"Intelligent lyrics, melodic ballads, beautiful performances both vocally and instrumentally – what more could one ask? All this can be heard on “Genuine”, the current album from German song stylist Sylkie Monoff. The award winning singer/writer spends her time in both her native country and Nashville where she collaborates with songwriters who have provided material for some of “Music City’s” hottest stars. With thirteen totally original Monoff originals “Genuine” blows like a breath of fresh air on a country scene that is threatening to become somewhat stale. Selecting tracks for illustration is very difficult for each and everyone is worthy of special mention but pushed hard I would cite my favourites as “Can’t Be Worse Than L.A.” (a song I feel destined to become one of my all-time favourites) and “Right At Hello”, with the Native American chant, provided by War Scout, at the beginning and conclusion of the track evoking strong memories of the wonderful Buffy Sainte Marie. This really is one hell of an album, and I do not say that about many contemporary country artists, one deserves to be a big, big success." (Pete Smith, "The Advertiser"/UK; Nov.09)
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"German born and Nashville working, Sylkie Monoff has a new album. It’s melodic, well crafted and engaging. It has a host of musical hard-hitters, and the tunes quickly become familiar. Look for a description. Be precise. Make it real. Call it genuine.
Genuine – complete with its hot roster of players: Eddie Bayers (drums), Brent Mason (guitars) and Danny Parks (acoustic guitar and mandolin) to name a few – is for me one of this year’s more rewarding arrivals.
Across this pleasing and varied album, Sylkie is easy on the ear with a sensitive honesty for sharing life, love and the journey both bring.
With a career that spans back to the early 90s, Monoff has spent her time honing her craft via the weary path of touring, the occasional recording venture, while networking solidly in and around Nashville.
The effort has paid off.
Genuine is a fluid, reflective and candid entrée to the wider possibilities that should now open up to Sylkie Monoff. With a voice that doesn’t default to Music Row dictates, and with song writing that is sharp, smart and revealing, Monoff is Christmas timely for those who like their music with edge.
Rather than just another girlie wannabe with a guitar, Monoff – more Gretchen than Faith -- brings stylish grit to her album. Tracks like the opener “Laughin”, with its female slant on the pain of break-ups, through to “Steal Your Crown”, with it’s Oprah advice of “who can steal your crown if you don’t bow your head?,” onto the closer “Where My River Runs”, with its power-driven guitar, laced harmonies and solid vocals, Monoff nails and delivers on all 13 self-inked tracks.
On an album that shares its heart and soul across the tears, joys and bumps of Monoff’s perspective, “Can’t Be Worse (Than L.A.)” is a standout. With a breathy vocal ache Monoff, who adds Producer to her skill set, snares listener interest with a tale of airport farewells, complete with the "other woman" as her beau’s new travelling companion. The experience, as Monoff tells, can’t be worse than being in the L.A. traffic with a million strangers everyday. The freeway crawl, push and pull, and the familiar snarling of tested drivers and tortured passengers is an easy understood metaphor to the ache of a final goodbye.
A modern dictionary tells us the word genuine means free from pretence, affectation, or hypocrisy. It suggests the named article is authentic, true, unaffected, open, honest and forthright.
Please meet Sylkie Monoff." (George Peden, "Country Stars Online" / Australia,USA; Dec.09)
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Singer, songwriter, producer SYLKIE MONOFF may have been born in Germany, but her heart and soul have always had a strong connection to the USA.
Influenced by performers such as Emmylou Harris, James Taylor and Neil Young, as a teen SYLKIE performed throughout Germany with regional country-rock bands. She recorded and released her first record for Teldec. After marginal success, she decided to sharpen her writing skills and therefore focused on producing songs in her 8-track studio. Shortly thereafter, she was accepted to attend the Pop Music Program at the prestigious Hamburg Musikhochschule. After completing her studies in Hamburg, SYLKIE single-handedly landed a recording contract with BMG Ariola. Her debut EP
consisted of 3 original compositions. This was followed by the recording of her album Harbor in the Night. She not only composed 10 of the 11 compositions, but also co-produced the album. The first single Don’t landed in the German airplay charts and two more singles followed. In 1997, SYLKIE’s composition All The Places, recorded by the British duo BND, charted in the German Top 100. It was released world-wide and went gold.
SYLKIE has toured throughout Europe playing support to artists such as Ian Matthews (Plainsong) and Supercharge and has performed with Julian Dawson, Grammy winner Albert Lee and rock’n’roll legend Spencer Davies. She spends part of the year in Nashville performing and co-writing with various acknowledged staff writers such as Curtis Lance (Don’t happen twice, Kenny
Chesney), Gilles Godard (Patty Loveless, Tracy Byrd, Ricky Skaggs, Blackhawk), Grammy winner Don Rollins (It’s 5 o’clock somewhere/Alan Jackson+Jimmy Buffett), Charley Stefl (The Fool, LeeAnn Womack) and Brent Baxter (Monday Morning Church/ Alan Jackson).
SYLKIE MONOFF has just finished her new album “GENUINE” in Nashville, a project she is especially proud of. She wrote all 13 songs and also produced herself, with the album featuring some of the world’s top studio musicians such as Nashville’s first-call drummer Eddie Bayers and guitarist Brent Mason. She says: “This time, my main goal was to work with people that are truly close to me. I wanted the album to sound like friends making music together and having a good time. And that’s what it was all the way! Nashville is like home. Finally, I can be musically who I really am and it feels so right.”
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