Media Contact: Liz Kay Dark Horse Music Collective 805.994.9952 liz@darkhorsemuisccollective.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Susan Ritchie, one of the Central California Coast’s favorite songwriters and performers, releases her new album, Life Is For the Living.
Winner of the 2022 New Times Music Award for best R&B/blues song, and finalist for 2023 in the same category, Ritchie serves up a 10-song release full of fun, up-tempo blues songs, with big, bold productions and horns, as well as soulful Americana songs.
(San Luis Obispo, CA, November 1, 2023 ) – Susan Ritchie releases her new album today, Life Is For The Living, after almost a year in the making, as a follow-up to her 6-song EP How Many Miles in 2022 which included “Cloudy Day,” winner for Best R&B/Blues song New Times Music Awards. This year, Susan is a finalist in the same category “The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” from her new release, with the winner being announced at the awards on November 3rd. A collection of Central Coast’s finest musicians has contributed to the record.
Life is For the Living is exactly the progression an artist wants to see when applying their passion to the recording process. Working with producer and musician Rob Vermeulen of Robbo Music, production began with Susan’s organic process of writing every song on acoustic guitar. The quality of the final record was achieved by bringing in some of the central coast’s finest players for both solo studio sessions and live recording sessions with all of the instruments.
Susan comments “The album is full of themes I like to write about, delivered with the wide musical palette that inspires me: some big, bold horn-filled productions, funky and fun grooves, beautiful acoustic guitar, funny social satire, storytelling, quirky love songs, and some old-school blues.”
Collaborators include Daryl VanDruff on drums, Jacob Odell on electric guitar, Wayne Walcoff on keys, Rob Vermeulen on bass and additional guitars, Sadie Jasper and Josh Rosenblum on backing vocals, and Scott Martin (of the band War) and Martin Brother horns.
“The collaboration in making production choices is my favorite part of the journey – the layering of chill-worthy backing vocals, the power of a horn section, beautiful acoustic and electric guitar parts, perfectly-placed keyboards, Hammond, and piano, with the best drum and bass grooves supporting it all,”, Susan comments.
Life Is For the Living is available on all streaming platforms.
Susan hosts a record release listening party and live performance on Saturday November 11th, and all are welcome!
Location: Puffers of Pismo
781 Price Street, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-6563
Time: 7:00 – 10:00 PM
7:00: Susan streams her new album, Life Is For The Living in its entirety, with a brief introduction to each song and a few comments.
8:00-10:00pm: live duo performance with Rob Vermeulen with more original songs and some fun and unique covers.
Available media resources:
Please contact Liz Kay for images, music and interview requests. SusanRitchieMusic.com
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