Corrinne May (Fly Away) by Corrinne May

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-----Performing Songwriter Magazine July/August 2002

"Corrinne May's unexpected phrasing and beautiful melody met the emotion Carole and I put into the lyric and took our song to a dimension we never imagined." - Carole King

"I thought that Corrinne's song as well as her performance of the song was deeply moving. She brought a whole other dimension to the lyric that I hadn't known was there until I heard her melody. It invoked a deep emotional response in me." - Carole Bayer Sager

"By the time she was into the second verse, I was sitting at my desk in tears. May's work makes the soul tremble....... (Sarah) McLachlan would give anything to sound like this."

-Jennifer Layton, Indie-music.com

"As the first note from the acoustic piano melted into the tender, hushed vocal from singer/songwriter Corrinne May's self-titled debut release, I was mesmerized. One part Sarah McLaughlin, one part Carole King, May comes across as a balladeer with a poetic verse surpassed only by her indelible melodies and inspired harmonic interplay."

--Drew Walen, Nashville City Paper

"This is one of those CDs that reinforce my belief in a Higher Power because there's just no other explanation for that voice...Guys, you may be tough, but she'll reach you. Ladies,two words: waterproof mascara."

-Jennifer Layton, Indie-music.com

"...some of the most poignant love songs never recorded by Celine Dion, the best of which may be "All That I Need," which could easily make somebody some serious money if a publisher or record company got behind it. This is high-end ear candy. May could arguably be the best never-heard-of voice in music this year."

--Drew Walen, Nashville City Paper

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Corrinne May - A Bio

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It is and always has been about the song. That's the motto that drives Corrinne May to write the music she does.

There is something pure and old-fashioned about Corrinne's music. Perhaps it's the almost classical feel of her piano ballads, or the way her lyrics reminds one of Joni Mitchell's lyrical honesty or the way her melodies weave within your consciousness like a tapestry.

Or perhaps it's just the way the intimacy of her music makes people cry... keep a box of Kleenex close by.

But tears are not all she manages to evoke. She still manages to get you to smile, heck, even laugh along with the joyful exuberance of songs like "Something About You" or the hilarious pop quirkiness of "Mr. Beasley".

All in all, Corrinne's music is a celebration of life at it's most spiritual.

Corrinne grew up on the tiny tropical island of Singapore. She started humming songs back to her surprised parents at 16 months, started organ lessons at 4 years old and although she couldn't yet reach the pedals, began playing songs she had heard by ear. She started piano lessons at 6 and quickly drove her piano teachers up the wall by not practicing her classical music literature, insisting instead on making up her own tunes at the piano. This came in handy when she won her first songwriting competition at 15.

After earning her degrees in English Literature and Mass Communications at the National University of Singapore, Corrinne left for Boston to study music at the world-reknowned Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, Corrinne studied film scoring and songwriting, honed her craft as a performing songwriter and even sang with an acappella group. Upon graduating, Corrinne moved to Los Angeles in 1999.

Since then, Corrinne has been steadily wooing fans in intimate listening venues around California.

Corrinne has recently co-written with two of her long-time music favorites, the legendary singer-songwriters Carole King and Carole Bayer Sager. Their collaboration, the gorgeous piano ballad "If You Didn't Love Me" is a special feature in Corrinne's self-titled debut album

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As printed in

The City Paper- Nashville, November 22nd, 2001

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CD Review

Corrinne May

Corrinne May(self release)

As the first note from the acoustic piano melted into the tender, hushed vocal from singer/songwriter Corrinne May's self-titled debut release, I was mesmerized. One part Sarah McLaughlin, one part Carole King, May comes across as a balladeer with a poetic verse surpassed only by her indelible melodies and inspired harmonic interplay. "Fly Away" and "Same Side of the Moon" sparkle with ethereal beauty and intimacy and set a meditative mood that envelops the remainder of the disc. The third track falters a bit as May tries on a Counting Crows vibe, but regains her footing on the whimsical "Fall to Fly," co-written with Berklee College of Music songwriting instructor Susan Cattaneo. However, things get particularly interesting with "If You Didn't Love Me," co-written with Carole Bayer Sager and Carole King. The song came from a contest where Sager and King placed a lyric they had written on a Web site and entertained submissions for the best musical accompaniment and melody. May's version was the winner, and is a highlight of the disc. A funky acoustic guitar flavor with full band orchestration lightens the mood again with "Stay on the Road" and "Mr. Beasley," before rounding out the CD with some of the most poignant love songs never recorded by Celine Dion, the best of which may be "All That I Need," which could easily make somebody some serious money if a publisher or record company got behind it. This is high-end ear candy. May could arguably be the best never-heard-of voice in music this year. The disc can be purchased on CDBaby.com. or Amazon.com.- Drew Walen

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CD Review by Jennifer Layton of Indie-Music.com

(July/Aug 2001)

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Corrinne May's crystal river voice and her beautiful songs moved me in such a powerful, spiritual way. Even the most hardened heart doesn't stand a chance.

On the very first track, "Fly Away," her voice floats out of the speakers with no musical intro. This is one of her very personal songs, one about leaving her family behind in Singapore so she could pursue a musical career in the States. By the time she was into the second verse, I was sitting at my desk in tears.

May's work makes the soul tremble. The reviews in her press kit compare her to Sarah McLachlan. Please. McLachlan would give anything to sound like this.

This is a rare talent. I'm not the only one captured. When she competed in a songwriting challenge issued by the music industry web site TONOS, she was chosen out of over 200 applicants to co-write a song with Carole King and Carole Bayer Sager. The song, "If You Didn't Love Me," is featured on the CD.

It's a gorgeous piano ballad with a classical feel. May's voice makes it downright ethereal. This young woman who began playing the organ at four years old and won her first songwriting competition at fifteen has also seen her music featured on Lifetime TV and the daytime drama "One Life To Live."

Most of this acoustic music is quiet, setting the stage for her voice, casting a swirling mist around it. The voice gives us watercolor images, like the ones in "Fall To Fly," a song about growing up, becoming practical, and forgetting the magic of childhood:

"On winter days the snow would glisten

Like a sea of diamonds in the sun....

Arms held out, eyes shut closed

I'd lean back and just let go.

And I would fall to fly.

A snow white angel, I'd spread my wings to the sky

How I'd glide..."

May doesn't just croon ballads. "Stay On The Road" is a pop/rock song that rises to something that sounds like a rock spiritual revival. "Mr. Beasley," a very observant study of a sweet and nervous suitor, rings with humor any

woman can identify with. "Something About You" is a joyful song about discovering a deeper feeling for someone who's been just a friend.

This is one of those CDs that reinforce my belief in a Higher Power because there's just no other explanation for that voice. It's a Must Have, whether you're male or female. Guys, you may be tough, but she'll reach you. Ladies, two words: waterproof mascara.

Artist Website: www.CorrinneMay.com

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As published in a review in the 'Valley Scene'

(November 2001)

L.A. Indie Spotlight:

The best music

you've never heard.

Corrinne May's New Self-Titled CD Exemplifies the Healing Power of Music

by Leslie Waller

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"Authentic." "Spiritual." "Brilliant." "Extraordinary." "Insightful." "Gifted." That's typical of what people are saying about Corrinne May's music. Corrinne carefully weaves tender, exuberant, gorgeous melodies that you NEED to hear to believe; crowned with a voice that's been hailed as "crystal velvet."

Corrinne is no stranger to accolades; winning her first songwriting competition at age 15. Winner of the Berklee Achievement Scholarship, ASCAP PLUS popular music award for the 2001-2002 term, and the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Award, her songs have been placed in TV shows and films, with radio airplay as far as Holland, Belgium and Singapore.

Each song on the CD is flawlessly and lovingly delivered from the first track. "Fly Away" is a powerful ballad about leaving the ones you love to pursue a dream. This track brings many to tears when they hear it the first time. You'll want to call home! Hopeful longing epitomizes "Same Side of the Moon." "Something About You" is an instant hit with a great rollicking chorus about falling in love. "Fall to Fly" is a sweet metaphor about letting go of the fear of falling in love. Her sense of humor shows with "Mr. Beasley," which gently chides male bravado trying impress women. Corrinne's advice? "Just be yourself!"

A clear standout is "If You Didn't Love Me," the winning entry in the Carole King/ Carole Bayer Sager Songwriting Contest at Tonos.com. Carole Bayer Sager comments: "I thought that Corrinne's song as well as her performance of the song was deeply moving. She brought a whole other dimension to the lyric that I hadn't known was there until I heard her melody. It invoked a deep emotional response in me."

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