essence - Sleeping With The Driver

Essence studied theater at the American Conservatory and Speech Communications and Creative Writing at San Francisco State University while working her way through school as an artist model. Essence released her debut album, Conception, independently in 1997 selling more than 5,000 copies. Produced with master programmer Garth May, this was the first of a long and fruitful collaboration. The track, Glitter Gone was featured prominently on the television show, Nash Bridges. Essence signed with RCA records in 1998, after winning the National Lilith Fair Talent Search out of 5,000 entries. She wrote and recorded with producers John Shanks (Alanis Morissette, Michelle Branch, Stevie Nicks, Janes Addiction), Bill Bottrell (Madonna, Michael Jackson, Sheryl Crow) and Gerard McMahon (G TOM MAC, Kiss, Roger Daltrey). Essences sophomore release, the critically acclaimed Mariposa, was released independently June, 2002. The masters were purchased and re-released by Or Music in 2003 (founded by Michael Caplan of Epic Records, best known for Los Lonely Boys.) Sleeping with Driver garnered widespread support on AAA and Hot AC radio formats. The second single, Still Crying garnered a SIBL Award (Songs Inspired by Literature) and landed placement on a CD alongside Bruce Springsteen, Aimee Mann, and Suzanne Vega. Dark Angel and The Worst Way were both prominently placed in the Lifetime television show The Division. Mariposa is currently being re-released by Razor & Tie Records. Essences song, Gettin it On, co-written with Grammy Award winning producer/songwriter John Shanks was released by Atlantic Records recording artist Lucy Woodward in 2003. Essences third album, Feels Like the Future was deeply influenced by the sudden loss of her father, and inspired by the birth of her son, Rhys, only a few months later. The album is receiving strong support and numerous features on NPRs show Art of the Song syndicated on 230 radio stations nationally. The title track, Feels Like the Future won 2nd Place in the 2009 International Songwriting Contest (out of 15,000 entries), the GRAND PRIZE for the 2009 Great American Song Contest, and placement on NBCs Access Hollywood. Critically acclaimed independent film, Motherland prominently features her song, Shape of You. In 2008, UK DJ SolarStone, remixed and released essences song, Lunar Rings into a popular international dance single. In her decade long span as a recording artist, essence has earned a devoted following in San Francisco where she has sold thousands of CDs and performed in some the nations most prestigious venues, ranging from New Yorks Bowery Ballroom to San Franciscos legendary Fillmore auditorium. She has also shared bills with Tom Petty, Jason Mraz, Shawn Colvin, Natalie Merchant, Ani DiFranco, and Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes.

• essencemusic.com