Dee Carstensen

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dee Carstensen
Born (1956-02-18) February 18, 1956 (age 68)
Maryland
OriginNew York City
GenresContemporary folk, New Age[1]
Instrument(s)Harp
Years active1993–
LabelsNYC Records, Exit Nine Records, Universal
Spouse(s)Mike Mainieri (m.1993)[2]

Dee Carstensen (born February 18, 1956[3][2]) is a New York City-based contemporary folk and new age singer and songwriter. She is also a harpist of which she uses in several of her albums.[4]

Personal life[edit]

Carstensen was born on February 18, 1956 in Maryland and later moved with her parents and four siblings to Rochester.[3][2] She started her musical interest by playing piano when she was 5 years old, and later took up stringed instruments when she was 8.[5] Part of her studies in the stringed instrument family included the harp, which was done with a harpist from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.[2] Carstensen described her relationship with stringed instruments as "love-hate", while she said her upbringing was "classical training" she was also listening to Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, James Taylor, and Jimi Hendrix.[5] Carstensen is married to vibist Mike Mainieri, who she says is the "single most important influence on her musical career."[6][7] She cites this by mentioning 2 separate instances where she would "throw out ideas" and Mainieri offered his constructive criticism for her.[6]

Career[edit]

Carstensen's debut came in 1993 with her album Beloved One, which was largely produced by Bob Marlette.[2][5]

included guitar work by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.

Her second album, Regarding the Soul (1995), integrated her singing, songwriting and harp-playing.[8] The Map (1998) was a collaboration with Mainieri.

Dee also recorded a children's album, Can You Hear Lullaby (2001), which featured guest vocals Everett Bradley, Curtis King and Julie Dansky and instrumental work by her husband.

Dee went back into the studio and recorded a solo album, Patch of Blue, which was released in 2005.[7] Unlike previous work, all eight songs were originals, except Fly Away whose music was co-written with her husband, who played vibraphone on the album. Patch of Blue did not include any guitar work. Instead, it featured Dee's harp and vocals, with backing from the Tosca String Quartet and several woodwind players.

Carstensen has been described as using her harp "like a guitar" in her folk/pop compositions.[9]

Discography[edit]

  • Beloved One (NYC Records, 1993)
  • Regarding The Soul (Exit Nine/Universal Music, 1995)
  • The Map (Exit Nine/Universal Music, 1998)[10][11]
  • Home Away From Home (Live Album, Exit Nine/Universal Music, 1999)
  • Can You Hear a Lullaby (2001)
  • Patch of Blue (Exit Nine/Universal Music, Released in November 2005)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Map: Dee Carstensen". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Arthur Wood (2006). "Dee Carstensen – Bio". Texas Tech University - Southwest Music Archive. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Megan A. Bledsoe (2012). "The Harp in Jazz and American Pop Music" (PDF). University of Washington. p. 38–40, 76, 96.
  4. ^ "Dee Carstensen » Bio". nycrecords.com. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Chris Morris (September 9, 1995). "Something NARM-ed his way comes; Two labels turn 10". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 36. p. 97.
  6. ^ a b Dylan Siegler (January 10, 1998). "Exit Nine's Carstensen Gets marketing Push Via GRP Deal". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 2. p. 7 & 83.
  7. ^ a b Garner, Dwight (February 6, 2008). "Living With Music: A Playlist by Meghan Daum". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  8. ^ Siegler, Dylan (January 10, 1998). "Exit Nine's Carsetensen Gets Marketing Push Via GRP Deal". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 2. p. 7.
  9. ^ John Shepherd, Dave Laing, Peter Wicke, Paul Oliver, David Horn (2003). Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 2. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 429. ISBN 9781847144720.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Jon Fojtik and Keith Zimmerman (June 5, 1998). "Summer Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2209. p. 40.
  11. ^ "Show Them The Way". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 33. August 15, 1998. p. 12.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dee_Carstensen&oldid=1225853090"