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V’nessa Tzavellas Named November “Best Vocalist Of The
Month” With Her Song “Beautiful Things”
By Dale Kawashima
V’nessa Tzavellas, a promising urban/rock singer &
songwriter based in Beacon, NY, has won the November SingerUniverse “Best
Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her performance of her song “Beautiful
Things.” This song is the title track of her six-song EP Beautiful Things,
which she released in December 2006. Tzavellas is also working on a new,
full-length CD which will be released in 2009.
V'nessa Tzavellas
“Beautiful Things” is a soulful, melodic midtempo cut, which
gradually builds in emotion and intensity. The arrangement also features blues,
rock and hip-hop elements to create a distinctive sound. This song provides a
fine showcase for Tzavella’s impressive vocal performance, which includes some
scat-like phrasing early on, and powerful adlibs at the song’s climax.
“Beautiful Things” was produced by Chris Cubeta, who skillfully played all the
instruments on this recording. And notably, the song will be featured in the
upcoming indie film Spin Slowly, which will be released in 2009.
Tzavellas was born and raised in Flushing (Queens) NY, where
she was first inspired by her father who sang, and by listening to classic soul
& rock singers such as Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin.
Tzavellas sang in the school and church choirs, and she learned to play just
enough piano to be able to compose her songs.
Following high school, she attended Duchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, NY, where she studied communications and media arts. It was
during this period that Tzavellas formed a live hip-hop band and became its
lead singer. This experience helped her hone her live performing skills, and
currently she fronts a new band.
V'nessa Tzavellas
Tzavellas subsequently recorded and released her 2006 EP
(which includes “Beautiful Things” and five other songs which she wrote). And currently,
she is busy working with several producers on her full debut album.
“My new
album is about 3/4s the way completed,” she said. “I wanted to expand my sound a bit for the album, and I believe the new songs reflect this." In addition, Tzavellas is about to release a new single called ‘Electricity," which will be included on her upcoming album.
In addition to recording her album, Tzavellas continues to perform
steadily with her band. She recently played at the M.E.A.N.Y. Festival at the
Knitting Factory in Manhattan, the L.O.M.E. Fest in Westchester County, plus other gigs throughout New York state.
In addition, here are four, talented vocalists/artists who complete our Top Five Vocalists honorees list for this month's competition, with their credits, plus their e-mail and website links. You can listen to their songs by double-clicking the music players below.
Blabbermouth
"Don't Wanna Go Home." (pop/folk). Performed by Blabbermouth (aka Steve Thompson) of London, England, UK. Written by Steven Thompson.