biographical info
Belinda Bruce and the Tawny Stars just unearthed their new CD "The Good Life" (Bee-Side Records - independent - 2007).
Nominee: Belinda Bruce
Favourite Folk Artist at the 6th Annual Independent Music Awards (the Indies) 2006.
Nominee: Belinda Bruce
Best New/Emerging Artist and Best Solo Artist at the Canadian Folk Music Awards 2005.
Semi-finalist: Belinda
Bruce & the Tawny Stars' early version of the song "Rust" made the
semi-finals in the 2005 International Songwriting Competition.
#5
"Dream
Yourself Awake" ranked no. 5 on the Galaxie Folk/Roots Channels Top Ten
Folk Albums of 2005 and no. 23 on the Top Spins (Canadian) of 2005.
Watch video of "Twisted Lullaby" from Dream Yourself Awake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k_ADdqH-NM
Vancouver-based
Belinda Bruce claims songwriting royalty amongst her influences:
Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Fleetwood Mac, Suzanne Vega and Joni
Mitchell, just for starters. It's safe to say that in the wake of her
brilliant sophomore album The Good Life, the name Belinda Bruce will
soon be a regular on such lists of other artists inspirations.
Her
beautiful 2005 debut Dream Yourself Awake (Maximum) presented a sublime
collection of oft-playful, mildly psychedelic chamber-folk, receiving
international plaudits and domestic award nominations galore. A highly
melodic, yet understated first release, it nonetheless remains an
auspicious debut that held promise spectacularly realized in The Good
Life.
While the rustic whimsy and masterful grasp of pop melody
that characterized Dream Yourself Awake remain undisturbed, The Good
Life is a grittier proposition altogether. An exploration of themes
relating to city life, Belinda Bruce & The Tawny Stars invite the
listener into a world populated by somebodies and nobodies experiencing
the unpredictable peaks and troughs, highs and heartaches of life, love
'n everything. From the guarded intimacy of opener "Dirty Little
Secrets" to the orch-pop ode to urban existence "Citysong" from the
frankness of cornerstone epic "Rust" to the ruminative sing-a-long of
the closing title track, "The Good Life" is a personal journey of human
experience in the big metropolis. Though whether urban or rural
dweller, it remains the story of us all.
Many Canadian indie,
female roots musicians of the last two years, including Alana
Levandoski, The Be Good Tanyas, Angela Desveaux, Po' Girl and Kathleen
Edwards, have been making strides into the worldwide market. It seems
just a little bit likely that Belinda Bruce will be at the crest of
that next wave, riding in on the roots-rock opus that is The Good Life.
And
in The Tawny Stars, Belinda Bruce has assembled pretty much the cream
of Vancouver roots talent to accompany her. With a collective resume
dovetailing with the careers of Canadian legends and up-and-comers The
Paperboys, Flophouse Jr, Rodney Decroo, Rich Hope, Spygirl, Herald Nix
and Neko Case, we are talking Emmylou's Hot Band, and then some. Listen
to The Good Life and you'll agree.
The Good Life is available now on Bee-Side Records.
Belinda is planning to tour Canada, the UK and anywhere they'll let her play in 2007.
* In fall 2006 Belinda performed in select spots across Canada with side project The Auster Sisters.
press/publicity: 604.222.4670
lineup
Matt Brain Drums & percussion
Jon Wood Banjo, Electric Guitar, Lap Steel, Harmony vocals
Jane Gowan Trumpet, Rhodes, Accordion, Vocals
Ryen Froggatt Bass
Belinda Bruce Songwriter, Acoustic/electric guitar, lead vocals
influences
Beth Orton
Gillian Welch
Lucinda Williams
Ron Sexsmith
Suzanne Vega