Amy LaCour is a contemporary musician with classic influences. Her music is rooted in soul and singer/songwriter traditions while drawing from modern pop and jazz. A child of an African American father and a Portuguese mother, Amy considers it her birthright to blur genre lines. “In order to remain inspired, I have to listen to all types of music,” she says. “And everything that I hear influences me in some way. Sticking to one genre is far too creatively limiting.”
Amy’s debut EP, Bitter Suite, was released in 2007. Produced by Richard Barron, the set was richly textured, moody, and highlighted the jazz influence in Amy’s singing and songwriting. The single, “One Man’s Stone,” was voted “one of the best songs of 2008” by Urban Network and was played on several independent radio stations across the U.S.
In the meantime, Amy continued to perform in LA clubs and in coffeehouses in and beyond California while writing songs for her follow-up CD. Set to be released this summer, The Upswing, is a bit of a departure from Bitter Suite. “My musical tastes have continued to develop over the last few years. Bitter Suite was absolutely the type of recording I wanted to make in 2007,” she says. “And The Upswing is just the CD I want to release in 2010.”
Amy continues to be influenced by classic soul and folk artists like Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Roberta Flack, and Richie Havens. Add to the mix contemporary artists like The Black Keys, Andrew Bird, Laura Marling, and Neko Case and you will arrive at Amy’s current sound that puts less emphasis on jazz, and favors modern folk, and indie pop. Produced by up-and-comer, David Bowick, The Upswing sound is one of spare arrangements, colorful vocal harmonies, and a driving rhythm section surrounding Amy’s piano playing and soaring vocals. “I feel really confident in the direction my music is going,” she says. “I hope that fans will come along for the ride.”
|
