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Alison Scott Named August “Best Vocalist Of The Month” With
Her Song “How Do You Know?”
By Dale Kawashima
Alison Scott, a talented soul/blues singer/songwriter/pianist
based in Minneapolis, MN, has won the August SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of
The Month” Competition, for her performance of her song “How Do You Know?”
Scott will be releasing her next album Chinese Whispers in December, and
in September she will be releasing a concert DVD called Live At The Dakota.
Alison Scott
“How Do You Know?” is a soulful ballad which provides an
excellent showcase for Scott’s strong, passionate vocals. The song starts off
slow and understated, and then gradually builds energy and momentum. By the
song’s peak, Scott fully demonstrates her powerful, earthy vocal performance.
This recording was expertly produced by Kevin Bowe, a prominent writer/producer
who has worked with Etta James, Richie Sambora, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Paul
Westerberg.
Scott was born in Kansas City, and then moved with her
family to Minneapolis. Both of her parents were music majors in college, so she
was raised in a musical environment. Scott was also inspired by listening to
such favorite artists as Carole King, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder.
At age five Scott started to play piano, and when she was 11
she began taking vocal lessons. During high school, she sang in choral groups
and performed in musical theater productions. For college, Scott attended Elon University in North Carolina, and then she graduated from McNally Smith College Of Music
in St. Paul, MN.
It was during college that Scott entered and won the Women
In Music Minnesota song contest, which led to her meeting Kevin Bowe, who was
one of the judges. Since then, Scott & Bowe have collaborated on three
album projects: Wish On The Moon (2006); Hiding Under The Covers (2008;
an album of cover material); and the upcoming album, Chinese Whispers.
Alison Scott
Scott has enjoyed good success with her albums – the first
two CDs have sold a combined 5,000 units. She is also building a solid
following as a live artist – she performs regularly with her band, which
includes Bowe on guitar, Peter Anderson on drums, and Steve Price on bass.
Scott is planning a concert tour of the Midwest in coordination with her album
release.
“We’re making good progress, and I’m looking forward to the
new album and tour,” said Scott. “During the last couple years, I feel I’ve
grown a lot as a vocalist and songwriter.”
When asked if she wants to remain an indie artist or pursue
a major label deal, she said: “We’re open-minded regarding labels. We haven’t
made a push to labels yet. When my new album is ready, we’ll probably make a
big push to labels.”
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 clicking the music players below.
Shara
"When You're Leaving." (pop/AC). Performed by Shara of New York, NY. Written by Andrea Martin.