Band Bio: There are some artists who prefer to follow their own path, working on their craft and honing a style. Pundits make great capital of the maturity of the talents of Adele, despite her relative youth...
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Band Bio: There are some artists who prefer to follow their own path, working on their craft and honing a style. Pundits make great capital of the maturity of the talents of Adele, despite her relative youth - nineteen years of old. What then, would they make of the fifteen year old Steph Fraser, who makes her recording debut with the three-track EP, Purple Sun, then? A cursory listen to the title track reveals a vocalist who manages to combine intelligent lyricism with an appealing vulnerability, melodically gifted and an artist who doesn't sound like her female contemporaries.
So, what about Steph Fraser, then? Well, since taking her first guitar lesson at the age of five, she also discovered a talent for crafting songs. It wasn't long before other residents of the Fylde coast (Blackpool and its environs) started to acknowledge that, frankly, they'd got a bit of a live 'un here, and she was chosen to perform at the Blackpool Illuminations bash in August 2007 (broadcast by BBC Radio 2), alongside the likes of Natalie Imbruglia, McFly, and Natasha Bedingfield, and was not overawed to appear in such rarefied company. She's also played many local talent shows, as well as the prestigious Black Vegas event for emergent talent at the Blackpool Grand Theatre. She then signed a deal with indie label Sonic Vista Recordings, and 'Purple Sun' is the first ripe fruit of this liaison. After signing with the label Steph hooked up with co-writer and multi-instrumentalist Stephen (Ladders) Ladley and was invited to showcase at Canadian Music Week, where she triumphed in front of music industry heavyweights and her more experienced comtemporaries. Parts of her new EP were also crafted and recorded in Canada where she will again tour in July/August this year. On Steph’s return to the UK in March things moved on apace with further showcase bookings at Liverpool Sound City in May and also a raft of appearances on BBC local radio (Lancashire and Merseyside).
She’s recently been asked to showcase at Canadian Music Week again in 2009 and has performed at the prestigious Acoustic Gathering festival in Scarborough and 2 shows with Joe Longthorne at North Pier, Blackpool
Steph Fraser is available for interview and radio promotional interviews in support of the release of Purple Sun. Please contact us at the numbers and e-mail addresses below, and get in on the ground floor a rare and immensely promising young singer-songwriting talent.
www.stephfraser.co.uk | www.myspace.com/stefaniefraser | www.stephfraser.ca | www.sonicvistarecordings.com
Management: Ken at Sonic Vista (07875 407362) | Email: sonicvista@strummermag.info
PRESS QUOTES:
“I like listening to music by good, original artists. I think Steph Fraser certainly qualifies. Check out ‘Weight of Water’ and her new single ‘Purple Sun’. Very calming voice.
California Dreamin’ – stumbleupon.com
“Steph held the audience in the palm of her hand from beginning to end. Anyone hearing her rapturous voice climbing to the rafters of the old barn could understand why former Beatles promoter and mentor Sam Leach has said of her – I could listen to Steph Fraser all night, she is going to be big time.
Donna Danielli – Halton Compass- Canada
“With plenty of shows and festival appearances scheduled in the UK (and Canada) over the next few months, and with her career already off to a fine start, the Eva Cassidy inspired singer/songwriter looks destined for great things”
Properganda Magazine – June 2008
“Gazette Blackpool’s Got Talent winner Steph Fraser found herself up there with the likes of Amy Winehouse and Duffy when her brand new single was launched at HMV Blackpool store. Steph outsold all other artists by more than double on the day of release”
New York Daily News carried Blackpool Gazette article
“An appealing collection comprising 3 self compositions. There’s real potential here.”
Purple Sun review – Rock’n’Reel magazine – July 08
“Purple Sun is primed with the necessary big chorus, harmonies and a slick production, all ready for an assault on the charts”
Daily Music Guide – June 08
Fraser, who began playing guitar when she was five, started singing only three years ago -- hard to believe when you hear her rapturous voice, which is a cross between Jewel and Ani DiFranco.
Carli Whitwell – Hamilton Spectator, Canada – Aug 08
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