Amanda J Abizaid

Female

Sarasota, FL

United States

Profile Information:

I am an:

Indie Artist

Artist's or Band's Name

Amanda Abizaid

City & State

Sarasota

Country

United States

Music Genre(s):

Singer songwriter, indie, pop, folk, global crossover

Bio:

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, model and actress; these are just a few of Amanda’s many given talents. As a model, the statuesque Abizaid has walked the runway for designers such as Jacques Fath, Nina Ricci, Zandra Rhodes, and Oscar De La Renta everywhere from Germany, Miami, New York and London. And if you’ve never seen her modeling or acting, you’re sure to have heard her sing, even if her name does not immediately resonate with you.
As a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist – piano, guitar, and flute - Amanda is best known as the captivating vocalist on the theme song "A Place In Time" from Paramount's The 4400, the featured song "Dreams in Ashes" from Lifetime Television’s Odd Girl Out, as well as other lead vocal appearances in songs appearing in Smallville, Ed, One Tree Hill, Felicity, and Charmed. Amanda also composed and sang movie theme songs for 3 Below, 13th Alley, and the independent short film, Facing the Lion, by writer director, Joe Plonsky, and executive producer, Scott Spiegel, in where she also stars.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon to an American mother and Lebanese father, Amanda and her four older sisters sang continuously as her instinctive musical talent emerged as naturally as her permanent smile and infectious laughter.

The influences of Western recording artists, such as Elton John, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and The Beatles combined with the abundant Middle Eastern music she heard and sang daily growing up in Beirut to create her own unique musical identity.
After the family relocated to the United States when she was 10-years old, Amanda went on to graduate from Langley High School in McLean, Virginia. She continued her studies at the Corcoran School of Art in Georgetown before transferring to the Catholic University of America where she studied drama and music.
Upon relocating to Los Angeles in the ‘90s, Amanda immediately sought out to expand her musical universe by meeting the best musicians on the scene and by performing live. Early gigs introduced Amanda to Styx drummer; Todd Sucherman and bassist Shane Soloski, the latter with whom she formed the band Blue. Other members of Blue included Alice Cooper guitarist; Eric Dover, Ricky Martin guitarist/saxaphonist/keyboardist; Ron Dziubla, John Doe drummer; Brian Head, Tom Jones bassist; Mike Mennell, and Brian Wilson vocalist; Taylor Mills.
Through her many connections with leading musicians, in the early part of the 00’s, Amanda started to receive offers to sing for several popular TV shows including VH-1’s Strange Frequency, two songs for the film, Devious Beings, with Stephen Phillips and Tim P, the iconic composing and songwriting duo and founders of Bosshouse Music.
In 2004, Amanda would sing the theme song A Place in Time for the critically-acclaimed television series, The 4400, thereby solidifying her place as one of Hollywood’s First Call female vocalists for top television productions.
So impressive was her vocals on “A Place in Time,” Adam Buckman of the NY Post stated, "I'd like to thank Amanda Abizaid for making TV more memorable this summer," and Paul Fleck, former Executive Director of Marketing of Paramount Pictures’ Motion Picture Group calls her "A Place In Time" performance “sheer perfection” on what he considers “one of the greatest television theme songs ever.”
In 2004, Amanda set her own musical course and released her first EP, the five track; The Great Plan Vol. 1, followed by the single CD; Lebanon, backed with Ata’s Song in 2005.
Upon hearing her single Lebanon, Micha Chahhoud from the The Lebanese Broadcast Channel International wrote Amanda, “We are honored to add your name among those personalities, so that Lebanese youth can discover people like you and their achievements in different fields.”
Amanda then released the11-track full length CD; The Great Plan Vol. II in 2006, and the 8-track EP; This Life in 2010.
Always loyal to her musician friends and associates as her star continues to rise, Abizaid recorded This Life, infused with a sensuous and seductive Middle Eastern flair, backed by an impressive 6-piece band of seasoned Los Angeles pros consisting of, in part, Mike Mennell, Ron Dziubla, as well as trumpeter Max Vasquez, Ali Shayesteh on Saz and Bouzouki, drummer; Stewart Jean, and pianist; Dan Nissila. The single, This Life, was co-written with producer Morty Shallman.
This Life debuted on FMQB.com’s ACQB Adult Contemporary Chart at #2 Most Added on July 27, 2010, beating out Plain White Ts, Heart, and Katy Perry. The following week of August 3, This Life rated #4 Most Added record on ACQB, beating out Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Five For Fighting. In addition, This Life also scored very well on ACQB Top 200 peaking at #60 during the week of August 31, as well as #15 on Small Market AC/HOT AC Up and Coming, and #27 on Small Market AC/HOT AC Top 30 Indie Chart.
Brian Ball, music editor of WomansRadio calls This Life, “the perfect half-hour escape from the boundaries of time and space altogether,” and Paul Fleck states, “This Life is unquestionably her most accomplished work to date, with already-classic tracks entitled “Undivided,” “Wash Me,” and, well…actually, every single track on the album is fantastic.”
Paul Fleck continues, “As Amanda’s star continues to rise, and she ultimately achieves the recognition she so richly deserves, one can only imagine the volume of extraordinary and wondrous music she has yet to produce… and I can’t wait to hear more!”
Amanda Abizaid most recently released a new EP in support of HelpPhilippineSchools.org, a non-profit organization that helps children get the best education possible through the betterment of existing schools, working "from the inside out." Walking In Twos, featuring the legendary Stephen Stills, is a 7-track EP including two diverse mixes of the titular song, which was inspired by Amanda’s experiences with the Aeta Filipino children. The EP also features other original songs and released worldwide on all digital platforms March 3, 2017, along with a limited physical release. The EP has won 7 international prestigious awards and hit #92 on itunes world music chart the first week of it's release. The project’s goal is to create a self- sufficient revenue stream using proceeds from the song's downloads and streams to buy school supplies for the Aeta children of the Philippines.
“It was an easy part on a really nice song! Amanda is Fabulous. Really! Check this out!” - Stephen Stills
“The hard work and dedication of Amanda Abizaid shows all over this new track 'Walking In Twos'! Thank you for asking me to play on this new project. The addition of the Aeta Filipino children's voices recorded 'on site' really brought even more life to an already upbeat and spiritually uplifting song. You are truly a SAINT!” - Mark Stephen Weitz, Strawberry Alarm Clock
Amanda continues to perform live throughout Los Angeles on a very regular basis, national festivals, such as Indiegrrl in Nashville, Tennessee, and in 2018 Amanda toured all of California performing in countless venues to promote Walking In Twos.
Amanda’s contribution to the betterment of society inspires and encourages her fans to respect and value all cultures through their shared love of music. The grand purpose? Create a more peaceful world society through understanding, appreciation and respect of each other. Amanda also remains an avid supporter of women in music.
During Amanda’s two-week music teaching tour in the Philippines with http://www.helpphilippineschools.org, she performed shows and inspired happiness to the children in the very poor areas and schools especially the Aeta, an indigenous people. She was awarded a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the school board for her sincere efforts in encouraging songwriting and individuality among the students. Upon her return to the United States, Amanda was appointed Cultural Ambassador to the foundation to help raise awareness here in the U.S. She plans to return to continue her work encouraging young girls to further their education in order to help their people and communities become self-sufficient.
Amanda became a board member for 4-Africa http://www.4-africa.org in 2013 fulfilling her desire to give back, encourage and help the youth, men and women of African communities through the support and inspiration of music. Amanda helps 4-Africa.org raise funds through local concerts where she performs with other participating musicians of all stripes and genres, and looks for to the possibility of going to African villages in the near future to teach the joys of music.
Amanda remains a performing artist with Daniel Pearl Foundation for 7 years, an organization to which she dedicates all of her shows to in October of every year, a member of the Soka Gakkai International USA (The Buddhist Association for Peace, Culture and Education) for 10 years (http://www.sgi-usa.org), and The America Victory Orchestra for 7 years.
Fulfilling a life-long dream to perform with a choir and orchestra came about when Amanda played the flute with the America Victory Orchestra and sang lead with both the America Victory Orchestra and the SGI Choir in 2012.
Amanda has been a volunteer singer with the Holiday Music Making a Difference organization for five years. The organization, consisting of regular folks to Rock Stars of all eras and genres, visit and entertain at nursing homes throughout Los Angeles and Southern California during every Holiday Season.
There are countless singers who lend their voice to an infinite number of anonymous TV gigs, but Amanda Abizaid is recognized with a voice that resonates above the crowd with an adventurous spirit that makes any song to which she contributes vocals, and all of her albums, unpredictable and mesmerizing.

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