Rebecca Turner

New Jersey based singer/songwriter Rebecca Turner balances lovely Laurel Canyon folk-rock harmonies with compelling power pop melodies and singalong choruses that hearken back to vintage AM radio, all sung in a voice that embraces, without contradiction, the sweet twang of old-fashioned country and the tart attitude of contemporary Nashville. A childhood in '70s-era Los Angeles ensured exposure to the burgeoning country-rock scene, and later to the great West Coast new wave bands of the day, and all the inherent melodicism of both genres. Turner spent many an hour singing along to Linda Ronstadt and Bangles records. She came east in the mid-'80s to attend Columbia University, and sang fight songs and Leonard Bernstein compositions in her college Glee Club. She formed an a cappella trio with friends, and the group became the outlet for her first songwriting efforts. Later, writing freelance music reviews and taking temp jobs at record companies only sharpened her ambition to make music of her own. She started playing out in the late '90s in the East Village at the all the requisite spots, including CBGB's Gallery, Baby Jupiter, and the C-Note. She made her first demo with members of New York pop band the Wirebirds, followed by an EP with accompanist Boo Reiners of the Demolition String Band and Sweet Lizard Illtet. From Reiners' recommendation, she mastered the EP with engineer/bass player (and eventual husband) Scott Anthony. Moving out to the Jersey 'burbs provided the inspiration for Turner's 2005 debut album Land of My Baby, recorded with Anthony and a core band of Steve Goulding (Mekons, Graham Parker) and local roots rock artist John Pinamonti. As she continued to gig around the area and the next bunch of songs piled up, Turner enlisted the aid of songwriter Robert Scheffler, who helped pick out the material that became 2009's well-received Slowpokes, co-produced by Turner, Anthony, and guitarist Rod Hohl (Yarn). Turner has also curated a popular monthly "song swap" show in North Jersey with the Cucumbers' Deena Shoshkes. © Paula Carino /TiVo