Juniper Lane

Critics agreed that the phrase "on the verge" was never more poignant than when listening to a track from Juniper Lane's Sirens From a Mile Back. In a tragic twist of fate, less than a year after Sirens was released to rave reviews and fan acclaim, singer Vivion Smith was involved in a nearly fatal rock-climbing accident. Juniper Lane's career came to a sudden halt despite the press attention, industry interest, and commercial radio spins Sirens was commanding.

After spending a week in a coma, Smith left the hospital to begin the arduous tasks of regaining her memory, rehabilitating her pianist hand, and rebuilding her life. A year later, Juniper Lane reconnected to explore the possibility of their own recovery and found that the drive and dynamic they once possessed was unchanged. It soon became apparent that instead of picking up where they left off, Juniper Lane was back as an even more inspired and motivated version of themselves.

Juniper Lane has mastered that which eludes so many musical acts: the ability to produce a diverse range of well-crafted songs while putting forth an unmistakably signature sound. With the recent national commercial success of bands that straddle the line between indie and mainstream rock (Death Cab for Cutie, Snow Patrol), it seems the music industry has finally caught up to Juniper Lane.

Upon returning to the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore music scenes, the band's impressive live show was met with sold-out crowds and fans soon started clamoring for a new album. The band's latest project is the record Wake From Yourself, throughout which Smith delves into the complications of rediscovering one's direction when faced with life-altering experiences: whether they be falling in love, breaking away from a painful past, or even coming out of a coma. Wake From Yourself is clearly the work of an enormously talented quartet.

The band added a fifth member (John Athayde) in June of 2008, and then opened for Coldplay at the Verizon Center in Washington DC on August 3, 2008. They are currently working on a new album with Ted Comerford and four of the songs have been mixed by Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer, Mute Math). Will Champion of Coldplay recommended the band to Michael (http://twitter.com/mhb850/status/1226881936).

Juniper Lane has toured extensively on the East Coast, including shows at colleges, clubs, and venues such as the 9:30 Club, Recher Theatre, and DC's 99.1 WHFStival, as well as performing in-studio for commercial radio and on live television. The band's incredible song-writing has afforded them the opportunity to work with such industry professionals as producer Ted Comerford (Zox, Army of Me), Joe Zook (Remy Zero, Liz Phair, Anna Nalick), Paul David Hager (American Hi-Fi, Hoobastank, Tracey Bonham), and Mitch Easter (R.E.M., Wilco, Suzanne Vega).