Artist description Whether performing as a solo acoustic artist or with the folk rock band disappear fear, SONiA has become one of the most visible and important troubadours of our time. SONiA's uncompromisingly honest songs blend the personal with the political. She writes frank and captivating love songs and confronts the hypocrisies and biases of our culture with a positive message of openness and optimism.

Music Style Acoustic Folk-Rock

Musical Influences Phil Ochs

Similar Artists Indigo Girls, Bruce Springsteen, Everything but the Girl

Artist History Sonia Rutstein and her sister Cindy Frank started the band disappear fear in their hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. They released three recordings on their own and developed quite a following from coast to coast. In 1994 disappear fear signed with Philo/Rounder Records and released their self titled album which won the GLAAD Media Award for best album (previously won by Elton John).Later in that same year, Cindy became a full time mother and a part time band member: the result was the 1996 release Seed in the Sahara produced by Springsteen pianist, Roy Bittan. The album went on to win the Gay/Lesbian American Music Award for Best Band. 1997 was a high-profile year as SONiA performed selective dates on the massively successful Lilith Tour, along side of Sarah McLachlan, Jewel and long-time supporters, the Indigo Girls. SONiA was/is one of the most requested performers at Gay Pride Festivals throughout the USA.1998 marked the arrival of SONiA's first solo album, Almost Chocolate which acceleratedinto an exciting European Tour including the Gay Games in Amsterdam, Europride inStockholm and the Fifty Year Celebration of Gay Rights in Denmark. This album earnedSONiA the highest GLAMA Award for Female Artist of the Year in April 1999. Unleashing her new found freedom and returning to Disappear Records, the brand new Me, Too appeared. After a full tour of Israel that summer, she returned home to embark on a thirty-five city tour of the USA with a new DF band.In this millenium, SONiA plans on returning to Europe, Israel and Australia and to perform in other places such as Russia and Japan. But whether at home or abroad, she's certain to continue her "tireless" quest to disappear fear through her music. From the stage of a major folk festival, at a coffeehouse, at a rock club or a March for Human Rights her voice comes through loud and clear.

Albums Me, Too - SONiA; Almost Chocolate - SONiA; Seed in the Sahara - disappear fear; Live at the Bottom Line - disappear fear; disappear fear - disappear fear; Deep Soul Diver - disappear fear; Echo My Call - disappear fear

Location Baltimore, Maryland - USA

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