On their new EP, The Gift, pianist Alise Ashby and cellist Kristen Miller deliver eight lush original compositions with a calming,soothing effect. Heartfelt melodies soar over intricate piano and cello phrases, uplifting and transporting the listener to a peaceful atmosphere.
By Heartdance Records
Kristen Miller is a Billboard charting cellist and a Shamanic Sound Healer. Classically trained from an early age, Kristen discovered non-classical improvisation as a means of self-expression. She began writing her own compositions, which led to four solo releases, all of which charted on college and community radio across North America.
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Kristen was the cellist on Ryan Judd’s guitar and cello record, An Open Sky (2018) which won a Zone Music Reporter Award and spent over a year on the Billboard Top 10 Chart for New Age. Their second release, Soaring Together (2021) has enjoyed rave reviews and extensive global radio play. In addition to solo playing, Kristen enjoys working as a session cellist for artists like What Time is it, Mr. Fox?, Vance Gilbert, and Irma Thomas. Parisian Sketches (2023), a relaxing collection of multi-layered cello impressions of Paris produced by Grammy Nominee Tom Eaton, is Kristen’s second release on the Heart Dance label. She is the recipient of several awards and scholarships including Jam Magazine’s Female Artist of the Year, and the Zara Nelsova scholarship for excellence in cello playing.
Alise Ashby is a British pianist, composer & songwriter based in New England. Her fans know her for her moving melodies as the music transcends the listener into a serene world of their creation. At the age of 16, Alise was commissioned to write her first film score, for a 90-minute feature presented at The Cannes Film Festival. Whilst living in London, and studying part-time at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, she began spending hours in the recording studio as she honed songs.
After moving to Boston, in 1999 Alise wrote what became her first album, Moonlight in Vermont – a collection of New Age instrumentals with NewSound Music in Vermont. The bestselling track, A Place Called Paradise played on Sirius XM Spa for 15 years. In 2016, Alise released an orchestral cinematic album, Far & Beyond which was followed by a New Age/Jazz-influenced EP, entitled Diamonds later the same year that won an award. From 2018-2019, she released a single a month. The first 11 became Jazz Collection 1.
As a way to address the world’s disparity and desperate need to unite, Alise released the single pop song, Gotta Learn To Love in July 2020. And in response to the enormity of loss felt by millions during the pandemic, in December 2020, Alise released the pop ballad, I Will Carry You. Her multi-instrumental work has been featured in commercials and films. Her Diamonds EP – won an award for Best Ambient Instrumental Award Winner in March 2019.
For more information and music samples, see Bandcamp.
See our Kirsten Miller coverage: newagemusic.guide/tag/miller-kirsten