Artist description A new singer/songwriter posing a triple threat with his bell-tonetenor voice, insightful lyrics and haunting masteryof the piano.

Music Style Acoustic Alternative Singer/Songwriter

Musical Influences Jonatha Brooke, Tori Amos, Ellis Paul, Paula Cole

Similar Artists Tori Amos, Ellis Paul, Billy Joel, Duncan Sheik, Paula Cole, Ani Difranco, Dave Matthews

Group Members skott-vocals, piano

Instruments Vocals, piano

Albums Swimming After Dark, Best Little Boy in the World

Press Reviews -----BRYAN BAKER, GAJOOB.COM, 4/16/00 Freedman is a singer-songwriter who delves deeply into emotional soulscapes. Instrumentation is just Freedman's ringing tenor voice and his acoustic piano which withstands as much beating as the songwriter's heart does throughout the course of this album. An amazing experience it is, to be witness to such secret revelations through music so powerful and driven by one person's basic human spirit. Freedman whispers unspoken feelings and carries them to the altar and, in the darkness of introspection, the sparks of redemption flurry atop a pounding piano symphony visibly vibrating. Swimming After Dark is mandatory. -----JENNIFER LAYTON,INDIE-MUSIC.COM, 4/6/00 SWIMMING AFTER DARK Skott Freedman's debut CD "Swimming After Dark" still has me under its spell. I've never heard anything like this. It's gorgeous, heartbreaking, passionate, and unabashedly honest. Each song pulls me into a vivid 2-3 minute snapshot of Freedman's life and then returns me to my own place. He lives in a beautiful world, even when it's painful, and I'm finding it hard to leave. Freedman wrote all 13 songs, which feature just the piano and his voice. He says that growing up, he has rebelled against the classical training of the eight piano teachers he's gone through in ten years. (Much like one of his musical influences, Tori Amos, who was expelled from Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory for playing rock and roll music.) He told me in an e-mail interview that with classical music, "there was no room to create, no room to breathe." However, something must have stuck, because I hear the classical influence in his music. That influence is the springboard for each song, and Freedman leaps from it and sails into his own poetic, untamed territory. Freedman's piano playing fills the heart. The title track is theatrically played - it belongs in an opera. "Didn't You Know" is spirited, wild playing. He attacks the keys, pauses at times to collect himself, and then tears back into it. His voice is the perfect instrument to accompany such dramatic playing. When he hits the high notes, especially in "Kami," he sounds like an angel. Quoting my favorite lyrics would involve typing them all out here, so I'll just mention two songs at random. "Nothing More" recounts a painful confrontation of a former lover. As if the longing in Freedman's voice doesn't tell enough of the story, he sings, "There's nothing more for me to give, you're a thief, I'm a fool... and that's how we'll live What do you think you're doing this hour, this song... Tell the truth, did you stop on by just to make sure I was having trouble getting along Well, the night still has its secret, the moon still has its shield... You've already stolen all that I have..." The sad, hypnotic final prayer in "P.S." actually brought me to tears and prompted me to ask Freedman about the inspiration of that song. He wrote it from a woman's point of view - one of his best friends from high school who lost her sister in a car accident. The lyrics recall memories of climbing trees together and offer simple acts of closure, such as an apology for spilling wine on a sweater. I do have to mention the one song that seems to jump out of nowhere. Right in the middle of the heartbreak and passion of these songs, Freedman gives us "Tuesday Evening," a deceptively jaunty tune that quickly turns dark with lyrics about sinister deeds. But the simple title provides the humor - the singer finds his woman with another woman, they pull a gun on him, tie him up, drive him off somewhere, and drown him in a river. Just a typical Tuesday evening. In the past year that I've been reviewing CDs, I have found some real gems that I wouldn't have heard otherwise. Open your heart to this one. And if you live anywhere near his hometown of Ithaca, NY, go see him live. I'm considering buying a plane ticket. Artist's Website: www.skottfreedman.com -----OUTVOICE CHARTS "SWIMMING AFTER DARK" on the TOP 40 LIST -----OUTLINES Chicago, IL 10/14/99 Skott Freedman also goes the piano and vocal route on Best Little Boy in the World (SF002), his four song EP follow up (of original material) to his Swimming After Dark album, which was released earlier this year. As with Swimming After Dark, Freedman plays piano and sings on all four tracks, the best of which are "Letting It Go," "Free Settling," and the gorgeous "IŽll Still." Gregg Shapiro -----HAPPY ENDINGS Syracuse, NY 10/8/99 Ashley Cox & Skott Freedman Two of Central New York's fastest rising stars, Ithaca College's Skott Freedman and SAMMY award winning Ashley Cox, share an evening of intimate and soulful music. Both are known for their insightful, intelligent lyrics and musical skill. Hailing from New Jersey, Freedman poses a triple threat with his bell tone tenor voice, insightful lyrics, and mastery of the piano. With influences cited from Jonatha Brooke and Paula Cole, Freedman combines vivid text painting and powerful vocals to create his unique style. -----THE ITHACAN Ithaca, NY 9/30/99 Skott Freedman: new CD looks at life By Joleen Bauer Contributing Writer Junior Skott Freedman is a singer and songwriter. However, on his EP "Best Little Boy in the World," he becomes a storyteller. His fusion of voice and piano tell the honest and sometimes emotional accounts of the worlds that touch him, as he unravels his tales in the ears of the audience. Freedman said music invaded his early childhood, becoming a staple in his daily musical diet. Both of his parents played several instruments. "They'd sing Bob Seger and Harry Chapin songs on car trips, so music was always an element around our house," Freedman said. This early exposure translated into eight years of formal training; a period not devoid of the clash between pupil and teacher. "I [have] always steered away from the traditional approach," Freedman said. Because of this attitude, Freedman went through about seven different teachers, attributing these frequent alterations to the fact that he benefits most from a compositional approach, as opposed to regurgitating the same notes over and over. Freedman said this detachment from convention may have been a contributing factor in the creation of his first song, "All Night Long," written and composed at age 11. "It is a very fast, upbeat song [and] I think it is just one of the joys of [my] childhood," he said. Freedman is still an avid fan of this fledgling effort and continues to play it live. The upbeat tempo and juvenile tendencies exhibited in "All Night Long" are now more prevalent on his sophomore album effort, "Best Little Boy in the World." His first CD was released in March 1999, but stylistic changes can be heard already. Junior Barbara Brenner, a close friend of Freedman, can vouch for the transformation. She describes his style as getting bigger and fuller. "He has definitely developed his sound more," Brenner said. "I feel like there is a lot more room for playfulness, it's just very fast and mischievous," Freedman said. "I want to make the piano bounce and fly and just make it a more versatile instrument." Similarly, Freedman said he has branched out vocally, assuming a more unreserved approach. Perhaps this experimentation can be partly attributed to his musical influences, which include the poetry of Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson. However, Freedman said Jonatha Brooke, lead singer and prime lyricist of The Story, has been a consistent and singular potent force on his expression. "She uses a lot of dissonance, which is a huge part of my music," Freedman said. "It is taking a note to where you don't really expect it to [go]. So, where you expect it to resolve, I would take it up [a note]. The music is different every time I play it, it's a lot of improv in concert." "Sometimes [Freedman] will change the entire melody on stage or even add new lyrics or chords," Brenner said in awe. She said some people describe Freedman's live performances as a display of his "vocal acrobatics," because he is constantly changing notes and exploring his vocal ranges in unique ways. Brenner said she has been to almost all of his live performances. He works within the atmosphere, catering to the disposition of his fans. Playing off the crowd, he gains momentum from their energy and then offers haunting chords and vocal explorations that invade the club. "[Skott] has a very supportive crowd; they really listen to what he is saying," said Ken Hallett, manager of the ABC Cafe. "They really appreciate it." This self-proclaimed pop/folk/alternative artist is currently independent, but hopes to eventually sign with a major record label. Aware of the prevalent horror stories rampant in the music industry, he has opted to take a more cautious approach. "I don't want to jump too quickly at all [and] I am being careful because I don't want my artistic freedom to be restricted as it often is for some musicians," Freedman said. Freedman will be playing live on Oct. 8 at Happy Endings in Syracuse and at The Oak in Collegetown on Oct. 9 at 10 p.m. Both of his CDs are available at The Bookstore or SoundsFine in the Ithaca Commons. -----REACHING OUT Atlanta, GA 8/19/99 Skott Freedman-Swimming After Dark (Acoustic Alternative) For a slightly-built college junior, Skott Freedman has an old soul and a strong voice. His debut album, Swimming After Dark, is a solid combination of haunting piano and bittersweet vocals. Plenty of anguish and hope (with a dash of anger) make this record a good companion to a break-up, loss, or just the ups and downs of everyday life.Swimming After Dark opens with ?Hole in His Soul? written for a man who won?t allow himself to be loved. The piano accompaniment masks the frustration, giving the song a light, poppy air. This isn?t the case for ?Kami? which ventures into similar thematic territory. Freedman keeps the piano tones somber and gently agonizes over lyrics like ?You?re too young to have that look in your eyes...seeing you like this, I?m dying.? The song reveals a sadness beyond his years and provides listeners with a brief glimpse into the soul of a poet.With ?P.S.? and ?It?s Been a While?, Freedman spins scenarios of letting go and holding on. The maudlin music of ?P.S.? is a perfect compliment to the sentimentality of the lyrics. Imagine a movie where the protagonist is on a train, staring wistfully out the window, caught up in the nostalgia of a person long-gone from his/her life, and you?ve got the visual for Freedman?s soundtrack. ?It?s Been a While? is a universal ballad of long-distance relationships. When he harmonizes about getting strength from loneliness, it sounds as if he?s trying to convince himself. ?Everyone has to be alone sometimes? he sings unsurely; and follows with the more certain proclamation, ?I know you?re there, but the distance lies.?Occasionally, Freedman falls prey to a cliche/overt lyric as in ?why we can seem so lost and found at the same time? from ?When Heroes Fall.? These instances stand out simply because of their scarcity. The titular track, ?Swimming After Dark?, features some of the most artful and esoteric lyrics on the entire album, and Freedman goes through them in a mere 1:47. With most of the songs clocking in at under three minutes, Freedman is a master at saying a lot with a few carefully chosen words. For instance, with ?There?s nothing more for me to give/ you?re a thief, I?m a fool, and that?s how it is? from ?Nothing More?, the message is very clear.The only entry into the one-of-these-songs-does-not-belong category is the misplaced track ?Tuesday Evening?. Without any warning, Freedman leaps from tales of vulnerability to the plot of Bound. Not only is the song uncharacteristic of the rest of the album, but it?s also somewhat snide in its message. I like the idea of Freedman broaching darker territory, but the technique could use some refinement.All in all, Skott Freedman is a promising singer/songwriter and pianist, and Swimming After Dark is the secret ingredient to a night of red wine and old photo albums. I expect his talent to take him far. (Swimming After Dark is available from http://www.folkweb.com) Jen Brautman -----AMY MATHENY-Radio Host, LESBIGAY Radio 1240 AM 8/13/99 A ferocious musical talent surrounded by a tender, poetic soul. -----OUTLINES Chicago, IL 7/21/99 I have a soft spot for original piano-driven pop songs, along the lines of Rufus Wainwright's self-titled debut disc. Skott Freedman's Swimming After Dark (SF001) is a variation on the piano/pop theme and is an admirable effort (see the calendar for his July 28 Hoxie's show). Favorite tracks include "Hole in His Soul", "Fleshcoat", "P.S.", "Lately", "Kami", "Didn't You Know?", "When Heroes Fall", and "It's Been a While". Freedman considers what he does to be acoustic alternative. Gregg Shapiro -----The Ithaca Times Ithaca, NY 5/20-27, 1999 Skott Freedman Swimming After Dark Skott Freedman is a little guy with a big heart, which he keeps putting in the garlic press of life and asking for a squeeze. His songs are pungent with emotion. He's from New Jersey, and if you enjoy the music of another sensitive downstate Piano Man, you should pick up Swimming After Dark, Skott's first release. He's a well-trained tenor, and has lots of piano technique. He knows how to play fast and squeeze a lot of notes into a phrase. Similarly, he has a Bare Naked Ladies-ish tendency to bellow a million words in a single breath. This is his first release, and the songs are very personal. He's a song-writer with secrets still to tell. It will be nice to see what happens when Skott gets a good producer who highlights his talents and roughens up his pretty sound. He could go the Ben Folds Five way and really rock out, or he could become a very polished song stylist. But certainly he's got the talent and energy to go far. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bridget Meeds -----The Ithacan Ithaca, NY 4/1/99 "Swimming" allows music to flow Sophomore Skott Freedman sits inside a piano at the ABC Cafe. He recently released his first CD called "Swimming after Dark." During the past year, sophomore Skott Freedman packed the ABC Cafe by delivering personal lyrics like "I took a risk and I dove, the fall scared me the most but I landed with my best form." This semester he took the risk and much to his fans' delight, released "Swimming After Dark," his first CD. Freedman titled his CD "Swimming After Dark" because it "is one of those things that defies what everyone tells you to do," Freedman said. "[It is] saying what you are not supposed to say." But some of Freedman's fans find nothing wrong with his lyrics. Sophomore Andrew Brandon saw him last year and remembers the show well. "We saw that the place was packed so we went in to see who was playing," Brandon said. "It was a good choice. He is a great entertainer." And he should be. Freedman has been playing the piano since he was 16 but never released a CD. Now that he has, he is happy because people will be able to listen to his music whenever they want, not just when he gets the opportunity to play live. "I've wanted copies of his songs, I wanted everyone to hear what I had heard," said sophomore Barbara Brenner, a close friend of Freedman. "Since he plays with a piano, he can't play anywhere, so it's hard for him to find different locations. I wanted him to make me a copy of his music." But not everyone thought Freedman should record his music. When friend sophomore Dominic Rozzi was told Freedman planned to record his own CD, he was a little skeptical about it. "I have recorded CDs with groups I've been in, and the quality of sound isn't always great," Rozzi said. "Great songs usually lose something when they go from live performances to CD. But Skott was lucky to have gotten people behind him." Luck had a lot to do with it. Freedman found the Chicago-based studio where he recorded the CD by flipping through the yellow pages. "I had a tight budget and I found this place for $80 an hour," Freedman said. "I recorded for three hours, first vocals, piano and then background." His friends said the result is a faithful adaptation of Freedman's live performances. A sound Rozzi describes as "Acoustic Alternative." "It's a type of music that is attractively unique," Rozzi said. "It's not something you hear much on the radio anymore, but he puts so much of himself into his music, it is attractive." That personal touch is important to Freedman. His musical idols are Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell, two musicians well known for writing about personal experiences in their music. But Freedman doesn't think music lyrics have to be only about your own experiences, he sees music as his way of getting all emotions out. "They don't necessarily have to be my own personal experiences," Freedman said. "I just write emotions that everyone in the world feels. Sometimes I'm in class thinking about someone and a verse will just come out. Then the rest of the song follows and I go to the piano and it all starts to come together like a puzzle." Freedman, like his music idols, enjoys live performances more, but is happy to finally have his own CD out in the market. In the future he wants to continue recording his music but, more importantly, he wants to tour the country. And people seem to be happy about that. "People should really hear him perform, the way he presents his music is very energetic and draws the listeners," Rozzi said. "Nothing tops a good live performance and he definitely gives a good live performance." Freedman will be performing in the pub Monday, April 5. Gustavo Rivas -----ITHACA JOURNAL Ithaca, NY 4/99 "BEST BET"

Location Ithaca, NY - USA

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