Modern protest singer Linq takes a left-hand turn into the up-close-and-personal with the release of her fifth full-length CD, Caught in the Act Acoustic. The eleven song disc of original tunes showcases her trademark straight-ahead political statements featuring only her warm alto, a clear expressive guitar and light percussion. Every song is a satisfying story, from the tale of a man who only lived to make money (“Money Today”) to a passionate plea for peace (“Will You Care”). Some songs appeared on her earlier albums with a band; Acoustic strips away the production, boiling it down to the essential elements of melody and lyrics. The project was recorded live at the Institute for the Musical Arts (IMA) in Goshen, MA, with Lee Madeloni providing the groove on about half of the tracks.
The poignant “Oh Bully” is loosely based on the true story of an eleven year old boy who killed himself after constant taunts of “fag” and “queer.” “Where Will the Wild Ones Go” asks an important question involving the life of our planet. “Disconnect” paints a vivid portrait of all the people who don’t notice the beautiful world around them because they’re too busy on their cell phones or preoccupied with TV. In “Don’t You Understand,” a song about GLBT rights, she asks, “What part of ‘justice for all’ don’t you understand?”
She’s a former pharmacist who saw Led Zeppelin on their first US tour and loves Joan Baez, but don’t expect some wide-eyed hippie in tie-dye cooing about love and daisies. She sings about issues important to all of us, from the evils of the health care industry to protecting our mother earth. Linq performs around New England and at selected gigs outside the region including showcases at the 2009 Indiegrrl Conference and at BB King’s Blues Club, both in Nashville. She’s been the featured artist on several sites including Indiegrrl, Gay Guitarists Worldwide, GoGirls and more.
She is the winner of the 2011 Outmusic award for OUTstanding OUTmusician. Other awards include an Honorable Mention for “Tired” from the International Narrative Song Competition; “Victim of the War” placed in the top 50 in the American Idol Underground, and her CD Fast Moving Dream was in the top 40 on the Outvoice charts for an entire year. "Change the Picture" was nominated for a 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Award (from 560,000 submissions). Linq was also one of the five nominees for the 2009 OUTMusician of the Year. She was named Musical Artist of 2009 in the Pride in the Arts Awards. David Byrne of The Windy City Times (Chicago, IL) called “Life Goes On” the 2009 Song of the Year. Linq was also one of the eighteen finalists in the Songwriter Showdown held during the2011 We R Indie & Indiegrrl International Music Conference in Knoxville, TN.
Linq believes that music is the most effective tool we have to bring people together, to celebrate each other and to break down barriers. And if it takes a former pharmacist to do that, all the better. It’s a medicine we can all use.
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