Today's Pick is one of those independent artists that I think you should hear. After traveling the globe as Moby's female vocalist, Kelli Scarr now has her own superb debut release, "Piece," on Silence Breaks. The Brooklyn, NY singer has an incredible voice and live it's simply breathtaking. With a varied music background, that took her from California to Boston, then Brooklyn, her newest Matthew Nourse-directed video for the tune "Break Up," is a highlight of "Piece" among many such highlights.This Berklee College of Music-trained singer-songwriter has had music in her bones from a very early age, showing a love of singing at the tender age of three whence upon she began recording her young vocalizations with a little hand-held tape recorder. She got her big break when Moby took notice of her work and invited her to work with him on his 2009 album, "Wait For Me." From her time with indie darlings Moonraker, to her collaboration and touring with Moby, to her Emmy-nominated compositions for HBO's "In a Dream." Scarr's artistic accomplishments are, like her voice, impossible to ignore.
Throughout "Piece," Scarr imbues her simple songs with depth: from the wistful Brother to the achy and vulnerable "Break Up." The heavy reverb gives her music a retro sense that comes to feel timeless. It's her voice and the music together that create an ethereal beauty. A rich burgundy wine would complete the mood. In the end "Piece" reflected a large portion of Scarr's life and those around her. In songs like "Break Up," we hear soulful piano filled country that despite its easy digestion never feels impersonal or heavy handed. From the sounds of her creaky upright piano and midnight acoustic recordings to the whimpers of her son waking up from a nap in the next room, "Piece" captured an extremely personal journey, providing a photo album's worth of lush images.
In a word, "Piece" is catharsis for Scarr. With these melodies, she can give order to the events that once felt so terribly chaotic. The genius of it, though, lies in Scarr's ability to hang the listener on his seat, wondering what images from his own life her next lyric might conjure. Her solo debut will leave an ache in your heart, for sure. It's as sad as friendly faces frozen for eternity inside cracked picture frames or once cherished toys gathering dust in the attic. It's authentic Americana with a whole lotta soul. Scarr's is a smouldering smoky voice backed by vibrant, elegant playing and enough trinkets and sparkle to fill Aladdin's Cave. Like the best stories, "Piece" is one you'll want to hear over. Don't let it go unheard.
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