Country Music Artist - LoriAnn
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Bio:
“Sunflowers always want to face the sunlight no matter where they are. I am like one in the sense that I always try to look at the positive to get me through the negative. People tell me that I'm always smiling. Of course that's not the case or else I probably wouldn't be a songwriter. But I do try to find a ray of sunlight even in my darkest songs, and I smile because I want to brighten someone else's day even if I might be having a bad one myself.”
She is a self-proclaimed mutt (half-southern and half-northern). “My mother is from Tifton , GA and my father is from Rye , NY . I was raised like a southern child in the heart of NY.” Now why in the world would she ever be a little confused? All I can say is from all of that confusion, she has been able to clearly create a perfect blend of pop and hip alternative country music that is uniquely universal.
Ballet and modern dance introduced her to the stage at the tender young age of four.
“Unlike many mothers who see talent in their children, my mom never forced or encouraged me to take piano lessons, or participate in the school plays and community theater. She always thought I had too much on my plate, and encouraged me to just relax, play with the other kids after school, do your homework, and take it easy. Taking it easy is something that's just not in my vocabulary. Working hard is something I've always enjoyed, because I enjoy the reward that much more.”
She continued singing in choir throughout college, and toured with a Top 40 country band on the weekends. In her spare time, she began to learn the guitar and sang demos for other songwriters. As a solo artist, she has made appearances at the Eastern Shore Opry in Maryland , where she had the honor of sharing the stage with Claire Lynch (a Rounder Records contemporary bluegrass artist) and the legendary Reno Bros.
She lived in Nashville , TN for a period of time, where she was the lead vocalist and songwriter for a band called Sugar Shack . The band quickly propelled to headline status at clubs in Nashville and around the southeast. The lead guitarist and LoriAnn eventually branched off to form a Fleetwood Mac-inspired country duo named Beasley ‘n Feeley. Before they knew it they were in DaCapo Music's studio on Music Row cutting their first all-original album. The duo quickly became featured writers at the world famous Bluebird Café , joining the very few artists asked by Barbara Cloyd to play her coveted showcases. The album, So Far So Good, was released and gave them Nashville recognition but unfortunately they didn't get as much exposure as they had hoped. “I believe there's a reason certain things don't work out. You learn from each experience and continue down the path that God has planned for you,” says LoriAnn.
On a weekend getaway, LoriAnn visited St. Augustine with her mother and she just fell in love with the spirituality of the town. A local bar called The Milltop Tavern had acoustic entertainment, and she had the opportunity to play some of her original material. She did, the crowd loved it, and she was hired for some gigs right on the spot. LoriAnn pounded the cobblestone of St. Augustine , and before she knew it she was playing five nights a week at various restaurants, clubs, and bars. She has achieved local stardom in St. Augustine , Jacksonville , Daytona and the surrounding Northern Florida region and her welcome is long overdue. She has most recently opened for Kate Campbell, a Nashville recording artist and songwriter, at the Atlantic Theatre in Jacksonville , FL.
Her new album “This Town,” has been a labor of love for the past year. Danny Roberts worked as producer on the project, who has worked with the likes of Tom Petty. “Danny is the most creative, talented, enthusiastic, and hard-working person I know,” says LoriAnn. “He truly believes in me as an artist, and I will never be able to explain how much that means to me.”
Every track is extremely personal or an autobiographical insight into her life. “I write from the heart and I don't know how to do it any other way. The reason I began writing was strictly for my own therapy. I feel the need to be honest with myself and I think that's why people are drawn to my music. Honesty is something that everyone is looking for, and there's not enough of it nowadays. People can tell the difference between what's real and what's not, and I know that you can't ever fake it with the people!”
LoriAnn says she has always heard a nagging voice in her head, telling her that she is meant to be a recording artist and songwriter, in order to help other people get through those difficult times in their lives. “I'm really looking to jump to the next level at this point in my career. I feel I'm more ready now than I will ever be. I've worked really hard to get all of my pieces in place. Now I'm just patiently waiting for that “bit of luck,” where preparation meets opportunity!”
There's a good chance she won't be waiting that much longer. The CD and DVD have just been independently released, there's already a buzz, and some record labels are already knocking on her door.
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