Amy Campbell
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
"...One of Halifax's most prominent folkies at the moment, Amy Campbell certainly has a beautiful way with a guitar. She needn't have sung a note, as her graceful Joni Mitchell-esque playing absolutely hypnotizes ... Campbell sings a collection of sad relationship tunes in a voice one could fall in love with..." - Exclaim! Magazine
"...Simply put, Campbell is well poised to one day inherit Joni Mitchell's place as Canada's quintessential female singer-songwriter. While her powerful vocal style has more in common with indie musician Ani Difranco, her penchant for unique guitar tuning and lyrical style is pure Mitchell..."
"...you won't be disappointed with this breathtaking debut."
read the full review at http://www.amycampbell.ca/herizonsreview.html - Herizons Magazine
AMY CAMPBELL, "The Architecture": ...A founding member of the BattleAxe Folk collective, this Newfoundland native may sound like a cross between Ani DiFranco and The Indigo Girls, but there's a sly dynamic at work here - namely a forthright admission of emotional detachment - that makes this bout of quiet deliberation something more than the sum of its influences. - Eye Weekly - Toronto
"She kicked your ass as half of the Indigo Girls-esque duo Stunble back in the day, piercing Halifax's power-pop-quartet tendencies with three killer albums... And these days Campbell has struck out on her own. She's a skillful dispenser of the finest raw, emotional, guitar-led songs." - The Coast - Halifax
"...A tight seven song package, Architecture does transport you. Anyone who's ever been to a Campbell concert... will instantly recognize the awkwardly comfortable dialogue, melodically and rhythmically intriguing vocals and confident, finger-picked guitar playing...." - The Coast - Halifax
There's a beautiful, reassuring breeze blowing west from Halifax this year, which is certainly atypical for a Canadian winter. But this one's not coming off the Atlantic. It's from the mind and music of Amy Campbell.
...Brave, but not surprising. One listen to ARCHITECTURE and it's clear that Campbell is an emotional force to be reckoned with, who... stands alone and naked on stage, spilling her guts into poetry and music.
...though ARCHITECTURE is brimming with a stark longing that will inevitably break your heart, it is etched deeply with a joy that only a true sense of hope can bring. - Rismix Live
Discography
Letters Home (2012)
Babes For Breasts (Compilation - 2011)
Indiegrrl (Compilation - 2010)
Oh Heart, Oh Highway (2008)
Architecture: Live at the Opera House (2003)
Sonicbids Listen Volume 5 (Compilation - 2009)
Don't Mind Me (Compilation - 2004)
Voices for V-Day (Compilation - 2004)
Photos
Bio
Amy Campbell brings together classical training and folk sensibilities to create music that reaches into human experience and comes back with stories written from the soul. Devoted equally to lyrical craft, innovative musicianship, and engaging performances, Amy’s dozen years of writing, composing, and touring have cemented her position in hearts and playlists across the world.
Amy has just completed a FACTOR-supported recording project produced by the incomparable Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith, The Rheostatics, Karyn Ellis, Claire Jenkins). "Letters Home" features performances by Ben Whiteley (New Country Rehab, The Good Lovlies) on upright bass, Jaron-Freeman Fox (The David Woodhead Confabulation, Delhi 2 Dublin) and Mary McGeer (The Talisker Players Chamber Orchestra) on strings, Jeff Heisholt (The Trews, Pete Elkas) on organs, David Matheson (Moxy Fruvous, Barenaked Ladies) on piano and guest vocals by Rose Cousins. Don’s arrangements are simple and tight, and beautifully compliment Amy’s signature rythmic guitar compositions and thought-provoking, heart-rending lyrics.
November 2008 saw the release of a full length album and book project entitled Oh Heart, Oh Highway. A successful release tour included appearances at the Halifax Pop Explosion, Toronto’s The Cameron House, The BobCat concert series (Ottawa) and the legendary Yellow Door Coffeehouse (Montreal). New fans were drawn in by the album’s cinematic narratives, and ambitious artistic vision; as evidenced in March 2009, when Oh Heart, Oh Highway reached #1 on CBC’s coveted and influential Galaxie Folk/Roots chart.
Seven years of touring have led to several noteworthy appearances: Campbell has performed as a supporting act to Penny Lang, Veda Hille, Justin Rutledge, Richard Bruckner, Old Man Luedecke, and Thea Gilmore (in the UK); toured as support for Emm Gryner; and is a regular at noteworthy folk venues Club Passim (Boston), Hugh’s Room (Toronto), and The Blacksheep Inn (Wakefield, QC), among others. Festival appearances include “The Stan Rogers Festival” (Nova Scotia), “The Cutting Edge of the Campfire Festival” (Boston), “Ladyfest NY” (New York), an MPress Records showcase at the IndieGrrl Festival (Nashville), The Amherst Island Folk Festival (Ontario), and Island Folk Festival (Victoria, BC).
Amy’s work is supplemented by her community activism – Over the last six years she created and spearheaded an independent music program for participants at Sketch (Toronto working arts studio for homeless and street-involved youth), with whom she works regularly and intensely. She also has ongoing roles in such projects as Babes for Breasts (touring concert in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation), and The Music Project (a songwriting program for teens at Camp Trillium).
Amy’s catalogue is available through iTunes, and online or via mail-order at www.amycampbell.ca.
“Simply put, Campbell is well poised to one day inherit Joni Mitchell’s place as Canada’s quintessential female singer-songwriter.” –Cindy Filipenko, Herizons
Career Highlights
Oh Heart, Oh Highway reaches number one on CBC’s influential Folk/Roots Chart - March 2009. Then in January 2010 it places #11 on their Top Folk/Roots Spins of 2009 chart.
Placed top 20 of ourstage.com’s “Lilith Fair Talent Search” (2010).
Chosen by the Songwriters Association of Canada to perform with Justin Rutledge at their web launch party (2010).
Featured on “2010 Indiegrrl Compilation CD” (2010).
Featured on Sonicbids “Listen Volume 5” compilation CD (2009).
Voted “best female artist” in Reverb’s best of music poll (Halifax).
Winner: Best Folk and Nominee: Best Song, Ontario Independent Music Awards (2008).
Showcase Artist: North By Northeast Festival (2009)
Showcase artist: Nova Scotia Music Week
Showcase artist: East Coast Music Awards.
Emerging Artist Showcase: Mariposa Folk Festival.
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