Norine Braun: Welcome
Usually I recommend CDs to listeners who like a certain genre, I can recommend Norine Braun's "Now & Zen" to listeners of all genres. That is a rare find. Dennis Halsey - The Best Female Musicians
The fan fundraiser is a great success and I am very honored and thankful for the wonderful support for my upcoming Acoustically Inclined album! $4280 was raised for the project and this will help tremendously!!! The breakdown is 1 at $500 featured sponsor, 16 at $100 for the Junior Executive Producer Level, 82 at $25 pre sale signed cd and 13 for the $10 download prerelease.
Investors came from all over including: Vancouver, Alberta, New York, Norway, the UK, Florida, Los Angeles, BC, Surrey, RIchmond, Germany and Ontario. I had no idea what to expect on this new fan funded pre sale idea and I am surprised and very grateful for the belief in my music and the generosity and willingness to contribute to the dream. More details on the new evolving album will be coming soon.
MORE REVIEW QUOTES FROM SONGS AND ALBUMS:
Crystallize
When I popped this cd in and went to the first track on the list (Norine Braun CRYSTALLIZE) the beginning of the track started out like some sort of fairy tale journey, from the minute Norine began singing I knew I would love this song. I’m reminded of the musical portions of those old 40s musical movies a la Fred Astaire or Judy Garland that I used to love watching as a child. I literally got the urge to break out into song and dance, definitely a voice that could turn around even the worst mood. Very fresh, very pleasant, well done Norine. Sheila Hash - high4records.com
Skylight
I like the classic style piano. It brings a level of Nora Jones eleagance to the song. And your voice is velvet smooth and cuts thru the air like a knife. I listened to the song the first time and did not pay attention to any of the words. Just the sound alone caried the song. "Under the skylight" very good a love song.With that voice you do not sound like someone who would have a problem getting a date on Saturday night. With that voice you could rule the world. Mark Gruebel
Classical touch
A semi classical pop intro, (at times reminiscent of Chicago's "Color my world) leading into an incredibly exceptional vocalist! Wow! Voice is my bag, and this is an amazing instrument. Depth, style, character, you name it. She knows her instrument and plays with it at will. Fabulous! The song is jazzy and bluesy at the same time, and a very good composition. That's a voice that could turn anything to gold! In this case though, everything was in a different class ... an extremely high one.Louis Gentile Eitorf-Bach Germany, Europe’s Leading Wagnerian Tenor
“Miles to Go is a stunner of an album, chock full of vivid imagery, great songwriting and performance talent...” Heidi Drockelman Indie-Music.com
“An elastic soprano easily accommodating a bass popping funk rock workout or a spacey blues tinged folkrock song.” Tom Heyman listen.com
Her strong, jazz inflected vocal presence. This woman sounds like she could sing Shakespeare. In a smoky nightclub. With a bad case of strep throat...” Annie Lin GoGirlsMusic.com
“Talented Canadian Singer-Songwriter. First rate.”Acoustic Guitar Connections guthriethomasstrings.com
“Crow is a vivid and compelling creation. It is refreshing when music creates thought. Crow does just that, it makes you think, feel and visualize. This CD leaves you satisfied and wondering what next?” www.stonewallsociety.com
Compelling Crystallize Captures Coastal Character
Vancouver, BC Canada November 2007-- Building energy behind her award winning single, Crystallize, Norine Braun premieres her new music video on nations music station's muchmoremusic channel. The video showcases First Nation west coast art styled animation by RUN!RUN!RUN! a motion graphics animation company from Toronto. Directed and designed by Davide Di Saro', this uniquely styled animation is applied graphically using all original hand drawings and then rendered digitally which creates an intriguing kaleidoscope.
Vibrant visuals display a dynamic story of a crow and it’s numinous relation to the singer-songwriter. The animated crows and other spiritual animal totems glide and dance with magical colour and psychedelic patterns captivating the viewer from start to finish. The playful video’s mystical quality reveals the interconnectedness of all things in keeping with the narrative of the song.
Crystallize is included on Norine’s latest multi-genre album Evolution of the Blood Star and is receiving much praise; Braun was chosen from a sea of artists to win the esteemed award Female Singer-Songwriter of The Year in the Jazz category at the LA Music Awards last November (2006). Her song 'Crystallize' boasted the honors; it is optimistic and heartfelt; you will be swept up in the dreamlike nature of Braun's voice, pure to the ear. Sheila Hash, of High Four Records, reacts to the song and says, "From the minute Norine began singing I knew I would love this song. I literally got the urge to break out into song and dance, definitely a voice that could turn around even the worst mood." 
