Eryn Shewell 2009 Asbury Music Top Female Vocalist!

In venues such as the legendary Stone Pony, The Saint, The Cutting Room, Bluebird Café, Café Coco, Six Flags theme parks, as well as popular clubs throughout New Jersey, New York City, New Orleans and Nashville, many crowds and hearts have been won over by the power and sweet sound of the young talented singer and songsmith, Eryn Shewell.

A recent press article described Eryn as having "the power to woo audiences into an amused silence", with a "seductive range changing voice..." "...bending and moving to the music, especially in tunes where her voice trails off in jam band moments of pleasant belting-meets-screaming... when songs later her voice is soft as butter and seems to roll off and melt into the air around you."

Born in Washington, DC, Eryn moved to New Jersey at an early age and currently resides in East Windsor, NJ. She found inspiration in her musical family and chose music as her career at an early age. She has always known she would work in the music industry. She has been singing publically since she was ten, wrote her first song at fourteen and hasn't stopped writing since. She taught herself guitar to help facilitate her songwriting and performing and even trained as a sound engineer so she could better understand some of the science behind the perfect sound.

Eryn began performing her own music in 2007, and backed by outstanding musicians now tours and performs locally showcasing her original compositions with a few of her favorite cover songs thrown in for fun. Within the first year Eryn and band was recognized with three Asbury Music Awards nominations and has been nominated each year since in more and more categories.

In 2007 Eryn also began a musical partnership with guitarist Pat Ruh when the two began writing songs together. Two of these songs, Window Pane and One More Melody, were featured on Eryn's Window Pane album. In 2009 they formed Rewbie Music, LLC and together produced Eryn's second album 4th and Broadway which also includes many songs co-written with Pat. You can also hear Pat featured on guitar on both albums.

Eryn's debut album, Window Pane, was released August 31, 2008 and was nominated for Top Local Release at the 2008 Asbury Music Awards and embraced nationally by college radio. Two-time GRAMMY Award winning engineer Jake R. Tanner engineered and mixed the album.

4th & Broadway, Eryn Shewell's sophomore album released December 19, 2009, continues to showcase her ability to create music that is an inviting fusion of genres blending blues, soul, country and pop into a unique yet somehow comfortable and familiar sound. Jake R. Tanner once again joined forces with Eryn and mixed and mastered 4th and Broadway.
 

About a year ago we received Eryn Shewell's debut album, a record that impressed us enormously. Her special mix of blues, jazz and Motown soul was refreshing. But most of all, her powerful, soulful voice was a revelation to us. Her first album “Window Pane” remains one of a few debut records released last year that I continue to listen to over and over again. It continues to grow on me after all these months. Why? Because "Window Pane" was filled to the brim with strong songs, brought with craftsmanship and delivered with that wonderful voice that is full, powerful and tender all at the same time and is always dripping with soul. In the review of “Window Pane” we predicted Eryn would have a great future, or at least hoped she would gain lots of recognition, because she simply deserved it. There is talent in abundance here.

Today we are listening to Eryn's recently released sophomore CD, named "4th & Broadway", a record which continues to blend genres in a similar fashion as her first. This new CD is full of variation and in our opinion has even stronger, more mature songs than her first. As happens too often these days, big record companies overlook potential like Eryns. We find it surprising that this artist was not signed and this album is also an independent release. Maybe it's the versatility of this singer that scares the majors, she may be difficult to label. Not enough blues, jazz or soul to pin her down into one specific genre. However, we believe the best of pop music is built on these strong genres and the fusion of genres is this CD's greatest strength. The songs Eryn writes are so strong that they transcend the standard blues, jazz and soul we hear so often and Eryn always adds something of her very own. The songs get better every time you listen to them not the other way around as often happens with the music we receive for review.

Songs like the very soulful, somewhat jazzy sounding "Moment" and the passionate "Satellite" are real gems. They get to you immediately and you'll be sure to be humming them after a short time listening to them. Eryn's strong lyrics about modern everyday life in relation to her own experiences will certainly touch your soul.

One of our favorite tracks on this new cd is is "300 Miles", a song with an Alternative Country, Americana feeling to it achieved with some great playing by master pedal-steel guitarist Sam Getz.

The rest of the band is also top notch, including bass player Steve Johnson, drummer Tom Cottone, trumpet player Antonio Gambrell and the backing vocalists. Alice Leon and Curtis King are both wonderful musicians, and the recording is crystal clear and mixed to perfection.

Eryn's love for the blues is best heard in the relaxed sounding blues track "Whiskey Devil", another one of my favorites, being a blues lover myself. "My Soul" is another one I can't get enough of and has some great slide by Pat Ruh.

We sincerely hope with the release of this album Eryn Shewell will get the attention and success she really deserves. Perhaps, things are starting in that direction already, we understand she just won the "Top Female Vocalist" award at the Asbury Music Awards this year. Let the rest follow!

Ron Bervoets, Rootstime

Eryn Shewell Announces Her New Album Release!

Eryn Shewell will release her new album, 4th and Broadway, on December 19th, 2009, at her album release party in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

The album release party will take place at Havana Restaurant and Bar in New Hope, Pennsylvania. It will exhibit Christmas cheer with song performances by young local talent, and conclude with the showcase of Eryn Shewell’s new music from her 4th and Broadway album. Doors open at 2pm. No cover charge.

ABOUT
4th & Broadway, Eryn Shewell's sophomore album once again showcases her ability to create music that is an inviting fusion of genres blending blues, soul, country and pop into a unique yet somehow comfortable and familiar sound.  Eryn's music and vocal style draw the listener in and leaves the lyrics touching them through out the day.  Both Window Pane, Eryn's debut release which has a stronger rock flavor, and 4th & Broadway, showcase songs that have been described as "in tune with the times" beautifully delivered with powerful yet sincere vocals.

"Eryn Shewell successfully blends rock, blues and jazz influences to create a unique sound that showcases her incredible voice and songwriting skills, while remaining true to her acoustic roots and pop sensibilities." - Eugene Foley / Foley Entertainment, Inc.  

 "In fact I think her band's music was meant to be experienced live. ...It's an experience that can't be matched on tape; It's part roadhouse, part arena, and part tent revival - a sound that picks you up and raises you to a place that few can reach". Gary Wien / Playwright and Music Journalist

"A soulful songbird… performing bluesy jazz tinged songs… a soulful musician who has a lot of heartfelt lyrics"- Night & Day Entertainment Magazine

For more information about Eryn Shewell’s music go to www.erynshewell.com