Chris Pureka

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Chris Pureka is an acoustic musician hailing from Northampton, Massachusetts. Raised in Connecticut, she began writing songs at the age of 16 and soon became a frequent performer at local coffee houses and open mics. As a young performer, she opened shows for such artists as Erin McKeown and Pamela Means, all the while completing a degree in biology at Wesleyan University. She began work in a microbiology research lab at Smith College in Northampton, eventually leaving to focus on pursuing her music full-time. In June, 2001, she recorded a self-titled seven-song EP in preparation for a three-month nationwide tour with lesbian folk poet Alix Olson. The EP, which was home-recorded in two weeks and featured her playing back-up accompaniment on the mandolin and bass, was later mastered and reprinted for her 2005 summer tour.

In 2004, Pureka released Driving North, her first full-length album, earning rave reviews from fans and fellow artists alike.

In 2006, Pureka released Dryland, and toured the US a second time as a headlining act. The album received rave reviews and was featured on the Paste Magazine Sampler in February 2007.

In May 2007, Pureka began the New American Songwriter Tour, a month-long engagement addressing the contemporary manifestation of the Americana genre of the singer-songwriter, known for artists like Woody Guthrie and Joni Mitchell. The tour was focused in New England and featured other up-and-coming artists Krystle Warren, Jesse Harris and Ryan Scott. In August, Pureka will play at the renowned Michigan Womyn's Music Festival.

In July 2007, Pureka's song, "Swann Song" won 1st Place in the Acoustic competition on the independent music site OurStage.com. Because of her excellent performance there, she won a spot to perform at the Virgin Music Festival in Baltimore, Maryland, where she performed on August 5th. Pureka had previously also won the Acoustic competition in April for her song "31 and Falling".

In October 2007 Pureka was nominated for 2007's Outstanding Folk Act by The Boston Music Awards. She will compete against Crooked Still, Chris Smither, Mark Erelli and one of her biggest influences, Patty Griffin for the honor. Pureka was also awarded an ASCAPLUS award in the summer of 2007.

Pureka has sold over 2300 copies of her latest, Dryland without a record label. She has rapidly gained popularity by performing with artists including Peter Mulvey, Martin Sexton, Jeffrey Foucault, Kris Delmhorst, Melissa Ferrick, Catie Curtis, and Girlyman.

Pureka is managed by faux pas productions, an independent management and booking agency founded by Christen Greene and run out of a New York City Office.

Pureka is the founder of her label, Sad Rabbit Music. She has been compared to artists like early Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch and Mary Gauthier. Pureka covered Welch's song "Everything Is Free" on Dryland and has expressed admiration for her music as well as that of Griffin. She cites influences from Peter Mulvey and Pamela Means, as well as Ani DiFranco, though she says that her music differs greatly from DiFranco's often-outspoken political messages. Pureka has lent her vocals and guitar playing to several tracks by artists like Olson and Arjuna Greist; a notable track is "Checking My Pulse" with Olson which went on to become a relative hit for Olson.

Pureka identifies as genderqueer, cultivating an androgynous appearance. In part because of this her work has been well-received in the gay community. She has received excellent reviews in the long-running radical feminist publication off our backs and other magazines. Pureka's music does not deal explicitly with GLBT issues, focusing instead on emotional interactions between individuals.

[edit] Discography

  • 2001 - Chris Pureka EP
  • 2004 - Driving North
  • 2006 - Dryland

[edit] External links