Los Angeles, CA (isit www.amsounds.com) - Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, AM, performs live at SXSW this year on
Thursday night, March 16, 2006. The evening is presented by LA radio station 89.9 KCRW. Their showcase takes over the penthouse (18th floor) of the Capitol Place Hotel (formerly Crowne Plaza) at 500 North I-H 35, Austin, TX 78701.
Doors open at 7:00pm and each band will perform 40-minute sets. Joining AM on the bill are
Persephone's Bees (8:00pm),
Magnet (9:00pm), Tina Dico (10:00pm), AM begins at 11:00pm and Jesca Hoop follows at midnight and
Corinne Bailey Rae closes, taking the stage at 1:00am. This year's conference, which takes place from March 10th - 19th, will celebrate its 20th year. For more information about the venue please call 512-480-8181 or visit www.cpaustinhotel.com. For information about the conference please visit https://2006.sxsw.com. Learn more about KCRW at www.kcrw.org and for info on the artist please visit www.amsounds.com.
AM's songs have been embraced by the most critical and influential ears in Los Angeles, garnering attention in 2005 with the LA Weekly's award for the ‘Best Singer/Songwriter of the Year.' His songs are regularly played on KCRW's 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' radio program and the internationally syndicated radio show 'Sounds Eclectic.' His songs have also been heard on TV shows such as ABC's 'Life As We Know It', several season's of MTV's 'Real World' (including 'Real World Philly' and 'Real World Austin') and on the upcoming Tom Hanks HBO production 'Big Love.' AM's live radio performance on KCRW's hit morning show 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' in October 2005 is a favorite Internet podcast download.
AM brings a new twist to pop music following in the footsteps of less obvious pop icons such as Beck, Wilco and The Flaming Lips. Understated pop gems seem effortlessly crafted by this young emerging songwriter. Check out AM's laid back blues on the lovely ballad "Running Away", his addictive tracks like the Weezer-esque "City Syndrome", and his mesmerizing Beck-like vocals in the unforgettable 'Losing You.' Above all it's AM's uncanny ability for writing perfect acoustic-pop hooks and his soothing voice that really sell his wonderful sound. From Americana to folk-rock, AM's songs weave multiple variations of the pop medium with the richness of southern sounds.
AM began his musical development surrounded by rock-n-roll but heavily influenced by the indigenous sounds of New Orleans which included country, bluegrass and roots music. Born in Oklahoma and raised in Mandeville, Louisiana, a rural town outside of New Orleans, he grew up playing guitar and listening to Motown, Fleetwood Mac, and the Eagles. Discontent with the provincial nature of the New Orleans music scene, AM moved to Los Angeles where he held a weekly residency at the infamous Hotel Café then hosted by musical artist Gary Jules ('Madworld' Universal Music).
Approached by producer Jamie Myerson (Duncan Sheik, David Poe, Paul Oakenfold, Sneaker Pimps, and former Ovum Recordings artist) to record an album, the duo collaborated on AM's debut self-titled album producing a classic, yet current amalgam of music. AM has shared the stage with such notable acts as Gary Jules, Rhett Miller (The Instigator/Elektra), Amy Correia (Lakeville/Nettwerk), Glen Tilbrook (former Squeeze songsmith), and Tina Dico (Zero 7 ).
While touring the UK in the fall of 2005, AM caught the eye of Scotland-based label Luna Records. The label will release AM's debut album in the UK in April 2006.
"...AM takes equal parts of classic Americana, folk-rock and pop, and melts them down into something entirely his own, and he does it with two things money can't buy: imagination and taste. These sturdily built pop songs are graced with ingeniously colorful arrangements and have that 'instant classic' thing stamped all over them..." ~ John Payne, LA Weekly
