Hey hey, you wounded healer / I see your secrets coiled like snakes under your skin / let them rise like the fire in your eyes / it hurts to keep the truth inside / I see your sweet chaos and I’ll raise you one
“I have a memory of people having guitars and singing no matter where we were,” Bend, Oregon-based songwriter Alicia Viani says of her childhood, much of which was spent overseas, “and how easy it is to share music with people, which speaks to the entire point of why we play songs—to connect and not feel alone.” Each of her songs is commanded by a voice that feels entirely human, turning moments of deep complexity and heartbreak into warm jazzy, country folk that finds easy paths into the heart, much like the musical moments she cherishes from her childhood. Viani tackles complex current events such as the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and racism, but all in the gentle form of a personal story to invitingly navigate typically-avoided topics. The songs are wholly absorbing as they carry the listener from one private world to the next, each imploring to be discovered. Viani’s desire for utmost connection is embodied by the sensitive ballads that make up her thoughtfully penned self-titled debut album, slated for release in the Spring of 2020. Alicia Viani was tracked live in Nashville, Tennessee, produced by Amy Speace and engineered and mixed by Thomm Jutz.
Alicia Viani (vocals, guitar, and songwriting) and Mark Karwan (vocals, acoustic bass) comprise a duo, drawing on earlier professional music careers in other mediums (Alicia, classical oboe and Mark, classical, jazz, and rock bass). Their version of indie folk weaves in jazz, funk and americana influences with personal and provocative lyrics. Alicia and Mark play listening rooms, house concerts, music festivals, weddings and private events regionally in the Northwest and locally in Bend, Oregon.
Alicia Viani Band is made up of local all-stars Pete Kartsounes (vocals, guitar), Scott Oliphant (drums), and Mark Karwan (vocals, bass). They deliver a rich, jazzy, funky, eclectic-folk listening experience.