THE ALICE PROJECT
ABOUT ALICE, THE ALICE PROJECT & THE NEW CD “THE GIRL ON THE BOX”
Alice was signed to a development deal with Sony records via John Kalodner in 1997 to ride the wave of Shawn Colvin and Aimee Mann. Though she saw herself as an indie artist, the opportunity was self affirming and the journey was a blast. A CD was never released... but Alice felt confirmed as a viable player in the business and has gone on to release four full length CD's with her faithful band "The Alice Project" (which features co-writer and guitarist JIMMY LEAHEY, drummer and percussionist SCOTT STRUNK and bassist AL GREENE.
Their latest MAY 2008 release is “THE GIRL ON THE BOX”. A 14 song treasure trove of styles and themes perfect for the MP3 generation. This new CD is co-written with long time Alice Project guitarist Jimmy Leahey, who along with playing with the AP, has been touring with John Waite and Denis DeYoung over the past 4 years. Versatile bassist Al Greene who has been playing on broadway in Jersey Boys and traveling with various Broadway stars, also has a co-write, and drummer Scott Strunk, who has appeared on all 4 CD’s stretches a bit on this one using industrial loops along with acoustic drums and inventive percussion.
The “Girl on the Box” CD opens with “Already Taken” a lush beatle-esque pop rock song that speaks to all who have been in love with someone that was in a relationship with another. The second song “Invisible Man” quickly jumps to an alternative country style, and is about truly wanting to be noticed. Track 3, “I See Mary” is an acoustic rock song about faith, however one finds it. Track 4, “This is It” is a singer/songwriter acoustic love song written for Alice’s son Eli. Track 5 “Save Yourself” is a smooth AC song with pointed lyrics about what people will do to others to get ahead… listen for the Scarlet Letter reference in the second verse. Track 6 “October Sky” is a big crossover ballad that explores the feelings of a child of divorce, Track 7 “Third Day” is a 80’s punky rock song about believing the grass is greener on the other side. Track 8 “Movin” on with You” is a heart felt crossover country ballad about love against all odds. Track 9 “ I’m Losing It” is an alternative rock song from the perspective of someone losing their mind, Track 10 “ When the lights go out” is a sexy, sassy bass driven R&B song that has already found it’s way into the movie “ Searching for Bobby D”. Track 11 “I owe it all 2U” is a teen pop song about what it feels like to be in love for the first time. Track 12 “Sister Madeline” is an upbeat classic sounding Motown tune. Track 13 “Blue Sneakers” is an alternative punky song about being an armchair warrior. The bonus track “Regifting” is a silly 50’s style Holiday song that got a bunch of radio play and podplay.
As a songwriter and composer (aside from her CD's), she has written over 60 songs for children with cancer via the "songs of love foundation"... In 2007 wrote the new Alma Mater for Kean Unversity. Wrote an original song for a new product for CRAYOLA. Has had her music placed thousands of times on NBC Soap operas and reality shows and is working on a number of small films.
Alice is performing 100 shows a year both with and without her band and is poised to promote this new one. The AP music has also been played on over 300 podcasts since 2007.
AMG’s Alex Henderson describes her music: “Alice Leon connects to listeners. She can comment on love and make you love in that moment. She can comment on pain and hurt and give it sharp wit and groove. And she will always help you remember that you must ultimately rely on yourself to get through.”
Alice Leon - Lead Singer/writer/acoustic guitarist/piano..sometimes
Alice makes lyric and melodic driven acoustic/alternative/indie rock that will connect with lovers of Carole King, Aimee Mann, Suzanne Vega, Jill Sobule and John Lennon. Songs about faith, armchair warriors, love, botox, and regifting are neatly wrapped in masterful instrumentation. Alice is outspoken, funny...a master story teller...and extremely honest.
THE ALICE PROJECT
Alice Leon - lead diva, rhythm guitar, keyboards
Alan Greene - bass/ vocals
Scott Strunk - drums
James Leahey - guitar/ vocals
ALICE LEON, leader and namesake of THE ALICE PROJECT, is a bright voice among the classic female singer-songwriters of the post-Beatles era. Alice writes and sings the type of sharp, emotionally pointed lyrics and readily accessible music that place her in direct lineage from Carole King and Carly Simon to the memorable melodies of Aimee Mann and the poet-smart lyrics of Jill Sobule and Suzanne Vega.
With Alice at the helm, THE ALICE PROJECT makes music you can hum. It’s intelligent, hooky rock ‘n’ roll that unequivocally soothes the soul.
Provocative, smart pop may seem like a lost art these days, but it's hardly been lost on THE ALICE PROJECT. With the October 2000 release of their second Clown Milk Records CD, TRAVELING WITH LADY BERLIN, this plucky foursome from Princeton and NY exposes stories of hope through experience with a knowing wink and undeniably heightened musicianship. The songs are fun, hip, melodic, and lyrically challenging. And they rock.
Alice’s smooth, pleadingly clear voice leads her revamped band on TRAVELING WITH LADY BERLIN with the same anti-demure approach she easily brings to the live stage as an embracing storyteller. Her voice is so engaging, that people don’t always realize the impact of her double-edged lyrics until they’ve penetrated their target to chill-inducing effect. Once that happens, the songs of THE ALICE PROJECT tend to touch people in ways they haven’t been moved before, evoking genuine emotions and meanings they can’t seem to find elsewhere.
As with THE ALICE PROJECT’s acclaimed debut, 1999’s The Big Number, Alice wrote all the music and lyrics and handled most of the arrangements on TRAVELING WITH LADY BERLIN with Keyboardist Scott Monetti. And once again, her stories are real. “We Will Love You” surveys the abuse one is willing to take from a lover until it’s time to finally let go. The highly personal “Uncle” finds Alice questioning her ongoing quest to reach higher ground in the music industry despite the frustrating hurdles. “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone” offers a twisted lyrical approach, while the cutting “Marilyn Things” fearlessly points a harsh finger at bidders of Marilyn Monroe’s personal belongings at auction for having “a sorry life so empty” that they need these items for fulfillment. “I’m Not Afraid to Live” is a pointed declaration of near-desperate love, circumstances be damned. TRAVELING WITH LADY BERLIN closes with “She Always Notices the Sky,” a mellifluous acoustic piece she co-wrote with former band-mate Scott Monetti, and inspired by John Irving’s book, “A Prayer for Owen Meaney.”
The players in THE ALICE PROJECT have drastically changed since The Big Number. With drummer Scott Strunk the only holdover, Traveling with Lady Berlin marked the debuts of newcomers Alan Greene on bass and James Leahey on lead guitar. All three are highly accomplished musicians. Greene, a versatile stylist, has extensive Broadway experience most recently appearing in Tony award winning "JERSEY BOYS" and "Menopause the musical". Has recently played with Rupert Holmes, Kathie Lee Gifford, Martin Short and Bernadette Peters to name a few. James (Jimmy)Leahey, the son of jazz great Harry Leahey, co-writes many of the band's songs with Alice and along with playing with the AP is currently touring with Denis DeYoung and John Waite. Scott Strunk, a Berklee College of Music graduate, has performed with jazz greats such as Etta Jones and Bob Devos. He’s also the leader of The Soul Jazz Trio, which recently released it's first CD which is self-titled. Strunk has also toured the U. S. with "The Mighty Jail breakers", an R&B band, and has toured regionally with "The Cramer Brothers band", opening for many national country artists.
As of April 2008 THE ALICE PROJECT songs have been played hundreds of times on soaps.."One Life to Live", CBS reality show "Who Wants to Marry my Dad", and Disney's "Knock First". Alice has written a new song for the CRAYOLA company, the KEAN UNIVERSITY alma mater, over 60 songs for children with cance via the "songs of love" foundation and has recently been writing for a number of independent films.
The band has also joined the world of PODCASTS and inhas been played on over 250 shows around the globe.
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