Summer (singer)
Encyclopedia
Summer is an American
singer-songwriter
and visual artist, best known for the singles, “Have to Leave,” “Not a Love Song,” and "Pink Elephants." Her first full-length album, Timing and Lighting, was released in September 2008. She completed a 300-piece series of poster-size pastel paintings of her signature emotive female faces to accompany the album's release.
singer-songwriter
who plays guitar
and piano
. She has been playing guitar
since 1991 and piano
since 2006. She played her first live performance in Tampa, FL in June 2002.
Her first demo, entitled Summer, was released in summer 2002 and showcased four original songs and a folk-rock style. She followed this up with a second four-song EP
, recorded in Los Angeles
in February 2005. Both were produced by electronic music
composer
Henry Strange. Three songs from these demos were later re-recorded for her 2008 release, Timing and Lighting. They are “Timing and Lighting,” “Messed Up,” and “Truth.”
In 2003, Summer acquired the trademark
to the name, “Summer” in the classes of live musical performance and prerecorded cd's. As a result, she is legally able to perform under the sole name “Summer.”
Summer had no formal training in music until 2006. To brush up on fundamentals, she attended the Old Town School of Folk Music
in Chicago
in the winter of 2006, where she took a record 12 classes in one term. Summer began studying piano
at this time. It was in Chicago
that she penned some of her best known songs, including “Have to Leave,” “Not a Love Song,” and “Home.” In Chicago
, she also began painting and revived a style and subject matter that she had begun in 2001 when she was grieving from her boyfriend’s suicide. The pastel-on-paper paintings are poster-size, colorful, abstract renderings of female faces in various states of emotion.
Previously, on a tour with Tampa-based performer, Jeremy Gloff
in December 2004, Summer had a chance meeting with a young Philadelphia-based businessman named Bill Bauman at a performance in Portland, OR. The two kept in touch and upon hearing the musical and artistic growth she had undergone during her time in Chicago
, he signed her as the founding artist to a record label he was starting, called LossLess Records
.
At the time, Bauman owned a second house in Portland, OR and the decision was made to move Summer into it as a place to develop her music and painting projects. There, she began studying voice with opera
singer, Claire Rupard, whose instruction Summer has repeatedly asserted was instrumental in her development. She also completed 250 paintings in Portland between summer 2006 and fall 2007. The series of paintings was intended as a complement to the Timing and Lighting album and grew in size to 300 paintings total by the album’s release in fall of 2008.
In summer 2006, Summer began working with renowned producer
/composer
Henry Strange to record the album Timing and Lighting, which features more of a pop music
style than her previous recordings. Henry Strange is an LA-based electronic music
composer
and longtime personal friend of Summer's. In Tampa, FL in 2002, Summer did Public Relations
work for Strange's recording studio
, Pure Tone Productions. The union of an experimental electronic music
-oriented producer and an artist whose songs lean toward piano pop and folk
yielded an album that is a unique mix of the two styles. This album has drawn comparisons to Dido (singer)
, Ingrid Michaelson
, Jewel (singer)
, and Colbie Caillat
.
The recording process was aided by composer
and musician
Jess Stroup, who contributed various instrumentation and produced the song, “Messed Up.” Stroup is rumored to be the producer of Summer's (yet-unnamed) next album.
In October, 2006, Summer was recognized as one of the “Top Ten Songwriters of 2006” by the Portland Songwriting Association.
In spring 2008, Summer began performing as a duo with Eric “Q” Danskine for live performances in the Pacific Northwest
.
Summer released the album Timing And Lighting on LossLess Records
in September, 2008, along with a 300-piece series of poster-size pastel paintings she did to go along with the album's release. The subject matter of the painting series is relatively abstract female faces that depict a clear emotion.
Summer displays her paintings on stage during music performances, often discussing why she chose to bring those particular pieces to the performance. She often refers to her paintings as "The Girls."
Summer exclusively plays handmade Wechter brand acoustic guitars that have a visually unique double cutaway body style. As of 2008, she owns three Wechter Pathmaker Elite series. She often performs with all three on stage because of her use of different guitar tunings.
It has been noted that Summer only wears bright, white-colored clothes when she performs. She has refused to comment about this.
.
Other than West Virginia
, Summer has taken up residence in Tampa, FL, Aix-En-Provence, France
, Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL, Portland, OR, and Miami, FL.
From 2002-2006, Summer worked seasonally as a Marketing
Tour Manager representing a variety of products and traveling across the United States
for her work.
Summer is just over 6' tall.
Summer has openly stated that she is bisexual. Her marital status as of 2010 is unmarried.
, September 2008
Summer EP, self-released, April 2005
Summer Demo, self-released, June 2002
2005 “Pink Elephants” Honorable Mention, Billboard World Songwriting Contest
2005 “Cream: Best of Philly Contest” First Round Winner
2007 “Not A Love Song” Honorable Mention, UK's Singer/Songwriter Awards
2007 “Have to Leave” Honorable Mention, “Song of the Year” Songwriting Competition
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and visual artist, best known for the singles, “Have to Leave,” “Not a Love Song,” and "Pink Elephants." Her first full-length album, Timing and Lighting, was released in September 2008. She completed a 300-piece series of poster-size pastel paintings of her signature emotive female faces to accompany the album's release.
Career Biography
Summer is an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. She has been playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
since 1991 and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
since 2006. She played her first live performance in Tampa, FL in June 2002.
Her first demo, entitled Summer, was released in summer 2002 and showcased four original songs and a folk-rock style. She followed this up with a second four-song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, recorded in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in February 2005. Both were produced by electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Henry Strange. Three songs from these demos were later re-recorded for her 2008 release, Timing and Lighting. They are “Timing and Lighting,” “Messed Up,” and “Truth.”
In 2003, Summer acquired the trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
to the name, “Summer” in the classes of live musical performance and prerecorded cd's. As a result, she is legally able to perform under the sole name “Summer.”
Summer had no formal training in music until 2006. To brush up on fundamentals, she attended the Old Town School of Folk Music
Old Town School of Folk Music
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in the winter of 2006, where she took a record 12 classes in one term. Summer began studying piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at this time. It was in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
that she penned some of her best known songs, including “Have to Leave,” “Not a Love Song,” and “Home.” In Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, she also began painting and revived a style and subject matter that she had begun in 2001 when she was grieving from her boyfriend’s suicide. The pastel-on-paper paintings are poster-size, colorful, abstract renderings of female faces in various states of emotion.
Previously, on a tour with Tampa-based performer, Jeremy Gloff
Jeremy Gloff
Jeremy Gloff is an American performance artist, advice columnist, singer, and songwriter.-Biography:Jeremy was born in New York on January 8, 1975...
in December 2004, Summer had a chance meeting with a young Philadelphia-based businessman named Bill Bauman at a performance in Portland, OR. The two kept in touch and upon hearing the musical and artistic growth she had undergone during her time in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, he signed her as the founding artist to a record label he was starting, called LossLess Records
LossLess Records
LossLess Records is an American record label founded by Bill Bauman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006. LossLess Records' founding artist was Summer and they later signed Jeremy Gloff in 2008...
.
At the time, Bauman owned a second house in Portland, OR and the decision was made to move Summer into it as a place to develop her music and painting projects. There, she began studying voice with opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer, Claire Rupard, whose instruction Summer has repeatedly asserted was instrumental in her development. She also completed 250 paintings in Portland between summer 2006 and fall 2007. The series of paintings was intended as a complement to the Timing and Lighting album and grew in size to 300 paintings total by the album’s release in fall of 2008.
In summer 2006, Summer began working with renowned producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
/composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Henry Strange to record the album Timing and Lighting, which features more of a pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
style than her previous recordings. Henry Strange is an LA-based electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and longtime personal friend of Summer's. In Tampa, FL in 2002, Summer did Public Relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
work for Strange's recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, Pure Tone Productions. The union of an experimental electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
-oriented producer and an artist whose songs lean toward piano pop and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
yielded an album that is a unique mix of the two styles. This album has drawn comparisons to Dido (singer)
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
, Ingrid Michaelson
Ingrid Michaelson
Ingrid Ellen Egbert Michaelson is a New York-based indie-pop singer-songwriter. Her music has been featured in episodes of several popular television shows, including Scrubs, Bones, Grey's Anatomy The Big C and One Tree Hill, as well as in Old Navy's Fall 2007 Fair Isle and Opel's/Vauxhall's...
, Jewel (singer)
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
, and Colbie Caillat
Colbie Caillat
Colbie Marie Caillat is an American pop singer-songwriter and guitarist from Malibu, California. She debuted in 2007 with Coco, which included hit singles "Bubbly", "Realize", and "The Little Things". In 2008, she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy. Caillat released her...
.
The recording process was aided by composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Jess Stroup, who contributed various instrumentation and produced the song, “Messed Up.” Stroup is rumored to be the producer of Summer's (yet-unnamed) next album.
In October, 2006, Summer was recognized as one of the “Top Ten Songwriters of 2006” by the Portland Songwriting Association.
In spring 2008, Summer began performing as a duo with Eric “Q” Danskine for live performances in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
.
Summer released the album Timing And Lighting on LossLess Records
LossLess Records
LossLess Records is an American record label founded by Bill Bauman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006. LossLess Records' founding artist was Summer and they later signed Jeremy Gloff in 2008...
in September, 2008, along with a 300-piece series of poster-size pastel paintings she did to go along with the album's release. The subject matter of the painting series is relatively abstract female faces that depict a clear emotion.
Summer displays her paintings on stage during music performances, often discussing why she chose to bring those particular pieces to the performance. She often refers to her paintings as "The Girls."
Summer exclusively plays handmade Wechter brand acoustic guitars that have a visually unique double cutaway body style. As of 2008, she owns three Wechter Pathmaker Elite series. She often performs with all three on stage because of her use of different guitar tunings.
It has been noted that Summer only wears bright, white-colored clothes when she performs. She has refused to comment about this.
Personal life
Summer is the eldest of five children. She spent most of her youth in the small town of Bridgeport, WV. Her father is an engineer and her mother is a homemaker. In one of her most popular songs, “Pink Elephants,” Summer alludes to the fact that her mother has a mental illness. Though her mother is not known to be diagnosed with a mental illness, Summer believes her mother has a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder called compulsive hoardingCompulsive hoarding
Compulsive hoarding is the acquisition of possessions in excess of socially normative amounts, even if the items are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary...
.
Other than West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Summer has taken up residence in Tampa, FL, Aix-En-Provence, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL, Portland, OR, and Miami, FL.
From 2002-2006, Summer worked seasonally as a Marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
Tour Manager representing a variety of products and traveling across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for her work.
Summer is just over 6' tall.
Summer has openly stated that she is bisexual. Her marital status as of 2010 is unmarried.
Discography
Timing and Lighting, LossLess RecordsLossLess Records
LossLess Records is an American record label founded by Bill Bauman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006. LossLess Records' founding artist was Summer and they later signed Jeremy Gloff in 2008...
, September 2008
Summer EP, self-released, April 2005
Summer Demo, self-released, June 2002
Awards
2006 “Top Ten Portland Songwriters of 2006” Portland Songwriting Association2005 “Pink Elephants” Honorable Mention, Billboard World Songwriting Contest
2005 “Cream: Best of Philly Contest” First Round Winner
2007 “Not A Love Song” Honorable Mention, UK's Singer/Songwriter Awards
2007 “Have to Leave” Honorable Mention, “Song of the Year” Songwriting Competition