Audra Connolly
Boise, Idaho, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Been enjoying listening to the modern folk music of Boise musician Audra Connolly, who's set to perform this Saturday night at Red Rock Coffee in Mountain View. Especially in her song "Blue Eyes," Connolly has the sort of cool intelligence in her voice that I used to hear in Margo Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies, or Tracey Thorn of Everything But the Girl. Takes me back to the music of my college days.
Connolly is classically trained, with a degree in piano performance from Boise State, and you can hear that knowledge in her music's deft complexity. "Dear Friend" is lyrical and layered, while the melody of "Love Conditional" twists and climbs up and down like a honeysuckle vine.
It's the kind of music that calls for repeated listening to hear something new -- like the bassoon and marimba she's woven through her first album. - Palo Alto Online: Ad Libs
"Then we come to Audra Connolly, who hails from Boise, Idaho. Her music has been described as modern-American folk music with strong classical and rock influences. That is probably very accurate, though I would say she leans more toward indie Americana. Her debut album, Dear Friend, on her independent label, Hole Heart Records includes arrangements for drums, bass, bassoon, marimba, as well as guitar. Ironically, there are no keys on the album since she has a degree in piano performance from Boise State University. She used this music training to inform her songwriting and performance experience, by experimenting with alternate guitar tunings and original song forms. The result is intelligent songwriting about self-discovery and relationships. It is most refreshing music." - Skopemag.com
"The songs on Dear Friend are very well written, with a wonderfully deep level of communication going on. Every song here is carefully crafted and full of Connolly’s heart, full of lyrically complex prose laden with imagery."
"You’ll fall quickly for Connolly’s voice and style."
"'Dear Friend' is a gift for the taking." - WildysWorld.blogspot.com
"Idaho born Audra Connolly is a musical force to be reckoned with. Her mix of alternate tunings and passionate individual vocal style are the perfect compliment to her introspective lyrics." - The Station - underground publication
"Connolly is pure folk, at its best; she's entertainment in the form of soft sounds and friendly words. She belongs in the category that Joni Mitchell and, more recently, Aimee Mann belong in."
"Connolly is a rare find in current music: an artist seemingly interested only in making music she loves."
"Connolly manages to achieve something on Dear Friend that recent artists like Colbie Caillat have failed at – a folk album written for today's audience. Her sweet songs and melodies are soothing instead of sugary, and she manages to sound like she's reaching out to friends she hasn't met with a smart, outdoors-y approach to life." - MuzikReviews.com
"Connolly pushes phrasing in surprising directions and pens lyrics that are at once metaphorical and autobiographical ... the songs are stacked like a fancy wedding cake, layers of chords and harmonies building to beautiful moments." - Boise Weekly
Discography
Dear Friend 2009
Photos
Bio
Audra Connolly was born in Nampa, Idaho to an art teacher and an outdoorsman who filled her childhood with music and nature. She expressed interest in all forms of art and poetry as a child, but Audra’s priorities focused more and more on music as she grew. Instigated by her mother, Audra began taking piano lessons at the age of four and continued studying classical music until earning her degree in piano performance from Boise State University. Of her music education, Audra always felt it was very challenging but that the reward lay in achieving the goals that she set out to accomplish.
Though there was always a guitar within reach as Audra was growing up, it wasn’t until she finished college that she became serious about playing the instrument. With a wealth of performance experience and knowledge about music theory she drew from her songwriter influences and began writing her own songs. She experimented with alternate tunings and original song forms to devise her own unique sound. Having spent her whole life surrounded by all forms of art, Audra found her passion as an artist.
On August 18, 2009 Audra released her debut CD, Dear Friend, on her independent label, Hole Heart Records. The songs, which comprise this album, include arrangements of instruments such as guitar, voice, bassoon and marimba. Themes of love and friendship weave their way through these 10 unique songs that together create a powerful and complete opus.
Audra works hard to maintain a rigorous performance schedule while promoting her shows and continuing to write new songs. She has begun plans to record a second album and recently launched her website, www.audraconnolly.com. She has many ambitions for the future, including signing other artists to her label. Just as she set tremendous goals for herself as a classical student while growing up, she has started her songwriting career with the same ambitiousness and intends to follow through. Though the music industry is very volatile, this is only the beginning for independent artist, Audra Connolly.
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