Yanni Burton

Yanni Burton is an ex-Adelaidian who currently resides and works in NYC. His first trip back to Australia in ten years to promote his EP, Same Old Love, was met with a full house at The Promethean with a fabulous band.

Yanni is an accomplished singer/songwriter with a bevy of fabulous musicians surrounding him and his sound. Tonight’s show was labelled the Love Set, and while initially it was said slightly humorously, you soon get the understanding that this is a musical and personal journey of love through various relationships to today’s revelations.

Flawless vocals, and a spectacular bass solo to open and close with, Yanni had handpicked musical colleagues and friends that obviously have a great musical connection. The majority of the band hails from NYC, although some are also Adelaidians: Karen De Nardi on viola and Simone Slattery on Violin.

While the drums were definitely were mixed too loud in parts, overall the sound worked. The arrangements were absolutely lovely and showcased the years of high brow musical education and excellence in performance. Tiger Darrow’s harmonies were beautiful, although sometimes with the strength of a leading lady which, at times, distracted from Yanni’s vocals. The physical arrangement of the muso’s on stage didn’t quite work for me, and having her at the front for the entire show was part of that.

Overall, very musically sound. The final encore of his own arrangement of Sia’s Chandelier was the highlight – dark and beautiful, and showcasing his very obvious talent. - Clothesline Magazine

Singer-songwriter Yanni Burton has a personal reason for the benefit concert that marks his Canberra debut, writes Ron Cerabona.

Expatriate Australian singer-songwriter Yanni Burton will be making his Canberra debut to help a good cause. He'll be using the concert to support Retina Australia, an organisation that raises money for research into the detection, prevention, treatment and cure of inherited retinal dystrophies.

"Having grown up with my cousin for the past 27 years, who has retinitis pigmentosa, I know first-hand how important the work of Retina Australia is," he says.
New York based singer-songwriter Yanni Burton is touring Australia.

Burton says his music is contemporary – "I like to call it acoustic pop" – and his songs, exploring aspects of love, draw on his background in classical music as well as his past relationships ("They'll be over in New York, so I'm safe").
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He's backed by his New York City band, a string quartet as well as guitar, drums, and piano, on his Australian tour, which also takes in Adelaide, Braidwood, Melbourne and Launceston (the last another benefit concert, for Care for Africa).

Burton has a classical music background. He was born in Cranbrook, NSW and grew up mostly in Adelaide. He started learning the double bass when he was 12: the size of the instrument meant it was hard to start it earlier. He got into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts but didn't enjoy it – "It wasn't for me".

He sent a tape audition to the San Francisco Conservatory and two weeks later was offered a scholarship to study there. He then went on to the Julliard School in New York City, also on a scholarship.

He's been based in New York since and for the past three years has been principal bass with a classical chamber ensemble, the Salome Chamber Orchestra. But he's also performed with pop stars such as John Legend, Michelle Williams and Rufus Wainwright and has drawn inspiration from musicians such as Angus and Julius Stone and Coldplay. He's performed at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center among other venues.

Although he has always had a passion for composition and writing lyrics, he says pop is a recent career path. "I started writing about two years ago and released an EP, Same Old Love. last year … it's been getting a bit of traction. I've done a lot of shows in New York."

But Burton is still dividing his time between two musical worlds. Two days after his final Australian performance he is flying to Britain to perform in the Aldeburgh Music Festival, which was founded in 1948 by composer Benjamin Britten, his partner, singer Peter Pears and director-librettist Eric Crozier.

"I've been a Fellow for four years. It's a year-long music festival and I often go two or three times a year. This year I'm only going once."

Then it's back to New York, his partner, and the orchestra – as well as his plans for the future.

"I'm hoping to set up a US tour in the summer. One step at a time." - The Canberra Times

"Yanni Burton is a true alternative pop singer-songwriter whose latest release, SAME OLD
LOVE, is a collection of piano laced ballads that are stuffed with passion and honesty" - Shaine Freeman

Yanni Burton is a young Australian singer/songwriter who moved to the States from Adelaide about ten years ago - ostensibly to study music, but he has started to write and record his own songs in earnest. Speaking from Adelaide, he’s now returned to tour his homeland under his own name for the very first time, and gave us some of his time leading up to his first hometown show. Although he admits to just a touch of nerves (his apprehension is surprising – Burton has shared the stage with some major players, including John Legend and Rufus Wainwright), he feels the presence of loved ones will help him through it. - See more at: http://www.beat.com.au/music/yanni-burton#sthash.YwdlCvdv.dpuf - Beat Magazine

When it comes to creating music, indie
artist - Yanni Burton - delivers the
goods. In this exclusive interview, he
takes us behind his creative process
and shares what his journey has been
like in today's DIY world of music.

Published: I AM Entertainment Magazine, September 2, 2014
Interview by: Shaine Freeman (I Am Entertainment Magazine)

Please tell us who or what influenced you to pursue a career in music?
That’s a tricky one! Well I’m a classically trained bass player – my other day job is playing in a chamber
orchestra, so music has been a big part of my life for a long time. But my singer-songwriter career, I think I’ll
have to say, was influenced by my move to New York and the people I have met here. This city is full of people
that are driven and passionate about what they do, taking risks and striving to reach their goals. I’ve always had
a passion for writing my own music, so I decided, if there is ever a time and a place to follow my dreams – it is
here in NYC!

Lets talk about your latest release, “Same Old Love”. What can people expect to hear on the project?
Same Old Love is an homage to love. I don’t pretend to offer any new experiences or insights on the topic, as I
believe we all go through similar experiences with love. So lyrically, you’ll find my stories on love told in a way
that can be related to the listener regardless of his/hers sexuality, race, time or place – Thus – Same Old Love.

Instrumentally speaking, I have two passions – pop and classical music. I really like the idea of combining
contemporary song form with the complexities that classical music has to offer. My goal was to achieve that
contemporary pop sound while offering the listener a chance to experience the beautiful qualities of classical
instrumentation.

What would you say has been the most rewarding aspect of being a musician/recording artist?
By far, the most rewarding aspect of being a musician/recording artists is getting the opportunity to collaborate
with the incredible musicians New York has to offer. On this particular project I had the honor of working with so
many amazing people including Kieran Kelly (co-producer) who has earned Multi Platinum records in Australia,
France and a Gold in the US with Angus & Julia Stones “Down the Way’; Matthew Sheens (pianist) who is an
international touring artist with two award winning albums under his belt, along with the New York based Salomé
Chamber Orchestra, who have played all over the world. To have these musicians collaborate and bring my
music to life has been by far the most rewarding experience of my career to date.

What has been the most challenging part about pursuing an indie music career?
This one is also tricky – there are so many challenges in pursuing you’re own music career! Besides the obvious
challenges of financing and building an audience, for me the biggest challenge was actually convincing myself its
ok to graduate with a masters in classical double bass and put it aside for a moment to follow an indie music
career! My colleagues all know me as a bassist, so it was a big deal to reintroduce myself as a singer songwriter
and start fresh. In fact it took me about two years after I had written my initial material to build the confidence to
record and perform it!! Now that I’ve taken the plunge though, there is definitely no turning back!

Where can people buy your album, as well as follow you online?
Well, of course I’m up on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play. You can also stream on Spotify and Bandcamp. I would
love to hear from music lovers and see them at one of my gigs! So, feel free to drop me a line on Facebook and
Twitter, and check out the website for show dates! www.yanniburton.com - I Am Entertainment Magazine

Australian singer/songwriter and bassist - Yanni Burton released his debut EP SameOldLove in April 2014. Now after 10 years he is bringing his music back to the Homeland. Ditto Music caught up with him to find out what he is most looking forward to on his Australian tour, meeting John Legend & Michelle Williams and 'reveals' his embarassing music moment. - See more at: http://www.dittomusic.com/blog/q-a-with-yanni-burton#sthash.eZ0tYPsD.dpuf - Ditto Music

Yanni Burton is the latest indie artist to join our Chicago Music Library roster. Yanni is an Aussie bassist, singer and songwriter. Born in the country town of Cranebrooke, NSW, he now resides in big old New York City. Yanni released his debut EP – SameOldLove in April of 2014, produced by Kieran Kelly, Multi Platinum record producer for Angus and Julia Stone’s Album – Down The Way. He had the pleasure of working with the internationally acclaimed Salome Chamber Orchestra on this EP.

Yanni Burton - Double Bass
In New York, Yanni spends his time writing, and performing this work throughout the city, with recent concerts at the famous 54 Below, Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End, and Pianos. He has also performed along side pop icons such as John Legend, Michelle Williams, Natasha Beddingfield and Rufus Wainwright on the bass.

You can listen to and license tracks from Yanni Burton’s ‘Same Old Love’ exclusively through Chicago Music Library - Renee Dawes

Adelaide born bassist, Yanni Burton, who now lives in New York, is in town for the Fringe. This time, though, he is not here to play the bass, but to sing the songs from his debut EP CD, Same Old Love, released in April 2014. The songs were written at various times during a relationship that ended, and the final one is for a new relationship that has begun.

This sold out performance was upstairs at La Boheme, but the final performance on Saturday will be at The Promethean. He and his band will then tour the eastern states performing at four other venues before returning to America.

His group was an interesting mix of a string quartet, including violin, Sarah Koenig-Plonskier, 'cello, Peter Pearson, and a quartet consisting of keyboards, Matthew Sheens, electric and double bass, Alana Dawes, guitar, Andrew Orkin, and drums, Kenneth Salters, plus a marvellous backing singer, Tiger Darrow.

Dawes is another Adelaide musician now working in New York, but she returns here every June to perform with some of the big name artists in the Cabaret Festival, so we have not lost her completely.

This combination permitted a great set of possibilities, which Burton utilised to excellent effect in his arrangements. Rhythmically, too, there was plenty of variation, going beyond the basic 3/4 and 4/4 to include one number with a Bossa Nova beat, and another with a Tango beat. Adding to that the meaningful lyrics, this performance easily held the attention, particularly as he posses a fine, and expressive singing voice, even adding his own bass playing as he sang, on a couple of numbers.

His Same Old Love EP, which was available for sale after the performance, contains half a dozen songs: I Miss You, I Never Knew, Beautiful, Awake, Lies of Love, and Love Me., all of which were sung in this wonderful concert. Yanni Burton appears to have a whole new career ahead of him as a songwriter and singer which, if he continues on that path, might upset a good many people for whom he been playing bass. Watch for him to return to Adelaide and, if you are in New York, seek him out. - Broadway World