Showing posts with label Sonja Kristina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonja Kristina. Show all posts

11/18/2022

Sonja Kristina of Curved Air Narrates Neuschwanstein’s 1976 Progressive Rock Epic “Alice in Wonderland” Album – OUT NOW!

The original version of Neuschwanstein’s “Alice in Wonderland” had narration in German but, for the first time, this has been replaced with English language parts read by Sonja Kristina of Curved Air.

Musically this 1976 album belongs among the great prog albums and sits between Rick Wakeman’s and Jeff Wayne’s iconic narrated rock albums. This edition has been re-mastered with a booklet that includes two separate sets of liner notes (with rare images) on the history of the band and Sonja Kristina’s 2022 vocal sessions.

Sonja Kristina said of the release “I was delighted to narrate this wonderful psychedelic musical version of Alice’s dream in a dramatic instrumental landscape.  I loved Alice in Wonderland as a child and I’ve really enjoyed returning to the magic of this story. This album deserves to be thought of as a classic progressive rock album of the 1970s, so I’m pleased to have recorded the narration for it.”

This was the only mid-1970s album in the ‘Narrated Rock’ genre to be unavailable in English…until now.

Available from:
Amazon CD: https://geni.us/AliceCD
Spotify: https://geni.us/AliceSP
Apple Music: https://geni.us/AliceAM

Orders placed directly with Cherry Red (while stocks last) will come with a postcard signed by Sonja Kristina: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/neuschwanstein-alice-in-wonderland-ft-sonja-kristina/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 1-828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

10/06/2017

Curved Air Legend Sonja Kristina Releases New Anthology Featuring Newly Recorded Exclusive Tracks! Out Now!


London - Legendary Curved Air lead singer and founding member Sonja Kristina has released a new 2-CD compilation called ANTHOLOGY! This is the FIRST collection of her solo works and draws on recordings from her varied solo albums, along with rare and NEWLY RECORDED EXCLUSIVE TRACKS.

Released by Curved Air Records via Cherry Red, this Anthology has been personally compiled by Sonja, with custom cover art and her personal liner notes.

Says Sonja, “This collection is selected from my recordings outside of Curved Air. My reveries on life and love through the decades and beautiful songs that I have had the privilege to perform and make my own.”


photo by Ken Ansted

Sonja Kristina, who topped the British Music female vocalist polls throughout the '70s was the first UK female lead singer fronting a Rock band. She has been the constant flame leading Curved Air through the decades, and a Guiding Light in the Prog scene. Today, vibrant and edgy as ever, Sonja, the original Prog goddess gives a charismatic and highly visual performance. Looking like a glamorous gipsy queen with her flowing red hair and dressed in sparkly black, that signature voice is still as smoky and seductive as ever as she spins around the stage around the excellent musicians who are Curved Air.

Sonja will be on tour both as a solo artist and with Curved Air as it builds up to its 50th anniversary year.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE
1. FRANK MILLS
2. IF THIS WAS LOVE
3. THE PASSION
4. BABY SONG
5. FULL TIME WOMAN
6. MAN HE COLOUR
7. ONE TO ONE
8. MELINDA (MORE OR LESS)
9. THIS IS NOT A SANCTUARY
10. ANGEL
11. C’EST LA VIE

DISC TWO
1. DEVIL MAY CARE
2. ANNA
3. BUCCANEER
4. ROLLERCOASTER
5. SAN TROPEZ
6. I DON’T BELIEVE A WORD
7. STREET RUN
8. O FORTUNA
9. LOVE CHILD
10. CITADEL

CURVED AIR RECORDS
Released October 6, 2017.

To purchase:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/CRVESK

Official website: www.sonjakristina.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Curved Air Legend Sonja Kristina Releases New Anthology Featuring Newly Recorded Exclusive Tracks! Out Now!


London - Legendary Curved Air lead singer and founding member Sonja Kristina has released a new 2-CD compilation called ANTHOLOGY! This is the FIRST collection of her solo works and draws on recordings from her varied solo albums, along with rare and NEWLY RECORDED EXCLUSIVE TRACKS.

Released by Curved Air Records via Cherry Red, this Anthology has been personally compiled by Sonja, with custom cover art and her personal liner notes.

Says Sonja, “This collection is selected from my recordings outside of Curved Air. My reveries on life and love through the decades and beautiful songs that I have had the privilege to perform and make my own.”


photo by Ken Ansted

Sonja Kristina, who topped the British Music female vocalist polls throughout the '70s was the first UK female lead singer fronting a Rock band. She has been the constant flame leading Curved Air through the decades, and a Guiding Light in the Prog scene. Today, vibrant and edgy as ever, Sonja, the original Prog goddess gives a charismatic and highly visual performance. Looking like a glamorous gipsy queen with her flowing red hair and dressed in sparkly black, that signature voice is still as smoky and seductive as ever as she spins around the stage around the excellent musicians who are Curved Air.

Sonja will be on tour both as a solo artist and with Curved Air as it builds up to its 50th anniversary year.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE
1. FRANK MILLS
2. IF THIS WAS LOVE
3. THE PASSION
4. BABY SONG
5. FULL TIME WOMAN
6. MAN HE COLOUR
7. ONE TO ONE
8. MELINDA (MORE OR LESS)
9. THIS IS NOT A SANCTUARY
10. ANGEL
11. C’EST LA VIE

DISC TWO
1. DEVIL MAY CARE
2. ANNA
3. BUCCANEER
4. ROLLERCOASTER
5. SAN TROPEZ
6. I DON’T BELIEVE A WORD
7. STREET RUN
8. O FORTUNA
9. LOVE CHILD
10. CITADEL

CURVED AIR RECORDS
Released October 6, 2017.

To purchase:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/CRVESK

Official website: www.sonjakristina.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

9/18/2014

CURVED AIR Lead Singer SONJA KRISTINA Receives Guiding Light Award at the PROG Awards 2014


London, UK - Sonja Kristina has been honoured at the prestigious PROG Magazine Awards night held at the Globe Theatre in London.

Sonja Kristina said “It is a great honour to receive The Guiding Light Award. I didn't think very far ahead when I first started out but I feel very blessed now after so many years to be still creating and releasing new albums and performing with such superb musicians in Curved Air. I always did love the camaraderie of being on the road and the alchemy of performance.”

PROG editor Jerry Ewing added “The Guiding Light Award is for those artists who offer inspiration through their actions. As one of the leading ladies of a genre once thought of as very much a male domain, Sonja has been a pioneering spirit in the prog world, and an inspiration to the now many female artists in the genre who have followed on. I cannot think of a better suited recipient.”

The band is best known for its hits "Back Street Luv", "It Happened Today" and "Vivaldi". The current line-up also features original drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa, classic era guitarist Kirby Gregory alongside Robert Norton (keys), Chris Harris (bass) and Paul Sax (violin).

Curved Air has been going from strength to strength ‎since the recent release of the band's first studio album to feature new material in nearly 40 years, NORTH STAR.

The band had previously released LIVE ATMOSPHERE and will shortly embark on a UK tour ahead of a worldwide tour in 2015.

CURVED AIR – NORTH STAR
AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/North-Star-Curved-Air/dp/B00I4581OU
AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Star-Curved-Air/dp/B00I4581OU
DOWNLOAD: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/north-star/id843620008
LP: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4863

AIR – LIVE ATMOSPHERE
AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/Live-Atmosphere-Curved-Air/dp/B007TTFX9S
AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-Atmosphere-Curved-Air/dp/B007TTFX9S
DOWNLOAD: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/live-atmosphere/id577917804
LP: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4706

UK TOUR DATES:

September
28th - Lydney Summer’s End Festival

October
3rd - Wakefield Warehouse
11th - Eastney The Cellers
12th - Swansea The Garage
17th - Ilminster Square & Compass
18th - St Ives Guild Hall
19th - Gt Yarmouth ‘Legends of Rock Festival’
24th - Fletching Trading Boundaries
31st - London The Tropic

November
8th - Poole Arts Centre
9th - Norwich The Open

Official Websites: www.curvedair.com and www.sonjakristina.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CurvedAir
Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, Billy James, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA) glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CURVED AIR Lead Singer SONJA KRISTINA Receives Guiding Light Award at the PROG Awards 2014


London, UK - Sonja Kristina has been honoured at the prestigious PROG Magazine Awards night held at the Globe Theatre in London.

Sonja Kristina said “It is a great honour to receive The Guiding Light Award. I didn't think very far ahead when I first started out but I feel very blessed now after so many years to be still creating and releasing new albums and performing with such superb musicians in Curved Air. I always did love the camaraderie of being on the road and the alchemy of performance.”

PROG editor Jerry Ewing added “The Guiding Light Award is for those artists who offer inspiration through their actions. As one of the leading ladies of a genre once thought of as very much a male domain, Sonja has been a pioneering spirit in the prog world, and an inspiration to the now many female artists in the genre who have followed on. I cannot think of a better suited recipient.”

The band is best known for its hits "Back Street Luv", "It Happened Today" and "Vivaldi". The current line-up also features original drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa, classic era guitarist Kirby Gregory alongside Robert Norton (keys), Chris Harris (bass) and Paul Sax (violin).

Curved Air has been going from strength to strength ‎since the recent release of the band's first studio album to feature new material in nearly 40 years, NORTH STAR.

The band had previously released LIVE ATMOSPHERE and will shortly embark on a UK tour ahead of a worldwide tour in 2015.

CURVED AIR – NORTH STAR
AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/North-Star-Curved-Air/dp/B00I4581OU
AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Star-Curved-Air/dp/B00I4581OU
DOWNLOAD: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/north-star/id843620008
LP: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4863

AIR – LIVE ATMOSPHERE
AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/Live-Atmosphere-Curved-Air/dp/B007TTFX9S
AMAZON UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-Atmosphere-Curved-Air/dp/B007TTFX9S
DOWNLOAD: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/live-atmosphere/id577917804
LP: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4706

UK TOUR DATES:

September
28th - Lydney Summer’s End Festival

October
3rd - Wakefield Warehouse
11th - Eastney The Cellers
12th - Swansea The Garage
17th - Ilminster Square & Compass
18th - St Ives Guild Hall
19th - Gt Yarmouth ‘Legends of Rock Festival’
24th - Fletching Trading Boundaries
31st - London The Tropic

November
8th - Poole Arts Centre
9th - Norwich The Open

Official Websites: www.curvedair.com and www.sonjakristina.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CurvedAir
Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, Billy James, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA) glassonyonpr@gmail.com

3/24/2014

UK Prog Legends Curved Air Featuring Sonja Kristina Release Eagerly Anticipated New CD 'North Star'


“CURVED AIR, with a real band attitude and a zest for life; this is a band you want to see live for the sheer artistry of how to deliver the musical goods.”- Lee Dorian, Classic Rock

London, UK – Much to the anticipation of press and music fans worldwide, UK progressive rock legends Curved Air, featuring iconic vocalist Sonja Kristina, released a new CD 'North Star' via Cherry Red Records on March 17, 2014! 'North Star' is the band's first album featuring new studio material since 1976! The full-length CD features a mixture of re-recordings, cover songs and seven new original compositions, all housed in a lavish digi-pack.

Says Sonja, “I am proud to release into the world Curved Air's 'North Star'. The North Star is the fixed point in the sky about which all the stars seen from the Northern Hemisphere rotate. A star linked to the celestial magnetic energies of the North Pole. Following its light, the lost, the wanderer, the explorer and the warrior have been guided throughout time. The North Star helps us know where we are and where we are going. Curved Air's album 'North Star' is born of the musicianship and dedication of this brilliant incarnation of Curved Air - renowned for the audience's rapturous response to their concerts. The North Star album material reflects on humanity, love, solutions , perspectives and staying human through changing times and revolutions, virtual lives and delicate attractions - love and shamanic sub atomic worlds.”

Curved Air, originally formed in 1969, is a groundbreaking progressive art-rock band renowned for their showmanship. Each member pushed the boundaries of possibilities for rock music performance. Vocalist Sonja Kristina won the hearts of a generation of music lovers and was voted top British Female Vocalist of the 1970's whilst the three top twenty albums that this lineup released are regarded as classics.

Breaking through from the underground scene into top of the early '70s album charts, Curved Air's musicians hailed from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band is a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock and fusion with classical elements. Along with High Tide and East of Eden, Curved Air was one of the first rock bands after It's a Beautiful Day and The United States of America to feature a violin. Considered (according to AllMusic) “one of the most dramatically accomplished of all the bands lumped into Britain's late-'60s prog explosion, Curved Air released eight studio albums (the first three of which broke the UK Top 20) and had a hit single with 'Back Street Luv', which reached number 4 in the UK. Numerous band splits and reformations have occurred since then but the current line-up of Sonja Kristina, Florian Pilkington-Miksa, Chris Harris, Robert Norton and Paul Sax have been together since 2009”. With classic era guitarist Kirby Gregory rejoining the band in 2013.

Curved Air's music was also described as “'Art Rock', the quasi classical imprints of Terry Riley hooked onto beautiful and demonic violin combined with electronic adventurous synths and interwoven with brilliant guitar wizardry mesmerisingly embroidered by the subliminal and exotic presence of a unique girl lead singer Sonja Kristina”. Though progressive music pioneers they were hailed as Pop Stars when the sultry “Back Street Luv” was a Top 5 hit in 1971.

Sonja Kristina, who topped the British Music female vocalist polls throughout the '70s was the first UK female lead singer fronting a Rock band. She has been the constant flame leading Curved Air through the decades. Today, vibrant and edgy as ever, Sonja, the original prog diva gives a charismatic and highly visual performance. Looking like a glamorous gipsy queen with her flowing red hair and dressed in sparkly black, that signature voice is still as smoky and seductive as ever as she spins around the stage around the excellent musicians who are Curved Air. Phil Oakey recently recalled, “When I formed The Human League it was because I was such a huge Sonja Kristina fan and I still am.”

“Sonja Kristina prowls the front of the stage... expertly playing off the energy of all the performers with her.” - Alex Lynham, PROG magazine

All of the players impress. Although only drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa is from the original line-up, Sonja has found some stunning new instrumentalists who immerse the audience in a set of swirling, whirling solos that emphasize moods and nuances and floating waves of sound that act as a counterpoint to Sonja's dramatic sense of theatricality. Much to the excitement of Curved Air fans, classic-era guitarist Kirby Gregory returns to the fold for 'North Star'!

Says Sonja, “The performances were created and produced collaboratively by Curved Air with the expressive and intricate touch of the original drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa, and the mighty eloquence of Kirby Gregory (the composer of 'Purple Speed Queen' and 'UHF'), interwoven with the passionate melodic wizardry of violinist Paul Sax, and the atmospheric extemporization and groove of ambient sonic explorer Robert Norton on keyboards. Kirby returns to Curved Air after 35 years and has added his identity and creativity to the sound. His input and presence in the band feels so right to us all as we prepare to bring new Curved Air material to the world stage. Chris Harris on bass earths the music with drive and precision within the moods, motifs and fire of Curved Air - who are - as always - a dynamic creative collective of virtuoso performers.”

Curved Air is: Vocalist Sonja Kristina, Drummer Florian Pilkington Miksa, Guitarist Kirby Gregory, Violinist Paul Sax, Bass Chris Harris and Keyboard Player Robert Norton.

To order Curved Air's 'North Star':
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4549
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/north-star/id843620008

To purchase Curved Air's “Stay Human” single:
https://itunes.apple.com/ph/album/stay-human-single/id815160384

www.curvedair.com
www.facebook.com/curvedair
www.reverbnation.com/curvedair
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=3894

Curved Air is managed by QEDG Management info@qedg.co.uk

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

UK Prog Legends Curved Air Featuring Sonja Kristina Release Eagerly Anticipated New CD 'North Star'


“CURVED AIR, with a real band attitude and a zest for life; this is a band you want to see live for the sheer artistry of how to deliver the musical goods.”- Lee Dorian, Classic Rock

London, UK – Much to the anticipation of press and music fans worldwide, UK progressive rock legends Curved Air, featuring iconic vocalist Sonja Kristina, released a new CD 'North Star' via Cherry Red Records on March 17, 2014! 'North Star' is the band's first album featuring new studio material since 1976! The full-length CD features a mixture of re-recordings, cover songs and seven new original compositions, all housed in a lavish digi-pack.

Says Sonja, “I am proud to release into the world Curved Air's 'North Star'. The North Star is the fixed point in the sky about which all the stars seen from the Northern Hemisphere rotate. A star linked to the celestial magnetic energies of the North Pole. Following its light, the lost, the wanderer, the explorer and the warrior have been guided throughout time. The North Star helps us know where we are and where we are going. Curved Air's album 'North Star' is born of the musicianship and dedication of this brilliant incarnation of Curved Air - renowned for the audience's rapturous response to their concerts. The North Star album material reflects on humanity, love, solutions , perspectives and staying human through changing times and revolutions, virtual lives and delicate attractions - love and shamanic sub atomic worlds.”

Curved Air, originally formed in 1969, is a groundbreaking progressive art-rock band renowned for their showmanship. Each member pushed the boundaries of possibilities for rock music performance. Vocalist Sonja Kristina won the hearts of a generation of music lovers and was voted top British Female Vocalist of the 1970's whilst the three top twenty albums that this lineup released are regarded as classics.

Breaking through from the underground scene into top of the early '70s album charts, Curved Air's musicians hailed from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band is a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock and fusion with classical elements. Along with High Tide and East of Eden, Curved Air was one of the first rock bands after It's a Beautiful Day and The United States of America to feature a violin. Considered (according to AllMusic) “one of the most dramatically accomplished of all the bands lumped into Britain's late-'60s prog explosion, Curved Air released eight studio albums (the first three of which broke the UK Top 20) and had a hit single with 'Back Street Luv', which reached number 4 in the UK. Numerous band splits and reformations have occurred since then but the current line-up of Sonja Kristina, Florian Pilkington-Miksa, Chris Harris, Robert Norton and Paul Sax have been together since 2009”. With classic era guitarist Kirby Gregory rejoining the band in 2013.

Curved Air's music was also described as “'Art Rock', the quasi classical imprints of Terry Riley hooked onto beautiful and demonic violin combined with electronic adventurous synths and interwoven with brilliant guitar wizardry mesmerisingly embroidered by the subliminal and exotic presence of a unique girl lead singer Sonja Kristina”. Though progressive music pioneers they were hailed as Pop Stars when the sultry “Back Street Luv” was a Top 5 hit in 1971.

Sonja Kristina, who topped the British Music female vocalist polls throughout the '70s was the first UK female lead singer fronting a Rock band. She has been the constant flame leading Curved Air through the decades. Today, vibrant and edgy as ever, Sonja, the original prog diva gives a charismatic and highly visual performance. Looking like a glamorous gipsy queen with her flowing red hair and dressed in sparkly black, that signature voice is still as smoky and seductive as ever as she spins around the stage around the excellent musicians who are Curved Air. Phil Oakey recently recalled, “When I formed The Human League it was because I was such a huge Sonja Kristina fan and I still am.”

“Sonja Kristina prowls the front of the stage... expertly playing off the energy of all the performers with her.” - Alex Lynham, PROG magazine

All of the players impress. Although only drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa is from the original line-up, Sonja has found some stunning new instrumentalists who immerse the audience in a set of swirling, whirling solos that emphasize moods and nuances and floating waves of sound that act as a counterpoint to Sonja's dramatic sense of theatricality. Much to the excitement of Curved Air fans, classic-era guitarist Kirby Gregory returns to the fold for 'North Star'!

Says Sonja, “The performances were created and produced collaboratively by Curved Air with the expressive and intricate touch of the original drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa, and the mighty eloquence of Kirby Gregory (the composer of 'Purple Speed Queen' and 'UHF'), interwoven with the passionate melodic wizardry of violinist Paul Sax, and the atmospheric extemporization and groove of ambient sonic explorer Robert Norton on keyboards. Kirby returns to Curved Air after 35 years and has added his identity and creativity to the sound. His input and presence in the band feels so right to us all as we prepare to bring new Curved Air material to the world stage. Chris Harris on bass earths the music with drive and precision within the moods, motifs and fire of Curved Air - who are - as always - a dynamic creative collective of virtuoso performers.”

Curved Air is: Vocalist Sonja Kristina, Drummer Florian Pilkington Miksa, Guitarist Kirby Gregory, Violinist Paul Sax, Bass Chris Harris and Keyboard Player Robert Norton.

To order Curved Air's 'North Star':
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4549
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/north-star/id843620008

To purchase Curved Air's “Stay Human” single:
https://itunes.apple.com/ph/album/stay-human-single/id815160384

www.curvedair.com
www.facebook.com/curvedair
www.reverbnation.com/curvedair
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=3894

Curved Air is managed by QEDG Management info@qedg.co.uk

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com