Linda Draper - Biography

Linda Draper's musical influences started right at home. Her mother studied music composition (piano/guitar). Her father, Frederick Draper is a classical guitarist (who made his critically acclaimed debut at Carnegie Recital Hall back in 1976). Early curiosity led Linda to singing in the church choir and then venturing into studying music at SUNY Purchase Music Conservatory in New York. From there she took to writing and performing at various venues. Linda's music has been embraced by the Antifolk music scene in New York City that spawned notable artists such as Beck and Michelle Shocked.

In a short span, she has recorded and released several outstanding long players. In 2001 she recorded her debut LP "Ricochet" with famed NYC icon Kramer, who had already discovered/produced seminal acts Galaxie 500, Urge Overkill, and Low, among others. By the time her third LP "Patchwork" was released in 2003, the music press had proclaimed: "The strength of her output increases with each record and it's obvious that she's on the brink of achieving something great…" (Splendid) Linda Draper's four year, four LP working relationship with Kramer would be complete with 2005's worldwide critically acclaimed "One Two Three Four" (released on Planting Seeds Records in the USA and Mushroom Pillow Records in Europe and Japan). "One Two Three Four" would later receive numerous nods at year end "Best Album" lists/polls - Vanity Project (UK), Dutch publications Soundvenue, Real Roots Cafe, US publications Unfinished and Copacetic among others. In 2007 Linda released another collection of worldwide praise - for her fifth studio LP "Keepsake." The LP was produced by Linda and Major Matt Mason (Adam Green, Kimya Dawson, and Jeffrey Lewis etc). "Keepsake" included three college/indie radio hits: "Traces Of" (also released as a digital single On Oxford, UK's Shifty Disco Records), "Shine", and "How Long"

Her catalogue also features appearances on great tributes to the very artists that continue to inspire her. In 2004 she appeared on "Poison Ochs: A Tribute To Phil Ochs," (Wood Records) with a stellar reading of "Flower Lady." The following year she contributed "The Lottery Song" (with Brian Wurschum, of The Voyces) to "I'll Never Leave You: A Tribute To Harry Nilsson," which was also released via North Carolina based Wood Records. Recently she played alongside Marshall Crenshaw, Dolorean, Jeffrey Foskett (The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson) among others, on Planting Seeds Records' "Easy To Be Free: The Songs of Rick Nelson" - released June 2006. She also appeared on 2004's introspective collection "Sunsets & Silhouettes" featuring great performances from Freeheat (Jim Reid of The Jesus & Mary Chain), Camera Obscura (Merge Records), Mark Gardener (ex Ride), and others. The track "Super Zero" was featured on Darla Records ever popular "Little Darla Has A Treat For You" series." Her music was also heard on influential radio stations/shows WFMU, WNYC's "Soundcheck", NPR's All Songs Considered, and WBAI's Radio Unnameable hosted by the legendary Bob Fass (who has also supported Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs). To round things out, a few of Linda's songs, "Parasite," "Super Zero," and "Seven Black Crows" were featured in Wickshaw Productions Off Broadway show Greyhounds, Starring Heather Massie ("Jungle Book," "Romero And Juliet" etc.) and Cheri Wicks ("Sex In the City," Sopranos, etc.). Linda Draper's star continues to shine with each new release.

In the last several years, she has toured Europe and has played countless US performances, including a support slot for Verve recording artist Teddy Thompson (son of Richard and Linda Thompson) at The Enterprise Club in London in 2005 and the Athens Popfest in Athens, GA in 2004 (featuring Boyracer, The Sunshine Fix, and The Minders). In June of 2007, she played her first West Coast shows, which included stops in Olympia, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego among others. Linda also made her debut at the 2007 NYC International Pop Overthrow, a line-up that also featured fellow NYC artists The Voyces, Marykate O'Neil and many others. Currently residing in New York, Linda continues to perform at several popular venues around the city: The Knitting Factory, The Living Room, The Cake Shop, Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End and The Sidewalk Cafe, to name a few. Linda's sixth LP is due out in 2009 which will be produced by Brad Albetta.