"Your
voice, your guitar skills, your attitude and your songwriting skills
are nothing short of brilliant. You have an amazing gift…" -singer/songwriter Sonja V.
Biography
Amy Dixon-Kolar is a seasoned singer-songwriter whose entrancing music and lyrics, honest, distinctive vocals and fluid guitar stylings bring a new perspective to the everyday. Her take on life comes from her years as a teacher, interpreter, mom, social activist and performer. Amy performs mostly acoustic folk music – original, traditional, contemporary and Celtic. Her songs have been recognized in songwriting contests and by organizations across the globe. Amy’s music has been played on many Folk radio programs as well as hundreds of indie internet stations, garnering enthusiastic reviews from listeners around the world.
With a father who was an amateur jazz drummer and a mother who introduced the family to all types of musical genres, from classical to world music, opera to folk, Amy came to a love of music naturally. She has traveled the country, playing coffeehouses, clubs, schools, college campuses, festivals and house concerts. She recently finished a successful tour of the northeast and was chosen to appear in the juried showcase for the Folk Alliance Region Midwest gathering. She has also been invited to perform for a number of political gatherings – sharing her music of women, peace and social justice.
Amy's first CD, "Now It's Time", was released in 2008 and is a celebration of finding one's voice, of coming back to what gives the soul joy and purpose. Gathering together some of the finest performers on Chicago's folk music scene, Amy has produced an album speaks to the person inside, finding her/his own voice, to family, friends, community. It will make you smile, laugh, think, remember, and may bring a tear to your eye.
In January, 2009, she was invited to participate in the celebration of President Obama’s inauguration by singing her song “Rosa Sat – a Song for Barack Obama” on Chicago’s NPR station, WBEZ. “Rosa Sat” has gone on to become a YouTube sensation, receiving a quarter-million hits since it was posted, and is now being sung by choirs, social justice groups, at folk music gatherings, and in schools around the world! Since appearing on YouTube, "Rosa Sat" has been arranged for choral performance by J. David Moore, commissioned by MUSE, the Cincinnati-based women's choir. Amy also traveled to Philadelphia to perform her own arrangement of 'Rosa', and some of her other songs, with Anna Crusis, Philly's premier women's chorus. "Rosa Sat" has become an inspiration for classroom poetry contests, workshops on music and social justice, and art exhibits, and has been the showpiece at choral gatherings and Black History month celebrations.
Now It's Time is available through CDBaby, ITunes and at the store on her website. ‘Rosa Sat” is available as a single and download through her website.
To hear more of Amy's music, visit http://ezfolk.com/music/Amy_Dixon-Kolar/
