Parlor Songs::Love and Heartbreak DEBUT!

Hi everyone,

I am so excited to begin sharing Parlor Songs with you! This record has truly been nothing short of an amazing journey thus far and it continues to develop and dictate to me what it wants and needs to be. I know that sounds a bit strange, but I feel that is the nature of true art....to become a participant in it's creation. Only then perhaps can the higher works be revealed....those that are beyond what our personal experiences allow us to envision. This project has inspired me to completely release myself from the attachment of my creations and become a clear conduit in the process of manifesting the desires of the art. The new sound of PARLOR SONGS: LOVE AND HEARTBREAK is set to debut at 8:30pm at the House of Blues this Friday, Sept 7th for Listen Local's All Access: Local Grooves, Local Brews. Pre-release versions of the first 2 songs will be available for download day of the show on my Reverbnation page.

A little about the project...from the Press Release:

PARLOR SONGS::LOVE and HEARTBREAK is a concept album of torch songs written around universal themes of love and heartbreak and fused with modern digital elements to create an original and trendsetting acoustic electro sound. Kelly had set out to write an acoustic singer/songwriter album for her next project but during a sonic epiphany one evening a whole different soundscape presented itself. Starting with just acoustic guitar and vocal tracks, she enlisted the help of DJ Coda Collins to create the electronic elements. Drawing upon influences such as Massive Attack, Portishead and Morcheeba, among others, and taking vocal inspiration from vintage singers such as Peggy Lee, Doris Day and harmonies like the Andrew Sisters, they produced a fine and apparent balance of electro and acoustic elements. The addition of live bass and drums gives even more depth to the songs. The tracks will be mixed by Bryan Stratman (Hyena) at Capricorn Studios, where Astra is managing partner, and the full album is set for release winter 2012. Not wanting to share just her stories alone, Kelly invited local San Diego songwriters Cathryn Beeks (KPRI), Carissa Schroeder (Emerald City, Sirens Crush), SABA, Sheila Sondergard, and Chris Wilson (Endoxi) to collaborate on the project and share in the raw and inspirational process of writing the songs. Pulling from their personal experiences and emotions from falling in love to breaking-up, from being in an abusive relationship to learning to love again, from the death of a loved one to finding your One True Love, each of the nine songs began taking on a character of it's own. Additionally, there are nine original heart drawings that further represent each song done by Astra and Chicago artist, Dori Gouwens.

Below are heart images that represent three of the songs we'll be doing this Friday night, "Rolling Along," "Shoot Me Down," and "Falling." I'll be posting more images and lyrics here over the coming months as songs are completed. www.facebook.com/media/set/

Thank you as always for your support! I hope you find your "One True Love." :)

Astra