Pages tagged “my brightest diamond”

As the lead singer of My Brightest Diamond and the head cheerleader of Sufjan Steven’s Illinoisemakers, Shara Worden’s piercing vocals belie a history of musical immersion and training. After studying in Michigan, Texas and Moscow, Worden established herself as one of the most challenging artists to come out of New York City with a line of engaging projects including her latest album, the pop/classical amalgamation A Thousand Shark’s Teeth. Paste spoke with the affable Brooklyn resident to discuss her journey to NYC and what she’s been up to.

Click above to watch "Inside a Boy" from My Brightest Diamond's new record A Thousand Shark’s Teeth, out now on Asthmatic Kitty Records.

Related Links:
Features: Catching Up With...My Brightest Diamond
Review: My Brightest Diamond - A Thousand Shark's Teeth
News: My Brightest Diamond tours, offers exclusive .mp3

My Brightest Diamond is the brainchild of Shara Worden, who brings formal opera training to her ethereal pop. Following Bring Me the Workhorse, MBD’s enthralling 2006 debut, the charismatic Worden has returned with A Thousand Shark’s Teeth, which reflects her classical roots through extensive use of strings.

Brooklyn singer/songwriter/arranger makes case for sending indie-rockers to conservatory

My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden not only writes and performs her own songs, but she ups the ante by crafting her own string arrangements, producing and co-engineering her own recordings, and singing convincingly enough in French to emote like Edith Piaf. The classically trained singer also has an awe-inspiring, shape-shifting voice, a degree in opera, and a stage-informed approach to costuming and performance personas.

Over the past year, Shara Worden's My Brightest Diamond has become the trendy opening act for more than a few bigger indie artists. First, Sufjan Stevens tapped the group to open for him in 2006, and shortly thereafter the Decemberists snapped up Worden's ensemble for its Crane Wife flight at the beginning of this year. Now, however, it's time for the Diamond to strike out on its own tour. No more of this second banana nonsense. "Musical necromancer" Tim Fite plays support for all dates except for Nov. 19.

November:
8 - Montreal, Quebec @ La Sala Rossa
9 - Toronto, Ontario @ The Drake
10 - Grand Rapids, Mich. @ Ladies Literary Club
11 - Chicago, Ill. @ Lakeshore Theater
12 - Louisville, Kent. @ The 930 Listening Room
13 - Columbus, Ohio @ Wexner Center
14 - Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Andy Warhol Museum
15 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ North Star Bar
16 - Arlington, Va. @ Iota
17 - New York, N.Y. @ Blender Theater at Gramercy *
18 - Boston, Mass. @ Museum of Fine Arts
19 - Hamden, Conn. @ The Space

* also w/ MBD String Quartet

Yesterday, the group also posted a bit of information about its new album on its website. Apparently tracks are being laid at the present moment. Sounds frisky! Included in the update is a video tour of the spacious MBD studio with multi-instrumentalist Sebastian Krueger.

Still need more MBD content? Well below you'll find a Paste-exclusive .mp3 from the archives - a live rendition of "Something of an End," recorded by Worden and Company way back in 2004 at Dallas' Club Dada. Enjoy it in good health!

Related links:
MBD on MySpace
MBD at Asthmatic Kitty Records
MBD's YouTube Channel

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.

My Brightest Diamond founder Shara Worden is taking a simplified approach to her upcoming tour with alternative string trio Rasputina. The rest of her band will get a vacation as she takes the stage with nothing but a Gibson 335 hollow body guitar (and some clothes - it’s not like a sketchy, Jenny-from-Forrest-Gump thing). The stripped-down songs from her debut album, Bring Me the Workhorse are sure to be interesting, and hopefully recorded.

Here are the dates:

July:
19 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Great American Music Hall
21 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ El Rey Theatre
22 - Solana Beach, Calif. @ Belly Up Tavern
23 - Tempe, Ariz. @ The Clubhouse
24 - Tucson, Ariz. @ Club Congress
27 - San Antonio, Texas @ White Rabbit
28 - Austin, Texas @ The Parish
29 - New Orleans, La. @ House of Blues
31 - Birmingham, Ala. @ Workplay Theatre

August:
1 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Vinyl
2 - Asheville, N.C. @ The Grey Eagle
3 - Knoxville, Tenn.@ Blue Cat’s
4 - Lexington, Ky. @ The Dame
5 - Newport, Ky. @ Southgate House
7 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Grog Shop
8 - Baltimore, Md. @ Ottobar

Related links:
MyBrightestDiamond.com
My Brightest Diamond MySpace
Rasputina.com

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.