Sylvie Lewis
Encyclopedia
Sylvie Lewis is a folk music
ian from London, England
, she came to the United States
in 1995 and studied at the Berklee College of Music
. After graduation, she relocated to Los Angeles
in 1998, where she quit music to become a teacher. Two years later. upon reading an article in a Los Angeles newspaper which stated that in a survey of the worst paid jobs in the US, teacher was number 2 and musician was number 1 - she decided to go straight for the top and return to being a singer/songwriter. Her self-released EP was heard by Cheap Lullaby Records (Joan As Policewoman, Teitur, Tobias Froberg etc), who signed her to a deal. She released her debut album Tangos and Tantrums produced by Richard Swift
in 2004 and has toured the United States
, Canada
and Europe
since then. In 2005, she relocated to Barcelona and her second album Translations (also produced by Richard Swift, Elijah Thomson and Sylvie herself) was born. In 2008, she toured extensively with Sondre Lerche
and the pair wrote a song together for his new album Heartbeat Radio
, for which Sylvie also sings back-up vocals. Sylvie now lives in Rome
where she was invited to join L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio
to interpret Pamina in their adaptation of The Magic Flute
which is touring Europe 2009/2010. Sylvie has shared the stage with Ed Harcourt
, Eleni Mandell
, Jesse Winchester
, Jimmy Webb
, Anais Mitchell
, The Weepies
. Teitur
, Tobias Froberg, Sondre Lerche, Jennifer Kimball
and Heather Combs among others. She also played at SXSW in Austin, Texas
in March 2009.
She was interviewed on NPR
's All Things Considered
on September 16, 2007.
. Her mother is ex-model and presenter Liz Carse
Her grandfather was the polar explorer and actor Duncan Carse
.
Peter Lewis (announcer)
is her uncle.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
ian from London, England
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, she came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1995 and studied at the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
. After graduation, she relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1998, where she quit music to become a teacher. Two years later. upon reading an article in a Los Angeles newspaper which stated that in a survey of the worst paid jobs in the US, teacher was number 2 and musician was number 1 - she decided to go straight for the top and return to being a singer/songwriter. Her self-released EP was heard by Cheap Lullaby Records (Joan As Policewoman, Teitur, Tobias Froberg etc), who signed her to a deal. She released her debut album Tangos and Tantrums produced by Richard Swift
Richard Swift (musician)
Richard Swift is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and short-film maker...
in 2004 and has toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
since then. In 2005, she relocated to Barcelona and her second album Translations (also produced by Richard Swift, Elijah Thomson and Sylvie herself) was born. In 2008, she toured extensively with Sondre Lerche
Sondre Lerche
-Career:Sondre Lerche was born in Bergen, Norway. Growing up, Lerche was heavily influenced by the '80s pop that emanated from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as The Beatles, A-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar...
and the pair wrote a song together for his new album Heartbeat Radio
Heartbeat Radio
Heartbeat Radio is the fifth album by Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist Sondre Lerche. The album was released in the U.S. on September 8, 2009 and in Europe on September 14...
, for which Sylvie also sings back-up vocals. Sylvie now lives in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where she was invited to join L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio
L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio
L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio is a well-known Italian multi-ethnic orchestra that was created in Rome in 2002. It is also the subject of a 2006 film of the same name that was reviewed in the New York Times.-History:...
to interpret Pamina in their adaptation of The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute is an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue....
which is touring Europe 2009/2010. Sylvie has shared the stage with Ed Harcourt
Ed Harcourt
Ed Harcourt is an English singer-songwriter. To date, he has released five studio albums, two EPs, and thirteen singles. His debut album, Here Be Monsters, was nominated for the 2001 Mercury Prize...
, Eleni Mandell
Eleni Mandell
Eleni Mandell is an American singer-songwriter. She currently publishes albums through Zedtone in Toronto, Ontario...
, Jesse Winchester
Jesse Winchester
Jesse Winchester is a musician and songwriter who was born and raised in the southern United States. To avoid the Vietnam War draft he moved to Canada in 1967, which is where and when he began his career as a solo artist. His highest charting recordings were of his own tunes, "Yankee Lady" in 1970...
, Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
, Anais Mitchell
Anais Mitchell
Anaïs Mitchell is an American singer-songwriter.-Early life:Anaïs Mitchell grew up on a farm in Addison County, Vermont and attended Middlebury College. Her father is a novelist and a retired college professor....
, The Weepies
The Weepies
The Weepies are an indie pop-folk duo of married singer-songwriters Deb Talan and Steve Tannen. Their music has been described as "subtly intoxicating folk-pop".-Formation and early years :...
. Teitur
Teitur
Teitur is a male given name. In Old Norse the word means happy. In Modern Faroese, it is archaic but used as a male given name.-People:*Teitur Lassen , a musical artist from Faroe Islands....
, Tobias Froberg, Sondre Lerche, Jennifer Kimball
Jennifer Kimball
Jennifer Kimball is a vocalist and songwriter who is notable for being part of the acclaimed folk duo The Story. She is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and has released two albums Veering from the Wave and Oh Hear Us....
and Heather Combs among others. She also played at SXSW in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in March 2009.
She was interviewed on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
on September 16, 2007.
Trivia
Her father is BBC journalist and broadcaster Martyn LewisMartyn Lewis (journalist)
Martyn Lewis CBE is a British television news presenter and journalist.-Early life:Lewis was born in Swansea, West Glamorgan, though was educated at the co-educational Dalriada School in Northern Ireland and graduated with a BA degree from Trinity College, Dublin. He then joined BBC Northern...
. Her mother is ex-model and presenter Liz Carse
Her grandfather was the polar explorer and actor Duncan Carse
Duncan Carse
Duncan Carse was born in 1913 and attended Sherborne School. A British actor and explorer, he died on 2 May 2004, aged 90. He had lived in Fittleworth, West Sussex, for over 40 years. His father was the artist A...
.
Peter Lewis (announcer)
Peter Lewis (announcer)
-Life and career:Before his career had begun, Peter's family were already well known in Wales and the West of England. His father, Bruce Lewis, had already been a hugely popular presenter for Television Wales and West , where Peter began announcing during the mid to late 1960s...
is her uncle.
Discography
- Beautiful Mess (EP) - self-released - 2001
- Tangos and TantrumsTangos and TantrumsTangos and Tantrums is the debut album by folk musician Sylvie Lewis. It was released by Cheap Lullaby Records in 2005.Bleu provides backing vocals on the single "All His Exes."-Track listing:# By Heart# All His Exes# Rockwell's Blues# The Movies...
(CD) - Cheap Lullaby Records - 2005 - Translations (CD) - Cheap Lullaby Records - 2007