If you were watching this 5'1" petite young lady sing, at times you might think she was almost lip-syncing. Her extraordinarily powerful voice belies her diminutive stature, with a contagious smile that captivates everyone in the audience. She is a contemporary singer/songwriter who draws you in to her own little world, the minute she hits her first note.
If you had asked LoriAnn when she was little, where she would be in the next ten years, St. Augustine, FL would have been an extremely unlikely option. An unlikely choice, which has turned Northern Florida oddly enough into a home away from home. In an almost Jimmy Buffet-like fashion, LoriAnn has gained an eclectic fan-base not only for her commercial songwriting and phenomenal voice, but almost equally for that "it" factor that you just can't seem to put your finger on. You might not be able to put your finger on it, but if you see her live you'll get "it!" She has a unique aura that engages an audience ranging from 4-year-olds to 97-year-olds. I have a sneaking suspicion that people subconsciously attend her shows on a regular basis, not only to hear that deep throaty voice, but also to absorb some of that optimism and sunny outlook on life. This is obviously why the sunflower logo embodies LoriAnn's personality.
"Sunflowers always want to face the sunlight no matter where they are. I am like one in the sense that I always try to look at the positive to get me through the negative. People always tell me that I'm always smiling. Of course that's not the case or else I probably wouldn't be a songwriter. But I do try to find a ray of sunlight even in my darkest songs, and I smile because I want to brighten someone else's day even if I might be having a bad one myself. If you want to feel better, find someone else to lift up."
She is a self-proclaimed mutt (half-southern and half-northern). "My mother is from Tifton, GA and my father is from a small town in NY called Rye. I was raised like a southern child in the heart of NY." Now why in the world would she ever be a little different? All I can say is from all of that confusion, she has been able to clearly create a perfect blend of pop crossover music that is uniquely universal and subconsciously blurs the lines of pop, rock, country and christian music.
Modern dance and ballet introduced her to the stage at the tender young age of four. "Unlike many mothers who see talent in their children, my mom never forced or encouraged me to take piano lessons, or participate in the school plays and community theater. She always thought I had too much on my plate, and encouraged me to just relax, play with the other kids after school, do your homework and take it easy. I knew from a young age, the first time I ever heard my first song on the radio, that being a recording artist was what I wanted to do with my life. I picked up the piano early on in life, and began writing my own songs soon after. Music was more a way of life for me, even when I was in elementary school and high school," says LoriAnn. "I could sing, play and write songs 24 hours 7 days a week, if I didn't need to occasionally get some sleep- it's who I am. Working hard is something I've always enjoyed, because then I enjoy the reward that much more."
She continued singing in choir throughout college, and toured with a Top 40 country band on weekends. In her spare time, she began to learn the guitar and sang demos for other songwriters. She lived in Nashville, TN, where she was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for a pop rock country band called Sugar Shack. The band quickly propelled to headline status at clubs in Nashville and around the southeast. The lead guitarist and LoriAnn eventually branched off to form a Fleetwood Mac-inspired country duo named Beasley 'n Feeley. Before they knew it they were in DaCapo Music's studio on Music Row cutting their first all-original album. The duo quickly became featured writers at the world famous Bluebird Cafe, joining the very few artists asked by Barbara Cloyd to play her coveted showcases. The album, So Far So Good, was released and gave them Nashville recognition, but unfortunately the duo had run its course and the two of them decided to part ways. "I believe there's a reason certain things don't work out. You learn from each experience and continue down the path that God has planned for you," says LoriAnn.
On a weekend getaway, LoriAnn visited St. Augustine with her mother and she just fell in love with the spirituality of the town. "I was looking for a change, and I wanted to get back to my roots and why I fell in love with music and songwriting in the first place. It was a very cathartic and tranquil time for me, and I wrote some great songs during this period where I had time to be alone for a change, and really listen to my heart. A local bar called The Milltop Tavern had acoustic entertainment, and she had the opportunity to play some of her original material. She did, the crowd loved it, and she was hired for some gigs right on the spot. LoriAnn pounded the cobblestone of St. Augustine, and before she knew it she was playing five nights a week at various restaurants, clubs, and bars up and down Florida's coast. She has achieved local stardom in the Northern Florida region as well as international stardom, due to St. Augustine being the oldest city in the U.S. People come from all over the world to visit all of the time. LoriAnn has acquired quite the fan base, because after the tourists see her play in St. Augustine, they go home and spread the word about this incredible girl they saw perform in St. Augustine. Her welcome in the music industry is long overdue, because her fans have been inspired by her talent for years.
Most recently, LoriAnn received a Billboard World Song Contest Award for her original song, "You're So Much More. She competed in the "Nashville Star" television auditons for the USA Network, and she made it into the Top 40 out of 50,000 hopeful contestants. Her last independent album, "Also Known As Love," was produced by Charlie Craig. Charlie has worked with the likes of Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, and The Wilkinson's. Charlie is an acclaimed songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and many other artists. "Also Known As Love" was recorded at County Q Studios in Nashville, TN, and includes a variety of country pop songs. "I really think there's something for everybody on the this album, and I'm really proud of it." WQIK 99.1FM in Jacksonville, FL is currently playing two of LoriAnn's latest singles "If I Only Had a Heart, and "You're So Much More," which was penned by LoriAnn herself.
"I'm striving to jump to the next level at this point in my career. I feel I'm more ready now than I will ever be. I've worked really hard to get all of my pieces in place. Now I'm just patiently waiting for that "bit of luck" where preparation meets opportunity. My goal is to get my music out to the world, change as many lives as possible, and hopefully leave my mark as someone who made this world a brighter place!"
