A songwriter named “cook”….

Ever present and silent, cook, has been witness to that which makes our world alive.
He is simply put….aware.
His love of music and art has brought both beauty and rot to his life, but he has embraced it all. A shy, slightly introverted child, cook wanted nothing more than to laugh and please others. This has not changed in him. He has only discovered how to use music as a way of showing how the moment appears to him.

“We’ve forgotten how we fit into this world like the animals we ALL are. Instincts have been surrendered for ‘social standards’ and ‘public opinion’. People are scrutinized for being deemed selfish while others praised for having attitude. Some will swear how independent they are just to fit-in. Answer me this….do we wear the labels on our clothes, or do they wear us?”

“Listen to your gut. Act on a dream or a passion. Dare to let yourself be truly happy. Relish in the moments alone, by yourself. Count your friends and forget about your enemies. Read. Laugh….and laugh some more. “

All of cook’s music is written from personal experiences and profound moments in his life. Presented in a way that, hopefully, you can relate to your own.

So turn off the phone…
Open a beer…
Have a listen….
Reflect on your good times….
Smile….

…..cook

Hello, Lovies, and welcome!

I'm a nutty musician who somehow got herself known in the European metal scene, even though I'm not really a super-mega-metal-diva girl. But that's not a secret. Not one I'm keeping, anyway!

You might know me from the various work I've done with other bands, but you might be surprised at what else I have to offer and I invite you to look around, have a listen and let me know what you think!

OK, now on to the more serious, official stuff. Enjoy!

xx
Amanda

Singer-songwriter with a razorblade edge.

In a business where image often overshadows substance, Amanda Somerville gives the industry CPR with a breath of sincerity through music that is so real, it's goosebump-inducing. The windows to this songwriter's soul are her songs, which are ambient and groovy, yet extremely radio-friendly. Combining heart and soul with hit songwriting, you're bound to be moved.

Since 2000, Amanda has resided and worked mainly in Germany and the Netherlands . In that time, she has independently sold over 7,000 CDs of her solo work and gained thousands of fans all over the world. She is currently engaged in both studio and live work in Europe and is exploring options for her latest solo album, "Windows."

Discography

Solo:
-In the Beginning there was... (Debut Album, 2000)
-Blue Nothing (EP, 2000)
-Never Alone (EP, 2003) sold approx. 5,000 copies in Germany .
-Aina: Days of Rising Doom (2003) - wrote concept and all lyrics, co-wrote music, worked as vocalist, vocal coach. Sold approx. 40,000 copies and garnered many new fans world-wide. Included several famous guest musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Sass Jordan, T.M. Stevens.
-Windows (release date unspecified) new solo album currently being finished

Other bands & projects:
-HDK - System Overload (due in 2008); co-writer, vocalist, co-producer, engineer
-Avantasia - The Scarecrow (due in 2007); vocalist
-Andre Matos - Time To Be Free (due in 2007); worked as vocalist, engineer
-Epica - The Phantom Agony (2003), We Will Take You With Us (2004), Consign To Oblivion (2005), The Road to Paradiso (due in 2007), The Divine Conspiracy (due in 2007); worked as vocal coach, vocalist, co-writer, engineer, producer
-After Forever - Invisible Circles (2004), Remagine (2005); worked as lyric editor, co-writer, vocal coach, vocalist, producer; After Forever (2007); worked as lyric editor and vocalist.
-Asrai - Touch in the Dark (2004): worked as lyrical editor; Pearls In Dirt (due in 2007); worked as songwriter, vocalist
-Ebony Ark - Decoder (2006); worked as vocalist, producer
-Kamelot - Black Halo (2005), Ghost Opera (2007); worked as vocalist, lyrical editor
-Phaeno Science Center (2005); commissioned to write and perform song about and for the grand opening of science center by Zaha Hadid, Frank Oppenheimer and Joe Ansel
-Boehringer Ingelheim (2005); commissioned to write 2 jingles for new swine vaccine:)
-Edguy - Hellfire Club (2003), Rocket Ride (2005); worked as vocalist, lyrical editor
-Shaman - Ritual (2002), Reason (2005); worked as vocalist, lyrical editor
-Mob Rules - Hallowed Be Thy Name (2002), Ethnolution A.D. (2006); worked as vocalist
-Luca Turilli (Rhapsody) - Prophet of the Last Eclipse (2002); worked as vocalist
-Virgo - Virgo (2001); worked as vocalist, lyrical editor
-Various other bands (Felony, Reverend Right Time and the First Cousins of Funk, Lunatica, Brainstorm, etc.)

• great song
•  Amazingly powerful
•  Haunting, yet sincere

Ms. Brandt moved to the Long Beach, CA area in late 2000 to study music at California State University, Long Beach, where she earned a degree in music composition. Her interest in composition grew out of a love of the great variety of sounds and textures that bring music into being. While attending CSULB, she also studied piano, voice, and conducting. Beata has performed in the dance piece The Evil Garden by Erin Mitchell. The CSULB Studio Orchestra and University String Quartet have performed her compositions. Percussionist, Dave Gerhart, has performed her timpani solo, Flights of Fancy, a work he commissioned. As a member of the CSULB University Choir, she has sung with the Long Beach Symphony, Long Beach Camerata Singers, Pacific Symphony, and Pasadena Pops Orchestra, and recorded for World of Warcraft III. She has also played the piano in the studio orchestra under the baton of Tim Simonec (Diary of Anne Frank, Lost, Alias, The Incredibles), and recorded for student films. Piano performances include chamber music, piano ensemble, accompanying, and student recitals. Beata has played the piano, harpsichord, or celesta as a member of Collegium Musicum, Studio Orchestra, and New Music Ensemble. She continues to perform contemporary and classical works as a pianist, vocalist, and conductor. Beata has worked as a piano teacher, vocal coach, and church music director and has most recently appeared in the music video "On the Outside" for the band "Kill the Complex".

Beata Brandt began playing the piano and singing in choir at a very early age while growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Already while in high school, Beata played piano for performances of musicals like Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, My Fair Lady and West Side Story. In addition, she played in an award winning high school jazz band that performed with Chris Vadala, woodwind player for Chuck Mangione. Besides studying classical guitar, she performed as an accompanist for many soloists and one of the school choirs. While pursuing a business degree, she continued to study the piano, classical guitar, and composition.

As a composition major, Beata has been awarded the Paul C. Lindsey Memorial Scholarship and the Music Department Talent Scholarship in Music Composition. She has chaired the CSULB College of the Arts (COTA) Student Council and CSULB Composers Guild. As an officer in the Composers Guild, Beata coordinated two concerts of composition students’ works. As chair of the College of the Arts Council, she oversaw the inaugural COTA student and faculty mixer. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity. Beata speaks Polish and Spanish, and sings in Polish, Spanish, Hebrew, Latin, French, Italian, and German.

Ms. Brandt lives in the greater Los Angeles area.

•  midi doesn't do justice