"An Introduction of Myself to You" An Evening with Amanda Cottreau

Amanda Cottreau was the eighth to perform RedLeaf Music’s acoustic music series called Simple Sounds at A Thing For Chocolate in Ottawa. Every Thursday evening from January 22 to May 14, one local indie musician has a two hour spotlight surrounded by delicious sweet and savoury crepes and chocolate drinks.

A very emotional Amanda, thankful for the chance to spend the evening with her audience, opened the night with a Bob Dylan cover, “Make You Feel My Love”. Her voice was a little shaky as she held back her tears until the very end when they could no longer be contained. Amanda’s voice is sexy. Her music is romantic and full of love like the love she has for her son who requested a song be written with “ladidadida” so that he can sing along, or the struggle she had when leaving her home town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. She’s a small-town girl with a huge heart who wraps her arms around everyone who approaches her as if they are long lost friends. She tells you her stories through song and melody, an introduction to herself as she puts it.

Universe In A Soft Shell is Amanda’s newly released 5-track EP. It’s a beautiful album to listen to, and it might even make your eyes water. Raphael Weinroth-Browne’s compositions in “Hiatus”, “Fall”, and “Couldn’t Wait” are enchanting and together with Amanda’s lyrics, Ryan J. Potter on percussion, acoustic guitar, vocals and piano, and Michelle Pinard on violin, the music is spellbinding.

Amanda Cottreau will be entering a new song, “Lady Lover”, into this years CBC Radio 3 Searchlight competition. Although Amanda will appreciate each and every vote she receives, she says that it’s more important to her that this song be heard and shared. The song will be released on her website on March 23rd.