INSTRUCTOR BIO:

ESSENCE

Award winning singer-songwriter Essence has been immersed in art and music since childhood. Her birth name really is ‘Essence’ – she was raised by quintessential flower children. As a sixth generation native of San Francisco, her parents were two free spirited bohemian artists from the Haight-Ashbury ‘Summer of Love.’ Essence has released 6 CDs on both independent and major labels. Her sound nods to songwriting legends like Tom Petty and Lucinda Williams, Dolly Parton and Gillian Welch. In addition to writing folk/Americana, country, pop and rock songs, Essence has produced a very much-loved children's album called “A Dog Named Moo”. Essence recently received national and international spotlights for her work with Bernie and the Believers through NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series and BBC. The story and music of Essence’s band Bernie and the Believers is being developed into a major Hollywood feature film on which she will be a co-producer. She has toured nationally, opening for Jason Mraz, Shawn Colvin, Tom Petty, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Chrissie Hynde, Steve Miller, Pat Benatar, and Linda Perry.Essence’s soon-to-be released 7th studio album covers a lot of miles. A collection of hard-won wisdom captured in songs that could never have been written without real life living. It's an honest and at times humorous account of her losses and wins, to the bone and from the heart. Steeped in the traditions of the Appalachian, Americana and roots music that Essence grew up on with timeless dobro guitars, aching pedal steels, rolling banjos, and rich vocal harmonies on beds of church organs. On a road filled with searching these songs are mile markers along the way. While in the studio making her new record, Essence formed a strong musical and personal bond with guitarist, producer, and songwriter Danny Uzilevsky. Their newly formed duo features twinning vocal harmonies reminiscent of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and other great male/female duos, including Gillian Welsh and Dave Rawlings, making this pair a powerful emerging voice on the Americana landscape.When Essence is not in the studio recording, or on the road touring, she is a voice coach and leads powerful workshops called Finding Your Voice for artists and business professionals. Essence is also a dedicated mother to a wonderful son and daughter.