Leona Naess
Encyclopedia
Leona Kristina Naess (born July 31, 1974) is a British
singer-songwriter
of Swedish-Norwegian parentage. She released her debut album, Comatised
, in March 2000, which produced the single "Charm Attack" (Adult Top 40 #29).
and raised in London
. She is the daughter of Filippa Kumlin D'Orey, a Swedish
interior design
er and Arne Næss, Jr., a Norwegian
mountaineer
and business magnate
. She has an older brother, Christoffer, and a sister, Katinka, from that marriage. Her great uncle was the Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss
. Naess was 7 years old when her parents divorced in 1982. She attended school in the Chelsea
neighbourhood of London while growing up, and later attended the Purcell School
in Hertfordshire
, where she studied music composition. Her father married American entertainer Diana Ross
in 1986 and had two boys, Ross and Evan
. Naess would often travel to their Connecticut
home. Naess also has two other half-brothers, Nicklas and Louis, from her father's subsequent marriage to Camilla Astrup.
Naess received her first guitar at the age of 14, a gift from her mother. The first song she learned to play was "The Cross" by Prince
from the 1987 album Sign “O” the Times. She soon began writing her own songs and poetry. In addition to Julie Andrews
in the musicals
Mary Poppins
and The Sound of Music
, her early influences were 1980s British rock: Joy Division
, The Cure
, New Order
, The Specials
and Madness
. Naess soon found inspiration in the contemporary singer-songwriters Tracy Chapman
, Sinéad O'Connor
, and Edie Brickell
, as well as in Joni Mitchell
and Carole King
. Her other early musical influences include Patti Smith
, Bob Dylan
, The Rolling Stones
, Bruce Springsteen
and John Lennon
.
to study music at New York University
, she later switched her major, receiving a degree in anthropology
. A resident of Greenwich Village
, she began performing with her guitar at open mike
s and was soon performing regularly in coffeehouses, bars and clubs like The Bitter End
around Lower Manhattan
, even busking
at times.
She appeared on a reality TV show on Channel 4
in 1993 called The Next Big Thing.
A friend, who was an intern at Sony Records, invited an executive to see Naess perform. Soon, a number of record companies
were interested in signing her. She signed with producer Scott Litt's
record label, Outpost Records, at the age of 22, shortly after graduating from NYU.
Naess began work on her first album in 1998, which was completed in June 1999. A series of business mergers postponed the album, meanwhile the Outpost label went out of business. The head of MCA Records, another division of the Universal Music Group
of which Outpost had become part of, brought her contract over to MCA. Naess's first album, Comatised
, was released in March 2000. Naess continued to develop as a performer during the delays. Comatised produced the single "Charm Attack" (Adult Top 40 #29), which was also featured in the teen comedy film Whatever It Takes
. She appeared as a model for Calvin Klein
prior to the release of the album. Naess soon released her second album, I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll
(2001), produced by Swedish producer Martin Terefe.
In 2002, Naess recorded backing vocals on Counting Crows
album Hard Candy, primarily on the song "Black and Blue". She signed with Geffen Records
and released her third album, Leona Naess
(2003), produced by Ethan Johns
. The album was a new direction for Naess with its stripped-down instrumentation. A song from this album, "Ballerina", appeared in the first season of the Showtime program, Weeds
(2005), in the episode entitled "Dead in the Nethers". Another song from her third album, "Christmas", also appeared in The O.C.
on the episode, "The Debut
", and the soundtrack
Music from the OC: Mix 3. In 2004, her song "Calling" was featured on the soundtrack to Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
.
In January 2004, Naess' father died in a climbing accident in South Africa
. Devastated by the loss, she withdrew from music and moved back to London to live with her mother. Naess was dropped from her record label, split with her manager, and considered going back to school. Eventually, she resumed songwriting and began collaborating with music producer Samuel Dixon
. Naess released a fourth album, Thirteens
, on September 16, 2008 with Verve Forecast Records
in the U.S. The title refers to thirteen lo-fi home-recorded albums that Naess created over approximately two years before the album's release, although Naess has stated that the title has another meaning, which is a secret. The album consists of first takes, which were then overdubbed
. A single, "Heavy Like Sunday", was released on June 2, 2008 on Blue Flowers Records. 500 copies of a 7" vinyl version included a Polaroid
picture taken by Naess. The album was released on 11 May 2009 by Polydor Records
in the UK
.
Naess is featured on the Ray LaMontagne
album, Gossip in the Grain
(2008), on the songs "A Falling Through" and "I Still Care for You", and toured with LaMontagne in September – November 2008. She has also toured with Eagle-Eye Cherry
, David Gray
, The Barenaked Ladies, Travis
, Ryan Adams
, Emm Gryner
, Hem
, Josh Rouse
, Ben Lee
, Badly Drawn Boy
, and appeared as part of the 1999 Lilith Fair
.
and frequently travels back to London. She was engaged to singer-songwriter Ryan Adams
, but the engagement ended in 2003. Naess wrote on her MySpace
blog in January 2010 that she is pregnant, taking a break from music, and has "never been happier". She plans on making a new record when she has something to say.
She is the sister in law of actress Christa Miller
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
of Swedish-Norwegian parentage. She released her debut album, Comatised
Comatised
Comatised is the 2000 debut album by Leona Naess, produced by MCA Records. The tracks "Charm Attack" and "Lazy Days" were featured in the teen comedy film, Whatever It Takes, and the primetime drama, The O.C., respectively...
, in March 2000, which produced the single "Charm Attack" (Adult Top 40 #29).
Early life
Naess was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and raised in London
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 is the daughter of Filippa Kumlin D'Orey, a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
er and Arne Næss, Jr., a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
mountaineer
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
and business magnate
Business magnate
A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself...
. She has an older brother, Christoffer, and a sister, Katinka, from that marriage. Her great uncle was the Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss
Arne Næss
Arne Dekke Eide Næss was a Norwegian philosopher, the founder of deep ecology. He was the youngest person to be appointed full professor at the University of Oslo....
. Naess was 7 years old when her parents divorced in 1982. She attended school in the Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
neighbourhood of London while growing up, and later attended the Purcell School
Purcell School
The Purcell School is a specialist music school for children, located in the town of Bushey, south Hertfordshire, England, and is the oldest specialist music school in the UK. The school was awarded the UNESCO Mozart Medal in 2003, which was received on behalf of the school by Prince Charles, who...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, where she studied music composition. Her father married American entertainer Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
in 1986 and had two boys, Ross and Evan
Evan Ross
Evan Olav Næss is an American actor and musician. He is the son of entertainer Diana Ross. He is the brother of actresses Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Tracee Ellis Ross, and of singer Leona Naess. He began acting in the late 2000s, appearing in the films ATL and Pride...
. Naess would often travel to their Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
home. Naess also has two other half-brothers, Nicklas and Louis, from her father's subsequent marriage to Camilla Astrup.
Naess received her first guitar at the age of 14, a gift from her mother. The first song she learned to play was "The Cross" by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
from the 1987 album Sign “O” the Times. She soon began writing her own songs and poetry. In addition to Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
in the musicals
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins (film)
Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, produced by Walt Disney, and based on the Mary Poppins books series by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Mary Shepard. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, with songs by...
and The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music (film)
Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical film directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The film is based on the Broadway musical The Sound of Music, with songs written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and with the musical...
, her early influences were 1980s British rock: Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
and Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
. Naess soon found inspiration in the contemporary singer-songwriters Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
, Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
, and Edie Brickell
Edie Brickell
Edie Arlisa Brickell is an American singer-songwriter best known for 1988's Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, the debut album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, which went #4 on the US Albums Chart.-Life and career:...
, as well as in Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
and Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
. Her other early musical influences include Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
.
Career
At the age of 18, Naess moved to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to study music at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, she later switched her major, receiving a degree in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
. A resident of Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, she began performing with her guitar at open mike
Open mike
An open mike or open mic is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies. These events can be focused on poetry and the spoken word, music, comedy, and the open format of open...
s and was soon performing regularly in coffeehouses, bars and clubs like The Bitter End
The Bitter End
The Bitter End is a nightclub in New York City's Greenwich Village. It opened its doors in 1961 at 147 Bleecker Street under the auspices of owner Fred Weintraub. The club changed its name to The Other End during the 1970s...
around Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, even busking
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
at times.
She appeared on a reality TV show on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in 1993 called The Next Big Thing.
A friend, who was an intern at Sony Records, invited an executive to see Naess perform. Soon, a number of record companies
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
were interested in signing her. She signed with producer Scott Litt's
Scott Litt
Scott Litt is an American record producer who mostly works with artists in the alternative rock genre and is best known for producing six R.E.M. albums.-Biography:...
record label, Outpost Records, at the age of 22, shortly after graduating from NYU.
Naess began work on her first album in 1998, which was completed in June 1999. A series of business mergers postponed the album, meanwhile the Outpost label went out of business. The head of MCA Records, another division of the Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
of which Outpost had become part of, brought her contract over to MCA. Naess's first album, Comatised
Comatised
Comatised is the 2000 debut album by Leona Naess, produced by MCA Records. The tracks "Charm Attack" and "Lazy Days" were featured in the teen comedy film, Whatever It Takes, and the primetime drama, The O.C., respectively...
, was released in March 2000. Naess continued to develop as a performer during the delays. Comatised produced the single "Charm Attack" (Adult Top 40 #29), which was also featured in the teen comedy film Whatever It Takes
Whatever It Takes (film)
Whatever It Takes is a teen comedy starring Shane West, Marla Sokoloff, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, and James Franco. It was first released in America on 31 March 2000...
. She appeared as a model for Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
prior to the release of the album. Naess soon released her second album, I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll
I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll
I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll is a pop/rock album by Leona Naess, her second album, released in 2001 by MCA Records.Naess wrote much of the album while on tour in support of her debut album, Comatised . She considered the album a second chapter of her debut, but felt more confident...
(2001), produced by Swedish producer Martin Terefe.
In 2002, Naess recorded backing vocals on Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
album Hard Candy, primarily on the song "Black and Blue". She signed with Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
and released her third album, Leona Naess
Leona Naess (album)
Leona Naess is a 2003 self-titled album by Leona Naess. Leona Naess is Naess' third album, and the first of hers to be produced Geffen Records. The album was a critical success, receiving a four and a half star ranking from Allmusic, and was chosen as one of Allmusics Album Picks...
(2003), produced by Ethan Johns
Ethan Johns
Ethan Johns is a record producer, engineer, mixer, musician, and songwriter who has worked with such artists such as Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne, Kevin Prosch, Rufus Wainwright, Howard Eliott Payne, Emmylou Harris, Crowded House, Laura Marling, Luthea Salom, and Crosby, Stills and...
. The album was a new direction for Naess with its stripped-down instrumentation. A song from this album, "Ballerina", appeared in the first season of the Showtime program, Weeds
Weeds (TV series)
Weeds is an American television comedy created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. The central character is Nancy Botwin , a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family after her husband dies suddenly of a...
(2005), in the episode entitled "Dead in the Nethers". Another song from her third album, "Christmas", also appeared in The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
on the episode, "The Debut
The Debut (The O.C. episode)
"The Debut" is the 4th episode of the FOX television series, The O.C.. The episode was written by Josh Schwartz and Allan Heinberg and was directed by Daniel Attias...
", and the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
Music from the OC: Mix 3. In 2004, her song "Calling" was featured on the soundtrack to Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (film)
# Will Young - "Your Love Is King"# Jamelia - "Stop"# Kylie Minogue - "Can't Get You Out of My Head"# Joss Stone - "Super Duper Love Pt. 1"# Mary J...
.
In January 2004, Naess' father died in a climbing accident in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Devastated by the loss, she withdrew from music and moved back to London to live with her mother. Naess was dropped from her record label, split with her manager, and considered going back to school. Eventually, she resumed songwriting and began collaborating with music producer Samuel Dixon
Samuel Dixon
Samuel Dixon is an Australian record producer, songwriter and musician, based in London.He has frequently collaborated with fellow-Australian Sia Furler. His compositions have featured on her albums, Some People Have Real Problems, Colour the Small One and We Are Born...
. Naess released a fourth album, Thirteens
Thirteens (album)
-Personnel:*Asif Ahmed – management*Felix Bloxsom – percussion, drums, clapping, Wurlitzer, instrumentation, drum engineering, percussion engineer*Andy Bradfield – mixing*Greg Calbi – mastering*The Christiania String Quartet**Camilla Kjøll – first violin...
, on September 16, 2008 with Verve Forecast Records
Verve Forecast Records
Verve Forecast Records is a record label specializing in cutting-edge material which was founded in 1967 by Verve Records and since been revived twice....
in the U.S. The title refers to thirteen lo-fi home-recorded albums that Naess created over approximately two years before the album's release, although Naess has stated that the title has another meaning, which is a secret. The album consists of first takes, which were then overdubbed
Overdubbing
Overdubbing is a technique used by recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded performance....
. A single, "Heavy Like Sunday", was released on June 2, 2008 on Blue Flowers Records. 500 copies of a 7" vinyl version included a Polaroid
Instant camera
The instant camera is a type of camera that generates a developed film image. The most popular types to use self-developing film were formerly made by Polaroid Corporation....
picture taken by Naess. The album was released on 11 May 2009 by Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Naess is featured on the Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Raymond "Ray" Charles Jack LaMontagne is a Grammy-award winning American singer-songwriter. LaMontagne has released four studio albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain and God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise. He was born in New Hampshire and was inspired to create music after...
album, Gossip in the Grain
Gossip in the Grain
During the week of November 1, 2008, Gossip in the Grain debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200."Let It Be Me" was featured on the seventh episode of the first season of the new television show, "Fringe". "Winter Birds" was featured on the tenth episode of the fifth season of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"...
(2008), on the songs "A Falling Through" and "I Still Care for You", and toured with LaMontagne in September – November 2008. She has also toured with Eagle-Eye Cherry
Eagle-Eye Cherry
Eagle-Eye Lanoo Cherry is a Swedish musician of African-American descent.-Life and career:Cherry was born in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of African American jazz artist Don Cherry and Swedish painter/textile artist Monika "Moki" Cherry . He is half-brother of singer Neneh Cherry, his mother's...
, David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
, The Barenaked Ladies, Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
, Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams
David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
, Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner is a Canadian singer-songwriter and occasional actress.-Biography:Gryner's childhood was spent in Forest, Lambton County, Ontario. Her father was of half Irish heritage and her mother was Filipina....
, Hem
Hem (band)
Hem is an indie folk-rock band from New York City, United States. Band members include Sally Ellyson , Dan Messé , Gary Maurer , Steve Curtis , George Rush , Mark Brotter , Bob Hoffnar , and Heather Zimmerman .-Band history:In 1999,...
, Josh Rouse
Josh Rouse
Josh Rouse is an American folk/roots pop singer-songwriter.-Biography:Born in the small town of Paxton, Nebraska, he moved to various places in the Midwest during his childhood due to his father's military career...
, Ben Lee
Ben Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
, Badly Drawn Boy
Badly Drawn Boy
Damon Gough is an English alternative music singer/songwriter. He was born on 2 October 1969, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. He grew up in the Breightmet area of Bolton, Lancashire, England....
, and appeared as part of the 1999 Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
.
Personal life
Naess lives in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and frequently travels back to London. She was engaged to singer-songwriter Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams
David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
, but the engagement ended in 2003. Naess wrote on her MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
blog in January 2010 that she is pregnant, taking a break from music, and has "never been happier". She plans on making a new record when she has something to say.
She is the sister in law of actress Christa Miller
Christa Miller
Christa Miller is an American actress who has achieved success in television comedy. Her foremost roles include Kate O'Brien on The Drew Carey Show and Jordan Sullivan on Scrubs . She has also appeared on Seinfeld and CSI: Miami...
.
Albums
- ComatisedComatisedComatised is the 2000 debut album by Leona Naess, produced by MCA Records. The tracks "Charm Attack" and "Lazy Days" were featured in the teen comedy film, Whatever It Takes, and the primetime drama, The O.C., respectively...
(2000), MCAMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
- debut album - I Tried to Rock You But You Only RollI Tried to Rock You But You Only RollI Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll is a pop/rock album by Leona Naess, her second album, released in 2001 by MCA Records.Naess wrote much of the album while on tour in support of her debut album, Comatised . She considered the album a second chapter of her debut, but felt more confident...
(2001), MCA - Leona NaessLeona Naess (album)Leona Naess is a 2003 self-titled album by Leona Naess. Leona Naess is Naess' third album, and the first of hers to be produced Geffen Records. The album was a critical success, receiving a four and a half star ranking from Allmusic, and was chosen as one of Allmusics Album Picks...
(2003), GeffenGeffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:... - ThirteensThirteens (album)-Personnel:*Asif Ahmed – management*Felix Bloxsom – percussion, drums, clapping, Wurlitzer, instrumentation, drum engineering, percussion engineer*Andy Bradfield – mixing*Greg Calbi – mastering*The Christiania String Quartet**Camilla Kjøll – first violin...
(2008/2009), Verve ForecastVerve Forecast RecordsVerve Forecast Records is a record label specializing in cutting-edge material which was founded in 1967 by Verve Records and since been revived twice....
(U.S.), PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
(UK)
Singles
- "Charm Attack" (2000), MCA - Adult Top 40 #29
- "I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll" (2001), MCA
- "Mayor of Your Town" (2001), MCA
- "Calling" (2003), Geffen
- "You Old Dog / Just One" (2003), Geffen
- "Ghosts In the Attic" (2007), Leona Naess
- "Heavy Like Sunday" (2008), Blue Flowers
- "Leave Your Boyfriends Behind" (2008), Verve Forecast
External links
- Leona Naess official website
- Leona Naess: Find the 13 own a bootleg version of Thirteens