Search - Julianna Raye :: Dominoes

The Bossa Nova rhythms on Los Angeles singer/songwriter Julianna Raye s inspired new cd, Dominoes, are so gentle and relaxing you almost take the heartaching beauty of these songs for granted. The songs have a cinematic allure, drawing you in without overwelming the music s sensual mood. Raye has managed to capture the essence of this classic Brazillian style while maintaining her unique identity; recalling a bygone era while sounding absolutely current. Her tales of love are intimate yet universal, taking listeners hungry for true romance on an evocative and sublime journey. In a stressful time, Dominoes is a deep sigh of relief. Dominoes is the latest chapter in a career marked by extraordinary alliances and deeply authentic artistry. Julianna s debut album, Something Peculiar, was produced by Jeff Lynne (Travelling Wilburys, ELO). Lynne was so taken by her voice and songs, he offered to produce Julianna s album. Signed to Warner Brothers by Lenny Waronker, Something Peculiar met with great critical acclaim. It was described by Spin magazine as a pop rock diamond in the rough... Raye s luminous voice and cinematic tales of love, dreams and life carry the day; Something Peculiar was also voted one of NPR s top ten records of the year. After Waronker s departure from Warner Brothers, Raye was left without a label home and with a very uncertain professional future; it took over eight years for her to release her next album. In one of those rare, defining moments in an artist s career, she re-emerged from a process of self-discovery and a string of dissatisfying major label flirtations with the brilliant independent release, Restless Night. Working for the first time with Ethan Johns as producer, she crafted an enticing foray into the wearisome search for love amidst the creeping vapors of Los Angeles nightlife. In true indie fashion, Raye and Johns put together a website, pressed up cds and sent out some packages. Before long, Billboard, NPR and Entertainment Weekly had picked up on the cd with glowing reviews, the latter describing it as languidly gorgeous. Next came the official thumbs up from harbinger of cool, KCRW s Morning Becomes Eclectic and a full-page article in defining alternative paper, the L.A. Weekly. Julianna has this to says about producer, Johns: It s rare to find a creative partner who cares about music and artists the way Ethan does. His one true goal is to be of service to the music and he's a noble warrior in that pursuit. I trust him implicitly to guide my work to a higher ground and to maintain an overarching vision for the project. Ultimately, Johns production expertise, Raye s rich, haunting voice and a suite of enchantingly beautiful songs have come together to fashion a singular artistic vision; one that is traditional yet fresh, timeless yet contemporary and wholly sophisticated in it s simplicity. I ve spent a lot of my time in the music business searching and experimenting, says Raye. I feel fortunate to have had that opportunity because of all the wondrous places I ve been led. Dominoes feels career defining. It s as if this has always been my sound and my voice, just waiting patiently for me to discover it. I believe this record represents my most fully evolved work to date.