Album Notes

Maria began performing live while in high school on Buffalo's West Side. She took part in most school musicals and during her senior year she began performing at the former Club Utica -- a renowned country club. She later joined various rock cover bands to polish her presence and develop her guitar playing. She performed solo in her hometown while writing and recording with 1996-born original band (later named In From the Cold) based in Buffalo and Los Angeles. The group featured world-class Drummer (and Buffalo native) Gary Mallaber (Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison, etc.) and ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper Guitarist Jack Sherman. Though logistical issues stalled the band's live schedule, their unique Pop/Rock songs are currently being pitched for television and film (clients to date include Discovery Channel and Hoggard Films). Clips can be heard on the tv/filim page at her web site.

Maria independently released three solo CD's since In From the Cold, and her latest, Songs I Wrote in the Car, has taken a mostly acoustic turn. "Though I have always loved Garage Rock, and Sugary Pop variations, like Joke, Rollover and Madly shot for on Maybe It's Just Me, I have decided to step off the Indie Rock train for this batch of songs, to return to the music I started writing years before. I listen closely to my favorite Singer/Songwriters (Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Freedy Johnston, and Gurf Morlix) and I am writing more naturally under their influence."

In 2004, Maria earned her M.A. in English / Media Studies from the University at Buffalo. She is the mother of a teenager and a preschooler and she teaches English at various WNY colleges, where she also hosts songwriting workshops. While she performs live regularly either solo or with her cover band, Buffalo Rising, her current agenda is to place her songs with other artists and in TV/Film. In 2007, a feature film will be using 'Easier,' produced by Buffalo's favorite mult-instrumentalist, Nelson Starr. Nelson recently finished producing another track of Maria's called Now, which is likely to become a listener favorite. Details to come.


Visit mariasebastian.com for more.

Buffalo Music Awards
1993 - Accent - Top New Rock Band
1994 - Accent - Top Rock Band
1995 - Maria - Top Rock Female Vocalist
1996 - Maria - Top Rock Female Vocalist
1996 - Sudden Urge - Top Rock Band
1997 - Sudden Urge - Top Rock Band
2003 - Maria - Top Solo Artist
2004 - Top Rock Female Vocalist
2008 - Top Original Solo/ Acoustic

People's Choice Award:
2004 - Top Solo Artist