On a sunny California ranch, a freckled young girl sings the catchy chorus she’d come up with while riding the trail. For Amanda Richards, it’s a perfectly natural thing for a six-year-old to do – after all, it’s in the blood. Her country musician Dad often brings her onstage. Two aunts are country musicians. And Grandpa sang tenor in the legendary Sons of the Pioneers. It would almost be hard for her not to write and sing.
Fast-forward to a teenage Amanda hitchhiking across Oregon. She’s taught herself to play guitar, busking for cash while crafting songs that blend her country/folk heritage with bohemian spirit. A handful of coffeehouses and impromptu sidewalk gigs lead to the music program at Mt. Hood Community College, which she attends off and on. More traveling troubadour than student, Amanda frequently treks back to the childhood ranch – often earning bus fare by singing for other passengers.
By 21 she’s released her first album, Not Always Sexy. It’s a little bit country, a little bit rock, and full of memorable, radio-ready hooks. Her vulnerable yet empowered vocals have begun to take on a sultry quality beyond her years. Songs like Cookies and Whiskey are turning into rowdy sing-a-longs at her shows.
Her follow-up, Live at Mississippi Studios, captures a sold-out show featuring Amanda’s voice and guitar accompanied only by cello. In this setting, her delivery is more intimate, her stories of broken relationships more poignant. A record release party at Portland’s Aladdin Theater finds her playing to her largest crowd to date. Afterward, like any gypsy troubadour would do, she heads to the Caribbean for a few months of sun and songwriting.
Returning home, Amanda and her band win a trip to Austin for the finals of Famecast, a national battle of the bands, where they place 3rd. Bigger Oregon gigs follow, ranging from solo acoustic sets to full band shows, including a stop at Nike World Headquarters to play for The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LIVESTRONG Challenge. Between shows, Amanda and the boys hole up in the recording studio. This time around, acoustic and electric guitars, drums and upright bass are rounded out with cello, weeping pedal steel guitars and swirling organ, creating the most diverse blend of bohemian country she’s laid down to date.
Archive
Once in a great while, it happens...A young, prodigious musical talent emerges, compelling you to intensely feel, think and respond.
You're deeply touched by songs that peel away the layers of love lost or found (or distorted) and simultaneously amazed at the tremendous vocal and stylistic range.
From sensuous acoustic to gritty homicidal rockabilly---- from straight-ahead rock to steamy bossanova--- from swingin' 13 bar blues to hysterically dead-on country satire--- you're moving through a rich emotional journey highlighted by several surprising twists and turns.
You're profoundly struck by the depth and wisdom shown by someone who's only 24 years old. And, most of all, you're enthralled by that voice---- The passion.... The strength... The conviction... The versatility.
Once in a great while, it happens...and now it happens to be Amanda Richards and her debut CD "Not Always Sexy."
Amanda Richards' fascinating life has been and continues to be shaped, refined and redefined by lots of different music and musical influences.
Here's Amanda on Amanda:
"There have been so many artists that have influenced my music, but a lot of it has been indirect. I grew up surrounded by musicians and have favored their renditions of some very famous and influential songs. (Amanda's grandfather was an eighteen year member of the legendary Country harmony group 'The Sons of the Pioneers.’) I used to sing harmony with a friend of mine from high school. She introduced me to Joni Mitchell's music but I learned all the songs from my friend before I ever heard Joni sing them. Same thing with Bob Dylan and CSN&Y. ‘Diamonds and Rust’ by Joan Baez was one of the first songs I ever learned on guitar. My cousin taught it to me because it was one of the first songs that she’d ever learned. I didn't hear Joan Baez do it until years later."
"I listened to Country Music until I was about 12 years old. Then, as a teenager, I really got into Classic Rock and Folk Music. When I was 18, I entered the music program at Mt. Hood Community College to study Jazz. I had no history with Jazz and it completely kicked my ass. Other than elementary and middle school choir, I had no educational background with music what so ever. I had been primarily self-taught; I didn't even know the note names of the guitar strings. I dropped out of the music program 3 times over the next 3 years....but not before getting a hardy introduction to Swing, Jazz and Blues and walking away with a deep love for Samba and Bossanova."
"I lived with a Jazz drummer for a short stint and he really helped whip my time into shape. I now have a great sense of rhythm because of it. He also opened me up to the world of syncopation and Latin percussion. We used to practice rudiments together and he taught me a lot about playing with and leading a band."
"I listen to a ton of music. I really admire Tom Waits for his ever-evolving career. He has really inspired me in terms of production with his dark, percussive themes. I can't think of anyone more daring or musically 'cool' than him. He's the best. I learned how to scat from him. I'd never before heard anyone scat and still sound cool doing it, but he pulls it off and I steal a lot of my phrasing from him while I'm improvising."
"As far as songwriting goes, I think that my influences started with commercial Country music of the 1980's. Those people really knew how to write a hook and put a commercial song together. Later on, my writing was influenced by the descriptive verses of Leonard Cohen. He can paint an amazing picture while at the same time being so vague that you have almost no idea what the song is about. I love that."
Amanda Richards' outstanding debut CD, "Not Always Sexy," was actually recorded in Gresham, Oregon in 2004. Amanda now lives in Portland and performs regularly throughout the Pacific Northwest with her band. Amanda has performed at over 100 venues in the Pacific Northwest...for coffee house gatherings and for teeming crowds of thousands. All the while building quite a substantial following.
Listen to "Not Always Sexy."
Go see and hear her perform.
You'll catch a rising star.
Written by Morry Feldman
Won 3rd place in a NATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS– FAMECAST!
Made a music video with the directors of AUSTIN CITY LIMITS
Headlined Portland’s ALADDIN THEATER with 500+ in attendance
Been featured on NPR’s RIVER CITY FOLK in a 1 hour long interview
Had her song “Words” featured on AIR AMERICA RADIO’S “Randi Rhodes Show”
A Grandfather who sang Tenor for 18 years with the SONS OF THE PIONEERS
Released 2 FULL LENGTH ALBUMS
PLACED 2ND in a Songwriting competition held by the OREGON SYMPHONY
Was a semi-finalist in an INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION
Performed at OVER 100 VENUES in the Pacific Northwest
Received GREAT REVUES from local and national writers
Written OVER 150 SONGS
Studied music at Mt. Hood Community College
Written songs for local THEATER groups and NON-PROFIT organizations
including the TILLAMOOK RAINFOREST COALITION and
GRESHAM LITTLE THEATER.
On a sunny California ranch, a freckled young girl sings the catchy chorus she’d come up with while riding the trail. For Amanda Richards, it’s a perfectly natural thing for a six-year-old to do – after all, it’s in the blood. Her country musician Dad often brings her onstage. Two aunts are country musicians. And Grandpa sang tenor in the legendary Sons of the Pioneers. It would almost be hard for her not to write and sing.
Fast-forward to a teenage Amanda hitchhiking across Oregon. She’s taught herself to play guitar, busking for cash while crafting songs that blend her country/folk heritage with bohemian spirit. A handful of coffeehouses and impromptu sidewalk gigs lead to the music program at Mt. Hood Community College, which she attends off and on. More traveling troubadour than student, Amanda frequently treks back to the childhood ranch – often earning bus fare by singing for other passengers.
By 21 she’s released her first album, Not Always Sexy. It’s a little bit country, a little bit rock, and full of memorable, radio-ready hooks. Her vulnerable yet empowered vocals have begun to take on a sultry quality beyond her years. Songs like Cookies and Whiskey are turning into rowdy sing-a-longs at her shows.
Her follow-up, Live at Mississippi Studios, captures a sold-out show featuring Amanda’s voice and guitar accompanied only by cello. In this setting, her delivery is more intimate, her stories of broken relationships more poignant. A record release party at Portland’s Aladdin Theater finds her playing to her largest crowd to date. Afterward, like any gypsy troubadour would do, she heads to the Caribbean for a few months of sun and songwriting.
Returning home, Amanda and her band win a trip to Austin for the finals of Famecast, a national battle of the bands, where they place 3rd. Bigger Oregon gigs follow, ranging from solo acoustic sets to full band shows, including a stop at Nike World Headquarters to play for The Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LIVESTRONG Challenge. Between shows, Amanda and the boys hole up in the recording studio. This time around, acoustic and electric guitars, drums and upright bass are rounded out with cello, weeping pedal steel guitars and swirling organ, creating the most diverse blend of bohemian country she’s laid down to date.
The results can be heard on Feb. 20th, 2009 when Amanda returns to Portland’s Aladdin Theater to debut her new CD, Who Has Your Heart.