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| Anya Marina Unveils New Album "Felony Flats" Atlantic recording artist Anya Marina has announced the release of her new album "felony Flats" on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2012. "felony Flats" - which follows 2009's acclaimed label debut, "Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II" - marks a major leap forward for the Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter. The self-produced album sees Marina joined by some of the Pacific Northwest's finest musicians, including guitarist Cody Votolato (Blood Brothers, Telekinesis), bassist Jeff Bond, drummer Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, Mister Heavenly), and Blitzen Trapper's Eric Earley, who contributes additional piano and guitars. Highlighted by songs such as "Notice Me" and "You Are Invisible, " "felony Flats" is both richly textured and deeply personal, a remarkable musical journey chronicling loss and love in all their many permutations. "If albums are like children, this one is my favorite (don't tell the others), " Marina says. "It's the one I put the most heart and soul into. It's the one that taught me the most about myself, and it's the one that looks most like me." Though born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and raised in Cupertino, California, Anya Marina first made waves after relocating to sunny San Diego, renowned as a musical hub city for aspiring singer/songwriters. After earning applause as one of Southern California's most talented young artists, Anya was personally signed to Chop Shop Records by label founder Alexandra Patsavas, famed music supervisor for such films and TV shows as Twilight, Gossip Girl, and Grey's Anatomy. Produced by Louis XIV's Brian Karscig and Spoon's Britt Daniel, "SLOW & STEADY SEDUCTION: PHASE II" arrived in January 2009 and proved a tightly honed collection of winking pop gems and slyly sexy rock 'n' roll, the ideal showcase for Marina's deft melodic sensibility and striking vocal stylings. The album's lead single/video, "Move You, " received extensive radio play as well as significant rotation on mtvU, MTV2's Subterranean, MTV.com, AOL Music, and LOGO. The track also earned a prestigious "Best Song" trophy at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards. "SLOW & STEADY SEDUCTION: PHASE II" also received copious critical commendation, including a full-page "Breaking Out" feature in Spin. Filter praised the album as "a playfully rhythmic and melodic collection of thought-provoking pop tunes that present a matured songwriter with a bit of edge, " while Marie Claire hailed Anya for "(salting) her cutesy pop with conspiratorial whispers, cooing around hurdy-gurdy rhythms." "This lady really is a vamp, " declared People, "seducing you with a sultry mix of pop, folk, blues, jazz, even bossa nova - and a Lolita-like voice that brings to mind a naughty Corinne Bailey Rae." Marina quickly followed "SLOW & STEADY SEDUCTION: PHASE II" with a slyly provocative cover of T.I.'s "Whatever You Like, " which was included on a 2009 episode of Gossip Girl. The track spent nearly two weeks atop iTunes' "Top Alternative Songs" chart, with sales now in excess of 100, 000. The "Whatever You Like" companion video clip became a YouTube favorite, earning close to 2.5 million views at Anya's official channel, www.youtube.com/user/anyamarinamusic. 2009 also saw Marina's starkly beautiful "Satellite Heart" featured on the RIAA-certified platinum "THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON - ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK." The inspired "Tiny Stars Remix" of the track (by Interpol's Samuel Fogarino) was later included on Marina's 2010 EP, "SPIRIT SCHOOL." The self-produced digital release found Anya further spreading her creative wings on such new songs as the gritty "Whatsit" (featuring The Dandy Warhols' Courtney Taylor-Taylor). A provocative and gifted live performer, Marina has toured nearly non-stop throughout her career, both as headliner as well as in tandem with such artists as Jason Mraz, Spoon, Joshua Radin, Eric Hutchinson, Chris Isaak, Paolo Nutini, Emiliana Torrini, The Virgins, Greg Laswell, Jenny Owen Youngs, Steve Poltz, Rhett Miller, The Plain White T's, The Dandy Warhols, and Tristan Prettyman. Marina has also made a series of high-profile TV appearances, including stellar live performances on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The WB.com's Rockville, CA. What's more, Anya's music has been featured in a wide array of TV series, including ABC's Grey's Anatomy, CBS' How I Met Your Mother, MTV's The City, Showtime's The United States of Tara, and The CW's 90210 and Privileged. As if that weren't enough, her songs have also been heard in major advertising campaigns for Frito-Lay's Tostitos and Boyfriend, the popular fragrance from actress Kate Walsh (Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy). write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |