OSMOSIS assimilates ideas, sounds, and styles, from 60’s pop, folk, jazz, and soul. Vocals are the foundation. OSMOSIS is a soaring collection of 13 songs. It’s a colorful journey through a sonic dream world, and Uno Lady is your guide. Limited edition clear green vinyl released on Volar Records. The record comes with a digital download code.
OSMOSIS was written and recorded by Christa Ebert. Mixed by Christa Ebert and Mike Montgomery at Candyland Studios. “Don’t Break My Heart” and “Slow Dance with Resentment” was recorded/engineered by Jeanna Lax at Rogue Studios and features Roseanna Safros – drums, Theresa May – trumpet, and Beth Hiser – standup bass.
Cover photograph by Diana Hlywiak and cover font by John Greiner. Animated center vinyl label by Drew Tetz. Album artwork concept and layout by Christa Ebert.
FEATURING GUEST ARTISTS:
Roseanna Safros – drums (Sister Smirk, R Ring)
Erica Snowden-Rodríguez – cello (Erie Philharmonic)
Theresa May – trumpet (Mourning [A] BLKstar)
Beth Hiser – standup bass
Cross Brothers- Nick Cross – guitar + Tony Cross – percussion
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR CREATIVITY ON THIS RECORD.
My aunt was going through old books and found this poem typed out on my great grandfather’s stationary. The words spoke to me so I made it into a song and video. I hope you like it. Footage is from Verdun, France, Strasbourg, France, and zinnias in Cleveland, Ohio. Field recordings include streams at Chateau Orquevaux and an art fair in Gruyères, Switzerland.
The artists residency at Chateau Orquevaux was magical and allowed me the focus needed to write and record 15 songs. I drove over 1,500 miles (about 2500km), down bumpy back roads and single lane highways through sunflower fields and wind farms.
The first song recorded was “Dream” by the Everly Brothers. This song has been dear to my heart for as long as I can remember.
I spent a few extra weeks in Europe and performed at LaDIY Festival in Strasbourg, France. I had two performances in Bern, Switzerland, at Cafe Kairo and Voodoo Rhythm Records Hardware Store. The last night of my trip I sang at La Pointe Lafayette, in Paris. I made friends that will be lifelong and was warmly welcomed by pals I haven’t seen in ten years.
I plan to share short stories of my trip throughout the year. If you’d like to stay updated, please subscribe to Unolady.com/subscribe
Since the residency, I’ve been staying busy and released a new record, OSMOSIS, on Volar Records. You can stream, download digital, or order a limited edition green vinyl here.
Here are a few videos and photos from my adventure.
“Sunrise,” was inspired by waking with the sun. Time lapse feature the view from my bedroom window at Chateau Orquevaux.
During the residency, the other artists and I took field trips around town and to nearby cities. While other artists sketched, I took photos and made up melodies. One of the stops was the old stone church in town. I asked if I could sing, and it was there my new favorite hobby was born: Singing in cavernous spaces and belting what feels right. During my trip I sang and recorded improv performances in 5 churches and 1 tunnel.
This next video is an improv performance at Cathédrale Saint-Mammès de Langres (Langres Cathedral) which was built in the 1100’s. It is the first video in the illicit hymn series. An illicit hymn: Singing, uninvited. A collaboration with the architecture and natural reverb. I am sorting through the footage. I hope to find a creative way to share these pieces other than youtube. I’ll keep you posted.
Lastly, I want to share with you the Cow Crooner video. While walking with the other artists, we passed by a pasture. I shared that I grew up in rural Ohio. As a child, there was a farm across the street that had cows and I would sing to them. They encouraged me to sing to this herd, so I did. To my surprise, the cows listened attentively and walk towards me. This is when my second favorite hobby was born: Cow Crooning. I serenaded a few herds throughout the trip and have more videos to share.
WCPM- 90.3FM Ideastream NPR- Uno Lady is Christa Ebert, who calls herself a one-woman choir. She uses digital equipment, a keyboard, her voice and live looping to create an enchanting wall of sound. This year, she traveled to France to participate in an artist-in-residency at Chateau Orquevaux. In 2018, she received an Akron Soul Train Fellowship and was a Panza Foundation awardee. Christa Ebert is now a board member of the Panza Foundation.
Here she is, as Uno Lady, performing, “Sanguineous” and “Don’t Break My Heart,” which features Roseanne Safros (drums), Theresa May (trumpet) and Beth Hiser (bass).
Listen to the new record, OSMOSIS on Volar Records. You can stream, buy digital or order a limited edition green vinyl here.
I was fortune enough to be a part of PSB/ WVIS Ideastream’s 2019 The Sound of Ideas Community Tour, NEO Artist Showcase. The show will be airing this morning at 9am on WCPN 90.3.
Northeast Ohio has an incredibly talented and diverse arts scene, including many award-winning performers in all kinds of disciplines. The Sound of Ideas Community Tour gathered some of the best and brightest artists in the area to performed in an artist showcase at the Beachland Ballroom in Collinwood, on December 11.
