Amanda Stott

When you first meet Amanda Stott, she looks you right in the eye. You sense you're meeting someone who knows who they are and who wants to know you. Listen to her music and you'll feel she already does. It's in the voice that's as wide open as the prairie she comes from. In a time when we have every reason to question what we're actually hearing, Amanda Stott is the real deal. No tricks, no studio magic required, thank-you. Listen as Amanda moves with ease from the powerful and inspiring, to the breathtakingly tender, as she makes emotional connections with the listener. On her latest record, 'Chasing The Sky', Amanda takes you from the wide screen emotions of 'Cry' and 'Undeniably Real' to the quiet confessions of 'My Real Life', about a young woman still looking for her place in the world. "Music has always been a part of me; I started singing on stage in church at three and a half. My dad played in dance bands and at home he'd pick up the accordion, banjo or sax and my brother would play the drums. There were always a couple of friends to jump in and off we'd go. "A succession of stages, grand and humble, brought Amanda to where she is today - a young woman about to join the ranks of artists who've been shaped by this country and then turn around and return the favour. A sense of how Amanda has evolved since her first recording of seven years ago, was revealed in 'Paper Rain', included on 'Women and Songs Volume 8', released late November, 2004. The latest record tells the rest of the story.'Chasing The Sky' was produced by Jon Levine, (The Philosopher Kings, Nelly Furtado, Jacksoul) and paired Amanda with some of the country's finest songwriters. The results reveal a wide-eyed wisdom rare in a young artist. The first single, 'Homeless Heart' was written by Desmond Child and Andreas Carlsson, who've written hits for everyone from Celine Dion to Bon Jovi. "This song hit me the first time I heard it and I knew we'd have to fight for this song because a lot of artists wanted it. It has a message that people need to hear - you're never really alone; there is always someone you can turn to. "Amanda is an artist with the courage of her convictions. She took breaks during the making of the record, not to go home to chill (as one often does in the winter in Brandon), but to travel to Bosnia and Afghanistan to entertain Canadian peacekeepers stationed there. "They're fighting for us, representing us in places that are so unsafe. We're all given gifts for a reason and we need to take those gifts and use them for good. As artists, we have to stand for things and speak for people that don't have a voice". This is a young artist with her feet on the ground. Amanda has her eyes on the horizon, and when she talks about those 'things worth chasing', know that she'll get there. With 'Chasing The Sky', we can take the journey with her. In Spring 2006, Amanda stepped into a new arena of entertainment and toured North America with Cirque Du Soleil's production of "Delirium". "Delirium" is a multifaceted event of unprecedented proportion featuring Cirque Du Soleil music remixed. Driven by this urban tribal beat and awe-inspiring visuals, musicians, singers and dancers transformed the arena into joyous frenzy. After 13 months of non-stop touring, Amanda felt God opening the door to further pursue her solo career, which had stalled during her touring with Cirque, so she terminated her obligations with the "Delirium" tour and is currently living in Nashville concentrating on writing for a future project. In August 2008, Amanda was invited, into the studio, to record with the world-renowned Trans-Siberian Orchestra.