Member Since: 2/28/2006
Band Website: annvriend.com
Band Members: Ann Vriend, writer, piano player, singer
Performs solo, duo with organ/synth, or with full band (drums, bass, guitar, organ/synth, BGs vocals), or variations thereof with lighting/video artist. Tour/show formation depends on venue offers and budgets.
Influences: Reviewers and audiences have compared Ann to Katie Melua, Cat Power, Kate Bush, Regina Spektor, Carole King, Sarah Slean, Damion Rice, Fiona Apple, Royal Wood. Her childhood influences were '70s songwriters such as Paul Simon, Cat Stephens, Leonard Cohen. Vocally Ann is a huge fan of Aretha Franklin, and her recent production sound is categorized as "baroque pop" (melodramatic, melodic pop incorporating orchestral instramentation within the pop format, such as the Beatles "Elanor Rigby", for e.g.).
Press quotes:
"Edmonton's own piano pop laureate of emotional conflict, [Ann Vriend delivers] a lean, literate black and blue Tapestry for a new generation"
--Ottawa Express
"Ann Vriend sings with the heart-stopping intensity of Aretha Franklin, plays piano with the ease of Norah Jones and writes songs as powerful in their simplicity as those of Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen"
--Elle Magazine
"Her latest release, The Clandestine
EP, a great precursor to what's sure
to be a memorable third full-length
album... finds the perfect balance between
lush, radio-friendly pop and Alberta twang...
showing off the songwriter's endless potentialâ€
--NOW Magazine, August 2007
Sounds Like: To buy Ann's singles:
Type of Label: None