Photo by Gene Dominique
Vocalist and composer, Amie Cota (born, Amy LaCour), has performed both nationally and abroad and has independently released four recordings of original music. Throughout multiple collaborations, Amie consistently pulls from the American roots traditions of blues, soul, jazz, and folk.
Cota spent the better part of 2015 researching for and composing a song cycle setting African American poetry in a musical setting. The project, "Any Place But Here" for voice and string quartet, premiered at the Oakland Museum of California in 2016. Amie has recently completed her second song cycle, "Water.Bodies.Land" for voice and string trio. It was staged with dancers and premiered at San Francisco's SOMArts in July, 2023.
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"If it's been a long time since you last heard some new music and went, "Wow! Who is that?!" then give a listen to singer-songwriter Amie Cota. "
Paul Freeman, Palo Alto Daily News
"Her husky, soulful vocals, as full-bodied as a fine wine, ache with a heartbreak fusion of fortitude and vulnerability, bringing to mind other great singers to whose league she belongs... Cota's songs are mostly mid-tempo ballads of deep soul and jazzy melodic sweetness wed to poetic lyrics of sorrow and triumph, such as the great opener 'Bittersweet,' and especially 'One Man’s Stone,' which resounds like a timeless spiritual. Great soul standard."
Paul Zollo, American Songwriter Magazine
“It's not quite soul or jazz or folk, it's a delicious combination of all three.”
29-95.com
Cota spent the better part of 2015 researching for and composing a song cycle setting African American poetry in a musical setting. The project, "Any Place But Here" for voice and string quartet, premiered at the Oakland Museum of California in 2016. Amie has recently completed her second song cycle, "Water.Bodies.Land" for voice and string trio. It was staged with dancers and premiered at San Francisco's SOMArts in July, 2023.
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"If it's been a long time since you last heard some new music and went, "Wow! Who is that?!" then give a listen to singer-songwriter Amie Cota. "
Paul Freeman, Palo Alto Daily News
"Her husky, soulful vocals, as full-bodied as a fine wine, ache with a heartbreak fusion of fortitude and vulnerability, bringing to mind other great singers to whose league she belongs... Cota's songs are mostly mid-tempo ballads of deep soul and jazzy melodic sweetness wed to poetic lyrics of sorrow and triumph, such as the great opener 'Bittersweet,' and especially 'One Man’s Stone,' which resounds like a timeless spiritual. Great soul standard."
Paul Zollo, American Songwriter Magazine
“It's not quite soul or jazz or folk, it's a delicious combination of all three.”
29-95.com