The Lady Crooners

July 09, 2013
Laurie Heuston
By Laurie Heuston
Revels
Three-part harmonies are the crux of The Lady Crooners. The rootsy folk-pop trio was founded in 2010 in San Francisco by siblings Joseph and Nadia Krilanovich.

"Nadia and I started the band with the idea of making music and having fun doing it," Joseph Krilanovich says. "It turned into a natural progression. Nadia will sing a bit of a melody, and I'll counter with something on the guitar. We seem to be able to complete each other's sentences, so to speak."

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Hear music by The Lady Crooners
IF YOU GO

Who: The Lady Crooners
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13
Where: The Playwright Public House, 258 A St., Ashland
Cover: Free
Call: 541-488-9128 or see www.theplaywrightpublichouse.com
The Lady Crooners will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at The Playwright Public House, 258 A St., Ashland. There is no cover for the show.

Former Ashland resident Kevin Conness — now based in San Francisco — will play electric and acoustic guitar with the Krilanoviches, and Megan Krilanovich will sing backup vocals.

"Nadia is the lyrical powerhouse," Joseph Krilanovich says. "She's a force to be reckoned with. She has a bachelor of fine arts from Western Washington University and a few children's books published. She's a creative person all the way around."

Megan Krilanovich and Conness joined The Lady Crooners this year. The band adds bassist Jason Braatz and drummer John Smart when they play gigs in the city.

"Kevin is one of the happiest people I know, and he's an incredible guitar player with tremendous skill," Joseph Krilanovich says. "He brings ideas to the songwriting that really makes it spark."

The Krilanoviches grew up in a musical family. Their father was one of nine brothers who sang together as a band in Southern California. Nadia and Joseph Krilanovich are the oldest of four siblings.

"Our idea of a good time is getting the whole family together for a meal and then pulling out a guitar or two and start singing together," Joseph Krilanovich says. "We have no trouble harmonizing. We don't have to second guess what the other is going to do next."

The Lady Crooners' newest CD, "The Surface" (engineered by Smart), was released in June. It follows an eponymous debut released in April 2012.

"We recorded it in a beautiful studio in Oakland," Joseph Krilanovich says. "We put a lot of effort into it. There's a tremendous amount of creativity between us that drives us forward, and writing songs is like having a lot of little love affairs. Songwriting comes easy for us. There's always material we want explore."

The 2012 debut CD was an amalgamation of the band's personalities — and was all over the place stylistically, Krilanovich says.

"Then with 'The Surface,' we took pieces that resonated with us the most," he says. "The music is closer to who we really are. It's a style that is thoughtful, playful, romantic and mischievous."

The band added percussion to "The Surface" to move it from quiet folk to something more accessible to pop listeners.

"It felt like a natural maturity," Krilanovich says. "It all came together, and it's given us an amazing feeling of accomplishment. We're ready to take it out into the world.

"We've played with other musicians, but now we've reached this group. We've worked hard and ultimately come to this place. This is the group." - The Mail Tribune

Thursday, 15 August 2013

Review: The Lady Crooners – The Surface

The Lady Crooners – The Surface (Independent)

Formed in 2010 by songwriting siblings Nadia and Joseph Krilanovich, the duo were soon joined by sister Megan, and are accompanied by Kevin Conness on lead guitar, and Jason Braatz on bass. They released their self-titled debut in 2011 and their sophomore collection “The Surface” arrived in June this year.

Based in San Francisco, they play a heady mix of old school country, rootsy folk and back-porch Americana. As with many sibling groups, harmony vocals are at the fore and the arrangements, and their overall approach to their musical craft, draws comparison to Gillian Welch, Emily Barker and the Civil Wars.

I’m sure they’re comparisons that the group won’t object to, especially as “The Surface” is hardly in thrall to any individual or specific influence, and the original songs stand up to proper scrutiny. Indeed standout tracks tumble from the speakers one after the other, and launch track “Mercy” impresses immediately. The vocals are sublime and the chorus sticks around long after the song has ended.

It’s followed by “Negotiation”, a charming song, distinguished by jangly acoustic guitar, and wonderful voices. The title track continues the run with a gentle certainty and a mountain folk purity that is beguiling. Have a listen, should you get the chance. - Leicester Bangs

Stunningly beautiful harmonies with textured arrangements, skillful guitar work and catchy melodies The Lady Crooners will capture your attention.
Founded in 2010 by sibling singer-songwriters, Joseph and Nadia Krilanovich, The Lady Crooners invited Australian lead guitarist, Andrew (Kep) Keppie, to join and a dynamic trio was formed. So began an inspired session of long-distance songwriting. Music and lyric files raced back and forth via email from various locations around the globe as the band worked in their normal jobs of graphic designer, author/illustrator, and teacher/touring performer.
Joseph, Nadia, and Kep came together for the first time in May 2011 on an island in the Pacific Northwest to arrange and record ten songs. Their connection as a group was immediate. It became clear that the resulting recording, which captures the sound and feel of the band in live performance, was more than just a demo.
"Nadia and I started the band with the idea of making music and having fun doing it," Joseph Krilanovich says. "It turned into a natural progression. Nadia will sing a bit of a melody, and I'll counter with something on the guitar. We seem to be able to complete each other's sentences, so to speak."
With the concept of creating music that lives and breathes, The Lady Crooners are prolific songwriters and collaborators. Their music is a signature blend of rootsy folk pop, beautiful harmonies, and interweaving guitars. Their songs are intimate, soulful portraits of three mischievous romantics who love playing and creating music together.
"Nadia is the lyrical powerhouse," Joseph Krilanovich says. "She's a force to be reckoned with. She has a bachelor of fine arts from Western Washington University and a few children's books published. She's a creative person all the way around."
Now based in San Francisco, The Lady Crooners have evolved into a full, wonderfully energized five piece group that delivers everything from haunting ballads to boot-stomping pandemonium, featuring Joseph and Nadia along with Bay Area talent: singer-songwriter Andrew Blair, multi-instrumentalist Ross Warner, and bassist Bret Cohune. Their 2nd Album The Surface was released in June 2013.
"We recorded it in a beautiful studio in Oakland," Joseph Krilanovich says. "We put a lot of effort into it. There's a tremendous amount of creativity between us that drives us forward, and writing songs is like having a lot of little love affairs. Songwriting comes easy for us. There's always material we want explore."
- Popa Tunes Elastic Eclectic