Biography

Fearless honesty, poignant lyricism and powerful melodies are the textures used to weave singer-songwriter Allison's Invention's (formerly Allison Tartalia) unforgettable music. Her compelling and expressive performances have charmed and thrilled audiences throughout the country. Allison's Invention's new adult-alternative project, Sweet and Vicious, is a lush melodramatic pop EP. The songs feature Allison on piano and a variety of vintage keyboards, with strings and horns creating a lavish soundscape. On Sweet and Vicious, Allison's Invention proves that she is ready to bring her music and her career to new heights.

A staple on the New York City music scene, Allison is no stranger to accolades and applause. Last year she was nominated for an Emmy alongside fellow composers for the music that they created for the documentary 5,000 Miles From Home. Her debut CD, Ready, garnered enthusiastic praise from The Village Voice and The NY Times. Well-loved for her energetic live performances, Allison's Invention spent this Summer touring the West Coast, Midwest and New England. Most recently, she played at Joe's Pub with Rachael Sage, Rachelle Garniez and Greta Gertler as part of the "Piano Driven Women" benefit concert. She opened for Lelia Broussard at Mercury Lounge in December of 2011 and will be performing at SXSW in 2012.

On Sweet and Vicious, Allison's Invention digs deeply into her personal history and family struggles. On the EP's opening track, "Clean," Allison declares, "I am sick of this city/I am sick of being broke." It's an urgent plea for a fresh start that ultimately concludes with her decision to "strive to find a light instead." Though the songs on Sweet and Vicious were inspired by a particularly painful time in Allison's life (becoming her mother's caretaker after a terminal cancer diagnosis and the simultaneous unraveling of a serious romantic relationship) Allison's Invention writes from a space of clarity, growth and, ultimately, peace. "My mother's illness forced me to examine everything about my relationships and choices. Eventually I realized that the best way to honor her was to let go of the anger I'd been carrying around and start taking better care of the person she had brought into the world." There is a tangible honesty in her self-reflection that is rarely seen in other modern artists. Sweet and Vicious is a call to embrace the complexities of our decisions, take a look in the mirror, and find the beauty and balance within the pain of emotional growth.

Sweet and Vicious was produced by Grammy Award winner Michael Leonhart (Alice Smith, Steely Dan) and mixed by Brian Sheuble (Rachael Yamagata, Lenka) and was released in late 2011. On this project, Allison's Invention fills a void in the music industry. A woman who knows that every line is well-earned war paint, Allison's Invention gives us the permission to fall, pick ourselves up and start all over again. Sweet and Vicious is a project that has the transcendent depth to put Allison's Invention on the map.