Student Signs Record Contract

........................................... p.7 12.11.06 Student Singer Signs Record Deal

CSUF journalism student and singer/songwriter Marianne Keith took a major step in achieving her dream this year when she signed with the independent label, Unison.

However, it was not her first step. Keith’s musical career started at the age of six when she landed her first solo singing “Happy Birthday Jesus” for a church event. Though music was introduced to her then, it wasn’t until her eighthgrade year she decided being a professional musician was what she wanted to do with her life, and she began to make it happen.

“I decided I wanted to be a professional musician, but I didn’t have the tools to do it,” she said.

She took the clarinet she learned to play in school and pawned it for her first guitar. She eventually taught herself to play.

In high school, she continued to practice her craft while taking two years of vocal training. As she entered college, after spending years of dreaming of performing, she realized she needed to go out there and do it.

“So I guess I need to play shows, and then it’s like, how the hell do I do that,” Keith said. “It was really hard and kind of awkward because you feel like you’re really putting yourself out there.”

Taking any gig she could get, Keith started off singing cover songs before she could play the guitar well enough to perform her own. “My desire was way ahead of my skill,” she said.

She began playing at local farmers markets and open mics in the Redlands and Riverside areas. Eventually as word of mouth began to spread, the gigs started coming to her. As a young artist, Keith has already recorded three albums, her latest, titled “Beautiful Distraction,” is on her current label.

She has written over 200 songs, and after two-and-a-half years of performing, has played in roughly 200 shows in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino and Riverside.

In April, Keith landed an Orange County Music award in Best Country for her song “Make You Mine,” and has also been honored as one of the top five for Best Live Acoustic Females in Orange County. Single-handedly writing all of her songs and playing guitar on her record, Keith describes herself as a “legitimate artist.”

“It’s not fake. It’s real. I do it all.”

She credits a lot of her success to her parents who have helped fund her equipment and taken hours of their time to drive her from one show to the next.

“The people who have helped me the most have been my parents. I don’t think I could have done all of this without them being so supportive.”

However, it is her passion for music, hard work, and drive to one day be a household name that has gotten her where she is today. “It’s not if, it’s when. That’s the attitude I’ve had to have,” she said. “I’m determined and I’m really strong minded. Nobody can tell me that I can’t do anything.”

The Beach Boys: “Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary Edition.”

“Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary Edition: Without this record, which pushed music recording from mono into the stereo and quadraphonic formats, we might not have had the greats of The Beatles and The Who.

No self-respecting music fan should be found without this record in their collection.” – Aaron Holtsclaw, Daily Titan Staff

For the Daily Titan thebuzz@dailytitan.com Best New Albums Released this Semester

Photo by Lisa Bouris

Marianne Keith during a performance at the Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest in November.

Justin Timberlake: “Future Sex Love Sounds”

“Creatively, he has matured from 2003’s “Justified” with ambitious tracks that assert his ability to create musical combinations showcasing his unique vocal talent. Overall, Timberlake’s new album lives up to the hype.” – Marina Zarate, Daily Titan Staff

To learn more about Marianne Keith, listen to her album and find out when and where she is playing next, check out her Web site at www.mariannekeith.com. By lau ren mendoza

and download movies to iPods, an album like “From This Moment On” supplies a refreshing break from the rat-race.

This newest album makes No. 12 for Krall and is a great intro for first-time jazz vocal listeners while also satisfying the more demanding connoisseur’s appetite.” – Paul Saiedi, Daily Titan Staff

The Killers: “Sam’s Town”

“With elements from the music giants emanating from each rift and chord, some of the songs, though different, can be quite appealing and catchy. The track “Why do I Keep Counting,” for example, has a rock-opera feel that is akin to Queen’s glam-rock style.” – Paolo Andres, Daily Titan Staff

Blood Brothers: “Young Machetes”

“Overall, “Young Machetes” is like the soundtrack to a careful painting with every color imaginable. The audio journey this album brings is full of sharp turns, entrancing scenery and inconsistent speeds, so buckle your seat belt and enjoy the ride.” – Jonathan Saavedra, Daily Titan Staff

Keith Urban: “Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing”

“Urban pours more of himself into this record than ever before.

‘Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing’ is the album Urban was made to record.” –Laura Lujan, Daily Titan Staff