EMM GRYNER: Asianblue

Emm Gryner

Asianblue

© 2002 Emm Gryner (623339200622)

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Captivating Canadian alternative singer-songwriter who runs her own label. Named by David Bowie as one of his favourite Canadian artists.

tracks

1 Symphonic
2 Beautiful Things
3 Northern Holiday
4 Free
5 Young Rebel
6 Siamese Star
7 Lonestar
8 Christopher
9 Divine Like You
10 East Coast Angel
11 Green Goodnight

notes

A passionate love for music can give birth to the most radiant of artists, but it's an obsession with music's mystifying potential to inspire which keeps only a few artists thriving and intensifying. Emm Gryner is one of those artists. Gryner makes no effort to hide her animated duality. Her songs are as unique as the way she makes her records. One moment she might deliver the dark and maddened diary entries of a restless twenty-something, and the next she might sing an optimistic triumph of summer melody.

Fearless and uncompromising, Emm Gryner's songs speak to the lonely, the devilish and the daydreamers.

In 1983, just outside Forest, Ontario (pop. 2800) a quiet revolution was being forged. Raised on a strict diet of classical piano lessons and creative writing, eight year-old Gryner made a formidable discovery that year - pop music. Radio stations beamed across the St. Clair River from Detroit and changed the landscape of quiet rural life and two years later, Gryner wrote her first song.

Gryner spent her teenage years playing bass in garage bands, writing songs and learning to use a four-track. By 16, she had recorded her first demos, and only a few years later, she won the top prize in Standard Broadcasting Radio's National Songwriting Competition. With this money, she recorded her first album "The Original Leap Year" released on her own label, Dead Daisy Records.

"The Original Leap Year" caught the attention of Violent Femmes producer Warren Bruleigh, who passed it on to Mercury Records, and in 1997 the label offered Gryner a worldwide record deal. Inspired by Brit-pop bands The Stone Roses and The Verve, Gryner recorded "Public", a lush re-interpretation of "The Original Leap Year," produced by Warne Livesey (The The, Midnight Oil, Talk Talk) and recorded in London. Gryner embarked on tours with The Cardigans, Alanis Morissette, Sarah McLachlan and Bernard Butler, with whom she opened the first show at New York's City Bowery Ballroom in 1998.

When Universal bought Mercury's parent company, Polygram, Gryner and hundreds of other artists lost their staff and record deals. However, Gryner turned corporate takeover into creative opportunity and rejuvenated her own Dead Daisy Records. Inspired by her fans who hoped she might release an album that echoed the intensity of her live solo performances, Gryner produced and recorded an album on her eight-track recorder, called "Science Fair". eye Magazine called "Science Fair" "the best album of her career."

Meanwhile, a Toronto fan launched emmgryner.com, introducing the internet to Gryner, allowing her to interact with her fans on a highly personal level. Gryner began an on-line diary, which continues to this day, offering an uncensored daily look into her career, with stories from the road, the studio and day-to-day life in music and beyond.

In 1999, Gryner launched a series of living room shows in the homes of her fans, many of whom were too young to frequent bars to see live music. The tour took Gryner across North America and as far as Ireland, offering an acutely personal concert experience that made many music lovers Emm Gryner fans for life.

In 2000, Gryner released "Girl Versions", an album of songs by Nick Cave, The Clash, Stone Temple Pilots, Blur and others. The album featured unexpected and sparse ballad arrangements of beloved anthems such as Fugazi's "Waiting Room" and Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me." "Girl Versions" surprised listeners with its often fervid "female interpretation" of male lyrics and was a subtle, tongue-in-cheek response to the growing notion of "women in music" as a genre, a phenomenon that seemed to infuse the record industry following the history-making all-female festival, "Lilith Fair". "Girl Versions" was nominated for Best Pop Album of the Year at the Juno Awards.

Emm yearned to record a summery collection of pop songs. This gave birth to 2002's "Asianblue." Inspired by a hybrid of lo-fi indie rock and mainstream pop, Emm worked with producer Wally Gagel (Folk Implosion, Eels, Superchunk). "Asianblue" yielded two singles, which garnered widespread national radio play in Canada, a considerable feat when mainstream radio catered solely to major label releases. The video for "Beautiful Things" went Top 10 at MuchMoreMusic, and the album was nominated for Best Pop Album of the Year at the Juno Awards.

You might call Emm Gryner the poster girl for the do-it-yourself rebellion. Her unjaded, answer-to-no-one spirit has inspired legions of fans and musicians to create music on their own terms.

Discover for yourself the music of Emm Gryner.

reviews

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  • Symphonic
    author: Tanya

    Ok well I have always loved the song Symphonic..I first heard it on my fave show 15/Love..its so amzing and I LOVE IT!!

  • I just heard the song symphonic and it's a really really good it gives me gooseb
    author: Kim792

    I just heard the song symphonic and it's a really really good it gives me goosebumps !!!

  • Pretty Voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    author: Spencer

    Nice Lips, and pretty Eyes! Most importantly Great music! Love the CD!

  • Awesome CD!
    author: Nancy

    Emm's voice is one of a kind. I appreciate everything about it. It's raw, yet sensual .. it brings you to incredible heights as you listen and fall into her words and music. You won't regret buying this CD.

  • "One of the best indie artist around"
    author: Mario "the Artist" Racadio -Independent Artist

    Amazing vocals!,most of her songs are very cathy like Michelle Branch meets Avril Lavigne.Songwriting are excellent.Overall production are topnotch.A must have CD if your a big fan of Michelle Branch,Avril Lavigne or Alternative Music.

  • Top class melodic guitar pop
    author: David M

    I bought this cd from this site after a friend let me hear 'Symphonic' & 'Beautiful Things' which just have to be two of the catchiest guitar/pop tracks ever. Safe to say if you like those tracks then you'll like this album a lot - the rest of the tracks are in a similar veign though not just carbon copies of those two singles. A lot of the tracks supply a few more funkier beats and the fab ballad 'Christopher' could fit onto any Tori Amos or Leona Naess album ;-) Highly recommended, I'll be checking out more of Emm Gryner's music soon.

  • An Amazing artist who puts her soul into her music.
    author: Phil

    This musician has a hauntingly beautiful voice. Of the many talents that came from Canada, I can honestly say that this girl is up there. She doesn't go with that mainstream music but goes with her own unique style. Keep up the great work.

  • author: Darwin Price

    This is by far Emm's best cd! Something special happens when Emm encounters the right melody, words, and studio equipment. My personal favorites are "Symphonic" (which soars right up to heaven on a sonic melody of sheer bliss) and "Young Rebel" (Emm branching out into a layered, loping, trip-hopped drenched ditty The Thin White Duke would certainly approve of). You can tell that Ms. Gryner has come into her own. Now, if only her music could be found local record shoppes so others can experience it. Oh well, until then, she's all ours!

  • SO MUCH FUN!
    author: Barbara

    This is a great CD; it bounces from fun and celebratory to raw and introspective. She is a great musician and has a great voice!

  • VERY GOOD
    author: MAKOTAN

    THIS CD IS VERY GOOD. THAT'S ALL, BYE NOW.

  • Quintessential Pop-Rock Album
    author: DW

    This album is chock full of radio-friendly pop hooks and gorgeous piano ballads in true Emm fashion. "Symphonic" and "Free" will make you want to get in your car, roll down the windows, and speed down the highway on a hot summer day. But don't let the shiny veneer fool you into thinking this is just another pop record. Beneath the surface Emm's words reveal personal heartache and keen observations of people, relationships, and politics. A remarkable effort from a true do-it-yourself gal who continues to grow with each new release. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

  • It's a pretty good cd.
    author: Yen

    These unique and thoughtful songs flow well, and the first song will keep you bopping forever. When I'm listening, I think of country summer fields, blue eyes, coolness.

  • Here we have a CD for all you guys and gals who adore bands and artists like Six
    author: Pär Winberg

    Here we have a CD for all you guys and gals who adore bands and artists like Sixpence None The Richer, Plumb, Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch and you know the rest. But it's all done in a quite unique and softer way of being. It’s very well done actually and Emm’s sweet voice is a really nice discover. She’s been nominated for a Juno Award (The Canadian answer to Grammy) in competition of Avril Lavigne and Alanis Morrisette, and I must say if I was the jury I would give the award to Emm. Sure I love Alanis debut and Avril have her moments, but Emm’s music feels fresher for the year 2003. And the cool thing is that it’s all done on independent basis. Another proof that the independent music-industry is a sytong competitor to all the majors… So what else is it to say about the album? Well If I was the radio chart-god, a song like “Free” would have been a massive radio hit and there are plenty of more in the same calibre on here like the Sheryl Crow kinda “Siamese Star” and the beautiful “Divine Like You” with Shawn Colvin vibes all over… Very well done.

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