- Chris Arena
-
chrisarena.com
Christian Joseph Arena is a singer-songwriter born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and currently residing in Los Angeles, CA. His self-titled debut album, released July 20, 2010, includes two songs in the award winning film Dark Fall.
Contents
Biography
Arena was born into a music-oriented family. His father, an airline pilot, also played guitar and taught Chris how to play.[1] His grandfather also played guitar as a jazz musician in New York City, and purchased what became a very rare 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar. The guitar was passed down to Chris’ father, who gave it to him in high school under the condition that he pursue music as a career.[1]
As a teenager, Chris moved with his family to Memphis, TN in 2005. Chris attended the University of Memphis from 2004 to 2008, and began writing the songs that would eventually comprise his self-titled debut. He moved to Philadelphia in 2010 after recording sessions for his album were completed.[2]
Career
Chris’ self-titled debut was released on July 20, 2010.[3] The album was arranged by Grammy-wining producer Craig Street (Nora Jones) and mixed by three time Grammy-winning sound engineer Tony Maserati (WILL.I.AM, Jason Mraz, John Legend).[4]
The songs Crazy and Wait from the album are featured in the film Dark Fall, a documentary about New Jersey surfers. .[3] The film premiered on July 16, 2010.[5]
Performances
Chris has performed at the Dark Fall première and encore showing at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ, and will be performing at subsequent showings in San Diego, CA and at the Tribeca Surf Film Festival in New York, NY.[6]
He also plays solo shows regularly in Philadelphia, Ardmore, and Doylestown PA, New York, NY, Margate, NJ, and Somers Point, NJ, and at the Rootstock Music Festival in Jackson, NJ [6]
Press
News about Chris and his album have been featured in the Press of Atlantic City (Atlantic City, NJ), dtown Magazine (Doylestown, PA), 54 Magazine (New Hope, PA) and on NJ.com. His album was announced online at Eat Sleep Breathe Music (the track Crazy was the blog’s Song' of the Day on August 8, 2010), and in Atlantic City Weekly's (Atlantic City, NJ) Raves and Faves section on August 6, 2010.[7]
Reception
Lou Russo of dtown Magazine described Arena's CD as "an alternately intimate and anthemic slice of indie rock and neo-folk,[1]" and Michael Reynolds of NJ.com noted, "[Chris Arena] could take his music in a million directions and it'll be fun to watch where he goes.[2]"
References
External links
Categories:- Living people
- 1987 births
- People from Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Musicians from New Jersey
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