Jaj, de sokat áztam-fáztamNew A Cappella songs, and traditional Hungarian folk music with the band Barozda.
Get some real Hungarian taste on my Music page!
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
New Songs From Andrea Gerak
Jaj, de sokat áztam-fáztamNew A Cappella songs, and traditional Hungarian folk music with the band Barozda.
Get some real Hungarian taste on my Music page!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Cover Feature
Today: The latest Andrea Gerak Newsletter is featured on the cover page of Music Industry News Network
Monday, March 20, 2006
TIPP interview
Full page interview with "the enigmatic Hungarian female voice", in the weekly entertainment magazine TIPP with 250000 readers in Northern-East Hungary
ANDREA GERAK IS CONSIDERED THE POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR OF MARTA SEBESTYEN, BY MANY
- As I am a girl from Borsod - born in Ozd, grew up in Kazincbarcika and was dancing in Miskolc for several years -, I would like you to be amongst the first ones to know in Hungary: Dialogos 3, the Spanish blog known for the latest news of new age/world music, mentions Andrea Gerak as the artist who could follow the World Star of World Music - wrote to our paper Andrea Gerak recently. We contacted her via internet mail.
Outstanding voice, in several styles
The article has appeared in many music magazines, let's quote a few lines: "At the beginning, this woman from Budapest was a soloist, a dancer and singer in various folk groups of her country, and now she tries to guide her career as a solo vocalist, therefore she makes herself known on these web sites that are promoting artists who are just beginning and who have not even sent an album to the market yet. She performs primarily Hungarian folk songs, either a capella or as world fusion, or with electronic instruments in a marriage with a fusion of textures. Other styles can also be found in her repertoire: pop, rock or jazz tunes."
Singing and dancing became her life
Andrea told us about herself: - A couple of moments that determined my life: I was very small when my grandmother that I probably loved the most, was singing lullabies for me and my cousins and I thought to myself: "I wish I could also sing so nicely!" With my other grandma, I liked to go to the church, because I was fascinated by how she and all those women and men were singing. In the kindergarten, I got the main singing role in the Mothers Day performance. Later on, as a school kid, for three years I was going to the "village" two times a week: the music school used to be there that time. I loved solfege, found it extremely interesting. Mrs. Hamori was our teacher, I thank her a lot, for giving me such a good foundation. However, after 3 years I quit the music school but I discovered folk dance.
The dance stayed with her
- From that on, that was my life for the next 15 years. While going to high school, I was a member not only of the Borsod Folk Dance Ensemble in Barcika, but of the Avas in Miskolc as well, and a bit later, of two dancing groups in Budapest: Csepel and the famous Bartok. It would be hard to compare the joy of singing and dancing and the unforgettable memories of my dancer years, to anything. I was dreaming of becoming a professional dancer, one day. Oh yes, I was also going to the school choir. Ever since, how many times did I hear it in my ears when Mrs. Selenyi commented on me at a rehearsal: "This little girl sings very nice!" Despite all this, when it came to having to choose a profession, I didn't dare to stand for my aims, and as I was a brilliant student, I applied for university. But that wasn't a purpose of mine - so they didn't take me on.
Years of finding the way
After graduation, exactly 20 years ago at Sagvari, I was searching for my way, for quite a while. I moved to Budapest, and I was always doing something to earn a little money with, which was considered as "decent job" and not "useless art". If I needed to, I was hitch hiking even to 100 kilometers, to get to a folk dance festival or camp. But I didn't have enough guts to do everything necessary for making my dreams come true: actually, I was just adrift, for years. Having my baby son and raising him made me busy for some time. I can be really glad about this extremely bright little being. My marriage with his father, however, blew up, and we divorced. I had some hard times in my life: 11 years ao, I was struggling to be able to buy a yoghurt to the bread roll for my little child for dinner. Later on, when I was nearly 30, it was almost an astonishing cognition for me: I have made the greatest effects on people with my voice, so it follows that I have to sing!
Giving hope with her singing
- From that on, it became easier, the road smoother. I' performed exhibition openings, jazz clubs, private and corporate events, festival. I was busking as well, which was not only good for travelling and making some cash, but I probably also did something for that beautiful young girl on drugs who wrote in my guest book: "There is still hope...Thank you!"
A short time ago, I got married again to a Swedish man who is my perfect mate. I can also call him my career consultant. We are establishing our common lives in Stockholm, but I am planning to spend as much time in Hungary as possible, as well. There is no management machinery or agency behind me; everything I reached so far, I did it on my own, with the support of my family and friends to whom I am very grateful.
- Interview by Klementne Biro Aniko
ANDREA GERAK IS CONSIDERED THE POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR OF MARTA SEBESTYEN, BY MANY
- As I am a girl from Borsod - born in Ozd, grew up in Kazincbarcika and was dancing in Miskolc for several years -, I would like you to be amongst the first ones to know in Hungary: Dialogos 3, the Spanish blog known for the latest news of new age/world music, mentions Andrea Gerak as the artist who could follow the World Star of World Music - wrote to our paper Andrea Gerak recently. We contacted her via internet mail.
Outstanding voice, in several styles
The article has appeared in many music magazines, let's quote a few lines: "At the beginning, this woman from Budapest was a soloist, a dancer and singer in various folk groups of her country, and now she tries to guide her career as a solo vocalist, therefore she makes herself known on these web sites that are promoting artists who are just beginning and who have not even sent an album to the market yet. She performs primarily Hungarian folk songs, either a capella or as world fusion, or with electronic instruments in a marriage with a fusion of textures. Other styles can also be found in her repertoire: pop, rock or jazz tunes."
Singing and dancing became her life
Andrea told us about herself: - A couple of moments that determined my life: I was very small when my grandmother that I probably loved the most, was singing lullabies for me and my cousins and I thought to myself: "I wish I could also sing so nicely!" With my other grandma, I liked to go to the church, because I was fascinated by how she and all those women and men were singing. In the kindergarten, I got the main singing role in the Mothers Day performance. Later on, as a school kid, for three years I was going to the "village" two times a week: the music school used to be there that time. I loved solfege, found it extremely interesting. Mrs. Hamori was our teacher, I thank her a lot, for giving me such a good foundation. However, after 3 years I quit the music school but I discovered folk dance.
The dance stayed with her
- From that on, that was my life for the next 15 years. While going to high school, I was a member not only of the Borsod Folk Dance Ensemble in Barcika, but of the Avas in Miskolc as well, and a bit later, of two dancing groups in Budapest: Csepel and the famous Bartok. It would be hard to compare the joy of singing and dancing and the unforgettable memories of my dancer years, to anything. I was dreaming of becoming a professional dancer, one day. Oh yes, I was also going to the school choir. Ever since, how many times did I hear it in my ears when Mrs. Selenyi commented on me at a rehearsal: "This little girl sings very nice!" Despite all this, when it came to having to choose a profession, I didn't dare to stand for my aims, and as I was a brilliant student, I applied for university. But that wasn't a purpose of mine - so they didn't take me on.
Years of finding the way
After graduation, exactly 20 years ago at Sagvari, I was searching for my way, for quite a while. I moved to Budapest, and I was always doing something to earn a little money with, which was considered as "decent job" and not "useless art". If I needed to, I was hitch hiking even to 100 kilometers, to get to a folk dance festival or camp. But I didn't have enough guts to do everything necessary for making my dreams come true: actually, I was just adrift, for years. Having my baby son and raising him made me busy for some time. I can be really glad about this extremely bright little being. My marriage with his father, however, blew up, and we divorced. I had some hard times in my life: 11 years ao, I was struggling to be able to buy a yoghurt to the bread roll for my little child for dinner. Later on, when I was nearly 30, it was almost an astonishing cognition for me: I have made the greatest effects on people with my voice, so it follows that I have to sing!
Giving hope with her singing
- From that on, it became easier, the road smoother. I' performed exhibition openings, jazz clubs, private and corporate events, festival. I was busking as well, which was not only good for travelling and making some cash, but I probably also did something for that beautiful young girl on drugs who wrote in my guest book: "There is still hope...Thank you!"
A short time ago, I got married again to a Swedish man who is my perfect mate. I can also call him my career consultant. We are establishing our common lives in Stockholm, but I am planning to spend as much time in Hungary as possible, as well. There is no management machinery or agency behind me; everything I reached so far, I did it on my own, with the support of my family and friends to whom I am very grateful.
- Interview by Klementne Biro Aniko
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Newsletter March 2006
Hi All,
The first couple of weeks of this year passed with quite some exciting happenings, besides settling down with my wonderful husband in Stockholm, Sweden.
Tune in, here is how things began to boogie for Andrea Gerak:
1. Featured Artist at MP3 Unsigned, UBL, UKM, Radio Renascenca
2. SoundClick Interview, Charts and Radios
3. In the News
4. New Song!!!
5. MySpace Site
6. Statistics
7. Studio work started
1. Look at who is the Featured Artist at New Age genre of MP3 Unsigned, featured artist of the week (2/February) at the Ultimate Band List of ARTISTdirect, of the Month (February) at UK Music Review, and
the song Lonely Is The Bird was featured in the "First Line" of the Radio Renascenca of Portugal (24/February)
*** *** ***
2. SoundClick Interview, Charts and Radios
How did it all start? How is it to be an independent artist, walking my way? Find out bits and pieces, from the latest interview at SoundClick
In the past couple of months, four of my songs reached into the first 30 on the charts in their genre, without any promotion, e.g. no banners, Featured Band or other ads, which is pretty good! The best ones are the a cappella version of There Is No Greater Sadness which reached #8 and Don't Fall Asleep with #6.
Radio stations playing my songs: violincyndee's station, little birdie's station, Looking For Voices / Buscando Voces, Músicas del Planeta
*** *** ***
3. Andrea Gerak In The News
Dialogos 3, Spanish blog with the latest news in the New Age/World scene, wrote an article with the title of
ANDREA GERAK the Enigmatic Hungarian Female Voice, Possible Successor of Marta Sebestyen
The article appeared in 3 languages in the media and got great worldwide exposure.
Spanish: Diálogos3, Musicas del Mundo, FULL Services, Americas-Fr.com, Guebon.com
English: World Music Central, Tradivarium, Long Island Journal, Hungarian News, Musiq Queen, Jazz News, UK Musice Review, Artists Without Frontiers, My MusicCode, Asylum Law, Found Horizons, Drummer Cafe, CelebrityBlog.Net, So Musical, Sinhala Jukebox, Music Industry News, Dubai News, and several other sites.
Hungarian/MAGYAR: Beats, Hangzorro Nagyszinpada, Folder, Zene.hu, Diak TV, Hirstart, Hirmag, Hirfal, Kazincbarcika Net, MyMusic.hu, Zenesz Info
*** *** ***
4. New song!!!
Here is the anticipated song: Don't Fall Asleep
First piece of a cooperation with Angel Oros (Cambridge) a versatile and productive composer demonstrating quality, maturity and know-how, a real veteran in music and
Jose Ferrandez (Nusratfateh) a multi-instrument musician.
Listen
Get it on your mobile here:
*** *** ***
5. MySpace Site
I put up a site on
Check it out, and if you like the company, join!
*** *** ***
6. Statistics
As a result of all this, my official website now is receiving 10x as many individual visitors as in the end of last year, which is quite a jump!
This way, I feel I can be there not only in all over Europe, USA, Australia, Mexico and Japan, but even in such parts of the world like Malaysia, Togo, Seychelles, Iceland or the Dominican Republic, as music lovers do get to my site from 90 countries of the world, including these exotic ones - not to mention the US Government and US Military; indeed, I have visitors from there...
Thanks for everyone for popping in to my place, and come back often to see what's cooking!
Subscribe to mailing list HERE
*** *** ***
7. Studio works started with Barozda
Cheers, Andrea
The first couple of weeks of this year passed with quite some exciting happenings, besides settling down with my wonderful husband in Stockholm, Sweden.
Tune in, here is how things began to boogie for Andrea Gerak:
1. Featured Artist at MP3 Unsigned, UBL, UKM, Radio Renascenca
2. SoundClick Interview, Charts and Radios
3. In the News
4. New Song!!!
5. MySpace Site
6. Statistics
7. Studio work started
1. Look at who is the Featured Artist at New Age genre of MP3 Unsigned, featured artist of the week (2/February) at the Ultimate Band List of ARTISTdirect, of the Month (February) at UK Music Review, and
the song Lonely Is The Bird was featured in the "First Line" of the Radio Renascenca of Portugal (24/February)
*** *** ***
2. SoundClick Interview, Charts and Radios
How did it all start? How is it to be an independent artist, walking my way? Find out bits and pieces, from the latest interview at SoundClick
In the past couple of months, four of my songs reached into the first 30 on the charts in their genre, without any promotion, e.g. no banners, Featured Band or other ads, which is pretty good! The best ones are the a cappella version of There Is No Greater Sadness which reached #8 and Don't Fall Asleep with #6.
Radio stations playing my songs: violincyndee's station, little birdie's station, Looking For Voices / Buscando Voces, Músicas del Planeta
*** *** ***
3. Andrea Gerak In The News
Dialogos 3, Spanish blog with the latest news in the New Age/World scene, wrote an article with the title of
ANDREA GERAK the Enigmatic Hungarian Female Voice, Possible Successor of Marta Sebestyen
The article appeared in 3 languages in the media and got great worldwide exposure.
Spanish: Diálogos3, Musicas del Mundo, FULL Services, Americas-Fr.com, Guebon.com
English: World Music Central, Tradivarium, Long Island Journal, Hungarian News, Musiq Queen, Jazz News, UK Musice Review, Artists Without Frontiers, My MusicCode, Asylum Law, Found Horizons, Drummer Cafe, CelebrityBlog.Net, So Musical, Sinhala Jukebox, Music Industry News, Dubai News, and several other sites.
Hungarian/MAGYAR: Beats, Hangzorro Nagyszinpada, Folder, Zene.hu, Diak TV, Hirstart, Hirmag, Hirfal, Kazincbarcika Net, MyMusic.hu, Zenesz Info
*** *** ***
4. New song!!!
Here is the anticipated song: Don't Fall Asleep
First piece of a cooperation with Angel Oros (Cambridge) a versatile and productive composer demonstrating quality, maturity and know-how, a real veteran in music and
Jose Ferrandez (Nusratfateh) a multi-instrument musician.
Listen
Get it on your mobile here:
*** *** ***
5. MySpace Site
I put up a site on
Check it out, and if you like the company, join!
*** *** ***
6. Statistics
As a result of all this, my official website now is receiving 10x as many individual visitors as in the end of last year, which is quite a jump!
This way, I feel I can be there not only in all over Europe, USA, Australia, Mexico and Japan, but even in such parts of the world like Malaysia, Togo, Seychelles, Iceland or the Dominican Republic, as music lovers do get to my site from 90 countries of the world, including these exotic ones - not to mention the US Government and US Military; indeed, I have visitors from there...
Thanks for everyone for popping in to my place, and come back often to see what's cooking!
Subscribe to mailing list HERE
*** *** ***
7. Studio works started with Barozda
The band from Transylvania has been playing for 30 years. Stay tuned for the sounds that will give you some real Hungarian feeling !
*** *** ***
Enjoy my songs of course, you can also BUY THEM
Keep your ears open: new ones are coming out at any moment!
Spread the word and share these news with your friends.
Cheers, Andrea
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Andrea Gerak FAQ
I'm getting the same questions from many people, so it's better that you read this FAQ first before writing to me. I might add more to the list, as common questions come my way.
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in Ozd, a small city in Northern Hungary, grew up a couple of kilometres away from that, in Kazincbarcika, and I was living in Budapest for about 10 years.
Q: So you are Hungarian, right?
A: Yes!
Q: In what language can I write to you?
A: Obviously in Hungarian, next best is English, then German. I might be able to understand if you write me in Russian, French, Italian or Spanish, but it would make my life easier if you attached a simple translation as well. An automatic online translation will do it...
Q: If you are Hungarian, what are you doing in Sweden?
A: Simple: I got married recently and as my husband is from Stockholm, I came here with him a short time ago.
Q: How do like Sweden?
A: So far so good: very nice snowy, beautiful woods & waters everywhere I can see, clean, orderly, well organized, and the atmosphere is warmer and more calm than in some places I've been.
Q: When do you come to Hungary?
A: Next I plan to go there somewhen in March, just have to coordinate a few things. Then I want to set up my life in a way that I would go back&forth between the 2 cities - Budapest is still the best town in the world!
Q: You are such a nice (gorgeous, beautiful, sexy, etc, everything that boys can write) woman, can I know you better?
A: Sure! I'm glad that you find me nice and I appreciate if you dig my music, you can find most of the things to know about me on my website. If you don't find the answer to your questions, why don't you drop me a line and ask directly? But if you have even the slightest intention to flirt, date and so on with me - sorry guys, beside my husband nobody has any chance of whatsoever, find somebody else!
Q: Will you sing for me?
A: Gladly! Please give me all the details: time, place, how long performance do you need, for what occasion, how many people are you expecting, who else is performing, how big is the stage, what technical equipment do you supply, how about the money, if it's charity, what's the cause, etc. I am available for festivals, concerts, studio recordings, show cases, house concerts, corporate, community, church events, exhibition openings and other representative occasions, private parties: birthdays, name giving or wedding ceremonies, funerals, celebrating your new house, spouse, etc.
Contact
Q: What else do you do beside singing?
A: As I am an independent artist, coordinating all the production & promotion of my music, keeping contact with the biz, fellow musicians, friends & fans, creating and maintaning my website, improving my repertoire, figuring out ideas for new songs and so on, and keeping myself physically and mentally fit - well, this is a fulltime, 40-hour job. Per day. I spend the rest of my time with my husband, talk with my teen son about Harry Potter, the latest Nintendo and other business, sometimes I get involved in humanitarian activities, like human rights or anti-drug campaigns. And I do the dishes, the laundry...
Q: So there is no team behind you?
A: There is no such a thing as Andrea Gerak Team. Instead, I have an international network of people I am in contact with and where I get professional assistance for this or that project. My closest advisor is my husband, he is taking care of some logistics and I consult him regarding plans, strategies and other matters. Otherwise, I'm using the knowledge I've learned along my way, or I like to check out the references from the correct sources if I need some data.
Q: Where can I buy your CD?
A: At the moment, my first album is sold out, will be re-launched around Easter, and you will be able to order it online for sure, distribution to stores in Hungary, Sweden and in other countries is under negotiation, you'll be informed. My own next album takes a few months more, it will be songs with Effi Shoshani, Cambridge & other friends. It can also happen that before releasing that one, I will appear on other musicians' CDs. Stay tuned, the best bet for you to be informed is to get my news via email; on my website, you can simply join the email list or just contact me here about it. (Your address & other data will be never given out to 3rd party, and you can unsubscribe any time)
CD info & pre-order here
Q: Until then, where can I listen to all of your songs?
A: On the Music page of my official site, you find all the info about them; there are several sites where you can listen to the full songs and buy them,
Q: Is there anything I can help you?
A: Certainly, thanks for asking! In several ways:
- All the constructive feedback on my music is appreciated
- Every now and then, I'll ask native speakers of this or that language to correct some articles I'm gonna publish. Great way for you to be the first one to know what's cooking!
- If you like what I'm doing, spread it around to your friends: send them the pages with my songs, links to my site, (soon I'll have a banner - yeah!! can somebody help me now to create a banner? I have an idea of how it would look like, just have no clue of how to do it. If you have some spare moments for it, please let me know), and forward my Newsletters. I'll be grateful for all these, it's something that you can generally do anytime. If there is some specific task I can't cope with, I won't be ashamed to ask :-)
Q: What else can you offer?
A: Posters, T-shirts & more:
Ringtones:
It says: Don't Fall Asleep
:-)
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in Ozd, a small city in Northern Hungary, grew up a couple of kilometres away from that, in Kazincbarcika, and I was living in Budapest for about 10 years.
Q: So you are Hungarian, right?
A: Yes!
Q: In what language can I write to you?
A: Obviously in Hungarian, next best is English, then German. I might be able to understand if you write me in Russian, French, Italian or Spanish, but it would make my life easier if you attached a simple translation as well. An automatic online translation will do it...
Q: If you are Hungarian, what are you doing in Sweden?
A: Simple: I got married recently and as my husband is from Stockholm, I came here with him a short time ago.
Q: How do like Sweden?
A: So far so good: very nice snowy, beautiful woods & waters everywhere I can see, clean, orderly, well organized, and the atmosphere is warmer and more calm than in some places I've been.
Q: When do you come to Hungary?
A: Next I plan to go there somewhen in March, just have to coordinate a few things. Then I want to set up my life in a way that I would go back&forth between the 2 cities - Budapest is still the best town in the world!
Q: You are such a nice (gorgeous, beautiful, sexy, etc, everything that boys can write) woman, can I know you better?
A: Sure! I'm glad that you find me nice and I appreciate if you dig my music, you can find most of the things to know about me on my website. If you don't find the answer to your questions, why don't you drop me a line and ask directly? But if you have even the slightest intention to flirt, date and so on with me - sorry guys, beside my husband nobody has any chance of whatsoever, find somebody else!
Q: Will you sing for me?
A: Gladly! Please give me all the details: time, place, how long performance do you need, for what occasion, how many people are you expecting, who else is performing, how big is the stage, what technical equipment do you supply, how about the money, if it's charity, what's the cause, etc. I am available for festivals, concerts, studio recordings, show cases, house concerts, corporate, community, church events, exhibition openings and other representative occasions, private parties: birthdays, name giving or wedding ceremonies, funerals, celebrating your new house, spouse, etc.
Contact
Q: What else do you do beside singing?
A: As I am an independent artist, coordinating all the production & promotion of my music, keeping contact with the biz, fellow musicians, friends & fans, creating and maintaning my website, improving my repertoire, figuring out ideas for new songs and so on, and keeping myself physically and mentally fit - well, this is a fulltime, 40-hour job. Per day. I spend the rest of my time with my husband, talk with my teen son about Harry Potter, the latest Nintendo and other business, sometimes I get involved in humanitarian activities, like human rights or anti-drug campaigns. And I do the dishes, the laundry...
Q: So there is no team behind you?
A: There is no such a thing as Andrea Gerak Team. Instead, I have an international network of people I am in contact with and where I get professional assistance for this or that project. My closest advisor is my husband, he is taking care of some logistics and I consult him regarding plans, strategies and other matters. Otherwise, I'm using the knowledge I've learned along my way, or I like to check out the references from the correct sources if I need some data.
Q: Where can I buy your CD?
A: At the moment, my first album is sold out, will be re-launched around Easter, and you will be able to order it online for sure, distribution to stores in Hungary, Sweden and in other countries is under negotiation, you'll be informed. My own next album takes a few months more, it will be songs with Effi Shoshani, Cambridge & other friends. It can also happen that before releasing that one, I will appear on other musicians' CDs. Stay tuned, the best bet for you to be informed is to get my news via email; on my website, you can simply join the email list or just contact me here about it. (Your address & other data will be never given out to 3rd party, and you can unsubscribe any time)
CD info & pre-order here
Q: Until then, where can I listen to all of your songs?
A: On the Music page of my official site, you find all the info about them; there are several sites where you can listen to the full songs and buy them,
Q: Is there anything I can help you?
A: Certainly, thanks for asking! In several ways:
- All the constructive feedback on my music is appreciated
- Every now and then, I'll ask native speakers of this or that language to correct some articles I'm gonna publish. Great way for you to be the first one to know what's cooking!
- If you like what I'm doing, spread it around to your friends: send them the pages with my songs, links to my site, (soon I'll have a banner - yeah!! can somebody help me now to create a banner? I have an idea of how it would look like, just have no clue of how to do it. If you have some spare moments for it, please let me know), and forward my Newsletters. I'll be grateful for all these, it's something that you can generally do anytime. If there is some specific task I can't cope with, I won't be ashamed to ask :-)
Q: What else can you offer?
A: Posters, T-shirts & more:
Ringtones:
It says: Don't Fall Asleep
:-)
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