new album "Ever Changing Colors" availble at CD Baby
availble at CD Baby
"At first you notice ever changing colors, how nothing stays the same no matter what." Heartbreakingly honest and completely exposed, Christine Baze has continued to evolve as a woman, as a musician, and as a survivor. Her new album, Ever Changing Colors, features 5 songs and 3 videos, and Baze as herself. The feeling it brings is one of real, raw emotion and vulnerability combined with perseverance and determination. More than any previous album, Ever Changing Colors is all Baze. Working with musician/producer/friend Jesse Ciarmataro, the goal was to capture the songs as pure as possible, to let Baze's velvety voice float on top, and let the melodies and messages penetrate even after one listen. Recorded in Jesse's loft and in Baze's boathouse on all kinds of toys - the piano is clearly her foundation.
After working together for over 3 years, for Ever Changing Colors, Baze trusted Jesse and brought him in not only as a player, but as a producer for the music as well as producer for the videos. Wanting to represent all sides of herself, Ever Changing Colors balances dark and light - and hides virtually nothing. On her first music video, Really Happening, one can almost feel the cells bursting and boiling over with colors, emotions and memories. Other special moments come from Dennis Monagle on the drums, adding his uniqueness and creativity on Really Happening and subtle beauty on Martha Mae.
2007 was a year full of dramatic changes and dramatic loss for Baze, and her new album highlights both the hills and the valleys. Martha Mae and Raices Rojas remind us that there really IS light after dark, while Really Happening and the Pretty Remix (hauntingly beautiful by RSVP DJ Scot Void) seem to expose self-doubt and insecurities to a point that almost makes you uncomfortable. making you really FEEL what it's like. while A Reason has everything going on all at once. On Every Changing Colors, Baze is clearly not afraid share what is inside.
The course of Baze's musical career has been anything but a traditional path. Born in rural upstate New York, Baze started playing classical piano at the age of 4, and continued for the next 17 years. The sounds and influences during this time ranged from Rachmaninoff to show tunes to Carol King. Always pulled in by emotion, Baze would spend hours in her room singing to herself and feeling the power of musical expression.
After years of college and two degrees (Baze has a BA in psychology and a MS in marriage and family therapy), she dropped out of her PhD program and decided she needed to find her own voice, and her own music. She first began collaborating with Boston singer songwriter John Powers in a duo called Goose, and then eventually started writing her own material. Playing in coffee shops and bars throughout the northeast, Baze developed her sound and style, finding strength in her live performances and ability to truly connect with people. The material was introspective and thoughtful. Eventually she formed a band and expanded her sound the music became more lighthearted and fun a new light was shining through her, and anything seemed possible.
And then, in 2000, everything changed when Baze, then 31, was diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer. The music stopped, and Baze fought for her life. Surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy became her world. After treatment, she was depleted and incomplete, questioning everything about her life and what the future could hold. Baze took these questions, her experience, and her love of music and decided to do something that would make a difference. She started a non-profit organization called Popsmear.org (now www.theYELLOWUMBRELLA.org) to raise awareness about preventing cervical cancer, and became the founder of The Yellow Umbrella Tour as a way to get the message out to women everywhere, through the thing she loved the most - music.
Since then, the last 6 years have been quite a ride for Christine Baze. The Yellow Umbrella Tour has made 89 stops around the country, Baze has had over 100 speaking gigs, and it just keeps going. Since kicking cancer's ass and releasing her album Something New (2006), she proved herself as a songwriter and a warrior. Now, with Ever Changing Colors, Baze continues to morph into even more of herself. Check gigs for upcoming shows - including opening for Sheryl Crow on March 16th and a 2 week Tour in Europe this May - soon to be announced! . She has shared the stage with Ben Folds, The Fray, Kaki King, Sarah Bettens and K's Choice, Duncan Sheik, The Dan Band, Michele Shocked, Catie Curtis and many others. Her down tempo, groovy songs parallel her love of life, appreciation for each moment, the realness of emotion, and the ability to find strength and beauty within oneself, no matter what.
