Search - Antje :: Simply Being Cleopatra

Simply Being Cleopatra, the follow-up album for Sweet Pickle Music recording artist Antje, brings together solid songwriting and insightful studio crafting. Produced by Lou Carlozo with Michael Hagler and Antje, the record is made up of multiple dimensions: inventive pop tunes, introspective ballads, and ironic acoustic swing. Recorded at Chicago's Kingsize Sound Labs by Hagler (The Pulasrs, The Waco Brothers) and Ed Tinley (Liz Phair) the 12 original songs feature Antje and her band on basic tracks with guest tracks by Dave Max Crawford and Paul Mertens (Poi Dog Pondering), Patty Ortega and Carlos Basile (Las Guitarra de Espana), WXRT's Ellen Miller (Buckwheat Zydeco, Cathy Richardson), and many other including producers Carlozo and Hagler. The result, basic 4-piece acoustic pop songs judiciously fused with cello, clarinet, alto fulte, ukelele, harmonica, trumpet, xylophone, piano, bass trombone, mandolin, 12-string electric guotar, and more. Simply Being Cleopatra presents an edgier side of ANTJE's music that is only heard covertly on her debut "Big Open Sky". Paradoxically, the album, while darker and perhaps more dangerous, contain hints of ANTJE's wit and playfulness, in the words of producer Carlozo, "The new material is reminiscent of what would happen if Edith Piaf, Melanie, Suzanne Vega and Bonnie Raitt got together for a weekend retreat to toast marshmallows and write some songs."