LOS ANGELES (By Mona Elyafi/ ILDK Media) - While our TV screens continue to be inundated with reality TV shows andtalent contests churning out a slew of new faces famous for being famous - authentic artists with great original songs do emerge once in a while. Red Letter is that rare gem.
Meet lead singer/songwriter Jessica Tomich and guitarist/producer/songwriter Frank Sorci, the driving forces and creative brains behind Red Letter. As finalists on NBC's new show STAR TOMORROW (produced by top pop tastemaker and multi-Grammy Award winning producer David Foster) Red Letter is competing to be crowned 'star tomorrow' but is shining brightly today and enjoying quite an unexpected ride. While bands across the US frantically rushed to line up for a chance at an audition to qualify for the first round, Red Letter sat comfortably behind the console of their West LA recording studio when they received a phone call from NBC inviting them to be on the show. Why the special invitation' The electrifying performance of their current single 'You Don't Change' on the prestigious Rehearsals.com earned them the attention of some powerful ears. And rightfully so,for Red Letter has already built quite an impressive music portfolio as songwriters and also as performers.
Blending catchy pop hooks with sophisticated and compelling instrumentation, Red Letter's sound strikes a unique balance between youthful energy and wiser, well-traveled souls. Each song offers a rare emotional intensity through its gripping lyrical bite and heartfelt melody. Their music has been heard on a variety of TV shows and films including "Body & Soul" (Showtime), "Summerland" (The WB), Melrose Place DVD Box (Fox), the indie films 'Eleven Minutes Ago' and 'Love Happens", as well as in the upcoming feature film "The Contract" starring John Cusack and Morgan Freeman. In addition, they have headlined many of the hot clubs in LA such as The Mint, The Gig, Genghis Cohen, and the legendary Viper Room on the famed Sunset Blvd.
Red Letter's musical journey is nothing short of musical magic! It all began a few years ago when the two met through a mutual friend at a recording session. Jessica was laying down the vocals for her new project while Frank, who had been scouting new artists to produce, was called in to play guitar. The musical connection and creative osmosis was instant and the pair immediately joined forces, writing and recording new songs and touring under the moniker 'Sorci & Tomich'. They showcased their talent across the US embarking on Borders Bookstore and Starbucks tours among others and sold thousands of copies of their first CD. Yet, they earned their biggest media exposure and name recognition with their involvement in a very unique charity endeavor that the duo ingeniously and generously created. With deeply introspective song lyrics bringing an intense sense of spirituality to their music, it became obvious that Jessica and Frank could use their art as a healing tool. They went on to perform at various hospitals, addiction facilities and rehab centers across Southern California with the goal of bringing a little hope and soothing comfort to their audiences. The performances were a success and garnered immense press coverage including a segment on Fox 11 News.
With a fan base and industry buzz growing at a rampant pace, it soon became obvious the duo needed to find a more marketable name. For lack of a better idea, they decided to leave their fate up to ''the dictionary! Frank flipped the pages of the Webster's and randomly dropped his finger on a word. 'Red Letter' (defined as 'memorably happy') was thus born.
Ever since, Red Letter has successfully invaded our ipods and channeled their way through the worldwide web with their recently released album 'Under The Same Hot Sun'. The 11-track album featuring the hit song 'You Don't Change' that catapulted the duo onto our TV screens, is now available in most retail stores across the U.S. including CDBaby, itunes.com and on the duo's website www.Redletterband.com. Their sense of entrepreneurship combined with their undeniable songwriting skill recently culminated in the signing of a new publishing deal with Dimensional Music Publishing. [Dimensional Music Publishing is a world class, full service independent music publishing company with offices in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. DMP is a sister company of eMusic and The Orchard. Dimensional Music Publishing was founded with the purchase of the DreamWorks music publishing assets and is a financially secure, privately held company.] The songwriting team has been embraced by the A&R community and artists alike and is currently collaborating with and writing for top artists, while recording material for their new album. They are one of the first bands invited to launch the website for the critically acclaimed Rehearsals.com (which produces and distributes original high-definition digital video and audio content of musicians and recording artists at its studios as those artists rehearse, give clinics and record).
A Sonoma County, California native, Jessica grew up immersed in music. Not only was her mother a singer/songwriter, but so were her grandparents. Indeed, her grandfather was the notorious and quite eccentric Don Ricardo, known for his successful Big Band run with the famed Don Ricardo NBC Orchestra (and for his unprecedented collection of vintage Mercedes). It is no surprise that reportedly her first word as a toddler was 'noogis' (for 'music'). She developed a passion for songwriting in her early teens and took vocal and piano lessons. At fourteen, she collaborated with her step-dad on the writing of a few songs and earned herself a development deal with Columbia Records.
Anticipating an immediate and successful career, Jessica prematurely dropped out of high school, only to be dropped by the label a few months later. Yet, in the process, she learned her first and most valuable music industry lesson: her passion for creating music could not be taken from her. While continuing to pursue her musical calling, Jessica also graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology.
Frank is a native of San Jose, California and grew up on an apricot ranch. His family, The Sorci's, are renowned for farming the area for over a hundred years. Their legacy is remembered in the Santa Clara Valley, with street signs bearing the Sorci name where apricot trees once flourished. At ten years old, Frank picked up his first guitar and as a teenager he began writing and performing with his own band. He has since toured the world as a lead singer and guitarist and has contributed his talents to numerous studio projects, including the featured guitar spot for the Fox Network's show 'Higher Ground'. Frank is a musical artisan whose guitar riffs and melodic hooks have been heard on countless albums and soundtracks.
