"This isn't a band; it's a sisterhood."
—Gia Ciambotti
SONG SIRENS (pronounced "SIGH - REENZ") is a monthly club night and collective of acclaimed LA-based independent artists GIA CIAMBOTTI, NICOLE GORDON, CLAIRE HOLLEY and KRISTIN MOONEY and the brainchild of BLISS BOWEN. Accompanied by keyboardist/accordionist par excellence CARL BYRON, these friends harmonize with one another on their own songs as well as an eclectic assortment of soul, rock and roots covers.
The megatalented spiritual godmama of Song Sirens is SUSAN MARSHALL, another friend who anchored a now-defunct residency called Monday Night Sirens at Neal's in Memphis with Rebecca Almond, Holly Cole and JoJo Jefferies. Bliss was so impressed by their spontaneous harmonies and supportive vibe when she heard them that she was inspired to create something similar in Los Angeles. She reached out to four sympatico friends who also happen to be gifted singers and writers — Claire, Nicole, Gia and Kristin — and asked, "How would y'all like to...?" "YES! Count me in!" came the unanimous response. Carl Byron delightedly came onboard to give the Sirens extra musical zest.
That original vision of what Song Sirens could be was powerfully validated at the end of their very first show, when a woman in the audience gratefully approached Claire and Kristin. “I buried my mother on Monday,” she told them. “I needed this. You took me to a place I needed to go — thank you.” Another woman who has returned to every Sirens show thanked Bliss, saying, “I’m going through a very hard time right now with my family and life, and this music touches my heart and gives me hope; I get a sense of real sisterhood and support, and I feel the strength of all these women through the music. People need to hear this.” While complimenting Gia and Nicole, yet another audience member commented on how refreshing it was to see five women onstage, obviously enjoying themselves, their voices blending beautifully with “no egos.” The laughter-filled camaraderie that bubbles around the Song Sirens rehearsal table spills over into their harmonies and music onstage, with Carl providing an understated musical foundation that graciously supports the whole.
Between them, individual Song Sirens have performed and/or recorded with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Peter Himmelman, Gerry Goffin, the James Gang, Anne McCue, Michelle Shocked, Patty Blee, Caroline Herring, the Sin City AllStars and Rusty Truck. Individually, Sirens have also released solo albums to admiring reviews and have placed numerous songs in film and TV. All are active in LA's roots and singer-songwriter communities. With various musicmaking pals sitting in from time to time, SONG SIRENS bring an organic living-room vibe to their fun gatherings, brimming with beautiful harmonies and soul.