SINGER ANYA SINGLETON RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM; PACKS HOUSES IN NEW YORK CITY

Fresh faced and sultry voiced jazz and blues singer Anya Singleton releases her self-titled debut and plays to a sold-out crowds at the famed Triad Theater in New York City.

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 2003 -- Fresh faced and sultry voiced jazz and blues singer Anya Singleton releases her self-titled debut and plays to a sold-out crowd at the famed Triad Theater in New York City, where she is promptly asked to return regularly.

I was struck by how unique her voice is," says producer Michael Aarons, she has a deep understanding of the blues and jazz, and is unbelievably captivating onstage. Not only is she able to channel the style of old school greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington, but brings her own modern sensibility and flair to each song."

Anyas CD sales have been very successful; she has frequently sold out on CDbaby.com, and both Tower Records and Amazon.com have now begun stocking her CD.

Also an actress by trade, I felt it was important to be true to the song, and so everything was done in only two or three takes," says Singleton on the recent recording. I didnt want everything to be perfect -- I wanted all of the spontaneity, because the more you go back and fix things, the more you sacrifice the meaning of the song. I could have a technically flawless song that was pleasant to listen to, but it would be vanilla. You wouldnt be moved by it."

I have always been drawn to jazz and blues because it is such emotionally charged material," says Singleton. I believe you have to really understand and feel what youre singing about, or the audience wont." She counts songs like Ball N Chain," or Ive Got A Crush on You", both standards of their respective genres, among her favorite choices, because they always bring down the house.

As a new artist, she has been fortunate to work with greats such as musical director, Joey Melotti (Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Michael Bolton), and has a band who are legends in their own field: Clint Sharman (Funk Brothers), Frank Perowsky, (Liza Minnelli, Sinatra) and Allen Farnham (Lion King) I am constantly inspired by what these amazing musicians bring to the table -- much of what Ive learned about jazz comes from listening to the limitless possibilities there are, even in singing a song youve sung a million times before."

This fall, Anya Singleton will be appearing at numerous jazz and blues club throughout New York City, and will also be seen in the feature film, Mona Lisa Smile", starring Julia Roberts.