This mostly acoustic Americana disc will provide your favorite driving music. Aimee Mann meets Lucinda Williams meets Shawn Colvin.

7 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk Pop, EASY LISTENING: Love Songs



Details:
After a few years of fronting Accent, then similar group Sudden Urge (both award-winning rock ensembles), Maria began performing solo in and around Buffalo, New York, while writing and recording with 1996-born original band (later named In From the Cold) based in Los Angeles. The group featured world renowned drummer (and Buffalo native) Gary Mallaber (Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison, etc.) and ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist Jack Sherman. Though logistical issues stalled the band's live schedule, their unique Pop/Rock songs are currently being pitched for television and film (clients to date include Discovery Channel and Hoggard Films). Clips can be heard at Maria's web site.

Maria's latest solo disc, "Songs I Wrote in the Car," has taken a mostly acoustic turn with more Americana / Folk-Pop songs. "Though I have always loved Garage Rock, and Sugary Pop variations (like Joke, Rollover and Madly shot for on "Maybe It's Just Me"), I have decided to step off the Indie Rock train to return to the music I started writing years before, which is more focused, in general. I listen closely to my favorite artists in the Americana / Folk-Pop world (Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Kathleen Edwards, Freedy Johnston, Aimee Man and Gurf Morlix) and I am writing more naturally under their influence."

Maria Sebastian and The Damn Straights was formed after the disc was recorded but they now play her songs live. The group consists of 10,000 Maniacs career drummer, Jerry Augustyniak; Steam Donkeys (legendary Americana band from Buffalo) guitarist Charlie Quill and groovy Skyjuice bassist, Tom Mangione.

In 2004, Maria earned her M.A. in English / Media Studies from the University at Buffalo. She is the mother of a teenager and a preschooler and she teaches in the English and Music departments at Villa Maria College where she hosts quarterly songwriting workshops. While she performs live regularly, her latest agenda is to place her songs with other artists and in TV/Film. As of April '06, HBO is considering 'Easier' for an upcoming documentary.

Visit mariasebastian.com for more.

Buffalo Music Awards
1993 - Accent - Top New Rock Band
1994 - Accent - Top Rock Band
1995 - Maria - Top Rock Female Vocalist
1996 - Maria - Top Rock Female Vocalist
1996 - Sudden Urge - Top Rock Band
1997 - Sudden Urge - Top Rock Band
2003 - Maria - Top Solo Artist
2004 - Top Rock Female Vocalist

People's Choice Award:
2004 - Top Solo Artist