Caught in the Carousel

Abra Moore

By Yvonne Prinz

Abra Moore

Abra Moore, the daughter of an artist and the sister of an accomplished jazz musician, was born in California and grew up in Hawaii. After an unsatisfying modeling career she formed the band Poi Dog Pondering and toured the world, eventually relocating the band from Hawaii to Austin, a city she's called home for more than a decade now. In the mid-nineties Moore left Poi Dog and signed as a solo act with Arista, producing the album Strangest Places, which contained her Grammy-nominated hit "Four Leaf Clover." She toured with The Barenaked Ladies, Matchbox 20, and Collective Soul and earned a spot on the Lillith Faire tour. Moore's music is constantly being sought out by Hollywood and has been featured in more than twenty films and television shows.

It's not every girl who can just say no to a record deal after an album's been recorded, but a little-known fact is that Moore walked away from producer Clive Davis's J Records due to creative differences and the album was scrapped. Moore eventually found a home with Sarathan records, an artist-friendly label out of Seattle. The result is On The Way, an emotionally rich collection of original songs.

I like my fruit and my music organic and Abra Moore's On The Way is as fresh and delicate and organic as a ripe red strawberry grown completely without pesticides. It appears that re-teaming with Mitch Watkins (who produced Strangest Places) was the way to go. The album boasts a breezy cohesiveness that can only come from a positive collaboration with one's producer and fellow musicians. "Into The Sunset" opens the album with reflective, poetic lyrics and rich instrumentation that harkens summer afternoons and sheets hanging on a clothesline in the backyard. "After All These Years" is a breathy, whispery soft reflection on loss and love. It begs to be taken out for a long drive that will hopefully end on a deserted beach somewhere. Later, the vocals on "You" are reminiscent of Billie Holiday and Moore takes the opportunity to play with her voice, twisting it into lovely, jazzy whorls. The album elegantly sets a quiet, sensual tone: the perfect backdrop for sitting and thinking or getting lost in your life or your car.

As she set out on tour in support of her new album, Moore revealed to Caught In The Carousel her Top 10 Favorite Billie Holiday songs of all time. Of Billie Holiday, Moore says, "I love singing jazz and I get to in these dinner clubs around Austin when I'm not on the road. I love it and I love Billie Holiday. I think you can hear a bit of that jazz influence on the new record more than my previous three albums."

Abra Moore's Top Ten Favorite Billie Holiday Songs:

1. For All We Know (Abra says: "She captures this song with such soul and depth—this tune is so special to me, it was my mother and father's love song.")

2. You've Changed

3. Having Myself A Time

4. He's Funny That Way

5. Strange Fruit

6. God Bless The Child

7. Don't Explain

8. I Cried For You

9. You Turned The Tables On Me

10. You Go To My Head

Abra Moore's On The Way is out now on Sarathan Records

Abra Moore
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