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"...Lucy Bonilla is a bad ass soulful singer..."
- Paul Ossolo of G.E. Smith and Buddy Guy "A woman with a voice that extends way beyond her years... A MUST SEE FOR ALL. Her soulful voice exudes through her tiny body like a soul sister with attitude..." - Christine Santelli |
"Lucy Bonilla is a peformer sprinkled with stardust" |
LUCY BONILLA - BIOGRAPHY
With larger than life vocals packed into a diminutive package, Brooklyn native, Lucy Bonilla has the world
wondering, "Where the *#$% does she fit all that voice?!"
Simply calling her a powerhouse doesn't do her justice. Her raw energy on stage and passionate vocals
defy definition. She eases you in and once she has your full attention, in short, she delivers the vocal
version of the Full Monty. Her shows leave you feeling fired up and ready for more.
For as long as she could remember, Lucy had a passion for music. Everything in sight was a potential
instrument. If it could make noise, she had to play it. "If someone had put a ukulele in front of me, I would
have tried to play it." Bonilla jokes. As Lucy's passion for music continued to grow and she began
teaching herself to play a wide variety of instruments including drums, percussion and guitar. During a gig
she took a break on the drums and sang one song. Lucy had discovered a brand new instrument. Using
her voice opened up a world of possibilities.
Her first release "Something Out Of Nothing" was a well-received 5-track EP featuring a sweet mix of folk,
funk, soulful R&B and blues. Bob Stander, guitarist for the Platters, produced the CD. He often said "How
do you do those things with your voice?" The album received glowing reviews and was on the top 30
college charts with two songs. Tony Visconti (David Bowie producer) once called Bonilla after he'd gotten
a hold of tape from a performance she did in Nashville. He said, "Man... I haven't heard a voice like that in
years... you've really got something special". The track "Bitter Sweet" was the 1st song that Lucy
connected with and got the album rolling. It was a solid track and it made her think, "Wow this is a good
song, I can do something with it." The public agreed with her.
While "Something Out Of Nothing" had a definite bluesy quality, her upcoming release, crosses fully over
into the genre. In the past, the songwriting process has been slow for Bonilla, but this project flowed out
of her the fastest it ever has. Lucy credits that flow to her full shift to blues. She's found her zone and
everything just clicked into place. The album features Paul Ossolo on bass (G.E.Smith Band & Buddy
Guy), written by Matt Marshak (CD101.9 / Absolut Vodka 2003 Best New Artist).
Lucy's music is colored by the world around her and she writes about what she sees, hears and feels.
"Her Prayer Is Her Song" is about a homeless woman singing for money on the NYC trains. "Running on
Empty" a song written some years ago with Matt Marshak, was based on personal experience and
struggles. On the track "Sugar Coat Me" Lucy has some fun and lets us see her sensual side.
Over the years, Lucy's talents have not gone unnoticed. In 1999 she was chosen to participate in the East
Coast Advanced Songwriters Workshop. Teams of writers were assembled to co-write and produce
tracks for and ASCAP Demo CD. ASCAP again took notice of the young songwriter in 2000 when she
captured one of the coveted spots in ASCAP's Demo To Deal program. Then in 2002 Lucy was a semi-
finalist in Jewel's Soul City Café songwriting contest. She has opened up for Kerry Kearney, Sean
Costello, and Sam Taylor and has written with Maggie Ryder (Anita Baker). Most recently Lucy has been
spreading her wings performing at renowned venues like Black Eyed Sallys, Midnight Blues club,
Warmdaddy's, Musikfest and will open for Ronnie Baker Brooks Jr. this summer. In January 2005 Lucy
was the featured cover artist for Soundwaves Magazine. Also been featured/interviewed on
Connecticut’s Beef Stew blues show on WCCC.
Bonilla is currently working on her 3rd album. What she's delivered to audiences to date has been
nothing short of astounding and Lucy Bonilla hopes to keep listeners on the edge of their seats for many
years to come.
For more on Lucy Bonilla contact 212.352.7062 or email Lubomusic@aol.com
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LUCY BONILLA - REVIEWS
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Read the article here...
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Indie-Music.com Reviews Lucy Bonilla
By Les Reynolds
Lucy Bonilla has a killa voice and THAT is the secret to her success. And while her five-song EP isn't a live CD, one gets the impression the NYC artist is an absolutely electrifying live performer.
Lucy seems as if she could sing absolutely anything! Her versatility is matched by few in the industry. Funk, gospel, blues, rock, jazz, country -- you name it, she can do it. You can hear hints of all of it right on this CD.
But let's get the lyrics outta the way before anything else is said about vocals. While they aren't exactly bad, the lyrics probably wouldn't win any contests. (Commercial radio, would, however, quite possibly embrace these tunes for precisely that reason. So, maybe it's a good thing.)
"Please Please Me" opens the CD. It's a nice pop-sounding tune that settles into a really sweet groove, but it's got phrases like "come on, I can't hold on anymore," and from the chorus "please, please me baby like you do, like you doooooo..." Ironically, the phrase "words get too cliché" appears in this song. Hmmmmm.
What saves this one is the overall sound and feel. The instrumentation is well done and Lucy's voice is allowed to stay out front. The backup singers do an adequate job, but she just doesn't need them.
"...I can't watch you sleepin'. I gotta get some more of what you give... I'm crazy, boy, I'm crazy... what's a girl like me to do?" (From "Let's Get Back to Midnight") Again, basic sentiment expressed without a lot of creativity. BUT, the groove-centered, piano-driven melody -- with a soft hint of a Southern Rock band -- really gives it just the right touch.
So, enough of the lyrics. (The last two tunes, "Nobody's Man" and "Turn My Hill into a Mountain" are actually a bit better in that respect.)
As mentioned, the instrumentation and overall production are very solid. But it's Lucy's incredible golden throat that make this CD worth listening to over and over and over.
Remember the Maxell audio tape commercial where the young guy sits in his chair and his butler pops the pre-recorded tape into the stereo and the sound sweeps the guy's hair straight back? Well, that's what happens with this CD.
What kind of elements are present to make Lucy sound so great? She's got a sort of Broadway musical/cabaret quality. Powerful, controlled. Passionate and theatrical. She delivers with confidence whether high or low. She can slither and also belt out a soulful note with equal skill. You could call Lucy's the ultimate voice -- the one every musician wishes they had, all the booking agents wish they could pitch (pun intended).
Lyrix, schmyrix. Sure, wordcraft is important. But not every time. Not this time. Lucy could sing about mathematical theorems and she'd still make you feel like you'd died and gone to heaven. So pop this CD into your stereo and crank it!
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Bitter End Marks Sweet Beginning for Lucy Bonilla
By Gary Korb
New York City, NY - April 21, 2001 - Singer/songwriter, Lucy Bonilla electrified a packed house tonight at Greenwich Village's landmark showcase club, The Bitter End, with an exhilarating 40 minute performance that included a mix of folk, funk, soulful R&B and tough-as-nails rockers.
As she demonstrated several times during her well-paced show, Ms. Bonilla has a voice that can gently tug at the listener's heartstrings or rip the heart right out the chest cavity in a way that would even make the late Janis Joplin stand up and take notice. Obviously, no stranger to live performing, Ms. Bonilla came well-prepared. She's got a kick-ass band that follows her every move, a voice that can rock as well as seduce, plus, she's got natural beauty, to boot.
Ms. Bonilla showed that she has an ear for melody and the ability to shift gears into grooves that fall outside the blues-roots circle. Because she performs a variety of material, Bonilla is not easy to pigeon-hole. And for those in audience who may have been less familiar with her, it appeared that she kept them guessing as to what would come next.
Opening with the bluesy rocker, "Nobody's Man," from her current CD, Something Out Of Nothing, Lucy strutted across the stage, not with attitude, but with confidence. Midway through the show, after some fervently played R&B-edged rockers, Lucy gave the band a rest by cozying up with her acoustic guitar for "Lie With Me," a bittersweet ballad during which, the ubiquitous din of the club ebbed to a mere hush. A respectable guitar player in her own right, later in the set Lucy brandished a Telecaster, but for the most part, Lucy just sang and interacted with the crowd.
Whether she's singing a right-down-the-barrel rocker like, "Turn My Hill Into A Mountain," or the soulfully-charged, "That's My Day," Ms. Bonilla proved that she can sing at more than a few emotional levels and keep the audience absorbed. This is one artist who seems to know what she wants and where she is going.
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To learn more about Lucy Bonillla and listen to sample tracks, you can find her on-line at www.lucybonilla.com.
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Girl Player reviews: Lucy Bonilla - Something Out of Nothing
Lucy Bonilla has had many successes in her career, she has performed at most of NYC's rock venues, and has participated in several music business showcases, including the NEA Nashville Extravaganza in 1996, and the woman in the music business Nashville showcase in 1995. Lucy Bonilla comes from a background of influences in classic gospel, R&B soul music. These styles are evident in her songwriting. When I hear that an influence is gospel, I tend to expect a lot of emotion and power, Lucy Bonilla has captured both of those!
Different things about music appeal to different people. Sometimes we love a song for the style or feel. Rarely do you ever hear an artist with a voice that shows such outstanding vocal ability and passion anymore like Lucy Bonilla does. When you hear her voice, either you'll stand there speechless with your mouth open, or random swear words will spew out---damn, etc. ...because you're so excited!! Which ever of these things happen to you, they will be good for you.
Lucy belts it out right from the start on the upbeat, catchy little blues/jazz/pop-rock number, Nobody's Man. Her voice is wonderfully versatile. She smoothly sings from low to high, with all the right moves and nuances in between, along with perfect vibrato, and note holding power (can there possibly be more?). This song, as well as all the other songs, are written by Lucy Bonilla. Heavy gospel influences come through in the vocals.
Lucy slows it down on the ballad, Bitter Sweet, starting out with acoustic guitar, then growing to a full band which includes keys, electric guitar, and bass. The music kindly stays in the background to showcase that beautiful, controlled voice you can never get enough of. Backing vocals by Lucy are the icing on top.
Turn My Hill, opens with mellow percussion and the coolest guitar...the tone is strait out of a classic dramatic 70's TV theme song. Shaft would be jealous, though the song soon turns into a more of a pop tune. "I Turn my hill into a mountain" are some of the few lyrics that I caught onto, lyrics aren't included on the CD.
My favorite fun-filled, get up and move song, That's My Day, closes out Something Out Of Nothing....funky, funky, funky guitar with the James Brown feel, tastefully groovin' keys, and a nast-E (with a capital E) guitar solo round out this one. Exceptional "I'm not holding back...so hang onto something..and hang on tight" singing from Lucy, more perfect backing vocals, and tight, solid musicianship all share to make this song happen.
Reviewed by: Nollie DeVol 3/02