Carey Colvin
Richmond, Virginia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1991 | INDIE
Music
Press
Give D.C.'s Carey Colvin credit for guts and eclectisicm; her maiden outing comprises all original songs (or collaborations), and she shows a nice range. Colvin's strength is with country-flavored pop...the standouts here are the opener, "Blacktop," and the title track, both of which have a lot of Nashville-ready confidence and display Colvin's strong alto to great effect...buyers of The Distance Wall will be able to say they knew her before she knocked Faith Hill off the charts. - Dirty Linen Magazine
The songs stay in the middle between country, rock and folk music with serious pop influences (several of them are according to my view, potential hits) and they have always an excellent accompaniment included which gives every type of listener more magic secrets. Carey has a very beautiful voice that knows how to give volume as she rocks (and she loves to do this), but it made us also quiet, and become very small from the slow, intimate songs such as Guru Blues and above all Fragile Hearts. This is an extremely good debut of, according to my opinion, this coming talent.
(Dutch-to-English translation by Dolf van Stijgeren and Hank Kratsman)
- RootsTown Music Magazine (Belgium)
Carey Colvin is a folk singer. She's a little country, a little rock, a little Celtic and a little Cuban all at once...forsaking spiffy studio effects in favor of rootsy rock and real instruments, Colvin fashions an album Lucinda Williams would have been proud of..."Guru Blues" and "Soft Side of Me" stretch the boundaries from wistful reminiscence to smoky seduction. Where Colvin goes from here will not depend upon her voice, which shifts beautifully from upbeat and encouraging on "Thin Line" to hushed and coaxing on "Fragile Hearts". Simply put, she can hit a note without batting an eye, something nine-tenths of the coffee shop set would sell their tambourines for.
- Justin Kownacki
Carey Colvin offers an exciting mix of pop, rock, contemporary and folk that leaves you feeling as if you just finished an inspiring summer car trip to somewhere unknown. Her music really is "stuff you like."
Colvin's music is fun and inspirational. Her album is an amazing adventure. Pop it in your car stereo and enjoy the ride.
(Weekender is from the Times Community Newspapers in Northern Virginia.) - Kristie Little
The last name looks very familiar to music fans, but Carey isn't related to Shawn, at least no claim that she's admitting to. But the two ladies do share a common interest in melodic tunes that have an ability to really say something about relationships. And like the Grammy winner, Carey also picks very gifted musicians to conjure up her visions of love. All these elements fall into place to make The Distance Wall a journey to relish.
Speaking of trips, the first tune, "Blacktop," refers to an adventure out on the road. Traveling along with the wind blowing in her hair, Carey sings about the joys of hitting the gravel to a sprightly country-rock rhythm. Accompanying her on her discovery is Mary Chapin Carpenter's guitarist John Jennings who contributes wonderful licks here that help propel the song along. It's also nice to hear about taking a road trip from the female's point of view!
The CD shifts gears with "Beach Town," a wistful ode to life spent where the waters are green. The sand is white, and romance gets started and discarded at a moment's notice. It definitely puts you in a tropical mood!
"Soft Side Of Me" [is] a declaration of tenderness towards her loved one. A violin carries the melody, occasionally swooping in and out like a bird in flight, soaring ever higher. That plus Carey's understated vocals make this tune a beautiful affirmation of love.
It does help to have great musicians to back up these melodies, and there is some really exemplary playing, particularly in the licks of guitarist Doug Rainoff. But credit goes to Carey Colvin herself, for creating the catchy songs, and singing them in a very winning manner.
Having a famous last name can help draw listeners but keeping them there is something only talent will do. Carey need not worry in that respect!
- Karen Liebowitz
Singer-songwriter Carey Colvin is nominated for four Wammie awards this year, which is perhaps reason enough to check out her debut CD, "The Distance Wall." Those who do will find it well worth their time, since Colvin has fashioned a series of thoughtful, tuneful songs that invite repeat spins.
Although the album opens with a "road song," an overworked theme if there ever was one, it isn't long before Colvin wins us over with her own perspective of "sweet solitude and somewhere to go." From there, she goes on to create a series of similarly well-drawn vignettes in which her characters struggle with choices and risks, love and fear, memories and yearning. The album's title track, which skillfully evokes a love affair's chilly aftermath, deserves top billing, but "Fragile Hearts" and other songs here also reveal Colvin's gift for writing about relationships with a refreshing mixture of intelligence and craft.
- Mike Joyce
"Definitely quit your day job!" - David Crosby
"Carey's voice is as bright and clear as a ringing bell. Her enthusiastic approach to music is quite evident in each song on The Distance Wall...she is destined for bigger things." - Dan Alloway, KTEP-FM 88.5, El Paso, TX
"Carey Colvin’s The Distance Wall is a jubilant, compelling recording. Soaring vocals embrace key phrases for one moment, then drive with heartfelt passion the next. Ranging from reflective to playful to poignant, Carey is an artful songwriter who draws you into her world with grace, humor, and panache." - Richard Fox, WCUW-FM, Worcester, MA
"Clever lyrics, not your average cliches...very cool..." - John Jennings, Recording Artist/Producer (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
Discography
Carey's Recordings:
- Trickle, sneak peek of Let It Flow
- The Distance Wall Debut CD
- CD Wannabe Three Song Demo (out of print)
Compilation/Tribute CDs:
- Music Is Love - A Singer Songwriters Tribute to the Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Indiegrrl Compilation CD
- Oasis Rock & Roots Volume VI #5
- Back Home
- We Are Each Other's Angels
- A Holiday Feast Creme de la Creme
- The Police Tribute CD
- Songs From Our Circle Too
- OasisAcoustic Volume 27
- A Holiday Feast, Vol. IV
- Woodystock 2002
- We Be Rollin'
Photos
Bio
When David Crosby (CSN&Y) first heard Wammie Award winner Carey Colvin, he said, "Definitely give up your day job!" With a strong passion for music, she has been described as a songwriter with an intelligent approach to her lyrics. Her debut CD was released in 2001 and won the Wammie Award for Debut Recording of the Year. Carey has been a featured performer on stages such as Writer's Night at The Bluebird Cafe, The Birchmere, the Cellar Door Stage opening for Styx and Pat Benatar at Nissan Pavilion, the Gibson Showroom at The Hit Factory (taped for Good Morning America), and The Kennedy Center. Shes been a Featured Artist on radio stations from DC to California to Arkansas to Belgium to Alaska to NPR's Car Talk.
In 2003, Carey returned to the studio to begin recording her second CD, a collection of her own songs and songs by John Prine, Jennifer Stills, David Crosby & Jeff Pevar, and Roger Henderson. However, Carey had to step away from both the CD and her music that same year to tend to her family, only performing on a limited basis. In 2008, she began performing again and returned to the studio to finalize the CD. Unfortunately, Carey's father fell ill and she once again stepped away from music to care for her parents until their deaths in 2009 and 2011.
After her father's death, Careys will to write or to perform music simply vanished. It wasnt until 2010, when friend and musician Eric Lowen - himself struggling with ALS - encouraged her to play that she picked up her guitar again, but her will was still gone. Not long after her mother died in 2011, Careys former singing partner, Roger Henderson, also died. It was at his funeral that Carey sang again for the first time in almost two years. Her return to the stage came at a Tribute Concert to Henderson, two years to the day since she had last performed. In 2012, Carey began resuming live performances on a more regular basis.
In October 2012, Careys recording of Crosby and Pevars song, Little Blind Fish (featuring Pevar on guitars and mandolin), was included on a Special 5-Song Companion CD, available with the purchase of the Limited Edition release, Music Is Love - A Singer Songwriters Tribute to the Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from Italys Route 61 Music. The Tribute CD features such artists as Jennifer Stills, Judy Collins, Marcus Eaton, and Venice.
Carey, a lover of harmony, performs in a duo format with her husband and music partner Granger Helvey, a noted musician in his own right. She is also available in a solo or full band format.
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