Cd Isle...CDs by BC island recording artists

"This 5 song Demo will fast become a sought after collector's item. This girl's star is rising. "

Originally from B.C.'s Interior, this Island artist is currently enrolled in Malaspina's Jazz Music program. Although Andrea has pursued various other careers, music has been a constant in her life. Starting out with talent shows in the early eighties, she eventually got hired to play in a rock band, 'The River City Band' in the mid-eighties and later a country band in the early ninties. She has performed in a Blues Brothers tribute as one of the 'Sisters of Mercy', also lending her talents to many special events and demonstrations. She organized and directed a choir and band in Ontario for her graduating ceremonies from The Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy in the mid-ninties. Around this time she started writing songs and eventually performing her original material. In recent years she has toured throughout the Interior with her own band, 'The Andrea Smith Band', as a duo,' Luna Azule' with guitarist Bruce Campbell, and later with bassist Terry Strudwick as "Smithwick".

"First Tracks" was recorded at Quarter Moon Studio in Cherryville B.C., engineered by Dave Dayer and mastered by Jeff Long at Image Audio Productions in Vernon B.C. The Musicians are: Mike Uzick on drums, Gerry Brunelle on Bass, Bruce Campbell on lead and rhythm guitar, and Andrea Smith on rhythm and electric guitar, and lead and harmony vocals. All songs written and arranged by Andrea.

She recorded her five song demo c.d. in a record breaking three day recording session, in 2000. Her original music has been heard across Europe, the U.K, and the United States as well as Cananda. In 2001 she spent a week honing her skills with songwriters Mae Moore and Ron Hynes at The B.C. Festival of the Arts where she was nominated for the Yamaha Award of Excellence. Andrea is currently making plans to complete her second, full length c.d.

When Becky Bernson died of cancer in February of 2000, the community and the world lost a great musician and creative spirit. Becky wrote songs that celebrated the natural world and our relationship with it, and with each other.

Becky's music is being preserved in "Ramblin' Woman", a book that includes all her songs and fiddle music. All this music will also be in a soon-to-be-released CD, which was recorded March 4, 2001 at the Victoria Folk Music Society Coffeehouse.

Songs included in both the songbook and CD are: Sagebrush and Lilies, Tree-Planting Song, Save a Piece of the World for Me, Willamette River Song, Munchkie Rag, Give Yourself Love, Reign of Love, Ramblin' Woman (Backpacking Shanty), Moss on the Ground, This Wild Land, Environmentalist's Shanty, Everything Gonna Be OK, Cowichan River Song, Lady of Light, Violet Jean Waltz, Song For Gordon, and Gaia's Grace.

Becky's original fiddle tunes included are: Denis Donnelly's Favourite, Gene's Rocky Mountain Hornpipe, Buttle Lake Paddle, Over the Glacier, The High Rocky Peaks, Genna's Jig, Wolf Island Waltz, Winter's Turning, and Dance of the Big Trees.

Contemporary Folk singer, Birgit writes songs that touch hearts and souls and she creates melodies that lift spirits. "Birgit's music is pure and honest and thankfully free from cynicism in a world that needs more hope. She writes songs that make you feel glad to be alive", says Juno Award nominee Mae Moore about Birgit's songs. Having starting singing and song writing, just a few short years ago, Birgit has come a long way in a very short time. A two time BC Festival of Arts delegate for songwriters "who show promise for a professional career", Birgit's recordings from her second CD "Running with the Wolves" are part of a soundtrack for a documentary film slated for the 2002 Sun Dance Film Festival. She was invited to sing back up by Chloe Goodchild, artist director of V-Day 2001, held in Madison Square Gardens, New York City. In March she opened for Juno Award Winner and International Recording Artist, Susan Aglukark at the West Coast Women's Music Festival. 

Quotable Quotes “Birgit’s voice touches a deep vein of longing and beauty for the inexpressible which arrests and nourishes the hearts of her listeners. Her singing brings healing balm to the hungry soul” - Chloe Goodchild, singer, musical director and producer Vday 2001, Madison Square Garden, N.Y. “Birgit’s music is pure and honest and thankfully free from cynicism in a world that needs more hope. She writes songs that make you feel glad to be alive.” - Mae Moore, singer, international recording artist and Juno award nominee “This girl has a deadly voice and a way with a lyric that is truly charming” - Ron Hynes, singer, international recording artist and East Coast Music award winner “Birgit’s music fills my space with love and joy” - Ann Mortifee, singer and officer of the Order of Canada “Birgit sings sweetly and plays with intensity. When she sings she opens herself right up. It’s quite awesome because she reveals what a lot of people are afraid to look at and does so with humor and aliveness. Her songs are very catchy and you find yourself humming them. They infiltrate your psyche” - Joanna Finch, music reviewer, The Voice Magazine

B.C. based Rock/Pop artist Camille Miller has signed a licensing with Synergy Records Inc. of Vancouver, BC Canada. The terms of the deal will allow Synergy Records to manufacture, market, and distribute her debut album "She Knows" worldwide. Synergy will market the album themselves in Canada, and will utilize it's partner labels for releases in other territories around the world.

Camille Miller was born in Germany, and was raised in Victoria, BC Canada. She has performed live for numerous years, and is an accomplished guitar player. She toured Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain for 10 months in 2000, which allowed her to write many songs for "She Knows". She recorded the album at Superpest Studio's in North Vancouver, BC Canada, and it was Produced by Doug Elliott (The ODDS). Musicians that lent their talent to the recording include Nick Haggar with Guitars/Keys, (Camille's co-writer for the album), Doug Elliot on Bass, Tina Jones with Background Vocals/Trumpet/Percussion, Craig Northey with Guitars/Background Vocals, and Pat Steward on Drums (Bryan Adams/Colin James).

Her sound has been compared to artists like Sheryl Crow, K.D. Lang and a female version of Crowded House. A prolific writer, Camille also wrote and recorded 4 songs for the L.A based Electronica group, "Balligomingo" and their album will be released worldwide on BMG/RCA in Jan 2002.

Since I released "One Stitch at a Time" in 2000, quilters from all over the world have been telling me their stories. Some of them made me laugh and some cry. I knew I had to write more songs to share these tales. This music is now available on a CD called "A Quilter's Embrace". It features 14 new songs with the same mix of history, current events and fun that everyone loved about "One Stitch at a Time".

While recording this CD in Toronto, I got the chance to work with some of the top session musicians in Canada, and they did a wonderful job on the new songs. I also got the chance to finally work with an old friend, and top-notch producer, Paul Mills, in the producer's chair. I had lots of help from many, many quilters, who told me fascinating quilting stories. It is thanks to their generosity that this CD has come to be. Here are the songs on the CD:

Quilter's Husband's Lament to hear a sample of this song, click here and scroll down the page until you find the title
I found this poem on the Internet, and have set it to music. It was originally adapted by Shelly Burge from a poem called "A Husband's Viewpoint" and published in her Home Extension Club newsletter in the late 1970s. If you know the author of the original poem (which ends with the husband getting directly into heaven, since "you've done your time in Hell"), please get in touch with me.

A Quilter's Embrace to hear a sample of this song, click here and scroll down the page until you find the title
After hearing about so many charity quilts done by every single guild we've visited over the years, I had to write this song. Each verse is about someone who has received an anonymous charity quilt, and the chorus is the supposed quilt label on each of those quilts. It's been bringing a tear to the eye of audiences so far!