On a summer afternoon in Los Angeles, CA, Christine Anderson set up a simple microphone in front of the piano in her friend's living room and recorded an entire album, live in a single take. Guided by a foot high stack of her scribbled, unfinished lyrics, she composed as the tape rolled, turning out passionate performances of 17 original songs. Today, the highly improvised Live Summer Session is being hailed by critics as "creative brilliance," "as raw and real as music gets."
Armed with a red hot stage presence and the credibility that comes with writing all her own music - live and impromptu - Christine is amassing a passionate following with her soulful voice, heartbreaking songwriting, and world class piano playing. The Los Angeles Music Award winner has appeared in special features on ABC, MTV, and MuchMusic, but has turned away traditionally coveted "record deals" to remain independent and in complete artistic control of her music.
Following the breakthrough success of Live Summer Session, Christine traveled to southern Oregon's pristine Rogue River Valley where she has penned upwards of 100 new songs. She will return to Los Angeles in the spring of 2008 to record her debut studio effort at jazz pianist Gregg Karukas' Nightowl Studios. An instrumental record of impromptu piano solos is also planned.
Schooled at home like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Anton Bruckner, Felix Mendelssohn, and Francis Poulenc, Christine discovered the piano at nine, and dedicated most of her waking hours to the mastery of her music. By eleven, she had soloed with her first symphony, the Chamber Music Society of Oregon's Portland Sinfonietta. With music constantly playing in her head, Christine was a natural composer, and only months into her musical studies, she submitted her own Sonatina in C for solo piano to the Music Association's Young Composers Project, and won first place. A long string of other piano compositions followed, among them sonatas, nocturnes, polonaises, and a concertino, as well as a suite of quatre-mains jazz duets and myriad Broadway-style numbers.
Christine's passion for the masterworks was also fostered with fervor as she built up an extensive repertoire of Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, and began winning solo artist and duo piano competitions across the western United States. Her exceptional technical execution, tremendous degree of energy, and sheer speed at the keyboard belied her young age, leading internationally acclaimed pianist Wladimir Jan Kohanski to label her a child prodigy and to encourage her exploration of Bach. She subsequently won two consecutive Bach Festival gold medals for her animated performances of J.S. Bach's Preludes and Fugues.
Christine entered Scripps College for Women on a music and academic scholarship, where she studied classical piano performance under the tutelage of concert pianist and academician Hao Huang, MM, DMA, of Harvard University, the Juilliard School, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Scripps, as well as Concentration in Composition under Bill Alves, DMA, resident composer at the Harvey Mudd School of Engineering.
Welcome To Hollywood!
After graduation, it didn't take long for the budding artist to set her sights on Hollywood. She wrote a five song EP, Pianist Envy, that she recorded with Grammy nominees Derek Nakamoto and Craig Burbidge in 2004. With Pianist Envy under her belt, she won the 13th annual Los Angeles Music Award for Composer of the Year by a unanimous vote, garnered special features on MTV and MuchMusic, and placed her song "Times Of Your Life" in the soundtrack for the New Centurian film Officer Down – on her own, without management, PR, or a record label.
As Christine's songwriting evolved, propelled by her benchmark passion for unique phraseology and willingness to take bold creative risks, so too did her voice - and by 2005, she had developed an unmistakable sound all her own. With her tremendous catalogue of original material and keen ability to compose hilarious songs about random people in the audience, right there on the spot, Christine gigged steadily around Los Angeles, playing to diverse crowds of enraptured music lovers, professional musicians, and curious rock stars, who had never seen anything like her. She quickly earned a reputation for giving sensational live performances and passionately "serving up her soul on a plate of piano."
It was the idea of capturing this emotionally charged "live" vibe that led to the making of Live Summer Session. Recorded in a friend's North Hollywood living room, live in a single gut wrenching take, Christine's inspired breakthrough album keeps the focus squarely on her piano playing and newly discovered voice as she takes you on a poignant emotional journey from regret to redemption. From the soaring chorus of "Hollywood Trainwreck" to the bittersweet heartbreak of "Over Now" to the saucy swagger of "Bobby Hunter" and beyond, Christine Anderson gives true music lovers a fresh, creative and undeniably compelling new sound birthed in artistic integrity, steeped in passion, and brimming with melodious choruses, powerful lyrics, and above all, soul.
Closing with a set of her trademark piano improvisations, composed on the fly in a moment of pure inspiration, Christine's remarkably honest and densely passionate Live Summer Session is a naked and organic foreshadowing of things to come. "It's something I just kind of threw together from some old lyrics, writing the melodies as I went along," she confesses. "But I was in the zone, that place I go when the music takes over. These days I'm there 24/7, so sooner or later I better get in a studio and show the world what else I'm capable of!"
Christine will return to Los Angeles in the spring of 2008 to record her much anticipated studio album.
Stay tuned.
What The Critics Are Saying:
"Wonderfully inventive and startlingly evocative, Anderson delivers each line of poetry, each piano embellishment with an exquisite level of artistry, turning out music that is more than catchy and fun, but magical, masterful and extraordinary."
"Creative brilliance!"
"Top Emerging Artist"
"Hot New Artist to Watch!"
"Home recorded masterpiece"
"Uplifting, powerful, and damned-hard to get out of your head!"
"A treasure chest of excellent songs"
"Bittersweet ear candy"
"The brave risks Christine Anderson takes in her music are wildly successful"
"A profound body of work."
"An outstanding new songwriter in the vein of oldtime John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with chops you don't hear on records by Fiona Apple or Tori Amos."
"Enchanting and original."
"Extraordinary. Magnificent."
"Astonishing instrumental abilities."
"Golden voiced Christine Anderson is a world class pianist and composer."
"Stunning live debut"
"This straight ahead piano-vocal record is as raw and real as music gets, a spectacular specimen of pure musicality, stripped down to a bare bones duet between Anderson's heavenly pipes and her possessed-by-Beethoven piano playing. Her ability to improvise like a jazz player and compose all of the music on the fly reveals that this is not only a confident player of consequence, but a champion songwriter with a very bright future."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Are all your songs original?
Oh, yeah, absolutely. I stopped playing other people's music when I traded in my boring black concert pianist garb for striped leg warmers and lacy vintage petticoats, lol. Sometimes I'll warm up with Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique or Mozart's 12 Variations on "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" when I sit down to practice the piano - and I love certain sections of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2 - but in terms of the music I record and perform live, everything I play is original. All of it. That's not to say I don't want to play other music, though. Someday I'd like to cover songs by David Bowie, Elvis Costello and Queen!
Q. Do you ever co-write?
A while back, I collaborated with SlipKnot bassist Paul Grey, Whitey Kirst from Iggy Pop's band The Trolls, John Ziegler from Pigmy Love Circus, and several others, but it was on their projects, not mine. I've always written all my own music myself, and I don't ever see that changing. As long as the inspiration continues to shine down on me, I will always write my own music.
Q. Where does your inspiration come from?
From my Beloved, the Creator of All That Is. It's divine inspiration, truly, and when it's poured out on me, the feeling is extraordinary beyond words. I know God has given me a gift, and I figure the reason people are so struck by my music is that it is truly inspired.
Q. What have you been working on lately?
I moved my studio out of L.A. and up to southern Oregon where I'm writing the last few songs for my forthcoming album. I'll be driving back to California to record everything as soon as I'm ready, and I can hardly wait to get to that point because this is not only my first real studio album - that I've been dreaming about making my entire life - but I've reached a level with my voice and piano playing that is so far beyond what you hear on Live Summer Session... I'm ready to show the world what I can do!
Q. Do you have any plans to tour after you release the big record?
Well, I'm not with a record label and I can't really afford to tour, but I have standing gig offers from luxury hotels all over Europe and Asia, so I can basically take my passport and my piano and go see the world. I'll bring 1000 CDs to every hotel I play and start making fans in all the different countries. That's actually been a lifetime dream of mine, to travel the world playing my music, and as soon as I finish my record I'll be able to do it. It's been a long time coming, but basically I'll be achieving two of my biggest life goals right after the other. Yay!
Q. Do you have a favorite artist?
Oh no, I could never pick just one! Beethoven and Mozart have been dueling it out for the #1 spot since I can remember... but I also love Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, and Debussy. When I was a kid, I was home schooled and I didn't listen to the radio or watch TV, so had no idea what other kids my age were "supposed" to be listening to. I played classical music and that's what I listened to. When I moved to L.A., I discovered old school David Bowie and went absolutely bonkers for Hunky Dory and his 1981 "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" live concert DVD. Of course, the Beatles have been a huge inspiration to me as well. A lot of critics have compared my music to oldtime John Lennon and Paul McCartney, although I never actually heard them until after college. Being home schooled really allowed me to live in my own little bubble. But let's see... I know there are more great artists I admire. OK, how about Love and Rockets? I love the song that goes, "We are waiting for the flood, we are waiting for the flood..." Danny Elfman, too, and Elvis Costello. Queen. The Pixies. The Rolling Stones. Aerosmith. Pink Floyd. Billy Joel and Elton John (the old school Elton John, who sang "Rocket Man" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," not the sellout who sings about the Lion King.) I also really enjoy Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Q. What have you been listening to lately?
David Bowie's Hunky Dory on continuous repeat, and the title track from Space Oddity - you know, "This is Ground Control to Major Tom..." Best song in the world. I've also been watching live concert videos of Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello, U2, and The Rolling Stones.
"Wonderfully inventive and startlingly evocative, Anderson delivers each line of poetry, each piano embellishment with an exquisite level of artistry, turning out music that is more than catchy and fun, but magical, masterful and extraordinary."
"Creative brilliance!"
"Top Emerging Artist"
"Hot New Artist to Watch!"
"Home recorded masterpiece"
"Uplifting, powerful, and damned-hard to get out of your head!"
"A treasure chest of excellent songs"
"Bittersweet ear candy"
"The brave risks Christine Anderson takes in her music are wildly successful"
"A profound body of work."
"An outstanding new songwriter in the vein of oldtime John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with chops you don't hear on records by Fiona Apple or Tori Amos."
"Enchanting and original."
"Extraordinary. Magnificent."
"Astonishing instrumental abilities."
"Golden voiced Christine Anderson is a world class pianist and composer."
"Stunning live debut"
"This straight ahead piano-vocal record is as raw and real as music gets, a spectacular specimen of pure musicality, stripped down to a bare bones duet between Anderson's heavenly pipes and her possessed-by-Beethoven piano playing. Her ability to improvise like a jazz player and compose all of the music on the fly reveals that this is not only a confident player of consequence, but a champion songwriter with a very bright future."
** See PRESS room for articles and sources.
New magazine interviews!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Are all your songs original?
Oh, yeah, absolutely. I stopped playing other people's music when I traded in my boring black concert pianist garb for striped leg warmers and lacy vintage petticoats, lol. Sometimes I'll warm up with Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique or Mozart's 12 Variations on "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" when I sit down to practice the piano - and I love certain sections of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2 - but in terms of the music I record and perform live, everything I play is original. All of it. That's not to say I don't want to play other music, though. Someday I'd like to cover songs by David Bowie, Elvis Costello and Queen!
Q. Do you ever co-write?
A while back, I collaborated with SlipKnot bassist Paul Grey, Whitey Kirst from Iggy Pop's band The Trolls, John Ziegler from Pigmy Love Circus, and several others, but it was on their projects, not mine. I've always written all my own music myself, and I don't ever see that changing. As long as the inspiration continues to shine down on me, I will always write my own music.
Q. Where does your inspiration come from?
From my Beloved, the Creator of All That Is. It's divine inspiration, truly, and when it's poured out on me, the feeling is extraordinary beyond words. I know God has given me a gift, and I figure the reason people are so struck by my music is that it is truly inspired.
Q. What have you been working on lately?
I moved my studio out of L.A. and up to southern Oregon where I'm writing the last few songs for my forthcoming album. I'll be driving back to California to record everything as soon as I'm ready, and I can hardly wait to get to that point because this is not only my first real studio album - that I've been dreaming about making my entire life - but I've reached a level with my voice and piano playing that is so far beyond what you hear on Live Summer Session... I'm ready to show the world what I can do!
Q. Do you have any plans to tour after you release the big record?
Well, I'm not with a record label and I can't really afford to tour, but I have standing gig offers from luxury hotels all over Europe and Asia, so I can basically take my passport and my piano and go see the world. I'll bring 1000 CDs to every hotel I play and start making fans in all the different countries. That's actually been a lifetime dream of mine, to travel the world playing my music, and as soon as I finish my record I'll be able to do it. It's been a long time coming, but basically I'll be achieving two of my biggest life goals right after the other. Yay!
Q. Do you have a favorite artist?
Oh no, I could never pick just one! Beethoven and Mozart have been dueling it out for the #1 spot since I can remember... but I also love Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, and Debussy. When I was a kid, I was home schooled and I didn't listen to the radio or watch TV, so had no idea what other kids my age were "supposed" to be listening to. I played classical music and that's what I listened to. When I moved to L.A., I discovered old school David Bowie and went absolutely bonkers for Hunky Dory and his 1981 "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" live concert DVD. Of course, the Beatles have been a huge inspiration to me as well. A lot of critics have compared my music to oldtime John Lennon and Paul McCartney, although I never actually heard them until after college. Being home schooled really allowed me to live in my own little bubble. But let's see... I know there are more great artists I admire. OK, how about Love and Rockets? I love the song that goes, "We are waiting for the flood, we are waiting for the flood..." Danny Elfman, too, and Elvis Costello. Queen. The Pixies. The Rolling Stones. Aerosmith. Pink Floyd. Billy Joel and Elton John (the old school Elton John, who sang "Rocket Man" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," not the sellout who sings about the Lion King.) I also really enjoy Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Q. What have you been listening to lately?
David Bowie's Hunky Dory on continuous repeat, and the title track from Space Oddity - you know, "This is Ground Control to Major Tom..." Best song in the world. I've also been watching live concert videos of Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello, U2, and The Rolling Stones.
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