Cheryl B. Engelhardt
Photo: Anne Skidmore Photography
One Up - Cheryl B. Engelhardt Album Review
Album Review
Cheryl B. Engelhardt can remember playing the piano at three years old - she muted the television and matched her melody with what was happening onscreen within the cartoons. Unsurprisingly, the New York-based artist graduated from Cornell University in Biology and Ecology alongside a double major in Music.
Cheryl then abandoned the cold waters of her scuba diving research job with the United States Geological Survey for the exoticness of Rome where she found herself writing music for a website. From freelance indie film composing to picking up odd side jobs, Cheryl landed a position as a messenger at New York editing house Crew Cuts.
Following this she was hired as a technology assistant at jingle house Big Foote Music - which led to opportunities to compose for commercials. Soon, however, Cheryl's love of performing took over and after putting together a band she dropped her debut studio album - winning VH1 and Billboard Songwriting awards as well as Unsigned Artist of the Month in Keyboard Magazine.
Subsequently she released her sophomore album - Craving The Second - in 2007 and now returns with her third effort, One Up. Cheryl said that whilst feeling lost in the world she started to write songs that she needed to hear - leading to a record overflowing with piano poetry. Those that are in love with someone or something and like their key ballads with a dash of Sara Bareilles/ Tori Amos/ Regina Spektor will easily fall for One Up. It's a soothing listen from beginning to end in thanks to some of the string instrumentals and Cheryl's lyricism flair clearly absorbed from her experience as a jingle creator. Highlights on the record include Memory, The Kid In Me, Where I Am and Fairytale.
