Eliza Rickman profile picture

Eliza Rickman

About Me

"You always make people feel bad about themselves when you wear those vintage dresses when you play. why don't you wear a t-shirt and jeans like everyone else!"
- Ace
ELIZA RICKMAN is a singer, songwriter and pianist living and performing in California. Her unique and haunting sound combines the lilting sweetness of popular vocalists like Feist or Annie Clark with the gritty sensibilities of PJ Harvey and the playfulness of Kurt Weill. The daughter of a Baptist preacher, Eliza discovered the piano at age eight. She innocently pounded away at a 120-year-old piano inherited from her grandfather while growing up in southern California. She went on to study classical piano, specializing in Ragtime at Azusa Pacific University. Eliza eventually changed her major to arranging and, at the urging of a teacher, began singing. Over the next few years, Eliza developed her original and unforgettable vocal style by listening to her voice on a four track recorder.
Shortly before graduating, Eliza began composing her own material, utilizing her talent for arranging string quartets and piano. When she began performing at Los Angeles venues, she purchased a toy piano out of necessity. The compact, antique, two-octave piano quickly became her trademark accompaniment. Its piercingly nostalgic sound created a lyrical dissonance with her deceptively powerful voice. While she still performs with a small chamber of musicians at venues like El Cid and Hotel Cafe, the toy piano is the central instrument on her new EP, Gild the Lily. Full of lovesick lullabies, Gild the Lily marries pure and sultry melodies with melancholy lyrics. The raven-haired, porcelain-skinned songstress serenades listeners into an unexpected vulnerability while leading them on a quest for love by a little girl lost.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 19/01/2005
Band Website: elizarickman.com
Band Members: My band is pretty bootylicious- come to Hotel Cafe if you want proof ;)
Please contact Claudia Karaski of High Brow Management for booking inquiries-
[email protected]
Wardrobe styling by Shareen of Shareen Vintage
Photos by Kathryna Hancock except where indicated
Influences:
Sounds Like:

Eliza Rickman

Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Set List for Make Music Pasadena Festival

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Pasadena festival yesterday.  I am *hoping* someone got photos or video- will post if that was successful.We had so much fun & you were all lovely!  ;)Set List-1...
Posted by on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:49:00 GMT

Feature in Today's Press-Enterprise by Vanessa Franko

My new friend Vanessa Franko gave me some props in her article "Playtime with a toy piano" in today's Press-Enterprise.  This feature is in lieu of tomorrow's all-girlie acoustic showcase in Corona at...
Posted by on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:03:00 GMT

New Bio Up + More News...

A brand new bio has just been posted on my page.  Written by dear friend & talented playwright Leslye Headland, it describes me to a T- check it out.More press from San Diego and the Inland Empire wil...
Posted by on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:48:00 GMT

Put your knees into your face...

Thanks to the Rhino Records in Claremont, I just got a complimentary remastered cd of the formerly out-of-print Siouxsie album, "A Kiss in the Dreamhouse."  It's pretty swell...
Posted by on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:52:00 GMT

New Feature on CTN-Music.com

So super yay-I am currently featured on CTN-Music.com.  A french cutie named Jessica caught wind of my tunes and decided to write a review of 'Gild the Lily'.  Check out the article & interview here-h...
Posted by on Tue, 26 May 2009 16:02:00 GMT

Attention San Diegans...

Mark your calendars- I just booked a show with my friends, "The Dabbers," for Friday, July 3rd at the Soda Bar.  You'll finally get to experience the toy piano frenzy and perhaps a string player or tw...
Posted by on Tue, 12 May 2009 16:12:00 GMT

Set List- 04.22.09 at LA Underground's show @ Mr. T's Bowl

1.) Big Love (new)2.) Devil's Flesh & Bones3.) Over Cold Shoulders4.) Cinnamon Bone5.) Black Rose6.) Lily Love7.) Moon River
Posted by on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:50:00 GMT

Set List- 04.21.09 at Crane's Hollywood Tavern

Consequently... ;)1) Girl2) Devil's Flesh & Bones3) Over Cold Shoulders4) Eleanor Rigby5) Black Rose6) Cinnamon Bone7) Lily Love8) Moon RiverPhotos & video coming soon :D
Posted by on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:22:00 GMT

'Gild the Lily' Now Available on Amazon.com

The new EP is now available for digital download on amazon.com's MP3 section.  Some people prefer Amazon's encryption... now you have options ;)Also, I'm joining the 88's Cabaret ensemble on April 20t...
Posted by on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:21:00 GMT

'Gild the Lily' Out Now on iTunes

The new, super sweet, super awesome toy piano-based EP, "Gild the Lily," is now up on iTunes.  It features 5 gorgeous originals & 1 whimsical cover of "Moon River."It'll run you less than $6- go get i...
Posted by on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:21:00 GMT