Mia Vermillion has been a friend of worldofblues.com on myspace for a while now. This woman could melt the polar ice caps if we don’t watch out. Such an incredible smooth sound. Mia is also fortunate enough to have the accompaniment of Orville Johnson, who according to some is the best dobro player in the US! If you’re lucky enough to live in the Pacific North West US you not only have a good chance to see this duo live but it seems that Orville also gives lessons. You’d better hurry though because I have a feeling these two will catch fire and the days when we’ll have the opportunity to hear them live in the smaller venues or take lessons are numbered.
So the really exciting news is Mia’s debut CD has been released. It’s also available as MP3’s from Amazon.com which allows me to provide this nifty little preview widget for you all to enjoy.
Here also is a video of the duo:
Finally here is the press release on Mia Vermillion’s debut CD. Congratulations Mia and thanks for being a friend of Worldofblues.com.
March 21, 2009
Mia Vermillion Releases Debut CD “Alone Together With the Blues” Featuring Orville Johnson
SEATTLE – Mia Vermillion, emerging Pacific Northwest blues singer, songwriter and musician, has released her debut CD titled Alone Together With the Blues. The record features dobro and slide guitar great Orville Johnson. Orville has recorded several of his own albums, including the critically acclaimed “Slide and Joy.” Their music together highlights a well-matched styling between Mia’s sultry, earthy vocal sway and Johnson’s emotive guitar mastery.
An independent artist, Mia has put together a truly unmarked sound. As Mia will characterize her style, it’s all about experiences and the path one walks. “My songs and song choices come from my personal knowledge and life’s experiences: the inner and outer workings of relationships, the joy of music and life, and the huge satisfaction of recognizing and providing feminine value and perspective in it all.”
Recorded at Garey Shelton Productions in Seattle, the album is a collection of acoustic traditional blues with song stylings shaped by country blues, folk and early jazz. “The record has an ageless quality to it,” says Garey Shelton who engineered the album. “I’m really excited to be part of the project.” Mia’s sensuous, down-to-earth vocals on Alone Together With the Blues are a blues attitude sculpted with sensitive inner rhythms, facilitating the feel of the genre.
Core artists for the album include bassist Chuck Deardorf, and percussionists Ben Smith and Mark Ivester. Other contributing artists are Hans Teuber, Garey Shelton and Cary Black. Two of the nine tracks, “Little Bit of Love” and “Love’s Lost and Found” are Mia’s own compositions. Mia produced the record except for the songs “Little Bit of Love” and “In The Dark,” which were co-produced with Seattle pianist and composer Tom Kellock.
Mia is on the roster of Hip Chick Music, an innovative new independent music label. CEO of Hip Chick Music, Elise Lebec, describes what drew her into having Mia on the label. “I wanted to sign her from the very first time I heard her because I realized that not only was she an amazing artist, but she was an amazing person with many badges and accomplishments outside of being a talent. That is what HCM does; we support and promote amazing artists.” JazzTrenzz columnist Karl Stober speaks to Mia’s style and palette of musical design writing, “Her blues charm evokes the fragility of the emotion within blues. Ms Vermillion echoes the bluesy ardors which audiences embrace and seek to spin with frequency.”
A native of Washington State, Mia grew up in the Capitol City of Olympia. Throughout her childhood and as a young woman, she researched and listened to the musical statements of Ann Wilson (Heart), Lil Green, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, and Bonnie Raitt. Mia is energetic and passionate about scope and direction with her music in women’s causes. She currently serves as Vice President of Skagit Habitat for Humanity Women’s’ Build. She has been able to use her talents in aiding to raise funds for those women who are ‘heads of households’ and qualify for Habitat home construction.
Alone Together With the Blues is available at iTunes, Amazon, hipchickmusic.com, and Rhapsody. The CD can be purchased at miavermillion.com.