Album Notes

Vocal Velvet. Luscious. Smooth. Dynamic.

Born in India, raised in New York and making her home in San Francisco, Vandana Bali was surrounded by music from early childhood. She sang her very first solo in the mid 70's (accompanying herself on a simple guitar that she made just for the occasion) at her grandparent's party over winter vacation in India at the age of six. She hasn't stopped singing since then.

A classically-trained vocalist with a 3-octave range, Vandana enjoys singing powerhouse songs just as much as she loves singing sultry, soothing standards. Her primary influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Patti LuPone, Sam Harris and Barbra Streisand.

Vandana has always welcomed any opportunity to perform before a crowd. She has performed at festivals throughout Europe, at weddings and at clubs in San Francisco and New York. She sang the national anthem at a Knick's game at Madison Square Garden with a select choir while in college. In February 2006, she performed at a local talent spotlight at San Francisco's historic Plush Room, one of the top cabaret venues in the country.

In March 2006, Vandana made her Internet radio debut. In April 2006, Vandana performed at Mayor Gavin Newsom's Project Homeless Connect event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. In May 2006, Vandana debuted her "The Power of Love" cabaret show to a sold-out audience at Martuni's Piano Lounge in San Francisco and then she debuted this show to an enthusiastic audience at Don't Tell Mama in New York City's midtown theater district in July 2006. On October 1, 2006, Vandana debuted her "The Power of Love" cabaret show at the world-famous Empire Plush Room to a great crowd (reviews of this show are available in the press section). Vandana wound down 2006 with the final San Francisco performance of her "The Power of Love" show at Martuni's on December 9th, 2006. She'll take this show on the road to London, back to NYC and down to LA in 2007 and is putting together a new show for San Francisco audiences as well as working on original material for her third CD.

Vandana's second CD, "The Power of Love," was released in December 2005 to a standing-room only crowd at Martuni's piano bar in San Francisco. This CD, recorded in Santa Monica with Los Angeles-based musicians, is a collection of power ballads, jazz standards (including a sizzling rendition of the Billie Holiday classic 'God Bless the Child') and her current favorite Broadway songs that all tell stories about relationships and love, about the joy of connecting with someone and, about the acceptance love brings. 'The Power of Love', 'Love Changes Everything', 'The Nearness of You' - these are songs about having fun and falling in love - things that are very needed right now.

Vandana's debut CD, 'With You,' was released in July 2001 and it was the 14th top seller for the month of October 2001 on CD Baby. Both CD's are available on cdbaby.com, tower.com, bestbuy.com, iTunes and many other online music sites. Upcoming gigs, reviews, photos and music are available at http://www.vandana.net.

Vandana holds an MA in Government from The College of William and Mary and a BA in Government and History from Skidmore College. Vandana studied voice with award-winning, internationally acclaimed opera singer Sylvia Kutchukian (the first Kirsten Flagstad Award winner at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City).

Vandana's career highlights include working on Capitol Hill, at Excite@Home, at the American Lung Association of California and her current job at the City and County of San Francisco's Department of the Environment where she runs clean vehicle and alternative fuel infrastructure programs in an effort to clean the air we all breathe.

Vandana thanks you for your support of independent musicians in San Francisco. Please email us at vandana@vandana.net and let us know which song from her new CD means the most to you.