Seattle singer’s ‘In the Skyline’

Seattle-based singer/songwriter Andrea Wittgens is one of several musicians and performing artists taking to the stages of the Edmonds Arts Festival this weekend, and a long way from her birthplace in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Wittgens, headlining on the Wine Bar &Bistro stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 19, finds herself right at home in the Northwest.

Wittgens’ sultry vocals often find her compared to artists as varied as Rickie Lee Jones, Regina Spektor and PJ Harvey. Original songs with clever yet disarmingly honest lyrics are her speciality.

Wittgen’s experience in front of an audience goes back to early childhood, when she first tap danced as a four year old. Later she gave ballet a try, then piano, where she sat on several telephone books at recitals. Continuing with piano through high school, Wittgens eventually spent several years teaching music, dance and movement, while refining her chops playing keys and singing in the high school jazz band. She continued with advanced classical music studies, graduating as a dual major at Queen’s University, Ontario.

Wittgens moved to Seattle in the mid-90’s becoming an interactive music programmer at Microsoft. She began her pop writing career in earnest, playing late nights at bars in Seattle’s Pioneer Square with future members of Sugartown. By 1999, Sugartown had gelled into a full fledged band, and in 2000, the group released “Blue Eyed Fool.” The EP was followed up by “How Do You Love, Aquamarine?” and the band hit the road for a West Coast tour.

As Sugartown wound down after a five year run, Wittgens took advantage of the momentum to launch a solo career. With the help of Grammy producer/mixer Bob Power (Erykah Badu, Maktub, Citizen Cope), Wittgens released her first solo effort, “Alibi,” in October 2006. The EP and Wittgens’ distinctive voice garnered positive reviews, both at home in the Northwest and on the east coast, where she performed to packed houses at legendary NYC venues like The Living Room, The Knitting Factory, and The Bitter End.

Wittgens’ full-length follow up album, “In the Skyline,” arrived two years later in November 2008 and was released locally in Seattle. Working with rock producer/mixer Johnny Sangster (Mudhoney, The Briefs), the album represents a return to a more visceral live band setting, Wittgens at the helm on piano. The album also includes a reunion with producer Bob Power (on “Beautiful You”) as well as some co-production teamwork between Wittgens and guitarist/producer Vincent Gates (“Punchline,” “Marching Orders” and her first original French recording, “Comme tu veux”). This week marks the official national debut of “In the Skyline.”