With her bold, powerful voice and undeniable charm, new Atlantic recording artist Gia Farrell is poised to make her mark on modern pop with her highly anticipated debut release. A remarkably assured collection, the self-titled album serves as a perfect introduction to a truly exceptional young talent.
While 'GIA FARRELL' isn..t due to arrive until next year, Gia's debut single, 'Hit Me Up,' is currently featured in the Warner Bros./Village Roadshow animated comedy adventure, Happy Feet .. placing the 17-year-old singer alongside a star-studded line-up of artists including Prince, Pink, and the soul-sational trio of Patti LaBelle, Yolanda Adams, and Fantasia Barrino.
'Hit Me Up,' as well as album tracks such as 'You..ll Be Sorry,' 'Real,' and 'Stupid For You' blend danceable beats, the passion of R&B, and irresistible pop hooks, resulting in the kind of songs that will cross all boundaries to win over fans of every stripe. 'I call it soulful pop,' Gia says of her album..s genre-blurring sound. 'I really think it has something for everyone. That might be the thing I..m proudest of.'
Growing up in Suffern, New York, Gia was a singer from the start, vocalizing to music even before she could talk. Wisely, her family made sure to encourage her passion, with serious voice lessons beginning at the tender age of 8. Taking inspiration from the holy trinity of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Christina Aguilera .. 'I admire their big voices,' she says, 'how they sing those big ballads' .. Gia built a resume that would be impressive at any age, let alone for an artist barely into her teens. By 13, she had wowed the notoriously hard-to-please crowd on Showtime at The Apollo (going on to be named among the show..s 'Best of the Year'), hit Las Vegas to sing on Ed McMahon..s Next Big Star, and won on Star Search.
Gia continued to train, studying both voice and acting, determined to reach deep within herself to become the best performer she could possibly be. All the while, she kept herself in the public eye by starring in local productions of Guys and Dolls and Damn Yankees, and opening for Fat Joe on her home turf of Dutchess County, blowing the crowd away with versions of Beyonce..s 'Crazy in Love' and Mariah Carey..s 'Love Takes Time.'
Upon signing to Atlantic Records, Gia devoted herself full-time to making her debut album. The sessions saw the teen-age artist collaborating with a number of experienced hitmakers whose work spans the range of modern pop. Among the producers and tunesmiths contributing to 'GIA FARRELL' are Norway..s StarGate (Ne-Yo, Beyonce, Rihanna, Jessica Simpson), Steve Kipner (Natasha Bedingfield, Christina Aguilera, 98 Degrees, Wilson Phillips), Matthew Gerrard (Kelly Clarkson, Hillary Duff, Jesse McCartney, High School Musical), Andrea Martin (Monica, SWV, En Vogue), KNS (Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Aaron Carter, Willa Ford), and Denmark..s DEEKAY (Blue, Lemar, S Club).
Ultimately, 'GIA FARRELL' is unified by Gia herself, whose voice, personality, and perspective bond the collection into a cohesive whole. 'All the songs really are about me,' she says, 'even the ones that I wasn..t co-writer on. I talk with the writers, I tell them stories about my life so that the songs all deal with real situations and the reality of who I am.'
The sessions for 'GIA FARRELL' took place in both New York and Los Angeles, where she took great care to put her heart and soul into both the songwriting and the recording process. With the album complete, Gia is now looking forward to returning to her first love, performing on stage. 'That..s something I love but haven..t been able to do very much while making the record,' she enthuses. 'What I..m really excited about is that now I get to go and sing the songs on my album.'
The gifted Gia plainly has big plans, and with 'GIA FARRELL,' she has crafted an extraordinary first chapter for what is certain to be a brilliant career. 'There are so many things I want to do,' she says with confidence. 'I act, I want to model, but for now, I'm focused on my singing. That..s first and foremost.'
