Existentia

Biography

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I’m a singer/songwriter and pianist originally from New York. While I have temporarily settled in the Midwest and live on my beloved Starkweather Creek which literally stirs at my back door, I still consider myself a New York-based artist. My work has been categorized as gothic/ethereal, melodramatic pop and heavenly voices, although I particularly love that one reviewer referred to my music as esoteric pop.

Although I am often assumed to be a classically trained pianist, I am completely self taught, discovering that I could write little progressions on the piano at age 8. Listeners often say that my intuitive control of the piano is striking, that I possess a dynamically ethereal vocal range, and that there is a unique depth to my songwriting. I am honored that my music is frequently compared to Kate Bush, Harold Budd and Laura Nyro. My most vivid musical inspirations come from growing up in a very artistic, theatrical home listening to everything from show tunes to opera to the iconic singer/songwriter Cat Stevens whose stirring, fluid chord changes and magnificent orchestrations music moved me. Part of the essence of my instinctive emotionally visceral theatrical style may be attributed to my Gypsy lineage, which is perhaps why I started to play the concertina recently. I don’t consider myself a musical story teller, but rather more of a revelatory and referential songwriter.

International label Kalinkaland Records released the album Island worldwide in July 2005. The album is being distributed in the U.S. by Sam Rosenthal’s Projekt Records. Island features the incredible work of avant-garde cellist Matt Turner.

Since Island’s release I’ve contributed music to various projects. Most recently I contributed a very stark piano score to the Documentary by Film maker/musician Wendy Schneider: CUT: Teens and Self Injury featuring Shirley Manson of Garbage and Tiffany Arbuckle Lee of Plumb. I also contributed a track “Siren Lotus” to the 17 Pygmies album 13 Blackbirds/13 Lotus released in 2006, which earned praise from Brainwashed’s John Whitney; “Jo’s sparse piano version of Lotus is probably the most striking!” I am also being included in renowned music critic Mick Mercer's Summer 2008 book on notable international gothic artists.

I am thrilled to be able to contribute music to indie director Steve Balderson's upcoming feature film Watch Out (currently in production) based on Joseph Suglia's riveting best-selling novel. The film features multiple songs from my upcoming release Fools and Orphans and a new song “I Am Lovely,” written specifically for the movie.

Fools and Orphans, my second release on Kalinkaland Records will be released in fall 2008. While Kalinkaland will release a gothic European version in the wonderful style of 4AD, I am releasing my own limited artist’s version of the album. This version has a very warm and richly intimate stage orchestral vibe reminiscent of the 1970s singer/songwriter sensibility. Fools and Orphans also features a guest vocal appearance by Hannah Fury on “The Habits of Shadows,” as well as the extraordinary work of musicians Linda Mackley on timpani and percussion, Stephanie Rearick on trumpet, Mark Urness on bowed upright bass, and once again the incredible Matt Turner on cello. I consider Fools and Orphans my best work to date and it features some of my most substantively poetic lyrics, and my concertina Ruby (I name everything ) appears on the track “Of Love and Ether.” My artist’s limited release of Fools and Orphans will be available exclusively through Ephemera on May 7, 2008!