Gretchen Witt

Folk Rock / Acoustic / Indie

New York, NY

Billboard

REVIEWS

From Discovering Artists www.discoveringartists.com:
"Whatever she does, she should keep on doing it because this album is acoustic rock magic. Splashed with the thought-provoking lyrics that exude femininity and edge, catchy rhythms and a pure voice, Gretchen Witt has captured my attention. She's got the flair of Mindy Smith and Alison Krauss mixed with a little Catie Curtis and Jewel. 'Smiling for Me' has some quaint piano mixed in with a dainty side, while she heats up with some acoustic rock riffs in 'Criminal'. Her jazzy track 'Over and Done' left me bewildered because of the deep bass sounds and blues vibe. Is there anything this woman can't do musically? I doubt it. (Favorite Tracks: Criminal, So Called Bliss)."

From Red Is All the Rage www.redisalltherage.com:
"I was blown away with how impressive the album was. New York by way of Ohio singer-songwriter Gretchen Witt is skilled...melding elements of rock, folk, country, and even the blue into skillfully crafted pieces topped with mature and sultry vocals in the vein of country great Neko Case (minus the twang) or folk singer Dar Williams. Still, Witt's voice is her own and her style distinctly unique..neither formulaic nor contrived. And it's this unique style that allows her to imbue what may have been otherwise cringe-inducing love songs such as 'So Called Bliss' and 'Say So' with a real meaning that many aspiring singer-songwriters can only hope to accomplish. It's worth catching her play at one of her favorite spots to see for yourself; this woman deserves a following."

From Eric Atienza at NY Cool (review of show 3/31/07 at The Living Room in NYC) www.newyorkcool.com:
"Swirling melodies and vibrant yet poignant vocals permeated the Lower East Side as Gretchen Witt and her suit-clad backing band poured forty minutes of soul-cleansing sincerity into the welcoming ears of Living Room listeners. She was joined on stage by Ian Riggs on bass with Chris Benelli on drums and Rich Hinman on guitar.

Witt opened the show with "Consequence", the first track on her recently released E.P. Six. The song initially lulled those in attendance into a false sense of security with a fun and easy guitar riff and light rhythms, but any thoughts of a night of simple, fluffy tunes were erased the minute Witt opened her mouth. It was the quirkiest song Witt played that night, accentuated by a vocal style that intimated a wink, a smirk, and an invitation to come out and play. She danced up and down scales at will proceeding from one note to the next while somehow hitting every single note in between.

Her next song, "I Was Certain," was the first of three newly written tunes of the night. Witt's voice became haunting and bittersweet; reminiscent, bordering on melancholy but always maintaining a certain underlying optimism. This quality is pervasive throughout all of Witt's music, amplified ten-fold when she plays live and it's what makes her music personal and real to everyone that is listening. Whether she is singing a touching ballad about romance gone wrong, leading the room in a round of "Happy Birthday", or explaining the perils of cooking spaghetti while practicing music - if you are holding your guitar when you crack the noodles some bits can wind up inside the body - she evokes everything that is human in all of us."

From Smother.net www.smother.net:
"Gretchen Witt is here with her ambitious demo EP under her arm. Soft rock is the key ingredient in her recipe with a knack for writing a good catchy hook being her secret ingredient. Sure she may write a cooking book worth of great recipes like these five songs but what of her actual vocal ability? Well imagine a genetic blending of Tracy Chapman, Norah Jones, and perhaps Natalie Merchant and you've got Gretchen's crooning. New York City are you prepared?"

From Ear Candy http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com:
"Her voice is both angelic and powerful: this is top of the line."

From Astro Zombie www.Astro-Zombie.com:
"Gretchen Witt is folk bliss."

From Melodic.net www.melodic.net:
"A soft voice and a beautiful and naked guitar is what meet the ear when you put on this 5 track EP with a new discovery for us here at Melodic.Net. And she is well worth your attention if you like Eva Cassidy with a little Linda Ronstadt-twist here and there (at her soft moments), The opening 'So Called Bliss' is a nice appetizer and third out 'Say So' is another favourite. That is such a soft and beautiful tune with Gretchen's spread voice; an acoustic guitar and a sweeping slide-guitar painting the landscape. Without a doubt the best moment on the E.P. and this song is worth the dollars you have to spend on the album at CD BABY if you like the softer school of female singer songwriters."

From Indie-Music.com www.indie-music.com:
"Lemme see ... young woman, acoustic guitar, song titles like Over and Done. I braced myself for a barrage of vague metaphors from a self-indulgent singer-songwriter. Instead, I found an enchanting voice, a bit breathy like Norah Jones but with more emotion, singing cushy pop melodies framed in beautifully simple arrangements. No messy metaphors here either. Her words are refreshingly straightforward. A delicately picked acoustic guitar begins 'Say So,' one of the best cuts. It builds to a more aggressive strum with bass, percussion and another guitar, then calms again as the lyrics implore, 'If you still care, then say so.' There's a male back up vocal that comes in part way, almost as an answer to her. Beautifully done. A melodic piano and cello compliment 'Smiling for Me'. It's a calming song about comforting someone, 'I won't tell you to dry your eyes, I'll just look at you and say, Baby, cry.' Sweet but not cloying. She's no delicate flower, though. Witness Criminal; 'I don't know why I asked you to play fair, when I don't.' Her guitar bursts out of the mix, just daring you step closer. No big drum set here, just subtle percussion, light bass and a harmonica back in the mix, but this is not a band I'd want to meet in a dark alley. There's an edge that matches the lyrics without banging you over the head in a rock wall of volume.
Just when I thought I had Gretchen all figured out, the last song on the EP cranks up with a smokey cool blues tune, complete with finger snaps, walking acoustic bass and crying harmonica. Suddenly I've gone from the hippie café acoustic music night to a hip jazz joint. Yeah, baby, yeah. Damn, but it's just an EP. I can't wait to hear a full project from this versatile singer-songwriter."

From Pucknation www.pucknation.com:
"Witt, in addition to her vocals, contributes piano and acoustic guitar work that could EASILY stand on it's own, but is well enhanced by the crew she's assembled. They all compliment each other, while no one drowns out her greatest asset... the lyrics. Criminal, which at first I was expecting a cover of the Fiona Apple single, is by far my favorite song. Seriously, I was expecting another female singer/song writer to take a stab at the song, and instead, its an original song that blew me away. It's deep, thought provoking, and just a little guilt ridden. Thank God, because even as a cover-junkie, I didn't want another of that criminal. So, what's next? Well, hopefully a full-length and a major distributor knocking at her door."

From Rikks Revues www.rikksrevues.com:
"To categorize this into a simple genre like Folk, or pop would be an injustice as this CD can slip from pop to a bit of Jazz, a touch of blues, and a crisp feel of adult alternative and AC. Gretchen Witt is sure to turn some heads with her debut demo recording, and gain some real fans along the way. 'Criminal', 'So Called Bliss' and the blues-jazz feel of 'Over and Done' make this an EP to be on the search for."

From Shotgun Reviews www.shotgunreviews.com:
"Over and Done is far and away my favorite song on this album. It's sonically jarring- but in a great way. Turns out Gretchen has a sense of humor. And the lyric is clever -- "It must feel good, to feel so bad, to feel so had, but I don't know how to sing the blues..." Indeed. Her blatant acknowledgment of the ridiculousness of singing the blues -- especially when you're a white singer-songwriter from New York -- is just great. I'm a sucker for sarcastic self-awareness in songs, and it's nice to see Gretchen give up on mopey introspection briefly and ask us to play a little game with her. I couldn't help but smile, and this song completely sucked me in."

From Amy Lotsberg (Producer) of Collected Sounds www.collectsounds.com:
"This CD, playing on shuffle, made me stop what I was doing and look to see who this was..."

From Your Music Entertainment (YME) http://ymemusic.com:
"It was said that some notable critics were not even expecting to like her work during one of her shows, but they were pleasantly surprised and exclaimed that 'another rare gem has made its way to New York City'. Witt maintains a simple approach to writing and creating music, letting all her emotions pour out and making the message heard, instead of manipulating other aspects. This singer-songwriter is looking to take the world of music by storm. Her powerful, angelic voice is causing more and more heads to turn, and more ears to listen. Supporting new and inspiring artists is what makes the industry thrive and evolve, with artists like Gretchen Witt creating beautiful music and expressing universal emotions through her songs and words."

HONORS

Finalist - Kerrville Folk Festival
New Folk Competition (2006)
In Kerrville, TX. www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/newfolk.htm

Finalist - Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Competition (2006)
In Telluride, CO. www.bluegrass.com/telluride/contests.html

Honorable Mention - 23rd Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (2006)
Song: Soft Spot

Honorable Mention - 23rd Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (2006)
Song: Consequence

Featured Performer, Idolette, Documentary Film (2005)

Winner, Song of the Month at SingerUniverse.com (2007)
Song: Soft Spot

Over 20 public and online radio stations feature Gretchen's music.

VENUES & FESTIVALS PLAYED IN RECENT MONTHS:

The Living Room (New York, NY), Makor (New York, NY), The Bitter End (New York, NY), Pianos (New York, NY), The Knitting Factory (New York, NY), Rockwood Music Hall (New York, NY), The Cutting Room (New York, NY), Crash Mansion (New York, NY), Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction (New York, NY), The Postcrypt Café at Columbia University (New York, NY), CBGB's 313 Gallery (New York, NY), Pete's Candy Store (Brooklyn, NY), World Café Live (Philadelphia, PA), The Fire (Philadelphia, PA), Thataway Café (Greenwich, CT), Club Passim (Cambridge, MA), 12th Street Tap Room (Nashville, TN), Flipnotics (Austin, TX), Trophy's (Austin, TX), Treasure Island (Austin, TX), South by Southwest (Austin, TX), The Heart of Texas Quadruple Bypass Rock Festival (Austin, TX), The Dewey Beach Americana Festival (Dewey Beach, DE), The Dewey Beach Popfest (Dewey Beach, DE), The NEMO Festival (Boston, MA), Folk Alliance (Memphis, TN)

Gretchen's music can be purchased at the following sites:

Album: Six is available at
CD Baby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/gretchenwitt2
iTunes: www.iTunes.com

Album: Demo is available at
CD Baby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/gretchenwitt
Folk Web: www.folkweb.com/gretchenwitt/index.php
Tower Records: www.towerrecords.com
Emusic: www.emusic.com
MP3 Tunes: www.mp3tunes.com
Indie Eclectic: www.indieclectic.com
Mperia: www.mperia.com
Music Freedom: www.musicfreedom.com
iTunes: www.iTunes.com