Sharif coming to Hotel Cafe in LA in April

Independent singer-songwriter Sharif announces the official release of his third CD, Kisses and Lies,. His first single “Dark Side of the Dawn,” featuring Old 97’s singer Rhett Miller is currently garnering radio play across the country with the M:M radio promotion team at the helm.

Produced by Chris Keup and Stewart Myers (Jason Mraz, OAR, and Rachael Yamagata) the CD was recorded in a barn in Louisa, Virginia, a hotel in Baltimore and Sharif’s own bedroom in Los Angeles. Sharif assembled a preeminent cast of musicians to record his album including Tim Bradshaw (John Mayer, David Gray, Josh Ritter) on keyboards, Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams) on pedal steel, Mark Goldenberg (Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr, Brett Dennen) playing guitar, ukulele and banjo, Stewart Myers (Lifehouse, Shawn Colvin) on bass guitar and Brian Jones (Mandy Moore, Liz Phair) manning the drums.

All Access Magazine says “Sharif’s debut album is as cool and sleek as the night is long. Kisses and Lies is an elaborate musical collaboration of smooth and sexy R&B grooves, poppy melodies and clever underlying country flare.”

Born to an Egyptian father and American mother, Sharif realizes that his name might lead people to believe that he would play Middle Eastern or World Music. However his native Virginia proved a worthy influence steeping Sharif in keen sense of Americana musical history. With his feet planted firmly in the here and now, Sharif seamlessly melds his own brand of folk rock with pop and R&B, combining honest and intelligent lyrics with his easy emotionally driven voice. He is quick to say that Kisses and Lies is a heartbreak album with a sideways smile that lets you know that he knows how obvious that may seem. Yet there’s a surprising newness and truthful understanding of the human experience that comes through his songwriting.

His influences are diverse and many with the quintessential songwriters Dylan, Gram Parsons, Elliot Smith and Nick Drake at the top of his list, along with Ryan Adams, Death Cab for Cutie, and Bright Eyes. It’s a lengthy list of music that he loves and he notes that all of the musicians on his album have played with his favorites as well.

Don’t let his laid back demeanor and good looks fool you his talent is evident when he steals the show, just he and his guitar. With the release of Kisses and Lies on February 23, 2010, Sharif will be touring the West Coast with East Coast dates to follow. Check out www.sharifmusic.com for further information and catch a glimpse of Sharif’s interview on NBC Los Angeles at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dWPBH28IUI.

Tour Dates:
Mar 4- Zoey’s Ventura, CA
Mar 12-Montgomery Grill Portsmouth, VA
Mar 19-WBJB on-air Radio performance NJ
Mar 19-Sullivan’s Hall NYC
Mar 24-The Winchester Cleveland, OH
Mar 25- WCBE On-Air Radio Appearance @10:30 am Columbus, OH
Mar 25-The Rumba Café Columbus, OH
Apr 2- The Paisley Violin Phoenix, AZ
Apr 6-The Gypsy Lounge Lake Forest, CA
Apr 7-The Hotel Café Los Angeles, CA