100 Bands in 100 Days Presented by Verity Credit Union — Day 85: Amber Sweeney
Music fans of the Pacific Northwest, hello and welcome back to our third annual year-end daily countdown, 100 Bands in 100 Days, where every day until December 31st, we’re showcasing a new band or artist you have to know about, presented by Verity Credit Union. Follow the #100Bands100Days hashtag on Twitter to stay on top of all the bands featured and make sure to follow Verity on Twitter as well. Some days the featured act could be an established and locally-adored northwest-based musician that perhaps you haven’t been turned onto yet, and other times they could be a band with a small following that just hasn’t had their deserved time in the sun yet. Either way, we’re fairly confident you can come away from this daily segment with plenty of new favorites. Today’s musical offering is a great singer named Amber Sweeney from Battle Ground.
Today’s artist Amber Sweeney possesses one of the most powerful voices around the northwest and while she has a sound that is unique to her, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to Melissa Etheridge and Tracy Chapman. In her bio it states she’s been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow as well and I’d also include those names in the list. There’s no doubt she has a firm grasp of the blues and soul and marries the two genres together. Any list of top female singers in the northwest that doesn’t have her name on it is incomplete.
From her bio:
Amber Sweeney is a highly sought after performer and songwriter who’s often been compared to the likes of Allen Stone, Bonnie Raitt, and Sheryl Crow. Her distinctive voice and stage presence demand attention and make her the darling of every bill. She draws her fans into the stories with lyrics and music long remembered. She is accessible on stage unlike other artists and fans feel as if they’ve made a new friend in Amber.
On November 4th, 2016 Amber released her first single off her upcoming album Believing In Love. Believing in Love is a triumphant body of musical emotion produced and recorded at the renowned London Bridge Studios with producer Geoff Ott, knitted with Amber’s signature blues/folk style and soulful sound. Amber Sweeney’s vocal range is wide and her personal sensibility to the genre strong. Her songwriting coupled with amazing vocal versatility allows emotion to dictate the raw edge or crystal sweetness a song requires.
In 2014, Amber teamed up with Geoff Ott for the first time to record a single with Seattle based record label, London Tone Music, which was released as part of their 52×52: A Year In Your Ear project. Her single “Lone Sailor” reached #4 on the iTunes Blues chart. In 2013, Amber released two E.P.s: The Starting Line and Christmas Time, which are available on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Spotify, Pandora Radio and through other outlets.
Amber’s music has been featured on Seattle Wave Radio, Portland Radio Project, KMUZ, KZME, and KINK’s Homegrown Spotlight, among many other streaming stations worldwide.
Amber’s voice, musical talent, and songwriting have also been featured in two CW television series: One Tree Hill and Life Unexpected (“Flying Machine,” “Girl In The Moon,” “Quicksand,” “Maybe,” “Stars,” “Feel This” – written by Jonathan Jackson of Enation) while one half of the duo known as Everly. Her voice has also been featured in Stephen King’s film adaptation of Riding The Bullet, while bass player and back up singer for the rock band Enation. She can also be heard on another northwest band’s album, The Alleged Album by One From Many (“Tears We Cry Alone” and “Shape Of Your Heart.”)
Along with recording and performing, Amber is involved in a number of local and national organizations: As a guest radio personality for Portland Radio Project, and as a Governor for The Recording Academy’s Pacific Northwest Chapter. Amber is also affiliated with ASCAP. She is an advocate in bringing inspiration and mentoring to the youth in her community, by supporting organizations such as Rocksolid Teen Center in her hometown of Battle Ground, Washington. A dollar from every Believing In Love album sales goes directly to Rocksolid Teen Center and to the good they are providing for the future generation of the community.
If you are looking for another northwest artist with world class talent, look no further than Amber Sweeney.
(You can check out Amber Sweeney on Facebook and you can listen to her at Soundcloud and/or stream “Monday” below)
Submissions for 100 Bands in 100 Days 2016 is now closed. If you’d like to see the whole list of bands we’ve featured, click HERE.
