rozzi crane HOMETOWN: San Francisco, Calif. iNFluENCES: lauryn Hill, Outkast, Destiny’s Child AlBuM: Rozzi Crane EP, out now WEBSiTE: rozzicrane.com
rozzi CrAne begAn perforMing while she pursued her degree at university of southern California’s thornton school of Music in l.A. “i’d play anywhere they’d let me,” she says. “whether it was a dorm Christmas party or a formal usC event, i’d do it, because i love performing.” After earning a gig as a background vocalist for don henley during her freshman year, she tried her hand at writing songs. her breakthrough came when a fellow songwriter forwarded her Youtube video to Maroon 5’s Adam levine. levine signed Crane as the flagship artist on his new label, 222 records—and invited her to sing on “Come Away to the water,” their contribution to The Hunger Games ISSUE #25soundtrack. Currently serving as an opening act on Maroon 5’s tour, MMUSICMAG.COM Crane is also performing solo gigs to promote her new self-titled debut ep. her musical goal is simple: “i want people to feel empowered and inspired.”
right, Ashley Monroe ashley monroe
chneider, r ozzi Crane; Jim w ravis s chneider, homeToWn: Knoxville, Tenn. influences: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Patsy Cline alBum: Like a Rose, out now aylor, s pencer d ay; t aylor, WeBsiTe: ashleymonroe.com r eisig and t
A publishing deAl As A nAshville songwriter helped Ashley Monroe land a major record deal in 2006. Although the deal fell through, she remained undaunted, scoring cuts with Jason Aldean and Carrie underwood, collaborating with the raconteurs, ricky skaggs and trent dabbs, and lending her voice to projects by wanda Jackson, will hoge and train—all before becoming part of the Miranda lambert-led trio pistol Annies. now signed to warner nashville, Monroe continues her solo career with Like a Rose. produced by vince gill, the album includes nine songs co-written by Monroe. “we just got the band in a circle and started playing,” she says of the recording process. “once we felt like we had a feel for it, i did my vocal live and never went back to do a second vocal.” she credits her collaborators for the album’s old-school vibe. “there was a buzz in the room,” she says. “we all had fun. it felt like a big old family.”
15
M mag 25_cs6.indd 15 3/4/13 6:53 PM
ISSUE #25 M MUSIC & MUSICIANS MAGAZINE
MARCH/APRIL 2011 M MUSIC & MUSICIANS MAGAZINE