New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Gwynn is a powerhouse vocalist with a dynamic range that spans soulful rhythmic phrasing, soaring emotionality, and silken and sensually expressive singing. Her prowess as a vocalist, and her stunning range, harkens back to her previous training as an opera singer at
Indiana University. While there, she studied under Wolfgang Brendel, a world-renowned opera singer who has performed at the Met multiple times, as well as received The Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Previous to this formal training, Gwynn had been singing and playing piano since she was 6.
Classic rock drips like honey from Gwynn's fingers, but, interestingly enough, she has no previous experience with the genre. This is her very first release. "I wrote all the music for this album, and some of the lyrics while I was being trained as a classical singer in high school and then
Indiana University," Gwynn says. "I approached this album as dipping my toe into the pool of creative expression in this form. I ended up diving in full force, and dropped out of college in order to fully pursue this dream."
There is a beautiful sense of nostalgic longing in the Americana-tinged single, Fleeting Dream. Stately piano, organ flourishes, and a soulful and no-nonsense rhythm section carry the song. Dazzling twangy lead guitar work adds dimension and dramatic flair. Gwynn's singing here is elegantly expressive, with tight harmony interlace and a delivery that conjures the earthiness of folk and the grace of country.
Fleeting Dream, along with the rest of Land Of Honey, was produced by 6-time Grammy-winner Jimmy Hoyson (Stevie Nicks, Ben Harper, Eric Clapton, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed). It features an exclusive cadre of handpicked top-tier musicians whose resumes include working with such iconic artists as:
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, The Allman Brothers Band, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The Doobie Brothers, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu,
David Bowie, and
Vanessa Williams.
The guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocal tracks are thoughtfully and dynamically enhanced by strings, horns, backing vocals, and harmonica. The record was recorded at a studio called The Vault, named that because it's a spacious and vibey facility with one sound chamber that used to literally be a bank vault. This setting imbued the sessions with a natural reverb and unique acoustic properties. Adding to the majesty of the recordings is that the sessions were tracked on the studio's Vintage Neve 8058, formerly owned by
George Harrison.
About the song, Gwynn comments "Fleeting
Dream is one of my most personal pieces and one of my favorites, because it is one of the first songs I wrote. I wrote it in a time of reflection around a situation that was permeating throughout my life at the time. Some people my family and I had involved in aspects of our lives were doing great damage to us, so we eventually had to end our relationship. Fleeting dream is about the reminiscent feeling that we felt missing the role the people played in our lives, while simultaneously celebrating the growth and freedom that came from leaving them behind. The song itself was cathartic to record and holds a very special place in my heart."
