Jonatha Brooke

For the scores of fans that have followed singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke's career over the last 12 years, Steady Pull, her latest release, is a highly anticipated addition to her much loved discography. For listeners who aren't yet familiar with Jonatha's sophisticated songwriting and dazzling musicianship, Steady Pull will introduce them to one of the most exciting talents of the era. With its funk and rock inspired rhythms and catchy melodies, Steady Pull is a powerful addition to Jonatha's already acclaimed body of work. It's also a testament to her newfound independence. Like Live, her previous CD, Steady Pull is to be released through Bad Dog Records, Jonatha's own label. And like Live, Steady Pull promises to reach listeners through a combination of traditional retail avenues, her web site, and other on-line ventures.



Musically, Steady Pull combines the raw sensitivity of Jonatha's earlier work with the wiser, edgier vibe of an artist who is constantly maturing and evolving. The lyrics evoke sentiments of new beginnings, personal transformation, and the terrifying, exhilarating rush of venturing into unknown territory. From the infectious melody of "Linger" to the haunting waltz of "Your House" to the deep groove of the title track, Steady Pull constantly pushes the envelope and delivers the kind of high quality, truly innovative musical experience that is all too rare these days. Steady Pull is a turning point for Jonatha. She co-produced all twelve songs with legendary mixer/producer Bob Clearmountain. She is also joined by some powerhouse guest artists. Michael Franti of Spearhead lends a funky, sexy vocal part to the title song, and Neil Finn of Crowded House fame, accompanies her on the exuberant ballad "New Dress."



For more than a decade, Jonatha has proven herself to be the uncommon artist who is both an authentic talent and a captivating performer. With her former band, the Story, she made two stellar albums, Grace in Gravity and The Angel in the House. 1995 brought Plumb, her first solo record, a masterpiece of songwriting and vocal performance that incorporated a pop sensibility with her trademark harmonies. In 1997, Jonatha released her second solo album, Ten Cent Wings upping the ante and venturing even further into the pop/rock arena. Ten Cent Wings was instantly noted; critics singing Jonatha's praises, and fans singing the lyrics, as soon as the track "Secrets and Lies" hit the charts. Billboard magazine called Jonatha "one of the most gifted and unique artists of the decade."



There's something very special about seeing Jonatha perform live. She develops an intimate rapport with her audience that can make a dance hall feel like a small coffeehouse. By the same token, her fans cheer so enthusiastically that a smoky club can begin to sound like Madison Square Garden. Out of this phenomenon rose Jonatha Brooke Live, a collection of live performances of songs culled from her earlier albums. Jonatha breathed new life into these songs, creating grittier, sparser textures so that they completely transcended their original incarnations. The high profile rave reviews continued: Rolling Stone declared, "The world hasn't heard the end of her."



It certainly hasn't - and not just where music is concerned. Jonatha's web site has proven to be a remarkable tool in her independent marketing quest, enabling her to keep in touch with fans, and let them in on her process. On jonathabrooke.com, the site offers music samples, behind the scenes video clips, and it will also be running download promotions that will feature songs from the new album. The site also provides photos, tour dates, and a posting board for listeners to ask questions and share their own thoughts. Jonatha regularly responds. And the fans feel involved. As with Jonatha's songs, they feel like she is speaking directly to them.



Jonatha will be touring extensively behind this release, and there's little question that her reputation for mesmerizing performances combined with the broad appeal of Steady Pull will attract her largest audiences ever. With its peerless songwriting and stellar musicianship, Steady Pull is a stirring and important work from an artist who makes music that will endure.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonatha Brooke began issuing albums that merged folk and pop during the early 1990s, first as a member of a female duo named the Story and later as a solo artist. Brooke formed the Story (originally called "Jonatha & Jennifer" during the duo's early years) along with another vocalist, Jennifer Kimball, who attended Massachusette's Amherst College with Brooke in the early '80s. Despite playing regular local gigs during their college career, the girls never issued any recordings and took a break after graduation, during which time Brooke joined a dance troupe. But by the end of the '80s, the group had re-formed under a new moniker, the Story, and issued a demo called Over Oceans in 1989. The Story was promptly signed to the independent Green Linnet label, which issued the duo's debut album, Grace in Gravity, in 1991. It wasn't long before Elektra Records expressed interest in the band, in turn reissuing their debut the same year, as well as a sophomore effort, The Angel in the House, two years later.

By 1994, however, the Story had split up for good and Brooke began pursuing a solo career. Despite Kimball's absence, Brooke's 1995 solo debut, Plumb, was nevertheless credited to Jonatha Brooke & the Story. Brooke was the sole creditor beginning with 1997's 10 Cent Wings, which also marked a shift from her earlier folk-pop material to a more radio-friendly style. This shift continued with such additional releases as 1999's Live and 2001's Steady Pull, the latter of which was co-produced by Brooke and renowned studioman Bob Clearmountain (known for his work with Bryan Adams, the Rolling Stones, the Corrs, and Hall & Oates, among others). Beginning in the late '90s, Brooke's albums were issued via her very own record label, Bad Dog.

In 2002, Brooke performed a pair of songs on Disney's Return to Never Land soundtrack, contributing an original composition ("I'll Try") and a cover ("The Second Star to the Right"). Two years later, she performed a set of ten shows at the Public Theater in New York, the highlights of which were collected for the 2006 release of Live in New York, complete with a DVD of the concert. Careful What You Wish For followed in 2007, and Brooke subsequently delved into Woody Guthrie's lyric journals for her follow-up effort. Released in 2008, The Works paired her original music with Guthrie's previously unheard lyrics. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide