Frazey Ford

Frazey Ford recently sat down with Guy Raz, the host of NPR's Weekend All Things Considered, to talk about new album Obadiah. If you missed it, listen HERE. 

Former Be Good Tanyas frontwoman Frazey Ford stopped by the NPR offices in Washington, DC a couple weeks ago for a special acoustic performance at host Bob Boilen's desk for NPR's coveted Tiny Desk Concerts.  Check it out HERE. 

Says host Bob Boilen: "Ten years ago, I heard an astonishing voice stand out in a group filled with strong singers. The voice belonged to Frazey Ford; the group was The Be Good Tanyas.

The Be Good Tanyas released three outstanding albums — Blue Horse is still a favorite of mine — and then, silence. It's been four years since we've heard Ford's lilting, laid-back sound, but now she's back with a solo record. The album, Obadiah (which also features another Be Good Tanya, Trish Klein) follows Ford's love of rhythm and blues and traditional American country music.

Ford came to the NPR Music offices for this Tiny Desk Concert — armed with her acoustic guitar and a cheetah jumpsuit — and lulled our office with four beautiful tunes. If you loved The Be Good Tanyas, like me, you'll be thrilled to hear her sing again. And if you've never heard Frazey Ford, you're in for a treat."

Frazey Ford - Blue Streak Mama by nettwerkmusicgroup

Frazey Ford’s solo debut album Obadiah was released last week to praise from critics and fans alike; today Obadiah enters the Canadian Top Current Album Chart at #74 with 729 albums sold and lands at #6 on the Overall Digital Album Chart, putting Frazey among such artists as Eminem, Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson, and ahead of Drake and M.I.A. Obadiah also appears on six different regional charts. Frazey also came in at #44 in the US on the Billboard HeatSeekers The former front-woman and unmistakable voice of Vancouver alt-folk trio The Be Good Tanyas recently wrapped her Canadian tour dates, including three shows with the 2010 Lilith Tour. She is now preparing to launch the US leg of her tour later this week with her band The Quiet Revolution before heading to the UK. Fans in Canada should tune in to CBC’s “The Drive” on August 3 on Radio 2 to listen to Frazey talk about Obadiah. Frazey will also appear on LA-based KCRW's influential program "Morning Becomes Eclectic" on September 7. (tour dates below)

Check out the international praise that Frazey and Obadiah are receiving:

"It's a multi-generational sonic quilt you just can't wait to sink into, and her voice is one you hope will linger in your mind for a long time." -- Exclaim! 

"A quiet stunner that begs comparison to the best of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell while still standing out as wholly original." -- The Daily Beast

“It’s hard to think of another singer who suggests Dolly Parton, Ann Peebles and Feist.” -- New York Times

Former lead-vocalist of the beloved Vancouver-based folk trio Be Good Tanyas, Frazey Ford has release her solo debut Obadiah today to critical acclaim.  The New York Times says of Ford and Obadiah, "She deals out soul and mountain-music style and Scots-Irish lilts in bold ways. It’s hard to think of another singer who suggests Dolly Parton, Ann Peebles and Feist. She phrases intuitively, waiting on a word and then drawing it out, and turns good lyrics to oatmeal, adding strange new colors to vowels, making whole syllables vanish. There’s an eerily calm conscience at the center of the record — stoic or forgiving or just blank — and you find yourself listening hard for the wisdom in her mumbles. She’s good at this." The Globe And Mail calls Obadiah "consistently rewarding," saying it's "an album of approachable country soul, presented by an artist who recalls the pop charm of Melanie, the gentler side of Otis Redding, the striking colours of Joni Mitchell, the confidence of Buffy Sainte-Marie and the odd, breathy lilts of Cat Power or Feist."

Check out what other critics have said about Obadiah:
"Think of a Gillian Welch disc that’s more infatuated with Memphis than mountain music. Ford’s distinctive quavering smoky vocals remain the centerpiece, although here she favors a candlelit saloon croon instead of the Be Good’s campfire folkiness." 
-- American Songwriter

Former Be Good Tanyas lead vocalist Frazey Ford, who releases her debut solo album Obadiah on July 20, was featured today in NPR's coveted All Songs Considered Summer Music Preview. Listen to host Bob Boilen rave about Frazey's unmistakable voice and lead track "Firecracker" HERE.

The Be Good Tanyas’ Frazey Ford returns to the stage this summer with newly announced summer tour dates. Kicking off as part of the 2010 Lilith Tour, Frazey is set to play stages throughout North America in support of her debut solo album Obadiah out July 20th. Early support for debut single “Firecracker’ includes a recent spotlight on NPR’s All Things Considered, by guest host and KCRW music director Jason Bentley.

Listen To NPR preview HERE

The Be Good Tanyas’ Frazey Ford is set to release her debut solo album Obadiah on July 20. Obadiah combines Frazey’s gorgeous sultry vocals that helped define the Tanyas' sound, with her ever growing love for soul music, adding a rich fullness and bottom end to the 13 tracks the comprise the debut.

Recorded during a blissful Vancouver summer, Obadiah is a collection of songs hand-carved by the hardships and exaltations of life, and stained with the rich colors of soul and folk music that fueled artists like Joni Mitchell, Ann Peebles, Neil Young, and Donny Hathaway.

As lead singer and one third of the beloved East Vancouver alt folk trio, The Be Good Tanyas have achieved cult status since their inception in the late 90's. With classic albums Blue Horse, Chinatown and Hello Love, the three young women were met with ever growing critical and fan acclaim, garnering 4 star reviews in Rolling Stone and MOJO and selling out concert halls across North America and Europe.

Frazey is set to return to the stage this summer with a full summer tour to be announced soon, including the following Lilith 2010 shows:
June 27 Calgary Lilith Festival
June 28 Edmonton Lilith Festival
July 1 Vancouver Lilith Festival 

Beloved East Vancouver alt folk trio The Be Good Tanyas have achieved cult status since their inception in the late 90's. With classic albums Blue Horse, Chinatown and Hello Love, the three young women were met with ever growing critical and fan acclaim, appearing on countless Top 10 lists, selling out concert halls across North American and Europe and performing on such revered shows as Austin City Limits and Live with Jools Holland.Their music has also been a favorite amongst film and TV music supervisors, having been featured in numerous shows including Weeds, The L Word, Brothers & Sisters and the popular children's movie Because of Winn Dixie.

Now lead singer Frazey Ford has put the finishing touches on her long awaited solo debut. The new album combines the gorgeous sultry vocals that helped define the Tanya's sound, with Frazey's ever growing love for classic soul music, adding a rich fullness and bottom end to the 13 new songs that will appear.

The solo debut is set for release this summer on Nettwerk, and Ford has already been confirmed as part of the 2010 Lilith Tour line-up set to make its return this summer.