Inspired by the likes of Prince, Carole King and Stevie Wonder and musical genres such as Motown, hair metal and classic rock, Ianuzzi is a classically trained pianist and saxophonist who uses her musical inspirations to create witty songs loaded with wordplay and pop-culture references.
Lauren Ianuzzi ain’t just a pint-sized Jersey girl with thick brown curls, a pearly-white smile and sparkling enthusiasm. She ain’t girlie girl vanilla either. The Bergen County-bred songstress boasts a hustler-like spirit with the vocal chops to match, and there’s no mistaking her tenacity as she madly croons, “I will turn up the heat” in the sultry funk flavors of “Sweat,” one of the many self-penned tunes by the twenty-two-year-old Ianuzzi. She’s been tellin’ it like it is for a long time now. It’s now the world’s turn to catch up and turn an ear.
LAUREN IANUZZI - “A Funk I Won’t Forget”
From the funkalicious pop-soul of “A Funk I Won’t Forget” to the slinky R&B grooves of “Strawberry Poison” and “Love You Now,” it’s quite clear what Ianuzzi’s heart and soul is soaked in. She professes to have been a “reserved tween,” yet her vibrant personality blossomed once more upon high school. “I was totally that kid!” exclaims Ianuzzi. “I was a band nerd and I was in all the choirs. I was in every single music thing I could possibly be in and more.”
She’s previously co-written songs with songwriters such as Jeff Franzel (*NSYNC, Taylor Dayne), Martin Briley (Celine Dion), and Elisa Korenne (Super Sweet Sixteen), while also having recorded with producers such as Adrian Gurvitz (Sheryl Crow, CeCe Winans), Jim Beanz and Charlie Brown (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), the Noize Trip team (Fergie, The Roots), and Visionary Music Group (Destiny’s Child, Elton John). In January 2008, Ianuzzi opened for Train frontman Pat Monahan and Grammy-nominated songwriter Emily King at the Sundance Film Festival. She also performed at the 25th anniversary gala for the Operation Smile charity in Virginia Beach, VA, where she opened for the Beach Boys with her original song, “Show Me That Smile.” Ianuzzi is currently putting the finishing touches on her first EP, to be entitled “A Funk I Won’t Forget”
Shake up a little of Nikka Costa’s sexy brashness with the smooth soul of Prince and Jill Scott, and add a dash of Carole King — Lauren Ianuzzi will sate you. You ready to meet this Jersey Girl?
LAUREN IANUZZI - “Strawberry Poison”
TRACK LISTING:
1. A Funk I Won’t Forget
2. Obsessed
3. Electricity
4. Sweat
5. Strawberry Poison
6. Love You Now
7. Go-To Girl
WEBSITE: http://www.laurenianuzzi.com
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Lauren Ianuzzi ain’t just a pint-sized Jersey girl with thick brown curls, a pearly-white smile and sparkling enthusiasm. She ain’t girlie girl vanilla either. The Bergen County-bred songstress boasts a hustler-like spirit with the vocal chops to match, and there’s no mistaking her tenacity as she madly croons, “I will turn up the heat” in the sultry funk flavors of “Sweat,” one of the many self-penned tunes by the twenty-two-year-old Ianuzzi. She’s been tellin’ it like it is for a long time now. It’s now the world’s turn to catch up and turn an ear.
She’s previously co-written songs with songwriters such as Jeff Franzel (*NSYNC, Taylor Dayne), Martin Briley (Celine Dion), and Elisa Korenne (Super Sweet Sixteen), while also having recorded with producers such as Adrian Gurvitz (Sheryl Crow, CeCe Winans), Jim Beanz and Charlie Brown (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), the Noize Trip team (Fergie, The Roots), and Visionary Music Group (Destiny’s Child, Elton John). In January 2008, Ianuzzi opened for Train frontman Pat Monahan and Grammy-nominated songwriter Emily King at the Sundance Film Festival. She also performed at the 25th anniversary gala for the Operation Smile charity in Virginia Beach, VA, where she opened for the Beach Boys with her original song, “Show Me That Smile.” Ianuzzi is currently putting the finishing touches on her first EP.
Shake up a little of Nikka Costa’s sexy brashness with the smooth soul of Prince and Jill Scott, and add a dash of Carole King — Lauren Ianuzzi will sate you.
You ready to meet this Jersey Girl?
If you like it when the buzz about a performer ends up being all true – stay tuned to Lori Michaels. Her full-length CD debut, “Living My Life Out Loud,” (Reform Records) couldn’t be more aptly titled, period – and is available now.
She’s been singing and dancing since she could talk and walk. But Michaels’ career launched into new orbit in 2006, following her official “Coming Out” party at the House of Blues’ Club Worship in Atlantic City. It was a House of Blues first, and a turning point for Michaels in her evolution to in-demand solo artist and nationwide headliner with her head-turning Me & The Girls shows. By the summer of 2007, she was signing on to record with a new label –- and the songs haven’t stopped coming to her ever since.
In a time when coming out has evolved from something equated with fear to something much more about freedom, Michaels has freed her artistic soul to deliver “Living My Life Out Loud.” It is a testament to, above all else, her love of the song – whether that means writing, arranging and performing the vocals (lead and backgrounds), showcasing her talents on the piano/keys, or overseeing production with the best in the business to leave listeners breathless.
Amy Macdonald will tell you that it’s all Pete Doherty’s fault. No, it’s down to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or do we finger Fran Healy of Travis? Nah, sod it, let’s blame Ewan McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal. They’re movie stars, proper ones. They’re used to shouldering serious responsibility.
If it weren’t for these artists, Amy Macdonald wouldn’t be the teen-sensation singer-songwriter she is now. She’d still be kicking round Glasgow, an undergraduate at university, studying social sciences with an emphasis on geography. The highlight of her year would continue to be her annual pilgrimage to T In The Park, whereat she and her mates would party under canvas for 48 hours, forget their own names, and maybe see some bands.
Last year, with Wilkinson producing in Soho and rock legend Bob Clearmountain mixing in Los Angeles, Amy Macdonald recorded her debut album. It’s brimming with great tunes. As well as This Is The Life there’s Mr Rock & Roll, sung in Amy’s rich, bell-clear, gutsy vocal and possessing a compelling rhythmic punch and a chorus surely set to wow those T In The Park masses. Barrowland Ballroom Ð studded with honky-tonk piano and blaring brass is her fast-paced, skiffling tribute to the iconic Glasgow venue and memories of many a great gig (Razorlight, Babyshambles again, Travis again…).
Footballer’s Wife takes ominous strings, thunderous drums and a haunting vocal and uses them to wallop a pop culture that encourages silly young women (Chantelle, Colleen) to write their autobiographies. ‘They’re only 19, 20 years old or something Ð I don’t know how anybody could write their lifestory at this age. It’s pathetic.’ Ever the patriot, Amy has recorded a version of a modern Scottish folk classic, Caledonia. She’s heard that Paolo Nuttini has sung the song live, but Amy doesn’t care. The song moves her. And that’s all she wants from songs, whether other people’s or ones she’s written herself.
Jersey Girl Lauren Ianuzzi likes to play with matches and start fires. Good news! She can take the heat. Lauren’s songwriting and unique vocal style reveal what she and most girls think about relationships and boys, but not rarely ever say. With tight clothes, flashy earrings and curls for days, Ianuzzi’s spontaneous and sexy personality match her soul and funk driven music.
Inspired by the likes of Prince, Carole King and Stevie Wonder and musical genres such as Motown, hair metal and classic rock, Ianuzzi is a classically trained pianist and saxophonist who uses her musical inspirations to create witty songs loaded with wordplay and pop-culture references.
Ianuzzi has perfected her live performance after numerous standing room only shows at clubs like Manhattan’s famed Cutting Room and The Canal Room. The show is a heart pounding energetic production in which Lauren not only writes and sings all of her own songs, but she handles all the musical and stage direction of her four piece band.
The highlight track that Ms. Lauren Ianuzzi looks forward to performing live is “A Funk I Won’t Forget.” “This is where I get to be a real bandleader, says Lauren. It has such a strong James Brown vibe, so I grunt and pump my fist on all the hits. I reference a lot of instruments in the song, so I created a live arrangement that allows each band member to have a solo. Instead of the rap, we do this extended instrumental buildup that climaxes with a huge vocal riff.”
Other outrageous tracks by Ianuzzi consist of “Cotton Underwear Days” which is an ode to all the ladies out there who just don’t feel like wearing sexy silk undergarments everyday! ”Strawberry Poison” was written through the eyes of a rockin sex-goddess character, so Ianuzzi has fun tapping into that mysterious, alluring attitude. “Nobody really knows what Strawberry Poison is, but everybody has to want some,” jokes Ianuzzi.
In addition to writing music, obsessing over entertainment literature, weaving sparkly handbags and covering t-shirts in puffy paint, Ianuzzi recently scored the musical film Camp Summerstage, written by James Greenberg and produced by Steven Beer. Lauren also opened for Train lead singer Pat Monahan and 2008 Grammy Nominee Emily King at the Sundance Film Festival in January ’08.
Lauren trains with renowned voice coach and mentor Don Lawrence (Christina Aguilera, Mick Jagger, En Vogue). She has co - written songs with writers Jeff Franzel (*NSYNC, Taylor Dayne), Martin Briley (Pat Benatar, Celine Dion) and recorded with the following producers: Steve Skinner (original cast recording of RENT), Adrian Gurvitz (Sheryl Crow), Jim Beanz and Charlie Brown (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), the Noize Trip team (Fergie, The Roots), Visionary Music Group (Destiny’s Child, Elton John), and Patrick Shaw of Tainted Blue Productions (Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys).
Preview one of her songs:
LAUREN IANUZZI - “A Funk I Won’t Forget”: http://vista.streamguys.com
For more information on Lauren Ianuzzi check out www.laurenianuzzi.com
It’s all Pete Doherty’s fault. No, it’s down to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or do we finger Fran Healy of Travis? Nah, sod it, let’s blame Ewan McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal. They’re movie stars, proper ones. They’re used to shouldering serious responsibility. If it weren’t for these artists, Amy Macdonald wouldn’t be the teen-sensation singer-songwriter she is now. She’d still be kicking round Glasgow, an undergraduate at university, studying social sciences with an emphasis on geography. The highlight of her year would continue to be her annual pilgrimage to T In The Park, whereat she and her mates would party under canvas for 48 hours, forget their own names, and maybe see some bands. Amy Macdonald would still be a nobody, instead of a somebody out of whom great songs just flood. Amy was 12 when her world wobbled on its axis. She was on a family outing to Rothesay on Scotland’s west coast. Her gran gave her some money to treat herself. Instead of buying a tenner’s worth of ice-cream she bought a CD: The Man Who by Travis. It was the first album Amy ever owned. She was blown away: simple songs (Driftwood, Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, Writing To Reach You), sung brilliantly, roaring powerfully in her ears and in her head.
Jersey Girl Lauren Ianuzzi likes to play with matches and start fires. Good news! She can take the heat. Lauren’s songwriting and unique vocal style reveal what she and most girls think about relationships and boys, but not rarely ever say. With tight clothes, flashy earrings and curls for days, Ianuzzi’s spontaneous and sexy personality match her soul and funk driven music.
Rock & roll triumphs are rare. But by nicking choice elements from the genre’s checkered past and fusing it with raw power and sexual energy, Ligion’s invigorating Maple Jam/Bellum Records debut is just that. Spitting out a vital, dexterous eleven-song cycle that runs the gamut from infectious, rock radio gems to pensive, Zippo lighter-ready epics, Ligion has the potential to gather the masses. Crafted with the help of iconic rock producer Greg Ladanyi, this Nashville-based five piece fills a void as it resets expectations of what a modern rock album can be with 2007’s fiery entry External Affairs
Here are this week’s GHIDRAH songs:
SONG 1: Amy Macdonald - “Mr. Rock & Roll”
SONG 2: Lauren Ianuzzi - “A Funk I Won’t Forget”
SONG 3: Ligion - “Lost My Car”
PLAY
