Addie Brownlee

It's a shame FB does not have a 'I simple love this' button and not just a 'like' button ** Addie's music makes me giggle and cry. And look about lustfully. ** Come back to charlotte! ** Enjoyed the Blue Plate Special today! Great performance! ** Please remind me how the line in your song goes...the rivers try to reach the ocean and I can take the lonliness as long as I can have my freedom? I loved this verse and can't remember exactly how you said it! ** Any chance you are coming to atlanta? ** I REALLY like this song!! ** Hell yeah! You sound fantastic! ** sea legs video is awesome. i hope you're having fun on tour. ** I so want to get out there and meet you lot, but will have to wait til you hit the UK ** Addie, you're amazing!! Such beautiful lyrics!! You Walk East blows my mind!! ** Lovely songs...very emotional..great stuff ** Your music is really good, Sea legs put a genuine smile on my face ** Put Your hands On Me is so COOL! Love your music. ** wow, sea legs really speaks to me, i'm a big fan of sea imagery and how it applies to life. keep it up, and keep spinnin’ - What Fans are Saying...

It's a shame FB does not have a 'I simple love this' button and not just a 'like' button ** Addie's music makes me giggle and cry. And look about lustfully. ** Come back to charlotte! ** Enjoyed the Blue Plate Special today! Great performance! ** Please remind me how the line in your song goes...the rivers try to reach the ocean and I can take the lonliness as long as I can have my freedom? I loved this verse and can't remember exactly how you said it! ** Any chance you are coming to atlanta? ** I REALLY like this song!! ** Hell yeah! You sound fantastic! ** sea legs video is awesome. i hope you're having fun on tour. ** I so want to get out there and meet you lot, but will have to wait til you hit the UK ** Addie, you're amazing!! Such beautiful lyrics!! You Walk East blows my mind!! ** Lovely songs...very emotional..great stuff ** Your music is really good, Sea legs put a genuine smile on my face ** Put Your hands On Me is so COOL! Love your music. ** wow, sea legs really speaks to me, i'm a big fan of sea imagery and how it applies to life. keep it up, and keep spinnin’ - What Fans are Saying...

Fame is a funny thing, it sometimes makes me wonder why some people are famous and popular when there are people out there that should be. One of those people is Alt-country/folk singer Addie Brownlee. For those that know me, know I loathe country music, for me it is nails on a chalkboard, however, when you add a certain spin on it and not make it pure country and let it be much more creative, it holds me down.
Taking the stage last night to a packed Living Room in the heart of New York's infamous downtown music scene, Addie and her four piece band displayed every type of emotion possible, as did the crowd. As Addie began in a alt-country ho-down, the Tennessee via New York songstress proved her worth. After all, it was special night for Addie, it was the release party to her new EP. Addie who has played with the likes of Martha Wainwright, Doveman and others is no stranger to attention but to have the spotlight on her without the backing of famous names would normally be a bit daunting, yet she proved otherwise. Whether it was excitement or nerves or a combo of both, some lyrics were forgotten but the show went on and had everyone in the room rejoicing for a new female voice in music - in a genre of any kind. Displaying so much raw emotion, you could see the eyes of her band well up and turn red and as I looked around the room, that sentiment was echoed across in the audience. Power like that over people is not taught or bought, it is embedded in ones soul.
Addie is one of these rising stars that needs more attention than she already has, with a nice following already in New York, I expect more to come. - Officially a Yuppie Blog

Fame is a funny thing, it sometimes makes me wonder why some people are famous and popular when there are people out there that should be. One of those people is Alt-country/folk singer Addie Brownlee. For those that know me, know I loathe country music, for me it is nails on a chalkboard, however, when you add a certain spin on it and not make it pure country and let it be much more creative, it holds me down.
Taking the stage last night to a packed Living Room in the heart of New York's infamous downtown music scene, Addie and her four piece band displayed every type of emotion possible, as did the crowd. As Addie began in a alt-country ho-down, the Tennessee via New York songstress proved her worth. After all, it was special night for Addie, it was the release party to her new EP. Addie who has played with the likes of Martha Wainwright, Doveman and others is no stranger to attention but to have the spotlight on her without the backing of famous names would normally be a bit daunting, yet she proved otherwise. Whether it was excitement or nerves or a combo of both, some lyrics were forgotten but the show went on and had everyone in the room rejoicing for a new female voice in music - in a genre of any kind. Displaying so much raw emotion, you could see the eyes of her band well up and turn red and as I looked around the room, that sentiment was echoed across in the audience. Power like that over people is not taught or bought, it is embedded in ones soul.
Addie is one of these rising stars that needs more attention than she already has, with a nice following already in New York, I expect more to come. - Officially a Yuppie Blog

"You walk east and I walk west, eventually we will meet, if not in this lifetime then the next..." lyrics this strong do not just come from sitting at a table with a pen and pad. Lyrics this strong come from the heart, from experience, from learning things the hard way. For Addie Brownlee, learning the hard way is about to pay off. She is part country, part folk and therefore places her in a genre that we music critics call "alt-country." Whatever Addie may be, she is all heart. Her songs lament places we all have been. With the CMJ music marathon this week, she is one of the new artists that are not to be missed. I had the opportunity to speak with Addie as we discussed her beginnings, roots and getting the attention of the likes of Martha Wainwright to work with her on her music. Take a look at my interview with Addie below.

Salvatore Bono: You were born in Kansas, raised in Tennessee how did you end up in New York City?
Addie Brownlee: I think I've always been heading to New York. I lived in Chicago for a few years after school, but I've always known I wanted to be here.

SB: Did the change of atmosphere and location effect your music?
AB: I didn't start writing until about 7 years ago, so New York is where it all started for me. Unless you count some of the stuff I wrote when I was 4 years old. My personal favorite from my "early" work is "Don't be sadish. Eat a radish." I guess that's more spoken word though.

SB: Describe your music to someone who has never heard of you before?
AB: I've been told my voice is reminiscent of Dusty Springfield. I love the comparison, and I love the imagery that her name evokes. My music has a lot of earth and water imagery. It's Americana, Alt/Country, Singer/Songwriter.

SB: Who are some of your influences?
AB: Far and away my biggest influence is Dolly Parton. I covered a song of her's recently, and someone after the show stopped me and said, "My love for Dolly Parton is not ironic." That's exactly how I feel! She's one of the greatest songwriters in history, one of the savviest business people and a generous philanthropist. A friend and I always say "WWDD, What Would Dolly Do?"

SB: How do you stand apart from other New York City singer songwriters?
AB: I just feel lucky to be making music in New York. There is so much good stuff coming out of the city.

SB: With the release of your debut, Back When We Were Christians, did you feel any vindication once it was finished?
AB: When I released "Back When We Were Christians" in 2005 I felt so many things. I had a very wonderful time with my dad in the studio. He recorded that album. It was emotional for both of us; those were my first songs, and he was so patient and thoughtful through the whole thing.

SB: What was it like finally recording your debut after all these years?
AB Recording the latest EP East of Leaving has been equally rewarding. Brad Albetta, my producer, really did a pretty spectacular job of guiding but not pushing me, and really encouraged me to take the reins. He quite frankly worked his tail off.

SB: Martha Wainwright appears on your song "Sea Legs," what was it like working with her? How did you get her to appear on your album?
AB: We just asked! I'm a big, big Martha Wainwright fan, so when I listen to "Sea Legs" I sort of think I'm dreaming!

SB: Your music has a lot of religious imagery and influence to it. Are you strong in your beliefs and choose to sing about them or the total opposite?
AB: I'm an atheist, but was raised an evangelical Christian, so certain images just come out!

SB: Your live shows have garnered you much praise, how do you respond to this acclaim? What do you do in concert that surprises most fans?
AB: That's nice of you to say about the live shows! I love it when the audience is ready to interact with me. People connecting with me or something I've written, really keep the songs fresh for me. On the best of nights I guess it's like we're just experiencing them together.

SB: Who would you love to play with and why?
AB: Dolly of course! And Bobbie Gentry, one of the first female country artists to write and produce her own material. Patty Griffin, Ryan Adams: what amazing songwriters.

SB: Where do you go from here?
AB: I'm just going to keep writing! I'm heading to the UK and Europe in November. I can't wait.
For Addie's CMJ schedule, tour listings and music head on over to her site www.addiebrownlee.com.
Follow Salvatore Bono on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yuppieblog - The Huffington Post

"You walk east and I walk west, eventually we will meet, if not in this lifetime then the next..." lyrics this strong do not just come from sitting at a table with a pen and pad. Lyrics this strong come from the heart, from experience, from learning things the hard way. For Addie Brownlee, learning the hard way is about to pay off. She is part country, part folk and therefore places her in a genre that we music critics call "alt-country." Whatever Addie may be, she is all heart. Her songs lament places we all have been. With the CMJ music marathon this week, she is one of the new artists that are not to be missed. I had the opportunity to speak with Addie as we discussed her beginnings, roots and getting the attention of the likes of Martha Wainwright to work with her on her music. Take a look at my interview with Addie below.

Salvatore Bono: You were born in Kansas, raised in Tennessee how did you end up in New York City?
Addie Brownlee: I think I've always been heading to New York. I lived in Chicago for a few years after school, but I've always known I wanted to be here.

SB: Did the change of atmosphere and location effect your music?
AB: I didn't start writing until about 7 years ago, so New York is where it all started for me. Unless you count some of the stuff I wrote when I was 4 years old. My personal favorite from my "early" work is "Don't be sadish. Eat a radish." I guess that's more spoken word though.

SB: Describe your music to someone who has never heard of you before?
AB: I've been told my voice is reminiscent of Dusty Springfield. I love the comparison, and I love the imagery that her name evokes. My music has a lot of earth and water imagery. It's Americana, Alt/Country, Singer/Songwriter.

SB: Who are some of your influences?
AB: Far and away my biggest influence is Dolly Parton. I covered a song of her's recently, and someone after the show stopped me and said, "My love for Dolly Parton is not ironic." That's exactly how I feel! She's one of the greatest songwriters in history, one of the savviest business people and a generous philanthropist. A friend and I always say "WWDD, What Would Dolly Do?"

SB: How do you stand apart from other New York City singer songwriters?
AB: I just feel lucky to be making music in New York. There is so much good stuff coming out of the city.

SB: With the release of your debut, Back When We Were Christians, did you feel any vindication once it was finished?
AB: When I released "Back When We Were Christians" in 2005 I felt so many things. I had a very wonderful time with my dad in the studio. He recorded that album. It was emotional for both of us; those were my first songs, and he was so patient and thoughtful through the whole thing.

SB: What was it like finally recording your debut after all these years?
AB Recording the latest EP East of Leaving has been equally rewarding. Brad Albetta, my producer, really did a pretty spectacular job of guiding but not pushing me, and really encouraged me to take the reins. He quite frankly worked his tail off.

SB: Martha Wainwright appears on your song "Sea Legs," what was it like working with her? How did you get her to appear on your album?
AB: We just asked! I'm a big, big Martha Wainwright fan, so when I listen to "Sea Legs" I sort of think I'm dreaming!

SB: Your music has a lot of religious imagery and influence to it. Are you strong in your beliefs and choose to sing about them or the total opposite?
AB: I'm an atheist, but was raised an evangelical Christian, so certain images just come out!

SB: Your live shows have garnered you much praise, how do you respond to this acclaim? What do you do in concert that surprises most fans?
AB: That's nice of you to say about the live shows! I love it when the audience is ready to interact with me. People connecting with me or something I've written, really keep the songs fresh for me. On the best of nights I guess it's like we're just experiencing them together.

SB: Who would you love to play with and why?
AB: Dolly of course! And Bobbie Gentry, one of the first female country artists to write and produce her own material. Patty Griffin, Ryan Adams: what amazing songwriters.

SB: Where do you go from here?
AB: I'm just going to keep writing! I'm heading to the UK and Europe in November. I can't wait.
For Addie's CMJ schedule, tour listings and music head on over to her site www.addiebrownlee.com.
Follow Salvatore Bono on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yuppieblog - The Huffington Post

Living Room - New York, NY
Rockwood Music Hall
Googies Lounge - New York, NY
Bitter End - New York, NY
The Cutting Room – New York, NY
Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
Eddie's Attic - Decatur, GA
Club Passim - Boston, MA
Lizard Lounge – Boston, MA
Bluebird Cafe - Nashville, TN
Evening Muse - Charlotte, NC
Invasion of the GoGirls at SXSW - Austin, TX
Rhythm and Roots Festival - Bristol, TN
Music in the Mountains Festival - Dahlonega, GA - Included but not limited to...

The Huffington Post
The New York Press
Time Out New York
Alternate Root Magazine
The Villager – New York, NY
The Chicago Tribune
Metropulse - Knoxville, TN
Daily Times - Knoxville, TN
The Loafer - Tri-Cities, TN
Bristol Herald Courier, Tri-Cities, TN
A! Arts Alliance Magazine - Southeast United States - Included but not limited to...

WFUV - NYC
Alternate Root TV
WDVX Blue Plate Special - Knoxville, TN
WTNH Noon Hour News Show – New Haven, CT
Joey Reynolds Show – WOR 710 AM National Talk Radio - New York, NY
Waking Up with the Wolf on 1064 WTRY Radio – Schenectady, NY
WCOM 103.5 FM - Chapel Hill, NC
WCYB Noon Hour News Show - Bristol, TN
- Included but not limited to...

Review of Addie's music prior to her first international tour... - The New York Press

FULL REVIEW..."Addie Brownlee is certainly a talented newcomer. When We Were Christians offers 10 extremely solid songs that will make fans of straightforward singer/songwriters want to get a cup o’ joe and stew over her intimate lyrics awhile. Brownlee doesn’t reinvent the wheel here and, oddly enough, that’s what seems to set her apart. Her songs are pretty much just her rich, bluesy voice and the beautiful sound of her acoustic rhythm guitar work. She has stripped away so much extra that all that is really left is her heart. On songs like “Frances” and “Until It’s Time to Say Goodbye” Brownlee is at her best. There is a sense of both urgency and soul to these songs in particular, landing the listener somewhere between a coffee shop and a Joss Stone gig. The album ends with the excellent “A Thousand Days Are Gone” and when it finishes there is little doubt that you want to hit “repeat” and start the CD over. Few new artists have the guts to simply put their songs out their without all the pomp and circumstance but Addie Brownlee does it beautifully and hopefully she’ll help us remember why we make music. When We Were Christians is a stunning debut from an artist we will certainly be hearing more from." - -- Mark Fisher, 1340mag.com

FULL REVIEW..."Homegrown Addie Brownlee is coming back to town. You may remember her as a Lady Vol varsity rower. Off the water and on UT's stages, Brownlee also demonstrated theatrical prowess. Now, as a resident of New York City, Brownlee has found success as an off-Broadway actress. If you aren't already impressed, then you should hear her sing. In the tradition of folk-Americana artists, Brownlee's music is simple and passionate, conversational and dulcet. Lyrically prone and vocally crystalline, Brownlee is magnetic. Her original music is a witty, disrobed exploration of heartbreaks-romantic and political. She's a woman with a guitar, a message, and some damn catchy melodies. - -- Metropulse, Knoxville, TN

FULL REVIEW...Her press kit describes her music best: “You’re spent. You need something: a change, an epiphany, a day off. You throw some stuff in the car and start driving. You’re unsure of your destination, maybe just a dusty road somewhere far from where you’ve been. You slide Addie Brownlee’s music into your CD player to begin your journey. It’s thick with yearning and irony. It’s got a healthy dose of heartache, and just enough hope to keep you driving until sunrise. Her lyrics are intelligent and brutally honest: ‘I don’t know if I’m getting older, or if I just don’t love you enough.’ Often she puts words to feelings that aren’t easily expressed or classified, but so familiar you’ll wonder why no one has ever written these songs before. Listeners describe her music and her voice as ‘earthy, soulful, a shot of Southern Comfort, a hard rain.’

She’s not your mama’s folk rocker. Brutally honest lyrics sung with an earthy, rich voice and matched by the slow burn of her guitar playing. Think Patty Griffin with a Melissa Etheridge edge.” Brownlee draws inspiration from many different artists — lyricists Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, rockers like Melissa Etheridge, prolific writers like Dolly Parton and, more recently, passionate songwriters Patty Griffin and Lucinda Williams. Brownlee says, “Just listening to the music of great songwriters has helped me the most, and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful musicians in New
York that I’m able to bounce ideas off of.”

Like these varied songwriters, Brownlee considers herself “an artist of the people,” and the subjects of her songs range from social injustice to love gone wrong. She says, “I can’t imagine a better lyricist than Patty Griffin with lines like ‘Her daddy would tear out like a page of the Bible’ — that’s crazy, good stuff! And she’s the total package with gorgeous melodies and that voice that makes you just curl up in a ball and cry! And I’ve always been a huge Dolly Parton fan. She is truly a uniter. I went to a concert of hers in NYC at Irving Plaza, which is typically a rock venue, and there was literally someone from every walk of life there. It was hysterical to see all these different people who wouldn’t normally spend time together all crying and cheering in the mosh pit.”

Though Brownlee has been a musician of some sort for most of her life, she didn’t start songwriting until a couple of years ago. “It’s as though it had been locked inside me,” she says. “I want all my songs to tell a story, some more obliquely I guess than others, but the songs I’m most proud of are the ones where I’ve managed to give a voice to someone who doesn’t have one — like in ‘Robert Bruce,’ a song about my grandfather who farmed and went to war and lived out his life the best way he knew how, or ‘Here We Have Stories’ about Rwandan women struggling to find hope in a pretty hopeless situation. I’d love to change the world with my music, but I’d be happy to change someone’s mind.”

With the release of her CD, “Back When We Were Christians” (2005), Brownlee is making a place for herself in the New York City performing songwriter scene. Though crowd favorite “Jesus and Charlie” might keep her off the 700 Club’s guest list, it’s getting her plenty of industry attention. She laughs, “I know ‘Jesus and Charlie’ rubs some people the wrong way, but that’s okay. I just wrote what I felt. Writing that song was a spiritual catharsis for me, and I consider it a tribute, a love song.” Referring to the title of the CD, Brownlee explains, “Even though I’ve journeyed quite far from my spiritual roots, I won’t shy away from it. It’s part of me. But what is it that Ghandi said? Religion is like a mother. However good a friend’s mother may be, you cannot forsake your own.”

With the release of “Back When We Were Christians,” Roots Music Report (March 20, 2006) predicts that “Brownlee will make a major impact on the Roots Gospel music industry...Brownlee has a style that will grab listeners’ hearts and stir their senses. Her vocal performance is uncommon and she has that special sound that sets her apart from any other to be heard. [She has written] all the tracks on this album...she presents some of the most heartfelt material to radio stations and the public around the globe.”

According to CoffeeHouseTour.com (May 3, 2006), Brownlee’s CD offers “solid songs that will make fans of straightforward singer/songwriters want to get a cup o’ joe and stew over her intimate lyrics awhile. Brownlee doesn’t reinvent the wheel here and, oddly enough, that’s what seems to set her apart. Her songs are pretty much just her rich, bluesy voice and the beautiful sound of her acoustic rhythm guitar work. She has stripped away so much extra that all that is really left is her heart. On songs like ‘Frances’ and ‘Until It’s Time to Say Goodbye’ Brownlee is at her best. Few new artists have the guts to simply put their songs out there without all the pomp and circumstance bu - www.artsmagazine.info

FULL REVIEW..."Addie Brownlee will soon make a major impact on the Roots Gospel music industry with the new release “Back When We Were Christians”. This acoustic performance by Addie Brownlee has a style that will grab the listeners heart and stir their senses. Her vocal performance is uncommon and she has that special sound that sets her apart from any other to be heard. All the tracks on this album she has written, and let me tell you, she writes extremely well and presents some of the most heartfelt material to radio stations and the public around the globe in 2006. " - -- Roots Music Report

FULL REVIEW...I had the pleasure of doing a show with Addie, and she wrote some music for the production and I was immediately a fan. Before We Were Christians validates, for me, my intuition. There is grace and gravity in these songs and while simple, they are deceptively searing. She often reminds me of Jen Trynin (Gun Shy Trigger Happy days). I am delighted to stick this CD into my player and find the imagery transporting. A great disc, from a great artist. - -- Duncan Rogers, Freshwater Films

FULL REVIEW...When singer-songwriter Addie Brownlee needed help on a new tune titled "The Gay Marriage Song," she turned to an unlikely co-writing source — her mom.

Brownlee — a University of Tennessee graduate who returns to Knoxville on Sunday to perform at Preservation Pub — found herself with a case of writer's block while penning the song. When she played it for her parents, her mother volunteered to help out with the lyrics, and before long, it was a family affair.

"I was reading about how gay rights is similar to the Civil Rights movement, and when I was writing that song, I wanted to be very serious and passionate about it," Brownlee told The Daily Times this week. "But as I started writing it, it took a more tongue-in-cheek tone, and when I was a little bit stuck, my mom and I finished it together.

"My dad, who's a recording engineer, recorded the song, and then the three of us recorded this gay-sounding Chipmunks sing-along that plays over the end. And the response has been that, overwhelmingly, people love the song. I have people writing me telling me, 'I'm not even gay, but I love this song, because I've been trying to make this point to so many people, and now I think I have a way to make it.

"I think it's a sign of the way this country is changing and how we're moving toward loving each other more," she added. "It's kind of like a final prejudice that's left over in this country, and I really think people are fed up and ready to move on and focus their energies on things that matter."

Of course, Brownlee's music is so much more than just "The Gay Marriage Song," which will be featured on her forthcoming album "East of Leaving," scheduled for release in 2007. She's a brutally honest, sometimes playful and often whimsical lyricist whose lilting alto provides the perfect accompaniment to her acoustic guitar. Her music is earthy and rooted in the soil of the East Tennessee hills in which she was raised.

Even though she lives in New York now, she still considers East Tennessee home. Her parents live in Bristol, and she has fond memories of her time on the UT rowing team and as part of the college's theater department.

"One of the great things about coming back down South from New York is getting to see all of my old friends and my family," she said. "I think the first couple of times I played out to a lot of old friends and family, it was very nerve-wracking for me, because you're completely exposing yourself. It wasn't theater, and it wasn't me telling someone else's story. But it's also very freeing, because it's who I am; me up there sharing my thoughts with everyone."

The freedom carries over into her songwriting more and more these days, she added. Her most recent album, "Back When We Were Christians," didn't shy away from songs that may rub some people the wrong way. The album is filled with Biblical allusions, which is intentional, since it was made during a time when Brownlee was making her own spiritual journey.

These days, she lives in New York and works as an actor Off-Broadway, no surprise to those who knew her when she was active in the local theater scene at the Clarence Brown Theatre. When she's not acting, she's performing around the Northeast and even abroad. With "East of Leaving," she hopes to bring her music to a broader audience.

"I think more and more, I feel even more free to express exactly how I feel," she said. "It's funny — the more I feel that way, the more hot button topics seem to come to mind and come out of my pen. It feels good to know that I can write what I truly feel." - -- Steve Wildsmith, The Daily Times - Knoxville, TN

FULL REVIEW...Her press kit describes her music best: “You’re spent. You need something: a change, an epiphany, a day off. You throw some stuff in the car and start driving. You’re unsure of your destination, maybe just a dusty road somewhere far from where you’ve been. You slide Addie Brownlee’s music into your CD player to begin your journey. It’s thick with yearning and irony. It’s got a healthy dose of heartache, and just enough hope to keep you driving until sunrise. Her lyrics are intelligent and brutally honest: ‘I don’t know if I’m getting older, or if I just don’t love you enough.’ Often she puts words to feelings that aren’t easily expressed or classified, but so familiar you’ll wonder why no one has ever written these songs before. Listeners describe her music and her voice as ‘earthy, soulful, a shot of Southern Comfort, a hard rain.’

She’s not your mama’s folk rocker. Brutally honest lyrics sung with an earthy, rich voice and matched by the slow burn of her guitar playing. Think Patty Griffin with a Melissa Etheridge edge.” Brownlee draws inspiration from many different artists — lyricists Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, rockers like Melissa Etheridge, prolific writers like Dolly Parton and, more recently, passionate songwriters Patty Griffin and Lucinda Williams. Brownlee says, “Just listening to the music of great songwriters has helped me the most, and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful musicians in New
York that I’m able to bounce ideas off of.”

Like these varied songwriters, Brownlee considers herself “an artist of the people,” and the subjects of her songs range from social injustice to love gone wrong. She says, “I can’t imagine a better lyricist than Patty Griffin with lines like ‘Her daddy would tear out like a page of the Bible’ — that’s crazy, good stuff! And she’s the total package with gorgeous melodies and that voice that makes you just curl up in a ball and cry! And I’ve always been a huge Dolly Parton fan. She is truly a uniter. I went to a concert of hers in NYC at Irving Plaza, which is typically a rock venue, and there was literally someone from every walk of life there. It was hysterical to see all these different people who wouldn’t normally spend time together all crying and cheering in the mosh pit.”

Though Brownlee has been a musician of some sort for most of her life, she didn’t start songwriting until a couple of years ago. “It’s as though it had been locked inside me,” she says. “I want all my songs to tell a story, some more obliquely I guess than others, but the songs I’m most proud of are the ones where I’ve managed to give a voice to someone who doesn’t have one — like in ‘Robert Bruce,’ a song about my grandfather who farmed and went to war and lived out his life the best way he knew how, or ‘Here We Have Stories’ about Rwandan women struggling to find hope in a pretty hopeless situation. I’d love to change the world with my music, but I’d be happy to change someone’s mind.”

With the release of her CD, “Back When We Were Christians” (2005), Brownlee is making a place for herself in the New York City performing songwriter scene. Though crowd favorite “Jesus and Charlie” might keep her off the 700 Club’s guest list, it’s getting her plenty of industry attention. She laughs, “I know ‘Jesus and Charlie’ rubs some people the wrong way, but that’s okay. I just wrote what I felt. Writing that song was a spiritual catharsis for me, and I consider it a tribute, a love song.” Referring to the title of the CD, Brownlee explains, “Even though I’ve journeyed quite far from my spiritual roots, I won’t shy away from it. It’s part of me. But what is it that Ghandi said? Religion is like a mother. However good a friend’s mother may be, you cannot forsake your own.”

With the release of “Back When We Were Christians,” Roots Music Report (March 20, 2006) predicts that “Brownlee will make a major impact on the Roots Gospel music industry...Brownlee has a style that will grab listeners’ hearts and stir their senses. Her vocal performance is uncommon and she has that special sound that sets her apart from any other to be heard. [She has written] all the tracks on this album...she presents some of the most heartfelt material to radio stations and the public around the globe.”

According to CoffeeHouseTour.com (May 3, 2006), Brownlee’s CD offers “solid songs that will make fans of straightforward singer/songwriters want to get a cup o’ joe and stew over her intimate lyrics awhile. Brownlee doesn’t reinvent the wheel here and, oddly enough, that’s what seems to set her apart. Her songs are pretty much just her rich, bluesy voice and the beautiful sound of her acoustic rhythm guitar work. She has stripped away so much extra that all that is really left is her heart. On songs like ‘Frances’ and ‘Until It’s Time to Say Goodbye’ Brownlee is at her best. Few new artists have the guts to simply put their songs out there without all the pomp and circumstance bu - www.artsmagazine.info