Dana Wylie Band
Biggar, Saskatchewan, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
Right this, I promise, isn't an all out comparison, in fact it's not even a ‘sounds like'. Dana Wylie is to Norah Jones a true contemporary in the sense that she seriously knows how to lay down a melody, and (which is more intoxicating) collude with her piano and guitar in creating something far greater than a song.
At the pub tonight, it's rather busy. This must partly be accredited to the fact that someone in the Dana posse myspaced their arses off, but generally there's a lot of people here that've had the pleasure of listening to this seriously on-it, genuinely beautifully toned singer before. I've only had a fleeting listen on the Myspace page recently, and while I was expecting good things, I wasn't expecting anything quite so ridiculously good as this. As a band, the trio have obviously gigged extensively, and it pays dividends - a tightness and confidence of performance which maintains a reliable backdrop to a mixture of song writing and kick ass solos. As a word, Americana is a pretty crap one - especially as these guys are from Canada, but it gives you an idea. Throw in some blues and folk and you get a bit closer. The visit the set plays to bluegrass ("I'm not going to play second fiddle to your guitar") is definitely welcome, and not least because it strengthens any likeness to Norah. In fact the band have a firm command of anything they turn their hands to making it their own with no room for doubt.
Nye parsons is an incredible upright bass player. He really is seriously entertaining, and the dexterity of his fingers is a captivating performance in itself. Equally impressive is drummer Jeremy Hellard's pleasingly frequent harmonica solos which add another dimension to the sound, and generally make you feel very blues-happy indeed.
Persuading a Porter sound engineer to work past eleven is impressive enough, but to make one sway (it's definitely almost a bob) and smile is sheer virtuosity For this I applaud you Dana Wylie Band. The album ‘The Unruly Ones' is out now on Tiny White Girl Records and is very good indeed but if you get a chance make sure you go and see these guys live.
Chris Chislett
- Moles, UK
“The album has a sense of humour, great musicianship and many moods …entertaining, solid, eclectic, kooky.” - Cornwall Seaway News
“Wylie phrases like Demosthenes -- as if those torrents of words might never get another chance to spill out… an old fashioned singer-songwriter, Carole King screwing with the conventions or working within it…whatever else, she sounds confident enough that she can take on anything in the future. ” - Edmonton Journal
“The terrific vocalist and performer continues to carve out her own unique niche in Canadian music with the thoroughly engaging project The Unruly Ones.” -Red Deer Express
“…will make you laugh, squirm, engage in introspection, clap you hands, stomp your feet and want to play the juice harp…Wylie’s lyrics tug at your shirt tail, and at times reach down through your ears and give your guts a little twist.” - Earshot
“The sound comes across as light and friendly, although there are songs here which offer more once you get into the rhythm and can follow this songstress sprite as she speeds through the words with a tongue as sharp as a well-sharpened foil. At times you will simply smile in awe of the way she handles the material.” - Yorkton This Week
“…a series of musically diverse stories that capture you and leave you asking for more. This band’s chemistry is incredible…I am glad I had the pleasure of listening to such a great album.” - The Ontarian
“There is no disconnect between Wylie and the listener; her music has a common you-and-me-we’re-in-this-together feel.” - Elmira Independent
“Wylie carves out a space which is big enough for anyone who enjoys honest, no-frills music to come check out. This self-proclaimed “tiny white girl” has a big future ahead.” - Daily Graphic
“ Wylie is treading her own path, breaking ground and boundaries as she goes. Vocally potent, and with an honest outlook on life, Wylie captures things as they are, wrapping them in her own words…an exceptionally strong debut album.” - Linear Reflections
- Various
Discography
2005 EP Self-titled (Out of print)
2006 Album - 'Almost There...'
2008 Album - 'The Unruly Ones'
Photos
Bio
Dana Wylie is following a unique path to what promises to be a long, satisfying musical career. Blessed with a crystal clear voice, Wylie also has songwriting skills that range from endearingly idiosyncratic to strikingly mature. Add a strong drive to continually improve her music and succeed in the business, it is evident that she is on the precipice of a career breakthrough.
Born in Biggar, Saskatchewan and trained in musical theatre at Grant MacEwan Centre for the Arts in Edmonton, she left a promising career in theatre to concentrate on her new-found passion for writing and performing her folk/pop songs. Wylie headed for Taiwan in search of a quiet, far-away place to woodshed. The UK soon followed.
Performing on three continents and immersing herself in many different genres of music and influences; she began to concentrate exclusively on performing original material, and subsequently released two independent albums, “Almost There...” (2006) and “The Unruly Ones” (2008). Both of these received a plethora of favourable reviews and a decent amount of airplay on CBC and other specialty and university radio stations.
Wylie has played approximately 300 shows in the last four years, at festivals and in theatres, clubs, pubs, bars, coffee shops, tea houses, living rooms and back-yards. Performance highlights include: The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, North Country Fair (AB), The Summer Sundae Weekender (UK), the Glastonbury Assembly Rooms (UK), London's Jazz Cafe, Edmonton's Festival Place, The Musician in Leicester (UK), The Intimate Gig Company (UK), the 5th Annual Taiwan Blues Bash, the Bitan Music Festival and the Taipei Artist Village (Taiwan).
Arguably, Wylie's main accomplishment is the scope and versatility of her live performances. Playing both gutiar and keyboards, she continues to absorb new influences. Her songs span from roots to pop to jazz, and the tie that binds is the musical and lyrical intricacy dispensed with equal groove and energy.
Based in Edmonton once again, Wylie has started working on her third album with Chris Wynters (Captain Tractor), which will be released in spring 2010, with a cross-country tour planned for next summer.
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