New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - Singer, guitarist, and songwriter Sonya Kitchell - whose voice Marie Claire praised as "equal parts milk and honey" - has recently completed work on her second album, 'This Storm,' set for release on
September 2nd, 2008, as a joint venture between Decca/Universal and Velour
Music Group.
Strikingly confident, and at times more aggressive and rock-focused, 'This Storm' builds on the promise that marked her acclaimed debut. Recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Malcolm Burn (Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris) at Burn's home studio in upstate New York, the new album is a showcase for Kitchell's prodigious talent and stunning voice.
Kitchell's debut 'Words Came Back To Me', recorded when she was only 15, shot her to national and international attention. People Magazine raved that Kitchell has "a knock out voice that alternately evokes the smokiness of Norah Jones, the soulfulness of Joss Stone and the ethereal sweetness of Sarah McLachlan," adding that "Kitchell is destined for great things."
And she was: her debut went on to sell almost 100,000 copies and led to major exposure on Late Night With David Letterman, Craig Ferguson, CNN, and NPR's All Things Considered, in addition to across the board raves from the music press.
Among the many recent highlights, perhaps the most unexpected development has been the ongoing creative partnership between Kitchell and jazz legend Herbie Hancock. The two have performed together extensively, both on tour (one joint tour is wrapped and another is slated to kick off this summer) and on television, including a breakout performance on the acclaimed "Live From Abby Road" program. They also collaborated on a bonus track for 2007's Album of the Year Grammy recipient, the Hancock-produced Joni Mitchell tribute 'The Joni Letters.'
'This Storm' is an immediate and visceral album, dealing with serious issues with a newfound boldness. Kitchell, whose lyrics have been favorably compared to the poetry of e.e. cummings (Harp Magazine), touches on war, loss, and solitude in tracks like "Soldier's Lament," "Robin in the Snow," and "Walk Away." There is also plenty of drive and backbeat to 'This Storm,' from the sultry, roots-inspired rock of "Borderline," to the indie-leaning "Every Drop," and "Fire," to the shimmering acoustic-alt-pop of "Effortless" and the first single, "Here to There." Kitchell and Burn even leaven some electronic flourishes into the album's closer, the title track "This Storm."
Kitchell will be on tour this summer with Herbie Hancock, with high profile highlights including the Playboy and JVC Jazz festivals in LA and NYC, respectively. Kitchell will launch a national headlining tour in the fall.
