Thoughtful, intelligent, sometimes edgy, sometimes heartbreakingly beautiful singer/songwriter material.
Joanna McMeikan's songwriting has been variously described by critics as "unforgettably original" and “spellbinding”; her memorable voice as "both earthy and ethereal, like a force of nature” and “talent on a par with Joni Mitchell and Annie Lennox.” Joanna’s solo debut "Breaking the Habit" garnered rave reviews across the globe and generated a thriving internet presence. Joanna was recommended by the VH1 Songwriting contest and won songofthemonth.com with her innovative track “Past Unconditional”. She was featured on BBC Radio; and awarded the 2004 Muse's Muse awards for Best AC Artist and Song (for 'Rainbow", her ironic paean to Prozac). Her songs and vocals have been featured on TV shows on CBS & Animal Planet, as well as in a CCT commercial and award-winning short movie "The Picnic". See full length bio on Broadjam or http://www.joannamcmeikan.com for more information
Press Info
“…A stellar showcase of radio friendly, commercially viable songs which consistently deliver, musically, vocally, lyrically, and artistically on the highest levels."
GIAN FIERO, "The Muse's Muse"
"Joanna McMeikan is blessed with a voice that is both earthy and ethereal as if she's a force of nature. She manages to sound sensual and spiritual at the same time, which gives her music a layered sensibility. She creates aural landscapes replete with atmospheres that are somehow cinematic in scope. "
STEVE HOROWITZ, "Bitchin Entertainment"
"Oxford educated and classically trained, McMeikan brings a special artistry and earnest intelligence to the pop arena with her polished full-length CD. “Again” introduces a breathy spot-on vocalist who’s at one with her original material. “Rainbow” and its 'cello arrangement offer a more alternative edge, while “Today” is a moody piano/vocal outing somewhat reminiscent of Kate Bush. A serious artist [with a] vision…”
MUSIC CONNECTION
"Spellbinding, artistically-driven pop-rock - brings to mind such artists as Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant, Loreena McKennitt, Fiona Apple, Bjork... Music is creative and extremely polished, while vocals are top-notch."
ROBERT THOMPSON, "Kings of A&R"
"Joanna's literary background has certainly helped her songwriting. Her songs bring about the fragility and beauty of Tori Amos and the cracked mirror psychology of Suzanne Vega. "Breaking the Habit" is well produced and loaded with melody driven songs, sophisticated arrangements, and truly poignant lyrics. The opening track, “Again,” sets the pace for the entire CD, as the remaining songs find their own strengths along the corridors and shadowy corners. Without question, this is a consistently excellent work from a truly talented artist that deserves wider attention.."
BUZZ www.buzzcommunicationsmusic.com
"Ms McMeikan clearly has the talent to become one of the most prominent female vocalists of the decade. Even at this point in her career, her voice is polished to a brilliant finish. It has the ability to go from a dramatic whisper to an anguished scream, jump two octaves up the scale and back down again, without ever making a misstep. It's a voice with no apparent intrinsic limitations whatsoever."
WORLD OF GIGS
Similar Artists
Dido, Kate Bush, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette, Annie Lennox, Fiona Apple, Jewel, Suzanne Vega, Natalie Merchant, Loreena McKennitt.
Influences
Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Sting, Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette, Bjork, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Waits, Diana Krall, Fiona Apple.
Bio
Joanna McMeikan's songwriting has been variously described as "unforgettably original" and "hauntingly beautiful"; her memorable vocal style as "earthy and ethereal, like a a force of nature” and “talent on a par with Joni Mitchell and Annie Lennox.”
Joanna was born in England and trained in classical piano, developing an overpowering love of music at an early age. She decided to focus on her other passion - writing - during her college years, studying English Language and Literature at Oxford University; but she sang in choirs and musicals, a cappella groups and bands along the way.
Arriving in Los Angeles in 1996, Joanna found day jobs on the TV shows Frasier and Star Trek, did session work for Vitamin Records and the Animal Planet channel, and formed the band DragonEye in 1999. She had a moment of epiphany when she realized she could combine her two great passions by penning the band's original material as well as performing it. She has been writing songs like a crazed thing ever since, pausing only to compose a couple of film scores (including the award-winning short The Picnic) and commercial slots for California Clinical Trials.
Joanna counts among her strongest influences those singer/songwriters who are not only exceptional musicians and artists, but are also, to one degree or another, extraordinary lyricists expressing a truly personal vision - Kate Bush, Bjork, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Annie Lennox, Fiona Apple, Tom Waits - sometimes even the heartfelt simplicity of Jewel or Dido.
Joanna’s solo debut "Breaking the Habit" was released in February 2004 and has garnered rave reviews across the globe and generated a healthy internet presence, selling well on amazon and cdbaby, on itunes and at independent outlets. Joanna placed in the July round of "Song of the Month" and was a recommended artist in the VH1 International Songwriting contest; going on to win "Song of the Month" in August with her innovative track “Past Unconditional”. She was featured on the October 4th "My Day" interview segment of BBC Radio in the UK; and in December 2004 she was awarded the Muse's Muse awards for Best Adult Contemporary Artist 2004 and Best Adult Contemporary Song 2004 (for 'Rainbow", her ironic paean to Prozac).
Joanna will be playing live in summer '05 around Los Angeles at Genghis Cohen, Borders, Un-Urban and a number of other venues. Please visit www.joannamcmeikan.com for more details.