Amel Larrieux standards effort out May 22

Bliss Life Records, will release Amel Larrieux’s collection of great American standards, “Lovely Standards” ($18.98) on May 22.

“I grew up watching musicals from the 40’s and 50’s, and my grandfather used to play standards on the piano while our family sang," explains Larrieux, "It was inevitable that I try my hand at interpreting these songs because they were surely as influential in shaping who I have become as an artist.”

Singer, songwriter Amel Larrieux and producer Laru Larrieux have handpicked a collection of songs. Their nuanced delivery once again exhibits this pair's versatility and devotion to their craft while defying stereotypes. Parlaying Amel's reputation for vulnerable yet intense interpretations of her own songs into an intimate and relevant portrait of classics ranging from Ellington to Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Having sold over one million albums, the Grammy-nominated songbird has three critically acclaimed solo albums, Morning (Bliss Life), Bravebird (Bliss Life), and Infinite Possibilities (Epic). Larrieux fuses a range of genres—R&B, soul, hip-hop, jazz and folk, with flashes of Middle Eastern, West African, and Indian styles. As lead siren and co-writer for Groove Theory, Amel enjoyed success with "Tell Me," which broke the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top five on the R&B charts before being certified gold in October 1995.

Larrieux’s influence on the music world is widespread, having contributed to film soundtracks, such as Barbershop, Love Jones, Down To Earth, and Sunset Park, and having collaborated with artists from former Sade guitarist Stuart Matthewman in her work with Sweetback to working with hip hop supergroup, The Roots. Equal to Amel’s vocal and writing talent is her alluring beauty and eclectic style. She has been spotlighted as a style maven in Essence, Honey, Harper’s Bazaar, Trace, The Fader and was also featured in the Coach anniversary print campaign.

For more information, please visit www.blisslife.com.

Track Listing:
Shadow of Your Smile
If I Loved You
You're My Thrill
Something Wonderful
Try Your Wings
Younger than Springtime
Wild is the Wind
I like the Sunrise
Lucky to be Me
If I Were a Bell