'It begins under clear California sky driving south down Lincoln Blvd...
(photo by Patty Wisley)
...one hand on the wheel navigating rush-hour madness...
...an iPod rapt in the other in hot pursuit of a melody taking flight... (photo by Ed Tree)'
"It started out as a challenge really, writing songs," she says. Wendy Conrad had always written words -- lyrical poetry and prose -- but actually writing the music seemed more of an impossible...an abstract. She always sang, and had played guitar since her teens. Not to mention, she'd been hearing music in her head since childhood. But, no, Wendy didn't know how to write music. Or so she'd always told herself. But she took the challenge anyway. And it's a good thing she did. Imagine her surprise, grabbing her guitar, too long in its case, and actually writing a song - the words And music. It didn't take long to discover that writing music came naturally to her. And after making a 3-song demo, Wendy Conrad was making tracks to Nashville, TN, where she lived the next year-and-a-half, writing songs and taking as many meetings with song publishers as her cold-calls awarded her, frequenting every writers' night in town, as she worked in music management and behind-the-scenes on music videos and TV.
Once she was back in Los Angeles, Conrad dove in, submerging herself in the L.A. songwriter community, writing songs, performing at top songwriter showcases throughout Southern California, and recording her songs. Which, at first, she thought would be the demos she'd pitch, for other artists to cover her songs. But, within months realized that, actually, she was the artist who'd cover her own songs. Once her debut "Ghosts That Aren't Mine" was released, it was getting critical praise: "...a "must-have" for the collection." --(Independent Songwriter); "...a new artist we can count on in the future," -- (Buscadero); and it got a whole lot of airplay in the U.S. and overseas. She's been living and writing more songs, performing, and recording more albums since.
Her sophomore release "More" garnered the #1 "I Can Leave" and #2 "Just Like You" chart-topping singles on AC/40 Main Chart/NMW, and #1 for both on the AC/30 Indie Chart/NMW; reviewers noting, "Wendy Conrad's a fabulous songwriter... her interpretation is refreshingly natural..." -- (James Tengan, LOVE FM); and, "A firm dose of Americana, emphasized firmly by the rocking "I Can Leave'!" -- (ROOTSTIME).
Wendy Conrad's new release "Breath By Breath" marks the 3rd album she's made with noted producer and renowned musician Ed Tree at his Treehouse Studio in San Gabriel, CA. Already it's being lauded with rave reactions and reviews:“...your new CD, it's wonderful; ...great writing and performances throughout." -(Carl Byron,Hot Club of Los Angeles); "...get this CD; great songs with great musicians. Beautiful job!” -- (Jeff Gold, West Valley Music);"...a songwriter's songwriter!" -- (Craig Lincoln, Songwriter's Square Newsletter)