Music Spotlight - Malea McGuinness
Compiled by Lisa D. Smith

Singer, songwriter and musician, Malea McGuinness, shines a ‘Sweet Light’ on the Los Angeles music scene and beyond with her live performances and debut album ‘True Believer’.

We recently had a chance to listen to ‘True Believer’ a debut album by Los Angeles based singer, songwriter and musician, Malea McGuinness. Talk about ‘comfort music’ - this album is like an old friend, one that you will want to hear from again and again. A smooth blend of folk and pop, her songs are personal, sensitive, and dynamic; and posses that beautiful smoky and seductive flair that only legendary seventies singers like Roberta Flack and Rita Coolidge have. But make no mistake - she can hit those high notes with ease, giving her songs that classy touch that one doesn’t hear very often.

Malea has an interesting background that includes studying Opera Performance at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, and performing a lead role in ‘The King And I’ on Broadway. After a few years, she left Broadway and headed out to Los Angeles to pursue her ‘true self’, and began to develop her craft as a singer, songwriter and finally, guitarist. Against the odds, Malea soon recorded her debut album ‘True Believer’ and found herself on a path of success, proving that following one’s dream and having a true belief in oneself, certainly pays off.

Earlier in the fall of 2007, “Deeper,” the first single from True Believer hit #16 on FMQB's star-studded AC40 Chart, and her current release, the jangling pop delight “Sweet Light” was the most added song to the chart in its first week and debuted at #27, ahead of Lifehouse , Bon Jovi and Celine Dion. She recently shot her first video for “Sweet Light,” and “Too Beautiful to Stay”.  

Songs from True Believer—which was produced by Scott Hackwith , who has worked in the past with legendary artists like The Ramones , Pete Townshend and Iggy Pop --have been in rotation on XM Satellite Radio and have been featured on AAA stations across the country. Further establishing herself on the Indie music scene in Los Angeles, she won ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at the AAM Music Awards, sponsored by the All Access Magazine.

For someone who honestly describes herself as an introvert, McGuinness has been connecting with audiences everywhere in a huge way. Last July at the 40th Annual Summerfest Music Festival in Milwaukee—an event which attracts over a million music lovers over the course of two weeks—she made history as the first Korean American to ever play the event as the lead singer of her own band. She played to over 4,000 wildly enthusiastic fans while and shared the bill with icons like B.B. King, Bon Jovi and John Mayer.

In her adopted hometown of Los Angeles, McGuinness has become an inviting, regular presence at every hotspot imaginable—The Viper Room, The Roxy, The Mint and The Knitting Factory, among others. Further displaying her musical versatility, the singer does her local gigs in two different musical settings—a seven member full electric band and an unplugged trio in which she plays acoustic guitar. As her performance chops have developed, McGuinness and her band have moved from the rhythmic folk-pop vibe of her studio recording towards an edgier, 70s influenced rock sound.

In late October 2007, she recorded a live album that reflects this musical growth at Swinghouse Rehearsal and Recording Studio in Hollywood. The project, which features exciting new versions of songs from True Believer and a few songs she wrote since recording the album, will be released in early 2008.

On January 20^th, 2008, Malea was a guest on our radio show ‘Champagne Sundays’, On the show, Nancy and I asked her about her journey as a musician from childhood until now, about her songs – the story behind them and how she writes them, what its like for women in the music industry, her travels, her family, and more. We really enjoyed the interview – she proved to be as engaging as her music.

To Listen to Malea’s interview, and excerpt from on our online radio show ‘Champagne Sundays’,  and her songs - ‘Sweet Light’ and ‘Too Beautiful to Stay’ – Please double click on the Play button below.

 

To listen to Too Beautiful to Stay, please double click on the Play button below.

 

Malea McGuinness' CD Store

For more about Malea – performances, music and videos, and to purchase her CD ‘True Believer’ visit www.maleamusic.com or www.myspace.com/maleamcg