Christine Tobin
Secret Life of a Girl
BDV 2875

Official release date: 12 May 2008.

Bye Bye (lyrics Eva Salzman /music C Tobin)
Camille (Tobin)
Corner Of An Eye (Tobin)
Dreamland (Tobin)
No Love No Thrill (Tobin)
Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen)
Minx (Tobin)
Secret Life of a Girl (Tobin)
Poses (Rufus Wainwright)

with Liam Noble (piano), Kate Shortt (cello), Phil Robson (guitar), Dave Whitford (double bass), Thebe Lipere (percussion) and Simon Lea (drums).


“A singer who refuses to be boxed in by convention” The Sunday Times

"Sexy, gutsy, bluesy and beautiful."
Lionel Shriver, author of ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin'

Late spring will see Christine Tobin embark on a fourteen date UK tour to coincide with her new album. The seventh release from this great Irish singer promises to be her best yet - ‘Secret Life of a Girl' sees Tobin weave tales of childhood innocence into those of multicultural London, refracted through a fascinating prism of characters. Her part fantasy, part biographical album tells of journeys from tough urban landscapes to seaside retreats, of tree houses, pebbly beaches and noble steeds.

Says Tobin: “The idea of ‘the journey', both in the physical world and in the transformation from youth to maturity, is the theme expressed in my songs through stories of different female characters. Camille is the carefree ten-year old girl who lives happily in a world where the lines between reality and fantasy blur. ‘Secret Life of a Girl' is about the trials, treasures and thrills found on the brink of change. Whilst in contrast ‘Corner Of An Eye' is inspired by the short stories of Annie Proulx, rocking horses and the notion that the horse symbolises all that is good and true in human nature.”

Dublin-born singer/songwriter Christine Tobin has been living in London since 1987. Her work is firmly rooted in a tradition that emphasizes storytelling and breaks through many musical genres to create a heady potion that is uniquely Christine. Her innovative and expressive style has led the Guardian to call her the Björk of Euro jazz.

Her music has been described as authentic, streetwise, radical and romantic. John L. Walters of the Guardian says she possesses a "24-carat voice" and Jazzwise hail her as "probably the most adventurous jazz singer of her generation in this country, with the ideas and willingness to push back the boundaries and explore new territory with each new album." In 2004 Christine was nominated for Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards, and her vivid interpretations of Bessie Smith were featured in film director Mike Figgis' Red White and Blues documentary film in the Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues series.

This immediate crossover album should see this girl being a secret no more.

Christine Tobin Updated UK Spring Tour

25th April: Brighton Komedia

26th April: London Vortex

10th May: Liverpool the Bluecoat

15th May: Gateshead The Sage

16th May: Sheffield Millenium Hall

17th May: Howden Hear & Now Music Festival

22nd May Nottingham Bonnington Theatre

31st May: Canterbury Orange St Music Club

6th June: Ronnie Scotts Soho (headlining)

7th June: Birmingham Polish Club

8th June: Bristol Colston Hall

12th June: Norwich Arts Centre

3rd July: London Lauderdale House

13 th July Chelsea 606 Club

19th July: Manchester Jazz Festival

"One of the great mysteries of the U.K. scene is why Christine Tobin has not broken through to a wider audience. This album leaves the back door open for fans of P.J. Harvey or Joan as Policewoman to get into her music."   Jazzwise May 2008

"Christine's own lyrics often echo Cohen's style of poetry. "I will let you flatter me/ Stroke my silken hair/ And when you tousle with my shyness/ Make you believe I really care" - sounds like Leonard to me."
Lionel Shriver in Jazzwise Magazine May 2008

More press quotes

A fascinating performer, somewhat remote from thejazz mainstream, but entirely in the spirit of the music (Penguin Guide to Jazz)

No time to scat Christine Tobin is inspiring on her own material. But she is in a class of her own singing Leonard Cohen (John L Walters)

TOBIN’S SONGWRITING SKILLS PUT HER MORE IN THE CLASS OF CARMEN LUNDY AND PATRICIA BARBER. BUT THE BEST SONGS ON THE ALBUM PUT HER IN A CLASS OF HER OWN (THE GUARDIAN)

ABOVE ALL THE VOICE IS A KILLER (FROOTS)

www.myspace.com/ctobes

FOR GUEST LIST, REVIEW COPIES OF THE ALBUM AND MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: gazellesounds@aol.com tel: 07745 14 24 46

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