Album Notes

"I've heard the entire CD and there's not a dud on this. You get your money's worth here" - David Letterman

"That Norah Jones chick ain't got nothing on self-described "music geek" Vienna Teng." (San Francisco Examiner)

"Teng's voice and piano skills will knock you out." (Sports Illustrated)

"sharp and poetic...smart and layered songcraft" (Washington Post)

"pure poetry...Teng's deep lyrics work because of her appealing and distinctive melodies, which immediately grab your attention and make you want to hear more." (American Songwriter)

"she is like a child of Chopin and Sarah McLachlan" (San Jose Mercury News)

Acclaimed San Francisco-based singer/songwriter and classically trained pianist Vienna Teng's music defies any attempt at simplistic classification. Far from being pressured into studying music, Vienna asked for piano lessons on her own, at the tender age of 5. While she delved fully into classical works by composers such as Bach and Chopin, she was drawn more to the act of improvisation, and in expressing the ideas that were emerging in her own imagination. She wrote her first song at age 6, and had an album's worth of instrumentals composed by age 16. As if the challenges of collegiate life weren't enough, she released a 4-song EP at Stanford and finished recording the tracks for her first full-length album before she graduated.

Her compositions range from gentle piano ballads featuring pristine vocals to multi-layered productions with lush landscapes. Waking Hour features explorations into not just pop, folk and rock, but also new age and world beat stylings. The album's 13 melodic songs take listeners on an emotional ride through the haunting, the ethereal, and the comforting.

As a result of her captivating live performances, Vienna has earned increasing recognition from the press and a dedicated fan base throughout the country. Highly unusual for a non-major label artist, Vienna performed on the Late Show with David Letterman and was profiled on NPR and CNN. She has opened for Shawn Colvin, Joan Osborne, & more. Waking Hour was co-produced by David Henry (Cowboy Junkies, REM, Josh Rouse) and features guest musicians Will Kimbrough (Kim Richey) and Craig Wright (Steve Earle).