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http://mikewilsonmusicblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/ep-review-donna-marie-this-world.html
Mike Wilson's Music Blog
"Mike is a freelance writer with a passionate interest in traditional, folk, country and roots-based music. He is Reviews Editor for Folking.com, Mike also contribute reviews and articles to The Living Tradition magazine, also Live Editor and contributor at Green Man Review"
Donna Marie, This World (DM Records, 2008)
This is Donna Marie's second EP, released in advance of her eagerly anticipated debut album. The progress Donna Marie has made over the last few years is staggering -- This World really couldn't sound any better. A professional sound pervades throughout, without sacrificing soul or integrity. This is the sound of a song writer really hitting her stride!
The title track is an excellent, catchy pop ballad, with a memorable groove, combining the nimble riff of Donna Marie's electric guitar and a funky rhythm section with her effortlessly harmonising vocals. This has major hit potential -- it really does -- it would make the perfect soundtrack to a languid, sultry summer! The bluesy ambience of "Goodtime Girl" continues the feel-good factor, featuring some particularly cool harmonica playing.
The opening half of "Home" gives the listener a good opportunity to focus on the poise of Donna Marie's lovely voice -- underpinned by a gentle but nimbly picked acoustic guitar and resonant cello. Similarly the acoustic closing track, "Faraway," holds much beauty in its sparseness.
What struck me most about this EP is that Donna Marie sounds like she's really enjoying herself, lifting the songs to a whole different level, whilst ensuring that the listener can share in this enjoyment. Her songs are well written and well put together, deserving the attention of a wider audience to which Donna Marie could no doubt appeal. Make plenty of room on radio playlists... reserve a place in the charts... make a space on the stage of your local music venue... Donna Marie is here! - Mike Wilson
Making the leap from solo acoustic singer to leading a fully fledged band seems to have been an easy one for Donna Marie, although, as she admits tonight, there has been roughly ’an hour’ of rehearsal beforehand.
Taking to the stage in support of the new Radio 1 darling Sam Isaac, Donna Marie is using tonight to showcase songs from her just been released EP. Whilst the tracks on offer will be familiar to those die hard fans (and there seem to be fair few in the audience) tonight’s reworking of them still holds the audience captive.
Opening up with Paint the Sky, the title track of her debut CD, Donna Marie has the audience in the palm of her hand. It makes a nice change to see an audience hanging on to the artist’s every word rather than drinking or talking amongst themselves until a livelier track comes on. This sets the scene for the rest of her set as Donna Marie flits easily between gentle, haunting ballads and the more rockier numbers.
As she closes with the stand out track, Goodtime Girl, a harmonica player takes to the stage, fitting in perfectly with the country tinged song. Based on this performance, and her upcoming gigs with the likes of Ben Glover and the Earls, this CD won’t be Donna Marie’s last. Definitely one to watch.
http://guestlistmusic.blogspot.com/2008/04/donna-marie-roadhouse-25-march-2008.html
Words - S Jones
Photographs - Hannah Dornford-May - Guestlist Music
Social network site Kerchoonz.com announced the winner of it's December Live Competition. Singer songwriter Donna Marie took first position having earned £250, followed by the Mercury Prize-nominated electronic artist Helicopter Girl at just under £200. Manchester-based band Darnell in third place receives £100. These figures are the tip of the iceberg and demonstrate the exciting possibilities as the site continues to grow.
"Kerchoonz.com provides artists and musicians with a fantastic opportunity to connect directly with their fans and to promote their music and gigs and so on.. It's a growing community of like-minded and enthusiastic people - it allows people to hear and download your music for free, while the artist gets paid" says the winner Donna Marie.
The Kerchoonz Live Competition offered its growing artist member base with three chances to win a cheque to recognize the numbers of plays and downloads achieved during the month of December. As a part of the prizes for the competition during December, the winning acts will be invited to participate in the inaugural Kerchoonz Live event which is to be held in February in Glasgow. It will feature a recording session with top producer Ian Morrow (Wet Wet Wet, Seal, Rod Stewart) at the House of Rock Studios. The best performing runners-up from Europe and the US will also be invited.
Kerchoonz.com is a Social Network designed by industry professionals to offer music downloads free for the fans while ensuring the copyright owners are paid. The social network's growth is set to continue apace as they are currently deep in negotiations with both independent and major record labels to help provide a total music experience
Original link
http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=116683
- Music Industry News Network
Donna-Marie is a veteran of the music scene having been recording and producing all her adult life. She spent 2007 touring relentlessly as well as playing sold out shows supporting the likes of The Envy Corps, The Black Lips and Amy Macdonald.
Donna-Marie's songs are full of clever lyrics, wry observations and polished instrumentation. As far as guestlist are concerned she is a cut above the rest of the singer / songwriter talent out there. 2007 saw the release of her debut EP, 'Paint The Sky' and she has just finished recording her first, yet to be named, album for release in January 2008. In true Donna-Marie style we can imagine this will be supported by a plethora of live dates all around the UK.
- http://www.guestlistmusic.blogspot.com/
The Zaw Towers Review of 2007
Best Single of 2007 - "Paint The Sky EP" - Donna Marie
From the moment I first saw her live back in June, I knew that Donna Marie was a talent waiting to get the break for the big time, and the four tracks that are this EP are amongst the most played of anything this year. There's the gorgeous slide guitar on the lovely "Holiday From Myself", the raw acoustic lusciousness of "Make You Mine" (still my favourite), the great second verse of "Sinking Deep" and the title track at the end with an almost defiant uplifting feeling that it gives you. There's so many so-so singer songwriters out there, but she isn't one of them - and if she makes it in 2008 I will be one of the happiest people. There's still some copies left of this at her Myspace page so go and buy it. Now. - http://www.zawtowers.org.uk/Reviews/2007review.html
Discography
Goodtime Girl (Single / Radio mix) Out soon!
This world 6 track mini album - March 2008
No Frills - Demo's and Live tracks (Sold Out) Jan 2008
Paint the sky 4 track EP June 2007 (Sold Out) June 2007
Bums on seats (give away) PROMO CD June 2006
Photos
Bio
Donna Marie is a prolific songwriter, live performer, musician and Producer from the North-West of England. From an early age she was fascinated with music, taking every opportunity to play on any instrument she could get her hands on. She began playing piano at 9, writing songs at 11 and playing in various bands as soon as she was old enough. It was no accident that Donna Marie produces her own music. Her first experience in a ‘real studio’ began in her early teens.
“I saved up my paper round money and waited on tables in a local pub. I remember hearing about a studio in Warrington, so made it my mission to save up for my own studio time. I booked taxi with this huge keyboard on my lap and recorded 3 songs at Frog studios then got a taxi back home. No one knew about it until I presented my parents with a tape”.
Donna has shared the stage with a number of local bands, playing keyboard, guitar and mandolin. Eventually she found the confidence to go solo and play the kind of music she loves.
It was this experience that prompted her into a life long love of recording and producing. Every 6 months She went back to the studio and recorded more songs. When She turned 18 she took her first bar job, which meant she had enough money to buy her first PA system. Over the last 11 years she has played literally thousands of gigs across the UK to some of the most critical audiences around. Performing in bars and workingmen’s clubs has been a real learning experience and has helped mould her into the performer she is today.
Donna wanted to learn more about recording so she enrolled into St Helens college to study a 2 year National Diploma in Music Technology where she finished with a distinction. She also graduated from Huddersfield University in 2005 with a BSC (hons) degree in Music Technology & Audio Systems. Shortly after, She began playing solo acoustic shows, which allowed her to grow as an artist.
Playing Live is a big part of Donna’s life, playing many gigs across the UK. She has already supported a number of big names including Scottish singer/songwriter AMY MACDONALD, American rock bands THE ENVY CORPS & THE BLACK LIPS and rising Nashville, country music star ELIZABETH COOK.
2008 was another busy year for Donna Marie. She supported radio one’s latest favourite SAM ISAAC in Manchester and was asked to support Ireland’s up and coming star BEN GLOVER AND THE EARLS Her second independently released CD called ‘THIS WORLD’ has been a huge success with her fan-base and critics alike featuring 6 well crafted songs written about Love, Loneliness, Climate change and letting the good times roll.
2009 started with a bang when Donna Marie WON the coveted title of BIGGEST SELLING ARTIST for Kerchoonz.com Kerchoonz competition She will be recording a LIVE SHOW at the end of February with producer Ian Morrow (Wet Wet Wet, Seal, Rod Stewart) at the House of Rock Studios Glasgow.
For the last year, Donna has been concentrating on song writing and recording demo’s in her home studio, which is where she spends most of her time. She is gearing up to record her debut LP in March.
Session singing is another avenue Donna Marie works in. She is regularly hired to provide vocals for the technically based COMPUTER MUSIC MAGAZINE. She has also performed and co-written in the dance scene as her aliasDMO. Her songs have been featured on albums such as Clubland, Floorfillas, Ministry of sound and Bonkers to name a few and continues to be in high demand from some of the top DJs in the world.
Donna Marie is proud to be an ENDORSE of SE Electronics microphones, Adam Black guitars, Delmedo Custom Acoustic stomp boxes, Ghost Acoustics and G7 Capo’s have asked her to use their brand.
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