“Whiteacre shines like a thermo-nuclear explosion.” - Jack Briggs
— Music Connection
Alison Whiteacre
hellacious, exciting musicianship
It'd be tough to match the depth and diversity of Alison Whiteacre's journey as a songwriter, musician, and composer. With a dozen original albums to her credit, plus thousands of sync tracks for television and film through her company, Big Planet Music Inc., Whiteacre has performed alongside artists such as Suzanne Vega, John Prine, Bobby McFerrin, Robben Ford, and beat poet Allen Ginsberg. Her work has won awards from the Milan Film Festival, the Billboard Song Contest, and the National Academy of Songwriters, with critics praising her 'bold body of musicianship' (Guitar Player) and 'truly twisted fretwork, sugary melodies, and off-kilter harmonies' (Stereo Review).
“...one of the most interesting and enjoyable recordings I've heard in years.” - Bill Piburn
— Fingerstyle Guitar Journal
Project details
After two decades working on her studio tan scoring TV and film, Alison Whiteacre stepped away from music in 2015 to see what else the world had to offer. Seven years, and a coaching career later she returned to music with a renewed vigor and small mountain of music bursting at the seams. Coming Out Alive, as the title suggests, also acknowledges Whiteacre’s personal and lifesaving journey of gender transition, via an adventurous set of instrumental tone-poems in a return to her first love, modern acoustic fingerstyle guitar.
Press / Reviews
Fingerstyle Guitar Journal Review
"...one of the most interesting and enjoyable recordings I've heard in years. ... [Coming Out Alive] balances groove, beautiful yet unpredictable harmony, clever themes, wide tonal colors, and first-class production."
— Bill Piburn, Fingerstyle Guitar Journal
Minor 7th Acoustic Guitar Blog
"Filthy grooves and sophisticated melodies together at last! ... Alison Whiteacre's writing is sophisticated, and her performance skills are top of the class. ... Double thumbs."
— Steve Reinthal, Minor 7th Guitar Blog
Fingerstyle Guitar Journal Interview
"A lot of the jazz influence is inspired by Lenny (Breau). A bit later I went to a concert to hear Will Ackerman. Then, when I heard Michael Hedges (open the show,) I got my face blown off! I also learned a lot listening to Bert Jansch and John Renbourn."
— Alison Whiteacre, in conversation with Bill Piburn, Fingerstyle Guitar Journal
Yamaha Guitar Development Interview
"I'd like people to feel the joy. The title is about that whole process, coming out of being burned out, going through everything I went through, and then coming out alive on the other side."
— Alison Whiteacre, in conversation with Erin MacGregor, Yamaha Guitar Development
“Filthy grooves and sophisticated melodies together at last! Double thumbs.” - Steve Reinthal
— Minor 7th Acoustic Guitar Blog