Amy Raasch profile picture

Amy Raasch

"A force to be reckoned with." - Don Was

About Me

"She's got her own inner groove; nothing tentative about it. A force to be reckoned with.
- Don Was
Amy Raasch's win in the 3rd Annual GINA/LAWIM Singer/Songwriter Contest for the Missing could not come at a better time. She is just finishing up her debut album, which will feature her winning song, "Missing:" the story of a missing child told from the perspective of the child's best friend. Likened to songwriting powerhouses Joni Mitchell, Ryan Adams, and Jane Siberry, her debut is an organic, intimate exploration of love versus independence.
"Her music is extremely inventive & narrative; it turns me on.
- Michael Mollura, Music Connection
Every song is personal: its as if she crawls into the skin of the characters that speak through her songs. In fact, her first song was written in the voice of the character she played in feature film "the four corners of nowhere," a Sundance pick soon to be released on DVD.
"Sophisticated, solid and comfortable like the seats of a Rolls Royce...Miss Raasch opens delicately for us the doors to her kingdom. One would have to be deaf -- and blind -
to stay outside." - Hector Zazou
Smoldering with breathy intensity one moment and exploding into full-voiced ecstasy the next, her dynamic live sound has lit up stages from Genghis Cohen, the Knitting Factory, Room 5, and Dragonfly to legendary NYC venues the Bitter End and CBGBs. Following her acclaimed six-month residency at Tempest, she was named one of Music Connection's "HOT 100 Unsigned Artists" for the third year running.
"In a world full of derivative artists, she has a sound all her own."
Paul Ill (Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry), Paul's Pix, L.A.
Her distinctive guitar sound is based on open tunings of her own invention, and is complimented by an accomplished group of musicians. Drummer Dony Wynn (Robert Palmer) laid the foundation at Music Lane Studios (Sheryl Crow) in Austin, Texas. The production team included Austin-based producer Emile Millar (Kelly Dalton, Postfontaine, The Lapdancers), engineer Thom Flowers (Bad Astronaut, Sugarcult, Tim Cullen), and multi-instrumentalist Gar Robertson (Valentine's Revenge, Sredni Vashtar). Patrick Warren (Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann) contributes lush, vintage keyboard sounds, with Milo DeCruz (Ryan Adams, Duncan Sheik) on bass and Stevie Blacke on strings.
Recently, she recorded a song for internationally acclaimed French producer Hector Zazou. Hear her multi-layered harmonies on "J'irai Pleurer Sous La Pluie" ("Cryin in the Rain") on Zazou's next record, "Looking in the Rear View Mirror."
She is proud to support GINA 411, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring together media agencies and artists to create an avenue of hope and awareness that can guide people whose family members become missing.
To get the latest news and hear exclusive, pre-release album tracks, sign the mailing list at www.amyraasch.com.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/19/2005
Band Website: amyraasch.com
Band Members: Upcoming debut album features Amy on Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Flute, Accordion; Dony Wynn (of Robert Palmer fame) - Drums and Percussion (including the infamous "Goat Scrot"); Patrick Warren (Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann) - kaleidoscopic keyboard magic from Chamberlain to Pump Organ to Grand Piano. Milo DeCruz (Duncan Sheik, Ryan Adams) on Bass; Stevie Blacke on Strings. Bliss-inducing harmony vocals from Renee Stahl and Erin Kamler (a.k.a. MantraGirl). Gar Robertson on just about everything else, including (but not limited to) Bass, Acoustic, Slide and Electric Guitars, and a rusty old canteen he found in the desert.
Influences: Jane Siberry, Patty Griffin, Rickie Lee Jones, PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Shakespeare, Debussy, Bach, Mozart, James Galway, YoYo Ma, Theodore Roethke, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Byron, Heather Raffo, Sredni Vashtar, big weather.
Sounds Like: "Love child of Jane Siberry and Elvis Costello;" "Grimm Fairy Tales for Adults;" "Joni Mitchell meets Ryan Adams;" "Jane Austen of Rock 'n' Roll"
Record Label: "One of the top unsigned artists in L.A."-M.C. Mag
Type of Label: None

My Blog

"HENRY POOLE IS HERE" VIDEO UP!

...on YouTube as we speak:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nE1-UmatAw*****PLEASE CHECK myspace.com/henrypooleishere ON JULY 8, 2008 TO SEE IF I MADE THE TOP 5. If so, please VOTE FOR ME on the Henry P...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:21:00 PST

Featured on YouTube show!

Big thanks to the incomparable Larry, who features me on his excellent YouTube show today! Larry is good vibes incarnate: sit back with a glass of lemonade and enjoy his southern hospitality and no-n...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:26:00 PST

Henry Poole Is Here

I really enjoyed writing this song inspired by the new film "Henry Poole Is Here." What you're hearing is a simple demo, but definitely listen for the beautiful piano added to the track by my friend,...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:41:00 PST

Outer Space Birthday Party

What are you doing Thursday night? Want to hang out with me at a fun "outer space" birthday party? Should be a good time, with free food and some awesome music.I'm performing a set of mostly NEW SON...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Wed, 28 May 2008 02:30:00 PST

Come hang out with me in the barn TONIGHT (May 22)

Supercool, all-wooden venue with high ceilings and the BEST, laid-back vibe. Plus my fave scotch at the bar. I'm on about 9. Come hang out with me, meet my cousins, and let me know the latest with y...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Fri, 23 May 2008 04:47:00 PST

Burma

Lately, I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the state of the world. Between the natural disasters, the election, the environment...sometimes my head spins and it's hard to know exactly how to be...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Thu, 15 May 2008 01:55:00 PST

Still space for tonight at 7

A very zesty little group is joining me for dinner tonight at 7 at the MBar (Sunset & Fountain). Show at 8, and I'm only doing two songs, so we will be able to hang out and talk. Come join us! WED,...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Wed, 14 May 2008 01:07:00 PST

Join me for dinner May 14

It's true, I haven't been getting out much because I've been working on my "52 SONGS in 52 WEEKS" project, so come have dinner with me this Wednesday night (May 14). I'll be getting a table at the L....
Posted by Amy Raasch on Mon, 12 May 2008 11:33:00 PST

Love From Sweden

"52 Songs" gets a little love from our friends in the beautiful North. Do like they do and leave your comments at www.youtube.com/amyraasch.http://www.hemifran.com/news.html
Posted by Amy Raasch on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:44:00 PST

Brighton Bulldogs

Just wanted to give a shout out to alumni of Brighton High School in Brighton, MI. Classmates.com sent me an email today that allowed a free posting, so I posted this on their site. If you saw it and...
Posted by Amy Raasch on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:50:00 PST