New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Liz Vice is scarred, but her soul is strong. Following years of adversity, the Portland, OR singer will release her debut record 'There's A Light' on
September 25th via Ramseur Records. Deeply rooted in spirituality, the collection follows the path laid by soul heroines like Sharon Jones and Mavis Staples by remaining both reverent, and on the cutting edge of the contemporary.
Opener "Abide" introduces Liz's distinct grit that sounds pulled straight from a Stax vault, colored by subtle sensuality. "Empty Me Out" is lyrically candid, with instrumentation rooted in classic soul, while maintaining a wholly modern groove. "Truly Today" soars beyond the pulpit with touches of electric organ and a R&B-inflected funk. Produced by Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper, 'There's A Light' was recorded at Bungalow 9 Studios in Portland and features a crack band of Portland-based musicians, including electric guitar work from Earley himself. The 10 track collection features eight originals, written by Portland-based songwriter Josh White, and two covers - "There's A Light" by Shirley Ann Lee and "Pure Religion" by Josh White Jr.
Liz grew up the middle of five children. At 15, she was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, which forced her to begin kidney dialysis a few years later. Not thinking she'd live to see 21, she enrolled in school for medical assisting to help people who were similarly afflicted. "Instead of praying that I would be healed, I was just so tired that I would pray for death every day," she admits. "But every day I woke up, I decided to live that day to the fullest."
Miraculously, in 2005, she received a life-saving kidney transplant. Her new lease on life encouraged her to pursue her dream of filmmaking, long-since put on hold in the face of her struggle to survive. While pursuing an education in video production, Liz introduced herself to Josh White, the Pastor at the church she attended. Soon after, she began to lead worship once a month, which would prove pivotal in the development of her musical career. She soon came to the attention of The
Avett Brothers bassist Bob Crawford, who found solace in Liz's music during a time when his daughter was receiving her quarterly brain cancer scans at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Watch a live performance of "Empty Me Out" here via OPB
Liz has already shared bills with St Paul & the Broken Bones, Cody Chestnutt and Blitzen Trapper among others, and has been touted by OPB and NPR's Live Wire. She'll make her Pickathon debut next month, full tour itinerary below.
'There's A Light' Track List
1. Abide
2. Empty Me Out
3. Entrance
4. The Source
5. Truly Today
6. Pure Religion
7.
Everything Is Yours
8. All Must Be Well
9. Enclosed By You
10. There's A Light
Tour Dates:
7/31 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon
8/02 - Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon
8/06 - Portland, OR - Plaza Palooza
9/5 - Portland, OR - White Eagle
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