Biography
Sun Palace originated with Andriette Redmann, a longtime New York City resident whose earlier solo work appeared on CBS Records Italy. Within the project she assumes multiple roles, supplying every lead vocal, writing nearly all the material, performing on electric keyboards, and sharing production duties. Her chosen sound for the group emphasizes lush textures, gentle dynamics, and strong melodies while remaining dreamy and atmospheric; as a result the folk-rock and adult-alternative tracks glide rather than drive, a quality that extends to both original songs and the occasional cover, including Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” a fitting selection given its place among the British band’s more acoustic-leaning recordings. Redmann’s own compositions draw comparisons to a range of artists from Aimee Mann, stripped of her sharper edges, and Shawn Colvin to Björk, Kate Bush, and the October Project, the ensemble East Coast songwriter Mary Fahl left before pursuing a solo career. Echoes of earlier acts such as the Strawbs and the late Sandy Denny also surface, revealing an ability to blend influences from the 1960s and 1970s alongside those of the 1980s and 1990s. Although Sun Palace does not fit strictly within new age boundaries, its ethereal qualities have drawn interest from new age listeners across the eastern United States, particularly admirers of Enya. Producer and guitarist John D. Rokosny, whom Redmann met in the 1990s and who has collaborated with the Smithereens, functions as an unofficial partner; he contributes electric and acoustic guitar parts, assists with production, and has offered consistent support. Redmann herself is not originally from New York; she spent her formative years in the small Wisconsin community of Fish Creek. After a period in Boston that included studies at the Berklee College of Music, she relocated to New York City, where connections eventually secured the CBS Italy contract. She resided in Italy for a time, yet once that association concluded she returned to New York and established Sun Palace. The project’s debut album, Into Heaven, appeared in 2000, and the track “Flying” from that release was featured in the documentary Healing from the Inside, which examined the experiences of women in prison. The follow-up, Give Me a Perfect World, arrived independently on Drake Entertainment in early 2005. Designed to Fly was issued in 2009.
Albums
