Album Notes

Three years after a well-received solo debut, New York-based indie singer/songwriter Alan Semerdjian comes back with "The Big Beauty," fourteen songs exploring the complexity and the beauty of being in a relationship.

2005's independently-released CD "When There Was Something Wrong With You" - which features the production work of Michael Bloom (Rilo Kiley, The Elected, Jenny Lewis), Philip A. Jimenez (Wheatus, Easy Anthems, Beat Radio), and Brian Blackburn (“Peggy Lee Sings Lieber and Stoller”) – created quite a buzz in NYC. Alan was a featured performer on WFUV's City Folk Sunday Breakfast in 2006 and its Under the Radar Series in 2007, and songs on "When There Was Something Wrong With You" received considerable airplay on internet stations such as Indie Artist Radio, Fearless Radio, Harris Radio, and Buzzplay. In addition, three tours in support of the CD across North America earned him the interest of new fans and the respect of critics and local media.

Over the years, Alan has had music placed in PBS, LIFETIME and WB network programs as well as a song in the short film "Whatever We Do" starring Robert Downey Jr., Tim Roth, and others. The film is written by actor Kevin Connolly, produced by Tobey Maguire for FOX SEARCHLAB, and is currently only available online.

The new album, “The Big Beauty,” is produced and mixed by Mike Bloom. Basic tracks were recorded with Matthew Cullen (My Morning Jacket, Rachel Yamagata) at The Clubhouse Studios in Rhinebeck, NY, and special guests include Franz Nicolay from The Hold Steady, international duduk player Jivan Gasparian Jr., and several other talented musicians from all corners of the music world. While “The Big Beauty” is perhaps Alan’s most commercially-accessible work to date, it still retains the gutsy inventiveness and integrity of one of New York City’s most interesting and compelling voices.