Surfacing

“Dirtie Blonde”

Dirtie Blonde

Jive

Artist info: Amie Miriello, the lead singer with hair that gives the band its name, has a delivery that is emotive, sassy and swaggering. She can push her alto to challenge the structural integrity of her larynx when she wants to, but is most comfortable teasing and scolding at a level that could work for contemporary country (should she choose to cross over). It is her distinctive voice and attitude that guides everything in Dirtie Blonde, and her songs, written with guitarist Jay Dmuchowski, reveal that drive and longing for success that have propelled the band into a deal with Jive and the release of this debut album. There’s also a self-deprecating humor along with a good backdrop from the band of punchy, cohesive arrangements that don’t interfere with Miriello’s singing.

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Back story: Miriello was born and raised in Stamford, Conn., but moved to New York City to attend the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Along the way, she hooked up with Dmuchowski and they began to write together and gig around town when she wasn’t working her bartending job. A scout for producer Billy Mann caught a gig and the MachoPsycho production team, which had worked with Pink, became involved. Two weeks later, the debut album was being recorded for Jive with Los Angeles-based members Sean Kipe (guitar), Dean Moore (bass) and Tim Perez (drums) joining Miriello and Dmuchowski. Recently the band has opened for Teddy Geiger and INXS.

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Influences: Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, classic rock.

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Trivia: Bassist Dean Moore in a mini-documentary says, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, “We don’t drink, we don’t smoke and we don’t swear. Everybody knows that ... uhh, we’re just going to the bar ... we might have an O’Doul’s.”