Biography
Indie orchestral-pop musician AINSLEY McNEANEY began developing her own musical style while still a classical percussion undergrad at the University of Toronto, fusing traditional piano, voice and orchestral techniques into a pop music setting. A few years later, with several notable performances under her belt, McNeaney stepped down from the stage and holed herself away in the studio to begin recording and producing her debut full-length album, True Story Orchestra. The title gives kudos to the 30+ musicians who contributed to the record while her whimsical songbook weaves a complex tale of real-life experiences. Armed with profound lyrics and a soulful voice to match, McNeaney has been revered by her fans as an engaging and intimate performer.
In 2008, True Story Orchestra was officially released by Pet Lion Records at The Music Gallery in Toronto (with a live recreation of the album onstage featuring a full orchestra!), and since then has received much acclaim – Graham Rockingham of the Hamilton Spectator calls McNeaney’s music ‘lyrical, intelligent pop music’, while Michael Thomas of Gray owl Point says, ‘the album’s blend of intelligent lyrics and use of a full orchestra makes it definitely worth listening to.’ McNeaney plays regularly with her band – a fabulous cast of professionally trained musicians – and has performed at many reputable venues across Canada and internationally, such as Toronto's The Drake and The Cameron House; Divan Orange, Casa del Popolo and Cabaret de Mile End in Montreal; the Tea Lounge and Goodbye Blue Monday in NYC; east-coast venues Baba's Lounge (Charlottetown) and The Capital Bar (Fredericton); and Tel Aviv’s infamous Levontin 7 in Israel.
Now based in Montreal, Ainsley has been featured in a short documentary about breaking into the music business and her music has been played on many college/university stations, indie music podcasts and CBC national radio. Her music is available for hard copy purchase and download pretty much everywhere. Fresh off a very successful Indiegogo campaign, where her and her band crowd-sourced more than $10,000 for her next album, Ainsley's sophomore album, Bones Are Forever, is targeted to be released in early summer 2013. Highlights from the past year have included the release of her two first music videos - for 'Marianne' and 'The Night (Encounters)', both songs from True Story Orchestra; opening for Lily Frost at this year's Montreal Fringe Festival; a Canadian summer tour with her entire band; several prominent spots opening for The Crackling (Dan Mangam) in October, and for Christina Martin at this year's Pop Montreal festival. Midnight Poutine says that she is, 'an absolute pleasure to see live' and Ken Kelley of the Moncton Times & Transcript lauded her 'remarkable group of backing musicians'. Besides the forthcoming release of Bones Are Forever, Ainsley and her band will be featured in the Indie Montreal showcase for this year's Canadian Music Week, and will be opening for JP Hoe in March in Montreal.
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