Venna
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Venna

| INDIE

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Band Folk Alternative

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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The best kept secret in music

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"Around Here"

Venna – the husband/wife team of Marky and Heather Hladish – has created a six-song, self-titled EP that showcases intimate acoustic folk instrumentation and breathy, emotive female vocals. “Eulogy” relies solely on the simple combination of guitar and undeniable vocal talent, with an open-mic coffeeshop vibe. “Big City Story,” a moody tale of a window-shopping excursion, adds some subtle layered instruments, and “Meet Me In The Hammock (Bring Cigarettes)” uses violin to amp the romantic marital moment. (www.vennamusic.com)
– Jason Scales

http://illinoisentertainer.com/2008/07/around-hear-page-2-23/ - Illinois Entertainer


"Venna EP"

(http://www.myspace.com/venna)Venna – Venna EP

(http://www.commoncloud.com) Common Cloud Records

Impeccably written acoustic folk/pop led by comfortable, beautiful female vocals.

The only female-fronted band I’ve ever really been able to connect with was Sixpence None the Richer. Leigh Nash’s voice had a comforting timbre to it that made me a believer almost instantaneously. I routinely fall asleep to the band’s self-titled album, not so much because the music is entrancing (although it is), but because it’s not hard to imagine Leigh Nash’s songs being your own personal lullabies.

That is, Sixpence was the only female-fronted band I’ve been able to get into until now. With the release of Venna’s (also) self-titled debut release, Venna has implanted itself squarely in my consciousness.

In a way similar to Leigh Nash, Heather Hladish’s voice is a smooth, pure dream of a voice that floats over whatever music it’s put to. Most of the instrumentation on the EP is acoustic-based; acoustic guitars, violins and voices dominate the beautiful songwriting. Add to this pleasant backdrop the gorgeous vocals of Hladish, and you’ve got a winning combination, every time.

It’s not to say that the music isn’t interesting or inspiring; the songs are well-written, well-performed and astonishingly well-recorded. From the quick fingerpicking of “Big City Story” to the epic build-up of “Papers,” the songwriting is worth writing home about. It’s just that for every guitar melody or harmonica flourish, there’s an incredible vocal performance stealing the show. The burbling guitars on “Common Knowledge” could carry a song by themselves, but they don’t have to – they’ve got Heather to do that.

The aforementioned “Papers” is a brilliant entry on Venna’s EP – a seven minute epic that never gets heavy-handed but maintains the listener’s interest all the way through. Despite the brilliance of the song, the highlight here is easily “Meet Me in the Hammock (Bring Cigarettes)” – a song so entirely comfortable vocally and free-flowing musically that the whole thing seems effortless. Pair that with simple, heartfelt romantic lyrics of the piece, and it’s a knockout.

What I’m trying to say here is that Venna has the best of both worlds. They boast impeccably written acoustic folk/pop songwriting as well as comfortably beautiful vocals leading the way. Venna’s debut EP is a surprising and wonderful mixture of intriguing folk songwriting and gorgeous female vocals. This EP will be lulling me to sleep for many nights to come.

- Stephen Carradini

Stephen@independentclauses.com - Independant Clauses


Discography

Venna - Common Cloud Records
Live at the House Cafe - (self-released)

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Bio

"...showcases intimate acoustic folk instrumentation and breathy, emotive female vocals... the simple combination of guitar and undeniable vocal talent, with an open-mic coffeeshop vibe."
from the Illinois Entertainer.

"As Heather sang the chorus of "Eulogy", “here are my hands�, I realized that this was her offering to the world... Crafted with care, this is an exciting debut from Heather and Marky’s hands to yours."
from Chicago blog Gapers Block.

"They boast impeccably written acoustic folk/pop songwriting as well as comfortably beautiful vocals... a surprising and wonderful mixture of intriguing folk songwriting and gorgeous female vocals."
a review of the new EP by Independent Clauses.

"Their emotional connection as husband and wife seems to simply flow into their songwriting as their separate elements mesh together to create these wonderful songs."
by the gentleman Tim Crisp at his blog Dressing Sharp and Feeling Dull.

"The band exists simply, sweetly and just does what it does well. No pretension, nothing artistically laborious or ambitious, just performing songs and performing them well."
Louis Korom IV's Blog