 OAKDALE, CA. (Flagship Records/ www.brettdennen.com) - Songwriter Brett Dennen is set to release his self-titled album on July 12th. The album was originally released with limited online distribution last year on the Southern California-based Three Angels and a Saint Label, but will now enjoy national exposure via the FLAGSHIP Recordings label and distribution via the new independent UMVD arm, Fontana Distribution. FLAGSHIP Recordings head Marc Nathan is thrilled to be turning more people on to Dennen via wider distribution. Says Nathan: 'A year ago I happened upon Brett Dennen as he was creating a buzz locally with airplay on KCRW and his astonishingly personal live performances at Hotel Cafe. I look forward to Flagship and Fontana sending the Brett Dennen message to music lovers around the world.' Through a festival in Ojai, California last year, Dennen met a long-time music industry local who had managed Ladysmith Black Mambazo and served as tour manager on Paul Simon's 'Graceland' tour. He hooked Dennen up with iTunes, and put Dennen's newly pressed album in the hands of influential KCRW DJ Chris Douridas, who started spinning tracks from the album on Valentines Day 2004, and has continued to play them repeatedly. This led to airplay on other KCRW shows, as well as airplay on WXPN's World Café. Says Douridas about Dennen's disc: 'He's the unsigned artist of the year. Rarely does music come along so unadorned, so pure in spirit, and so eloquently written.
'Desert Sunrise' generated more phone calls than anything I've played all year.' When iTunes put Dennen's CD online, it went to No 1 on their folk charts almost immediately, and the iTunes staff selected it as one of their staff favorites and added it to their compilation download of recommended songs from new artists. In addition to being a gifted musician, songwriter and performer onstage and on disc, Dennen also funnels his artistic muse through an entirely different medium: pastels and watercolor painting. The cover of his debut album features his artwork, and he has shown and sold his paintings in California galleries. Dennen is also an artist who hopes to eventually be able to make a difference in a social activist sense; he's well on his way through his involvement in the Mosaic Project (www.mosaicproject.org), of which he was one of the founders. The project draws California fifth graders from three different schools in three different income areas together in a forum for peace education. Dennen serves as a music program director with the Mosaic Project, for which he has developed a music curriculum. A CD of the songs (which Dennen co-wrote and performed on) from the program has brought additional attention and needed money to the non-profit program. Dennen plans to tour heavily in support of his forthcoming album and is confirmed to play at this year's Bonnaroo Festival in June (set times TBA). The track 'Desert Sunrise' will go to Triple A and Non-Comm radio formats in June.
Brett Dennen can be found online at www.brettdennen.com
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