Written by Maureen Gionnone

“The Milwaukee-born, now Brooklyn-based Grace Weber has had a pretty commendable uprising in the music industry, having sung on “Showtime at the Apollo” in Harlem, the Kennedy Center, the Ella Awards, the TODAY show, and even The Oprah Winfrey Show… all by the time she turned 22.

But still, this young talent maintains a career that’s a bit under the radar, maintaining the integrity and authenticity that she’s extremely proud of. “I think we borrow from a few different genres, including pop, old school singer/songwriter and jazz. The core of my music always comes back to a modern version of ‘soul,’ in that I try to tell stories through my lyrics that I hope can touch people, and I always try to sing from an honest place,” Weber says. And her latest album release, Hope & Heart, epitomizes just that….”

Read the full article here: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/1st-look/1st-Look-Loves-Grace-Weber-138953349.html

In the short time since the self-release of her debut album Hope & Heart, Weber has garnered not only a sizable fan base, even outside of her native Milwaukee where she remains at headlining status, but from coast to coast. The album’s release in late September clinched a sustained top ten spot on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts coinciding, as well, with a triumphant performance at the French Commemoration of 9/11 in Paris, Grace having been the only New York pop singer asked to take part, entertaining the likes of dignitaries from all over Europe, as well as the Mayor of Paris and the French Ambassador to the United States.

Now Weber takes it global, not with a worldwide tour (yet), but through the good graces of Starbucks, who will be adding Hope & Heart track, “Baby Come Down,” to the well-placed playlist of their roughly 10,000 well-trafficked locations all over the Big Blue Marble on January 3rd for the remainder of that month.

Weber has been doing great in the press, Billboard giving her “Artist To Watch” status, American Songwriter posting her heartfelt cover of Warren Zevon’s “Reconsider Me,” and Power Popaholic saying of Hope & Heart, “… this Milwaukee native has a terrific voice… the bouncy guitar of “Stay of Leave” will win you over. The poignant and soulful approach to “Leave the Light On” will keep you transfixed — and then it lights up with “Hitchhiker.”

And for fans wishing to catch Grace in concert, a two-week Midwest run (WI, IL, MN) is set to commence in the second week of March, anchored by a support slot with Colin Hay at Milwaukee’s prestigious Turner Hall.  A few great one-off shows are also scheduled prior to the March tour including a show at NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall on January 17 and a February 12th taping of NPR’s MOUNTAIN STAGE in Charleston, WV.  Expect festival dates in the U.S. and abroad this summer, to boot.

For more information about Grace Weber, visit: http://www.graceweber.com
Or visit: http://www.facebook.com/gracewebermusic
Grace Weber’s EPK (feel free to share): http://vimeo.com/30446145

And for any media inquiries, please contact Perry Serpa, Maggie Poulos and/or Scott Pollack at Good Cop Public Relations. Phone: 718 846-0518, or email us at: perry@goodcoppr.com, maggie@goodcoppr.com, or scott@goodcoppr.com.

“I am so honored and excited perform on such a historic stage.  Getting to meet and play music on the same stage and night as Marc Broussard, Ben Lee, and Fountains of Wayne is the epic icing on the cake.” - Grace Weber

For more information go to http://www.mountainstage.org/mtnstagebroadcast.aspx

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-chattman/asides-with-jon-chattman-_5_b_1019946.html

9/13/2011

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hope-heart/id460497102

There will be two commemorative events that day: The first, in the afternoon, will track how the 9/11 attack unfolded in real-time.  In the evening, there will be a memorial candlelight vigil during which Weber will perform her original song, “Leave the Light On,” from her debut album, Hope & Heart, set for worldwide release on September 13th. The album, produced by the Grammy award winning Mike Mangini (Joss Stone, Diane Birch, Dionne Warwick), showcases Weber’s distinct songwriting and soul/pop aesthetics.

In addition to representing the United States, Weber will be an ambassador for Young Arts, a program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, of which she is an alumna.  Weber, who in 2006 was named a Presidential Scholar through the program, will also be joined by fellow YoungArts alum, Blaine Krauss (musical theatre/voice).

In response to her involvement with TFWNF, Weber commented, “I am so honored to not only share my voice and music, but also to represent the United States and YoungArts at this triumphant event.  I think this ceremony will not only beautifully honor the victims of 9/11, but it will also be an international symbol of hope for the future and an affirmation that we will continue to stand together against terrorism.”

The day’s ceremonies are being planned with a very specific purpose as explained by Paul Bensabat, co-president and co-founder of TFWNF,  “As the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, we, who are actively involved in The French Will Never Forget, wanted to bring to life a massive and newsworthy homage to our friends and allies in America.”

Grace is available for live interviews from Paris, as well as in-person interviews beforehand, in New York. For more information visit www.graceweber.com. Also, listen to a selection of songs off of Hope & Heart, including the song Grace will be performing in Paris, “Leave the Light On” here.

For Further Information, Please Contact:
Perry Serpa and Scott Pollack at Good Cop PR:
perry@goodcoppr.com & scott@goodcoppr.com 718-846-0518

“Drawing inspiration from artists like Adele and Norah Jones, Grace embodies the Midwestern work ethics with her unique bluesy aesthetic to come up with her exceptional sound” - Minneapolis City Pages

“Hope & Heart shifts mainly between jazzy acoustic pop (“Hitchhiker”) and soulful piano ballads (“Someone”). All 12 songs are smartly shaped around Weber’s spectacular voice.” -  Isthmus Paper

On September 13, 2011, rising soul-pop singer Grace Weber will release her long awaited debut LP, Hope & Heart. Produced by Grammy award winning producer Mike Mangini, known for his work with songstresses Joss Stone and Diane Birch, the twelve song collection showcases Weber’s distinct melding of pop, soul and gospel. 

Hope & Heart, provides something for all listeners, whether it be with opening pop tune “Stay or Leave,” boasting a playful bounce and occasional jazzy cadence, or the clearly Gospel-infused heartbreaker, “Leave the Light On.” Weber’s backing band, an array of musicians which Grace met while studying at NYU, certainly adds flair to the formula on romping tracks such as the Wurly-fueled rocker, “Hitchhiker,” and the quintessential sentimental summer song, “Everything to Me.”

The album came to fruition after a successful campaign on Pledge Music, through which Grace’s considerable fan base more than rose to the occasion to lend their support.  The campaign not only benefited Grace and the production and marketing of Hope & Heart, but also the non-profit organization YoungArts, a program of which Grace is an alumna, being chosen in 2006 as a Presidential Scholar and Silver Award Winner in the Popular Voice category.

Despite her age of 23, Grace has quite the resumé having already sung at the Kennedy Center, The Ella Awards, on “The Today Show,” and at the famed “Showtime at the Apollo” in Harlem. In late 2009, Grace’s golden opportunity came courtesy of “Oprah’s Karaoke Challenge”, when Oprah herself handpicked Grace from thousands of entrants to perform on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. Print media quickly started taking notice, resulting in a feature in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and Billboard Magazine choosing her as an “Artist to Watch.”

At the early age of 10, Grace first discovered her voice and affinity for singing upon joining the Inner City Youth Gospel Choir in her native Milwaukee, where she regularly performed at churches in the region. Over time, those early roots in soul and gospel have intertwined with Grace’s own passion for modern pop music, creating a style that is undoubtedly her own. In describing her output, Grace says, “I think we borrow from a few different genres, including pop, old school singer/songwriter and jazz.  The core of my music always comes back to a modern version of ‘soul,’ in that I try to tell stories through my lyrics that I hope can touch people, and I always try to sing from an honest place.”

Grace has been hard at work this summer sharing the songs of Hope & Heart all across America, including a gig at the famous Milwaukee Summerfest, as well as upcoming shows at New York’s Rockwood Music Hall and the seminal Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles. Keep your eyes peeled for an opportunity to catch one of America’s most promising and hardest working young artists.

For all guest list inquiries, review copies, interview opportunities, and information on Grace Weber, please contact:

Perry Serpa and Scott Pollack at Good Cop PR

perry@goodcoppr.com, scott@goodcoppr.com

718-846-0518

Grace Weber wasn’t expecting to be confronted by a camera crew from The Oprah Winfrey Show as she walked to the Subway in 2009.

Weber’s New York University college roommate was walking with her and knew what was coming. She helped plan the surprise with the show’s producers, who wanted to tape Weber’s reaction to the news that she’d been selected to appear on Oprah’s Karaoke Challenge.

“The funniest thing about that moment,” says Weber, “was that all the other people on the Subway platform just looked annoyed by it. They looked like typical unfazed New Yorkers.”

They might not have been so unfazed had they heard Grace Weber sing.

The 23-year old Wauwatosa native has wholesome, girl-next-door good looks and a deeply soulful voice, evident on her performance of Carole King’s “Natural Woman” for Oprah.

Weber attended the Saint Jude parish grade school and Milwaukee’s Pius XI high school before she left to attend New York University. In seventh grade, she joined Milwaukee’s Inner City Youth Gospel Choir.

“I was on a retreat, and this gospel choir came and sang for us,” says Weber. “I knew right away that choir was where I wanted to be.”

Weber got her start performing at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village after she moved to New York City.

“In New York, once you get in at one of the clubs, you can network to get shows in other clubs,” she says.

This September, Weber will release her debut CD, Hope & Heart. The album was produced by Mike Mangini, whose credits include work with Bruce Hornsby and David Byrne. She cowrote the songs with Julian Pollack, who attended NYU with her.

Hope & Heart shifts mainly between jazzy acoustic pop (“Hitchhiker”) and soulful piano ballads (“Someone”). All 10 songs are smartly shaped around Weber’s spectacular voice.

Milwaukee native Grace Weber played the Miller Lite Oasis Saturday afternoon.

Playing a 1:30 p.m. show in the scorching heat didn’t deter Milwaukee native Grace Weber in her debut Summerfest appearance Saturday afternoon on the Miller Lite Oasis.

The 23-year-old doesn’t fit the typical singer/songwriter stereotype, which usually includes a guitar played by a female sharing her tales of scorn or dispair over relationships that went sour.

Weber, meanwhile, masterfully blends touches of jazz, blues, gospel and pop into a friendly, and almost festive mix. Her backing band of Julian Pollack (keyboards), Lee Pardini (bass), Adam Jackson (drums) and Deen Anbar (guitar) were up to the challenge, each adding their own unique twist behind Weber’s vocals.

Members of the Rodney Cunningham Singers, a local gospel outfit, provided a very nice touch on background vocals.

Included in the 45-minute show was a spectacular cover of Mumford and Sons’ “Little Lion Man,” which Pollack supported on the keyboard, and a genuine, heartfelt love letter to her home and family in “&Heart.”

Weber’s career is just getting started, but she’s already earned significant national attention with appearances on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Good Morning America.”

With her debut album set for release later this fall, she can probably expect her next Summerfest appearance to come a little later in the day.

Web address: http://onmilwaukee.com/articles/gracewebersummerfest.html

Check out this super sweet blog post Sara wrote about me and our recent shoot in NYC, plus see a bunch more photos that I haven’t put up yet!
http://sarakiesling.com/blog/?p=175#comments

To order the new album, buy merchandise, fan exclusives (like an acoustic house party, hand bound lyric books, original paintings made by me) and more check out the link here:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/grace-weber

Here’s a little more in depth description of what Pledge is all about and how your Pledges not only help me, but my favorite charity, YoungArts too!:

MY PLEDGE CAMPAIGN!
I’m releasing this record with Pledge Music because I wanted to release it independently, get it out to the world in a big way, and involve you guys in the process of it all.

1. YOUR PLEDGES
Your pledges will go directly to helping us make an awesome music video, to publicity costs that will help us get it out to as many humans as possible, and to touring costs so we can get out and come play in a town near you! Since I’m doing this all on my own, your pledges help me more than you could know and I am SO grateful for the support.

2. WHAT YOU GET
By pledging, you’ll be the very first to receive the new digital download in its entirety. You also can choose from lots of other items and experiences that I put together, with which you will receive the digital download for FREE!

3. WHAT ELSE YOU GET
PLUS – Once you’ve pledged, you’ll have access to my private updates page, where I’ll be posting exclusive videos, bonus mp3’s, photos, and blogs. This will be our private diary, chronicling the release of the new album…within which we’ll be able to comment back and forth. PledgeMusic has also made it easy for you to link your Facebook and Twitter accounts so we can spread the project across the world and back again! You guys even get to help me pick the album cover in this special update page. Sounds kinda fun, right?

4. YOU’RE HELPING A CHARITY TOO!
DOUBLE PLUS – 10% of your pledges go towards an amazing non-profit called “YoungArts”. It provides recognition and awards to young artists across the country and helps young artists get the support they need to pursue their careers in the arts. It is the only national program that recognizes young artistic excellence in all disciplines. Find out more at the Charity tab here and at http://www.youngarts.org.

Thanks everybody for helping me and YoungArts! You rock. So, so much.

Love,
Grace

June 25th - The Northbranch Music Festival (Wabeno, WI) - 9pm
June 27th - Fine Line Music Cafe (Minneapolis, MN) - 7pm
June 30th - Summer’s Best Concert Series at The Boerner Botanical Gardens - (New Berlin, WI) - 6pm
July 1st - UW Madison Terrace (Madison, WI) - 5pm
July 2nd - Summer Vox Series at Columbia Park (Marshfield, WI) - 6pm

We’ll be bringing out brand new songs, brand new merchandise, and some brand new outfits…I bought today…so get pumped.  But really, I can’t wait to get back to the Midwest and play for you guys.  Plus, I love showing off Wisconsin to my band mates .

See you in the Midwest.

<3 Grace

Can’t wait to take our little road trip out of the city!  The band and I need some fresh east coast air.