Eleanor Fye profile picture

Eleanor Fye

About Me

Sometimes life takes you down unexpected roads. Eleanor Fye can attest to that, and her music holds the same surprises. A genre-defying performer and writer in classical, jazz, and pop/rock circles, she views each performance as a step toward integrating a vast range of influences in her own unique way, For her, it’s all about the song and the story; whether a jazz standard done up along the lines of Tori Amos or Carole King, a Puccini aria accompanied by country-style guitar, or a pop/rock creation of her own, she delivers with passion and authenticity. Her original songs are spirited and soulful explorations of the tension between head and heart, grief and joy, hope and regret, belonging and independence. Laced with edges of folk, country, blues and punk, they offer solid, stick-to-your-ribs sustenance.

The voice is another thing entirely -- a smooth, golden ribbon of sound, capable of anguished, Raitt-ian growls, or angelic, Riperton-esque riffs. The voice heals as it humbles, and Eleanor herself seems to be the biggest recipient of both gifts. As a professional choral singer she has performed onstage under the batons of such renowned conductors as Mstislav Rostropovich and Peter Phillips (Tallis Scholars), and in the studio, has sung on a number of videogame and movie soundtracks (“Halo 3,” “Ghost Rider"). As a breakaway solo artist she suddenly felt songs coming on in 2006, and the next year followed her heart to Nashville to produce her debut release, “Drive,” with Grammy-nominated Jason Lehning at the board. On the wheels of her keyboard talents, honed as a professional since high school, she takes an audience down many a side road that’s much more interesting than the interstate.

After Eleanor’s first gig in Nashville, Wendy Vickers (Nashville music blogger, publicist, and radio personality) wrote: “she successfully used her classical, jazz and pop influences to totally enchant and engage the audience with her warm personality, personal songwriting and excellent vocals … She asked the crowd to sing along with her cover of the Minnie Riperton hit "Loving You" ... I figured perhaps outside of Mariah Carey, few could pull off the stratospheric part of the end of that chorus. Well, Eleanor did. It sure blew us all away. She got a standing ovation for her set from me … Eleanor Fye is certainly where she belongs being here in Nashville. I say keep an ear out for her to do great things.”


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/06/2006
Band Website: http://www.eleanorfye.com
Band Members: Eleanor's debut CD Drive is now available
Free shipping worldwide

Featuring: Eleanor Fye, vocalsCraig Young (Wreckers, Indigo Girls), bassBen Phillips (Steven Curtis Chapman, Clay Aiken), percussion and loopsJJ Hernandez (Widow's Mite), guitarJohn Deaderick (Patti Griffin, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor), keyboardsTammy Rogers King (Steeldrivers), violin/viola John Catchings (Faith Hill, Jars of Clay), cello Jon Hyde (Mount Analog, Laura Veirs), pedal steel

Influences: Elton John, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Barbara Streisand, Broadway soundtracks, Carpenters, Led Zeppelin, Jack Johnson, Melissa Etheridge, Rush, Iron Maiden, Camille, Carla Bruni, Journey, Queen, Softcell, Nina Simone, Blondie, Neil Diamond, the Monkees, Beatles, Cars, Pretenders, Police, Sting, Renaissance polyphony, Chopin, Ravel, Emma Kirkby, Christopher Hogwood, Nicholas Harnoncourt, William Byrd, Charlie Parker, Maria Callas, Bach, Arvo Part, Boston, Sheryl Crow, Chicago, Jeff Buckley, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Serge Gainsbourg, Billy Joel, Alanis Morissette...
Sounds Like: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sarah MacLachlan, Regina Spektor, Shawn Colvin, Aimee Mann, Cowboy Junkies, Natalie Merchant, Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Jane Monheit, Bonnie Raitt.
Record Label: It's all me

My Blog

no woman is an island...

... but she can sure enjoy living on one! Little did I know what riches Whidbey Island held for me. It's a magical place, and I feel grateful that my heart was drawn here. Here are a few of my favorit...
Posted by on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:25:00 GMT

Reclaiming the past...

Lately my life seems to be about going through situations where I get to reclaim parts of myself that have been lost or blocked or forgotten through the years. Last night was a shining example.I went ...
Posted by on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:24:00 GMT

Challenges...

I'm continually grateful for all the support I've gotten from wonderful friends, new acquaintances, and even strangers on planes. I'm humbled by the encouragement - it lets me know I'm on the right...
Posted by on Mon, 25 May 2009 21:21:00 GMT

Great show at Red Tree, and a blink...

So I had a great time at my show on Friday night, thanks to everyone who came out!! And thanks to the wonderfully chill and creative Jon Conley for the guitarizing and witty banter... I had fun t...
Posted by on Sun, 24 May 2009 21:41:00 GMT

Thank God I'm not a perfectionist...

...or I'd just stay at home, and that wouldn't be nearly as much fun. :)Did another writer's night tonight, this time Dan McGuinness' Girls Night, hosted by the lovely Terri Jo. I was actually really ...
Posted by on Mon, 11 May 2009 21:50:00 GMT

The danger of caution...

I've been thinking a lot lately about the danger of caution. It's come up in a couple of writing sessions, and getting some killer couplets... It's one of those paradoxes of our "controlled" lives...I...
Posted by on Fri, 01 May 2009 20:15:00 GMT

Poetry

I found a favorite poem of mine recently, filed away... and it hit me even stronger this time than the first time I read it. It's by Mary Oliver, and called Blue Iris. It starts out with the question ...
Posted by on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:31:00 GMT

Austin bound...

I'm flying out to Austin tomorrow, to take in the fringe of SXSW fest, and to hang out with some old, great friends. I used to live there, and can't wait to see my peeps! I've got a set on Saturday ni...
Posted by on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:12:00 GMT

So excited...

First of all, YAY SLUMDOG!! I admit I am a big fan of the Oscars - I cry nearly all the way through... so much emotion... and I admire great actors so much for baring their souls...And also today, I w...
Posted by on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:20:00 GMT

Missing links...

Have you ever missed someone so much your cells ache for them? You think of them, and all the walls of Jericho fall... and you know that you can and should find that openness and happiness with or wit...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:55:00 GMT