Self-described super ordinary girl-next-door Ileana Burdine is growing up, getting serious, and connecting with those who are meant to be effected by her music. On her fifth full-length release, Without Your Breath (available on iTunes and at www.IleanaBurdine.com), this folk-flavored pop princess brings a friendly sweetness to love, loss, and… being lost! Proving that there is a melody to her madness, the irresistibly hooky pop single “Einstein In A Skirt” contrasted with the haunting original spiritual “Thy Will Be Done” shows an artist comfortable with all sides of her character, and an ability to use imagery and humor to illustrate the ups and downs in all of our lives. “I Can’t Fall Asleep,” a frantic insomniac anthem with an honest vocal laced with pop-culture references and self-assured sass, is typical Burdine; accessible and familiar with an upbeat vibe which belies her darker lyrics. While the dreamy, acoustic ballad “Tread Softly” bears the delicate nature of an unguarded woman in love.
Born in Rome, New York, Burdine was always known as the family entertainer and storyteller, though wasn’t all that into music until she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico as a teen, graduating from the University of New Mexico with a BA in Psychology. She held odd jobs as a lifeguard, a crisis hotline counselor, and even as a phone psychic! It was her fellow lifeguards who “discovered” Burdine as a singer during early-morning games of Name That Tune around the pool. She was drafted to sing for their grunge rock band, Ulterior Motive. They recorded a CD and moved to the music capital of the world, Austin, TX, before moving back and breaking up. From there she learned to play guitar and joined a punk band called Passion/Aggression, where she learned that screaming just wasn’t her thing. At that point she finally discovered her inner singer/songwriter and started releasing solo CDs (Playing Solo, Miles To Go, and Counting Stars As They Fall), put a band together, and toured of the Southwest. She and her husband and three pugs have since moved to LA, where she recorded her award-winning Super Ordinary Girl.
Her journals and the occasional daytime talk show give Ileana plenty of inspiration for her songs which find their way into songs written on long drives in the car. In addition to radio airplay, Burdine has received accolades from the Billboard Song Contest, New Mexico Music Industry Awards, and the Weekly Alibi. She performs live all over the country, including high profile appearences at the Thirsty Ear Music Festival, PEAK Picnic, and Weekly Alibi Spring and Fall Crawls. New songs and upcoming national tour dates can be found on www.IleanaBurdine.com.
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