most proud of musically is recording and releasing my album independently.
Q: What's next for you?
A: I am currently promoting my album, as well as actively seeking TV and/or film placement for my music. And of course, I am continuing to write songs, so the next album is already on the horizon.