10
May
2005
For the record, Amie Sassano is not the luckiest person in the world. She didn't get a multi-million-dollar record deal when a label executive heard her humming on the street.
But the fledgling singer and songwriter from the Quad Cities area has certainly had quite a few things break her way. The 22-year-old only started writing songs seriously three years ago, quit college after a year, and recorded a five-song demo in early 2003.
That led to a session with the New York production company Pop Rox in fall 2003. Last year, Kerry Tucker of Einstein's Sister invited her to sing with the legendary local power-pop outfit at Taste of the Quad Cities, and now Tucker and bandmate Marty Reyhons are part of her band, which also features Spencer Zimmerman of Shane Johnson's Blue Train. Her first proper release was recorded at Catamount Recording in Cedar Falls last December.
So a relatively inexperienced singer-songwriter - who has only performed live a handful of times - has attracted the attention of some high-profile, seasoned local musicians and recorded her debut at the class of recording studios in Iowa.
"It's dumb luck," Sassano said last week. "I'm kind of getting spoiled. ... It's so surreal."
Well, talent has something to do with it, too. Casting Shadows, which Sassano just self-released, showcases a hearty but sweet voice ideal for pop and ballads. The CD has some typical first-album shortcomings: It's musically rootsy-rock generic, and the songs are too muted and pristine. Yet Sassano's voice often sparkles with clarity, soul, and feeling. In the long run, these 10 tracks won't be Sassano's lasting work, but will stand as a testament to promise later fulfilled.
The record is a pleasure to listen to, even though it's not very distinctive. Casting Shadows is dominated by mid-tempo numbers over beds of strummed guitar, and the formula gets tiresome. Still, "Things I Like About You" and "Belong" are joyous pop songs, with Sassano's warm, infectious vocals.
"Breakthrough" stands out most on the album, as Sassano abandons her tightly controlled vocal style for a more heartfelt and convincing singing attack over relatively aggressive rock instrumentation.
"What You Want to See" is surprising because it actually has a full-fledged guitar solo from Tucker, and it also features an incisive couplet on a person's reaction to a break-up: "Dirty thoughts to erase me / From you, from you." Sassano's chorus melody jumps out, both catchy and emotional.
The closer, "Close," has a wonderfully phrased, mournful chorus that goes a long way toward redeeming the lyrical mixed metaphors: "The endless sea inside his eyes / A shining light that's waiting there for me."
Casting Shadows shows some lyrical immaturity, but also has its share of evocative images. The opening song features the bizarrely effective phrase "the cattle guards across my heart."
More consistent songwriting will likely come with time, as will some sense of how the music industry works. "I really want to establish a local fan base," Sassano said, but her live performances are few and far between. After an opening slot last weekend at RIBCO, her band's next scheduled gig is at Taste of the Quad Cities in late June.
Yet I sensed that Sassano knows she has some growing to do, and that in itself shows a maturity beyond her years. While she said she's happy with how Casting Shadows turned out, she also suggested that she'll be approaching a music career deliberately, waiting for the right time to try to make an impression on labels. "I'm not in a rush to send anything out," she said. "You only get one shot."
For more information about Sassano or to order her CD, visit (http://www.amiesassano.com).
That led to a session with the New York production company Pop Rox in fall 2003. Last year, Kerry Tucker of Einstein's Sister invited her to sing with the legendary local power-pop outfit at Taste of the Quad Cities, and now Tucker and bandmate Marty Reyhons are part of her band, which also features Spencer Zimmerman of Shane Johnson's Blue Train. Her first proper release was recorded at Catamount Recording in Cedar Falls last December.
So a relatively inexperienced singer-songwriter - who has only performed live a handful of times - has attracted the attention of some high-profile, seasoned local musicians and recorded her debut at the class of recording studios in Iowa.
"It's dumb luck," Sassano said last week. "I'm kind of getting spoiled. ... It's so surreal."
Well, talent has something to do with it, too. Casting Shadows, which Sassano just self-released, showcases a hearty but sweet voice ideal for pop and ballads. The CD has some typical first-album shortcomings: It's musically rootsy-rock generic, and the songs are too muted and pristine. Yet Sassano's voice often sparkles with clarity, soul, and feeling. In the long run, these 10 tracks won't be Sassano's lasting work, but will stand as a testament to promise later fulfilled.
The record is a pleasure to listen to, even though it's not very distinctive. Casting Shadows is dominated by mid-tempo numbers over beds of strummed guitar, and the formula gets tiresome. Still, "Things I Like About You" and "Belong" are joyous pop songs, with Sassano's warm, infectious vocals.
"Breakthrough" stands out most on the album, as Sassano abandons her tightly controlled vocal style for a more heartfelt and convincing singing attack over relatively aggressive rock instrumentation.
"What You Want to See" is surprising because it actually has a full-fledged guitar solo from Tucker, and it also features an incisive couplet on a person's reaction to a break-up: "Dirty thoughts to erase me / From you, from you." Sassano's chorus melody jumps out, both catchy and emotional.
The closer, "Close," has a wonderfully phrased, mournful chorus that goes a long way toward redeeming the lyrical mixed metaphors: "The endless sea inside his eyes / A shining light that's waiting there for me."
Casting Shadows shows some lyrical immaturity, but also has its share of evocative images. The opening song features the bizarrely effective phrase "the cattle guards across my heart."
More consistent songwriting will likely come with time, as will some sense of how the music industry works. "I really want to establish a local fan base," Sassano said, but her live performances are few and far between. After an opening slot last weekend at RIBCO, her band's next scheduled gig is at Taste of the Quad Cities in late June.
Yet I sensed that Sassano knows she has some growing to do, and that in itself shows a maturity beyond her years. While she said she's happy with how Casting Shadows turned out, she also suggested that she'll be approaching a music career deliberately, waiting for the right time to try to make an impression on labels. "I'm not in a rush to send anything out," she said. "You only get one shot."
For more information about Sassano or to order her CD, visit (http://www.amiesassano.com).
