Velvet Chain profile picture

Velvet Chain

"moody groove music...

About Me

Best known for their appearances on both the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show and the show's official soundtrack album, Velvet Chain's music combines modern grooves and textures with elegant melodies and rock power. They're a trip-hop band mixed with a rock band, a pop band, a jazz combo, and a funk band. One thing for sure -- they absolutely don't sound like any other band.

If you had to compare, you might say they're like a cross betweed Portishead and the Pretenders. Or like Moby mixed-up with the Doors and early Roxy Music. They are an intensely creative and unique pop band that manages to make music that's both eclectic and accessible at the same time.

Velvet Chain is fronted by award-winning vocalist, Erika Amato, and headed by composer-producer-bassist Jeff Stacy. The band's magic lies in the perfect match between Jeff Stacy's musical style and Erika Amato's voice and vibe. This combination is the essence of Velvet Chain's instantly recognizable, liquid-explosive sound.

Velvet Chain's most valuable asset is their lead singer; Erika has a confident and commanding stage presence, with a silky, hauntingly pure voice. She releases her vocal power with exquisite style and ease, singing with remarkable technical skill and versatility -- yet, her stage presence remains down-to-earth and gracious. Erika is a class-act, starkly beautiful, intelligent, sincere, and always in command of the room. She's an elegant rocker with a smokey-vixen kind of sex appeal.

www.velvetchain.com
Velvet Chain performing "Come To Me" live in concert (Click here for more video!)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/30/2005
Band Website: velvetchain.com
Band Members: ERIKA AMATO (Lead vocals), JEFF STACY (Bass, Producer), BRIAN REARDON (Guitar), MARC ANTONIO (Keyboards), JEFF MINCE (Drums)


Influences: Roxy Music, Portishead, David Bowie, Herbie Hancock, Beck, Radiohead, Massive Attack, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, the Doors, the Pretenders, the Cure, the Smiths, Sting, the Police, Tower of Power, Depeche Mode, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gang Of Four, Ella Fitzgerald, Peter Gabriel, Robert Fripp, Duran Duran, Joy Division, Blondie, Kate Bush, Eurythmics...
Sounds Like: Portishead, Dido, Moby, Beck, Garbage, Radiohead, "space-age music with jazz and stuff"
Record Label: Freak Records (our own indie)
Type of Label: None

My Blog

"Dont Leave A Diva" used on ABCs "Big Shots!"

So weird... Last night, I happened to be channel surfing, and I came across "Big Shots" on ABC, and one of Velvet Chain's songs ("Don't Leave A Diva" of our first album, Warm) was totally playing duri...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:37:00 PST

More good news!

Exciting news...  The indie feature film A Couple Of Days And Nights (in which our lead singer, Erika Amato, has a starring role) is finally coming out on DVD! The official release date Oct. 9, b...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:59:00 PST

Velvet Chains Erika Amato Nominated For Ovation Award!

Velvet Chain's lead singer, Erika Amato, has been nominated for the prestigious L.A. Ovation Award (called "L.A.'s most coveted theater honor" and the "highest-profile contest for local theatre" by t...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:12:00 PST

Update

Lots of stuff going on... The indie feature film, A Couple Of Days And Nights - which features Velvet Chain's lead singer, Erika Amato, in one of the lead roles - is being released nationwide on DVD ...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:20:00 PST

Erika's show, "Sleeping Beauty Wakes," EXTENDED

..>     May 4, 2007 ..> ...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Sat, 05 May 2007 09:02:00 PST

Erika's show, "Sleeping Beauty Wakes" (Reviews, etc.)

Just some info on Erika's latest stage production, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, currently running at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, CA,  The show is going great, and now that they've been ext...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:49:00 PST

Erika interviewed by German magazine

Well, this is interesting! Erika was interviewed back in October by JEMAH News, a German health magazine that features music interviews in every issue. The issue came out in December, and we just re...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:30:00 PST

Erika Amato cast in new Deaf West/Center Theatre Group musical

Velvet Chain's lead singer, Erika Amato, has been tapped to play the Bad Fairy (aka Maleficent, for those of you only familiar with the Disney version) in a brand-new musical adaptation of the "Sleepi...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 10:20:00 PST

Erika's Movie @ the Temecula Film Festival

So it turns out that the movie I shot a while ago, A Couple Of Days AndNights, is an official selection of the Temecula Valley International FilmFestival going on next week (Sept. 14th and 16th), so I...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 09:15:00 PST

New Jazz CD

OK, so it's not a Velvet Chain CD (and I swear, we really are recording one), but it is a brand-spankin' new CD, featuring yours truly singing her little heart out.The CD is called "Come Rain Or Come ...
Posted by Velvet Chain on Sun, 27 Aug 2006 11:28:00 PST