Artist description I'm a singer/songwriter/pianist, just starting out. My music is hard to catalogue - you might say, piano-based jazz-rock or jazzy Triple-A. The artist I feel closest to is Fiona Apple, and I'm also vaguely comparable to Elton John (whom you're far more likely to have heard of). And currently I'm looking for a record deal, but then again, who isn't. Yes, I know, the odds are stacked up against me like a vast mountain of... Well, stacked-up odds (good thing I didn't mention any poetic prowess).

Music Style Soulful jazz-rock with grunge overtones

Musical Influences Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette, Nirvana, Skunk Anansie

Similar Artists Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, Skunk Anansie, Tori Amos. And according to Listen.com, Stephen Bishop, Elton John, Don Henley, Christopher Cross.

Artist History I should warn you - this little account is a lot less amusing than it could have been, but hey, I doubt anyone will really read past the first four lines (read: I will probably never get around to writing a decently entertaining bio). So... I've been writing music for the past ten years. I finished writing my first full-length CD, "High," in 1996. It was recorded in South Africa (where I used to live), rendered in unaccompanied piano and voice. Somewhat depressive, it failed to make an impact with the local record companies, and I decided to move on. By the time I got back to Israel in mid-1998, I finished writing my second album, "Screamwhisper." It was far more lively, made up of 13 shameless grunge ballads (piano grunge, mind you). I looked for a band to record the CD with, but no-one was willing to dedicate themselves to music that was very clearly mine. Didn't blame them. But I didn't have any money to hire me a team of dashing musicians, so I was eventually forced to abandon the project. Meanwhile, I'd started working on my third CD, "Images of You." I discovered Fiona Apple and was impressed by her complex and piano-centric yet moving and accessible music. I discarded my rock leanings to develop a new style, closer to my original efforts but more complex and at the same time more accessible. Nowadays I'm working on the last three tracks of the album (those confounded lyrics). And to round off the tale, I recently recorded a five-song demo taken from the last album, which I'll hopefully use to court some U.S. record companies. The demos have gotten some airplay here in Israel, and I've received some really warm responses from everyone who's heard it thus far, so I remain optimistic. I would add a short promotional message awash with enticing superlatives, for the benefit of the occasional major label A&R scout, but really people, what are the odds.

Group Members I'll use this field for credits and related info: Lyrics, music, piano arrangement, vocals and piano by Gilad Maayan on all songs. Lior Shushan played amazing drums and Elad Cohen bass on the All I Know single. All other instruments, arrangement and programming, by Ralph Levitan. All songs produced by Gilad Maayan and Ralph Levitan. Recorded at Levitan Studios, Tel Aviv. All songs © Gilad Maayan 1999-2000.

Instruments Piano, piano, piano, and more piano. And worse - a vast multitude of pianos, threatening to devour the earth with their acoustic cocophany (though they probably won't). You'll hear some some strings, acoustic guitars, brass, the inimitable Fender roads, and so forth on these demo tracks, but I didn't play 'em, so they don't count. Besides it's all MIDI, and MIDI, you guessed it, just doesn't count.

Albums "High" (1996, ind.), "Screamwhisper" (1998, unrecorded), "Images of You" (2000, unrecorded)

Press Reviews "...Israeli singer-songwriter accompanies his sleek, romantic crooning with complex piano structures and canned strings. A hyper-talented musician with no small talent for the AAA formula." - Listen.com. One-liners from MP3.com friends: "Excellent Israeli piano & voice rock," "Great piano/vocals, one to watch," "Powerful keyboards & heartfelt lyrics," "good old rock 'n' roll," "Great Piano Sounds," "This artist has a style all his own," "Cool sounds, Jazzy modern piano," "Very nice piano rock, awesome sounds," "Amazing Piano player, good songs," "Strong piano and lyrics" from my buddy Dodge Rea, "Listen to this talented guy!" (please do), and my all-time favourite, "voice of Elton John, hands of Tori Amos"

Additional Info Can't think of anything.

Location Kfar Saba, Israel - Israel

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