Sugar Hill Records announces it has signed singer-songwriter Liz Longley. The artist’s eagerly anticipated release is slated for digital distribution in March 2015.
“It felt like a dream come true and worth every second of the wait,” says Longley regarding her offer from Sugar Hill, “I am so excited about working with this group. It has become very important to me over the past few years to build a team that is trustworthy and hardworking, and they are just that. I can’t wait to see this album reach its full potential.”
Longley’s self titled release was produced by fellow Berklee College of Music alum Gus Berry at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, Tennessee and features three special mixes from Sugar Hill’s own Gary Paczosa. All songs were written solely by Longley with the exception of a co-write on “This is Not the End.”
“For me songwriting is my therapy and these songs are almost like personal journal entries during that time of my life,” says Longley. She also cites her musical influences as eclectic, mentioning Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and Lucinda Williams as inspirations for her own music.
Longley believes her move to Nashville in 2011 had a big influence on the sound of this album. “It felt more like coming home to me,” Longley muses about her big move. The album features appearances by world class musicians including Michael Rhodes, Nir Zidkyahu, Tom Bukovac, Danny Rader, John Hobbs, JT Corenflos, and Marco Giovino, who boast previous work recording and playing with John Mayer, Etta James, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks and many other musical greats
“It was amazing and humbling having all of these talented musicians play on my album, and it was just mind blowing working with Gary,” says Longley. “He brought the songs he mixed to life. The vocal is so present and it feels like a more intimate performance, those details really show his genius.”
Gary Paczosa, Sugar Hill’s VP of A&R, says, “I’m thrilled to have Liz on the Sugar Hill roster, from an A&R standpoint she’s a dream come true. Besides having a stunning voice, she’s a brilliant songwriter that possesses the capability to connect with the listener in a way that not many artists achieve. Her effortless vocals and beautiful melodies made this such an obvious choice for us at Sugar Hill; we are thrilled to welcome Liz aboard!”
Longley hails from a small town outside Philadelphia where her nurturing parents encouraged her from a young age to take piano and vocal lessons. Later, after being accepted to Berklee, Longley packed her bags for Boston where she studied under the best and was even chosen to participate in a workshop with John Mayer. In the short time since her graduation Longley has developed a reputation as an accomplished songwriter having taken home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest Songwriting Competition. Longley’s music has taken center stage on a national level as well with several television placements on networks such as ABC and Lifetime and Sirius XM radio airplay.
Sugar Hill’s General Manager and Senior Vice President Cliff O’Sullivan, states, “Liz Longley is an incredible talent, both as a singer and a songwriter. We’re thrilled to have her be the latest artist to join Sugar Hill.”
“The outpouring of support and the money raised for this album through my Kickstarter campaign was incredible! I can’t wait for my followers to hear these songs in a whole new capacity with this release,” says Longley.
Sugar Hill is thrilled to bring such a talented songstress to the forefront of the musical stratosphere.
About Sugar Hill Records
Founded in 1978 by Barry Poss, Sugar Hill was recognized as “one of twenty-one labels that changed the world … reinventing country music” by Pulse. Now, part of the Welk Music Group and with its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, Sugar Hill has deep roots in bluegrass and Americana genres. The label’s 2014 releases include Lee Ann Womack’s label debut, Don Williams’ Reflections, Black Prairie’s Fortune, Bryan Sutton’sInto My Own and more.
From festivals to record stores and all points in between, music fans will recognize the artists on Sugar Hill for their musicianship, energy and integrity.
