BioBio

Inspiring, tender and passionate, Torres’ songs and performance are soulful personal portraits rooted in universal themes of compassion and hope.   It is her unique blend of authenticity and grace that makes Torres' music both refreshing and inspiring.  Torres' songs draw you in by being both catchy and lyrically moving.

Such qualities as a songwriter have awarded her numerous honors such as being selected for the prestigious Emerging Artist Showcase for the 2010 FalconRidge Folk Festival, receiving 3rd place in the 2010 Music to Life Songwriting Competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival (out of over 300 applicants) and receiving Honorable Mention in the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and Telluride Troubador Songwriting Competitions.

In addition to these honors, Vanessa has toured nationally, sharing stages with numerous acclaimed artists from Kaki King to Erin Mckeown to Anais Mitchel. In 2008, Torres was asked to join Holly Near, Laura Love, John McCutcheon and Emmas Revolution in the ‘Sing out the Vote’ tour rallying voters for Barack Obama across the battleground state of Ohio. 

Good Times Music Magazine describes Vanessa's songs as having"...a lighthearted yet serious contempt for social mores combined with a well of charisma and a smile that can still grab the attention of a society that worships the superficialities championed by prime-time t.v.." 

Straddling the lyrical and the political folk music realms, Torres’ songs are full of raw emotion and a strong call to justice 

 Chris Darling, host of WMPG radio says of Torres, "No stranger to community activism, her music is a testament to her belief that music, community and making a difference are all tied together."  

Torres’ latest album "Witness" was released in May 2008.  Featuring 13 original songs, Witness was produced by the critically acclaimedBoston producer David “Goody” Goodrich, best known for his work with roots legend Chris Smither and alternative contemporary folk artists Peter Mulvey and Jeffrey Foucault. Witness was recorded by Mark Thayer at the Signature Sounds Studio, one of contemporary folk’s premier record labels.

  

Touching Ground
Touching Ground

Tamara Torres (harmony vocals)

Tamara can remember hours in her bedroom as a child singing Eidleweiss and Amazing Grace into a tiny Sony kid's tape recorder and then playing it back to herself and trying over and over again to try to "capture the emotion." In high school, she asked her sister to join her for a choral audition where they sang an Indigo Girls song in front of an audience... it wasn't long before they were singing in southern pizza shops and nameless coffee houses, where both their political lyrics and tight vocal harmonies stood out from the other high school talent. At Mount Holyoke, Tamara continued to sing both with Vanessa and on her own, developing her vocal range and love of harmony. Upon graduation, Tamara plotted her move to Portland, Maine amid threats from her sister that she would be there alone... luckily, Vanessa fell in love with the snowy city and both have called it home since. When not singing, Tamara dabbles in other artistic endeavors. She is the Culinary Artist and head chef at the North Star Music Cafe, building and supporting community through her healthy eats and passion for local food politics. She also explores the healing arts as a massage therapist and through her love of yoga and movement therapy. Tamara loves being a part of Touching Ground, not only because of a love of creating music, but because she deeply believes in the lyrics and feels blessed to be a part of making that message manifest.

Ra Criscitiello (banjo, accordion, supporting harmonies)

Ra grew up in Boston and played classical piano since elementary school. She picked up guitar in high school, and developed her old time clawhammer banjo style during her undergraduate years at Cornell University. Ra has played in the folk and old time scene, performing and recording with various artists, including Katie Sawicki. Ra owes her banjo beginnings to after-hours clawhammer sessions with her barber in Ithaca, NY. Ra is cultivating a relatively new love affair with her beautiful vintage accordion. When not playing music, Ra can be found climbing mountains, running triathlons, and doing sedentary law-student-related activities.