Halie Loren
They Oughta Write a Song
Both old and new gems that mesh a stunning voice with stellar musicians to create a timeless classic that spans generations and genres. With this album, the golden era of music is reborn and re-crafted for a new millennium of music fans young and old.
ABOUT THIS ALBUM:
Jazz could be described as being the voice of ‘old souls’… those who have already experienced life to its fullest and lived to sing about it. If that’s the case, then Halie Loren, though young in years, must have already experienced many lives. From the first notes of the title song on her new jazz album, “They Oughta Write a Song”, Loren’s voice leads the listener with lush, jazzy warmth to places both intimately alluring yet playfully enticing as she moves effortlessly in, out, and around the melodies with flawless, exquisite ease.
The CD includes many of the standards that have held steadfast across the years, along with Halie’s originals that fit nicely into a mold that could easily join the list of ageless songs. As an extra bonus, Loren, in collaboration with fellow musician Matt Treder (pianist), added three very different non-jazz selections that have been tastefully “jazzified” into creative arrangements that fit seamlessly into the project and fill out the breadth of the album.
“They Oughta Write a Song” takes musical gems both old and new and meshes a stunning voice with stellar musicians to create a timeless classic that spans generations and genres. With this album, the golden era of music is reborn and re-crafted for a new millennium of music fans young and old.
Along with marvelously talented Matt Treder on piano/keys, Loren is joined by equally marvelous musicians Mark “Mo” Schneider on bass, Brian West on percussion, and Tim McLaughlin on trumpet.
HALIE LOREN BIO:
Halie Loren is a singer/songwriter who is already carving out a distinctive musical niche with her own jazz-infused breed of intelligent vocal and musical interpretations that can cover everything from piano-based pop/rock to jazz in its purest form. Loren fuses the warmth and substance of singers from jazz’s heyday with the wit and modern sensibility of today’s female singer/songwriter.
Growing up in Alaska and outside much of the influence of then-popular culture, Loren cut her musical teeth on the songs and stylings of Etta James, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Patsy Cline. It was only once she moved to the ‘lower 48’ at age 13 that she discovered the majority of modern artists’ music, and became inspired by singer/songwriters and bands like Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, The Cranberries and many others. This marked the beginning of her journey to finding a musical identity, which culminated in a style inspired by both old and new, and yet uniquely her own.
A songwriter who writes with a passion, Loren’s songs have garnered multiple songwriting awards in multiple music genres from well-respected sources including the Billboard International Song Contest and John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Her multi-layered lyrics and intuitive melodies have been catching the ears of fellow songwriters, musicians, and music fans since her early teen years, and brought her an Independent Songwriter of the Year award before she’d even graduated from high school.
Based in the Northwest, Halie has performed from coast to coast on stages, headlined full bands in front of thousands, spiced up trios in intimate club settings, and performed solo at showcases in New York, Nashville, and Seattle. She’s shared shows with Grammy-winning performers and collaborated with many well-known and respected writers and numerous other music industry veterans, all while going through her teenage years, finishing college, and searching and finding her true musical voice. She has released three albums to-date, including a solo project of her original material (“Full Circle”, 2006), a holiday release (“Many Times, Many Ways: a holiday collection”, December, 2008) and a jazz album including standards and originals (“They Oughta Write a Song”, December 2008).
Today, Loren manages a full-time music career filled with performing, writing and recording, as well as collaborating on various projects with other music professionals around the country. She is currently in the process of recording another CD of original music to be released in summer, 2009.
www.halieloren.com / www.myspace.com/halieloren
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT 'THEY OUGHTA WRITE A SONG' CD/PERFORMANCES:
“Halie Loren sounds as if she were born to sing jazz...They Oughta Write A Song hits all the right notes from start to finish... and deserves to take a place among the great vocal jazz albums... Loren's silky alto slides through the songs here like a hot knife through butter…smooth and full of a sensual grace that recalls Eartha Kitt at the top of her game. . I keep wanting to point out particular songs as highlights, but the difficulty is that everything here is just so good that the word highlight becomes meaningless. That being said, Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps is amazing. There is a mischievous quality to this performance that allows Loren to reach even higher and touch perfection for two minutes and twenty-one seconds.” (Wildy Haskell – Read the rest of the CD review at www.wildysworld.blogspot.com)
“I have been a fan of Halie Loren since 15 seconds into "Maybe I'll Fly," the first track off her debut album, ‘Full Circle’. I knew at that moment that this woman and her amazing voice had something special going on, and Halie's latest album is nothing but further confirmation of my initial impression... The title track sounds like a standard (and, if there is any sense of fairness in the world, will be someday), but is actually an original, co-written by Loren (with Larry Wayne Clark) back at the tender age of 18… The other two originals, "How Should I Know?" and "I Don't Miss It That Much" would be equally at home in any jazz library; indeed, I initially found myself searching for my Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil soundtrack, convinced I'd heard one or the other somewhere in there -- to no avail! Loren's interpretation of non-jazz classics is equally competent, taking familiar songs from other genres and reinterpreting them in ways a listener could never have imagined… Gershwin's "Summertime" is also worth a special mention… here, Halie's clear-as-a-bell lilt and tease, half lullaby and half striptease, leaving you wondering whether you'll soon drift off to sleep, or stay up till sunrise.” (Michael Fiegel (reviewer for OnlineRock) in a post on LiveJournal.com)
"Knowing that Halie Loren is a young artist, already a masterful vocalist, interpreter and song-writer, you can't help but grin anticipating what sublime music she'll record next." (David Gizara, Host of Thursday Night Jazz, KLCC-Eugene)
“Singer-songwriter Halie Loren is a stellar new talent whose exquisite vocals touch the emotions and awaken the soul. My listeners love her playful, sultry, jazzy arrangements. I play her regularly on my show.” (DrB of Mana'o Radio, Maui, Hawaii.}
This (They Oughta Write a Song) is one of the most exciting new songs I have heard. It has a classic standard sound, yet it is fresh, contemporary. And Halie Loren's singing is just perfect for it. I can't get it out of my mind. It's a winner, as is the entire recording.” (Fred Crafts, Former Fine Arts Editor for LA Times and Entertainment Correspondent for KWVA Channel 13 & The Register-Guard, Eugene, OR.)
"I finally had a chance to give your new CD the listen it deserves. It was worth the wait. You did a wonderful job. The CD is especially impressive given the fact that these tunes have been done by some of the greatest singers of all time. Comparisons are inevitable and you stand up beautifully" (Neal Gladstone, Singer/Songwriter)
“I'm knocked out with your CD! It is sultry, classy, nostalgic, current and, oh, yeah...sexxy! You have done exceedingly well! Your musicians are world class and sound like New York's finest! Congratulations...” (Chad Watson, Singer/Songwriter/Producer, Los Angeles, CA)
“I received today the two albums and I'm in heaven, they are wonderful and your voice is so angelic, so pure and intense. You are made for jazz and folk music.” (Sabine De Greef, http://withmusicinmymind.blogspot.com/, Belgium)
“Halie Loren has such talent and a passion for what she does with her music. I say that Halie can give Norah Jones and Diana Krall a run for their money!! Halie should be not only nation wide, but world wide with her music.” (Rock-N-Rome, DJ KRVM Radio 91.9 FM, Eugene, Oregon)
“On They Oughta, (Halie Loren) covers the difficult terrain previously claimed by vocal heavyweights …But the project has some surprising song selections, too…Three original tunes blend in with the classics to remind listeners of Loren’s songwriting chops. With her bell-clear voice, careful but natural diction and a subtle sexiness in her delivery, she offers a new take on Procol Harem’s ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’.”
(Serena Markstrom, Entertainment Writer, The Register-Guard, Eugene, OR)
"Over the course of maybe 25 years of intermittent concert-going, there haven't been very many musicians/performers that I would be ready to listen to for 3 hours at a time. You and the band made the time seem to fly by, though. " (Steve Lamb, Concert Attendee/Fan, Eugene, OR)
"WOW, another wonderful offering. Your voice is ever-more maturing like fine wine, with smooth overtones." (Bill Prucha, Aloha fan)
“I honestly think she has unlimited potential and talent. In a lot of ways, working on projects like this (jazz album) is how we discover that.” (Matt Treder, Halie Loren Collaborator)
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT PREVIOUS CD RELEASES AND HALIE LOREN PERFORMANCES:
"Halie Loren has a voice that defines a true artist; one that comes from a deep emotional place. She puts an ultimate truth and personal soul into each and every note she sings. As a producer, never has a voice moved me more than Halie's!" (Rick Chudacoff, Producer, Nashville/LA)
“Halie Loren-Intelligent, unique, original, gifted. It's difficult to find enough words to describe the incredible talent of this young artist. Quite simply, she is everything that is good about music. From the moment I heard her warm sensual voice and beautiful, textured phrasing, I was completely blown away... a truly special young woman... One of those rare artists that I believe could take any song from any genre and make it her very own. This album is an absolute gem.” (Rob Lardie, www.CDReviewsbyyou.com)
” Versatility merits kudos for any musician--but add Loren's dynamic performance style, which combines powerhouse passion with confessional intimacy, and it's understandable why she's turned heads on stages in Nashville, New York, Seattle and other venues far beyond hometown Eugene. (Mikael Krummel, Eugene Magazine)
"The minute I put this CD in I liked it. It’s smooth, comfortable, and emotional. The kind of CD I could put on … fall into the music and forget about the world around me. Captivating, emotional, without being overly moody." (Mike Cavanaugh, All Access Magazine)
"It took about fifteen seconds for me to decide that 22-year-old Halie Loren was bound for greatness; that's the point at which quiet piano gives way to powerful voice on "Maybe I'll Fly," the first track on her stunning debut album, Full Circle. It's a voice that's been compared (deservedly) to greats like Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Joni Mitchell (who Halie delicately and wonderfully covers on Track 4, "River")... Rich, dark, bittersweet, and oh-so satisfying. (Michael Fiegel, OnlineRock.com)
"As one might imagine, we receive a lot of independent releases for review consideration here at E4W. Yet few have been quite as impressive as Halie Loren's new release, Full Circle. An intelligent, sophisticated, and downright impressive collection of contemporary alt-pop piano rock tracks, Full Circle delivers, essentially, the full package: interesting musical arrangements, inspiring vocals, and clever lyricisms. It's absolutely delightful." (Carly Hope Finseth, Editor, www.Empowerment4Women.org)
“I feel the same sort of wonder I felt when I first heard Eva Cassidy. I am stunned that Halie is only in her 20s. This is an artist I want to keep track of because once the world hears her, I think she has the talent and ability to be a major performer. I highly recommend this CD.” (Jim Kloss, Whole Wheat Radio - www.wholewheatradio.net)
“She sings of love and struggle, like most performers, but with stories and poetry that are complex and accessible without relying on catchy repetitive hooks or obscurity needing Impressionistic interpretation.” (Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire)
"To truly capture so much emotion in one's voice is true art; to express it is a gift indeed. The melody is as rich as the lyric and Halie's pliable voice does every note full justice weaving beauty into every measure." (Annette Conlon, www.netteradio.com.)
“Loren has a mature, rich voice, diving to passionate depths and hovering over the tender notes. Coupling intriguing songwriting with a skilled musical ear, Loren is an exciting talent with songs that are fully formed and resonate as only songs based on experience can.” (Vanessa Salvia, Eugene Weekly)
“The album, "Full Circle," deserves a wide audience. It is an achievement in capturing Loren's vocal range, expressive, ethereal piano and heart-wrenching pop lyrics.” (Serena Markstrom, The Ticket/Register-Guard)
“The best part about it all, besides the great lyrics, is that it comes at you set to sounds that are just as biting and attention grabbing. This is a great album, and one that needs plenty of recognition and a large audience to enjoy just as I did.” (Keith Hannaleck, www.muzikreviews.com)
“There are twelve tracks on Full Circle and they all have two things in common: Ms Loren's moody piano, and some sharp lyrics. … Halie Loren can succeed in putting you right there in the moment. (Arhythmius, DJ, Female Front Radio-www.femalefront.com)
“Full Circle has left me breathless … The balance between breath & song is poetry in motion, like a master artist with a brush, striking the perfect equilibrium between space & negative space.” (Morris Walker, MicroEpic Productions, Corvallis)
“The songs are written with a lot of intricate layers and interesting pieces. They often go where you don’t expect, a good indicator of a talented songwriter. The piano composition and performance are divine…Her voice is beautiful. She puts so much emotion into her words and melodies you really feel it along with her.” (Amy Young, www.collectedsounds.com)
Jazz: Jazz-Pop