Album Notes

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, family albums are riddled with photographs of a knee-high Renee Lando, playing along to Johnny Cash records with a toy guitar as big as her slung over her shoulder. And while the legendary Cash provided the inspiration to take on the world of wood and steel, it was the likes of Leo Kottke, Will Ackerman, Alex DiGrassi and Michael Hedges who captured Renee's heart. From the first moment, something deep within has propelled Renee to pursue the world of guitar instrumentals in lush, richly textured alternate tunings.

And while Renee loves to while away the hours on her back porch composing, she is a veteran performer of more than 24 years. Early on, Renee participated as part of the acoustic strings backdrop of the Folk Choir of her hometown church. The choir's breakneck style that rode and often crossed the line into Gospel and Bluegrass gained a quick and notable following that led the group to performances throughout the northeast. Later, Renee provided the instrumental backing for a trio she helped form that coupled the poetic lyrics of the group's vocalists to Renee's rich guitar backing, culminating in jazz inspired folk. The success of the trio on the college scene took the group as far away as Moscow and Moldavia. These days, it is rhythmic yet precise fingerstyle guitar work in anything but standard tuning that has captured her heart.

Renee celebrates her 2nd indie collection with the 2005 release of "Heartstrings,” a 15 -song collection of instrumentals featuring Renee on both 6 and 12-string guitars as well as keys and mandolin. "My compositions can be sad at times and funny at others, but at all times moving."

"Heartstrings" has been received to high acclaim in both folk/blues venues as well as more classically inclined galleries and receptions. "Heartstrings" is receiving frequent airplay on regional television. Renee performs at a variety of venues in and around the New York City area and regularly performs at local open mics to try out new material.