Michelle Riu's debut album is soulful, provocative songwriting unleashed in the form of a pop/country fusion that hints at R & B. Imagine a head-on collision between Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone. She is also a spoken word poet.

10 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Country Pop, ROCK: Folk Rock



Details:
What comes across most forcefully in Michelle Riu's music is the artist's undeniable urge to express herself. It's pure visceral creative energy unleashed in the form of a pop/country fusion that hints at R & B. Imagine a head-on collision between Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone. She is also a spoken-word poet, writing and singing in both English and Spanish. Born and reared in Miami, Florida, first generation Cuban-American, Michelle received a degree in Performing Arts from American University in Washington, DC going on to do post-undergraduate studies in acting in New York City. Recalling those bohemian NYC days on 11th Avenue, a friend tells how, " ... Michelle used to paint on the walls of her apartment, once tracing the shadow of her music stand... and the way she created this wild and natural space in that tiny closet of a room of hers was impressive. She is someone who never saw the edge of the paper or the outline of the room." Acting credits include principal work with Disney/Touchstone Films, National Pampers TV commercial, and NYC's Spanish Repertory Theatre, Off Broadway. Now focusing her artistic tendencies with laser sharpness on making music, Michelle is set to release her first LP, titled Up Down & Strange in February of 2006. The album is co-produced by her and Ferny Coipel of the well-known Miami indie band, Humbert and backed by a stellar line-up of musicians: Derek Cintron of DC3 on drums, Tony Medina -also of DC3- on guitars, Michael Mut of Rhett and the L.B.E. on bass and Rey 'Conga' Diaz on percussion. It features 9 songs and a spoken-word piece. Performances include Miami's infamous Tobacco Road, the Polish-American Club, Power Studios, the Bakehouse Arts Complex, and the Village of Merrick Park. Michelle was recently selected to participate in the upcoming 16th annual outdoor South Florida Folk Festival, January 2006.