Why "The Frame"
"The Frame” is like a time capsule. The songs in this collection span 15 years or more, and I have grown a lot during that time. Hopefully, the songs reflect that. Hopefully, the songs also show the softening of boundaries between the spiritual and the political realms that I used to think were so distinct.
In addition to the content of the songs, this album weaves together different communities and people and places for me. These tunes act as a marker or a scrapbook that connects the various friends and people who have influenced me musically over these last few decades. It has really been a gift and an honor to create together. As fate would have it, an old friend, Raz Kennedy, who coached Lisa Zeiler, Eve Decker and me in the early stages of Rebecca Riots, is singing on one of the tunes. He helped produce some of our early albums and is a great artist and mentor. Folks like Shelly Doty, Green Huse, Maggie Forti and, of course, Lisa Zeiler are part of my everyday life and I am blessed to live in a community/nest that is filled with such awesome musicality.
It had always been my dream to be able to hear my songs with more instrumentation and closer to how they actually sounded in my head and in my heart. I played acoustic folk music for many years and I love it still, but I also like to dance and get a bit more beat heavy so it's exciting to hear these songs in three dimensions. For me, this album relies less on vocal harmonies to sing the parts and more on the instruments. Trumpet, sax, violin and keyboards PLUS base and drums are a dream come true. And in recent years, I have had the pleasure of singing in a super fun dance band called, “Shake It Booty Band” that happens to have an awesome horn section (Marina and Kasey) AND a tremendous piano player (Deb). They all performed on this album. Beyond that, I knew a violinist (Irene Sazar) from another musical project (and I taught her son History when he was in my 8th grade class). She played beautifully on two songs and is yet another strand in this braid of friends and community.
“The Frame” in some ways describes my socio-political-spiritual viewpoint as it is now. I believe that there is something very sacred and significant in where and how we choose to focus our attention. And no matter what comes, we still retain our ability to frame, to look closely and to act accordingly."
-Andrea
Ten years in the making, The Frame is a collection of songs that represents the musical range of Berkeley’s own singer-songwriter/activist, Andrea Prichett. With the spare, acoustic intensity of her previous band "Rebecca Riots" and full band arrangements on her R&B originals, this album is an emotional, and uplifting journey. Some of the lyrical themes are universal while others are more topical and based on the complexity and beauty of Berkeley and it's unique and political history. Fans of “Rebecca Riots,” may be surprised to hear the album’s full band sound, but with her former bandmate Lisa Zeiler (who produced the album) holding down rhythm guitar throughout, "The Frame" demonstrates a growth and flourishing of Andrea’s talents since those acoustic folk days.
Lead guitar is provided by the Bay Area’s beloved Shelley Doty and masterful drum/ percussion by Michaelle Goerlitz. Isaac Coyle brings solid basswork that complements Deb Hungerford on piano and keyboard. Solos from Kasey Knudsen (sax), Marina Garza (trumpet) and Irene Sazar ( violin ) and backing vocals by Maggie Forti and Green Huse.
This stellar line-up will bring "The Frame" songs to life for the first time before a live audience at the Freight and Salvage on January 5th.
Lead guitar is provided by the Bay Area’s beloved Shelley Doty and masterful drum/ percussion by Michaelle Goerlitz. Isaac Coyle brings solid basswork that complements Deb Hungerford on piano and keyboard. Solos from Kasey Knudsen (sax), Marina Garza (trumpet) and Irene Sazar ( violin ) and backing vocals by Maggie Forti and Green Huse.
This stellar line-up will bring "The Frame" songs to life for the first time before a live audience at the Freight and Salvage on January 5th.
