Gia Ciambotti

Smoky, Hypnotic, Earthy
Michael Holloway, Australia

Born: Giulietta Ciambotti
September 13, 1962
Birthplace: Hollywood, CA

Though she is best known as a backing vocalist for artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Belinda Carlisle, and Lucinda Williams, Gia Ciambotti is a soulful performer with a true passion for music.

Ciambotti has formed several bands; The Scarletts, The Circuitbreakers, and Badly Drawn Boy to name a few. However, she first made audiences take notice while in a band called The Graces, spearheaded by Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go’s, and future ‘Bitch’ sensation Meredith Brooks.

The Graces only released a single album, Perfect View in 1989 before dissolving in 1992, but it was a solid release, packed with powerhouse rockers and tender ballads, including Out In The Fields, which Caffey co-wrote with Carlisle.

Being Famous is so Invasive

Though Caffey had stated she would never be in an all-girl band again after The Go-Go’s had split, she enjoyed working with Brooks and Ciambotti, despite her initial fears.

Caffey: “The Go-Go’s were under so much stress that we used to cry all the time….Being famous like that was so invasive.”

Ciambotti: “Like going to the gynecologist!”

Caffey & Brooks: “Euuccchhh!!!”

Though The Graces were named after three goddesses in Greek Mythology who presided over the arts, Ciambotti quipped, “Well we thought it sounded better than The Forks, or something!” upon being asked about the origin of the band’s name.

Ciambotti said (on first meeting Caffey and Brooks), “Charlotte’s house is very big and overwhelming and Meredith is very beautiful and overwhelming…”

Brooks said of that same meeting, “Gia walked in and she was attitude! At first she kind of scared me, but then I realised it was a very cool attitude. She had a very ‘street’ thing happening.”

A Definite Bond

Caffey says, “There’s a definite bond between us. There’s really something there…. when we sing – it’s there.”

Ciambotti said, “We’ve learned a lot from each other. I continue to learn.”

Caffey sums it up by saying, “I feel really, really fortunate to have found Gia and Meredith….they are the fresh input in my life, it’s like a gift, or something.”

After The Graces separated in 1992, Ciambotti toured with more prominent artists, rather than going solo as Brooks did in 1997.

It was only a matter of time before the public would hear Ciambotti perform her own compositions, with her smoky, hypnotic voice capturing the listener’s soul, sometimes tender, other times earthy.

Children’s Album

In 2002, Ciambotti recorded a children’s album, Snowflake, weaving themes of family, hope and the joys of childhood. This project was an enchanting mix of updated standards such as, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Itsy Bitsy Spider. Plus popular standards, which appealed as much to adults as to children, such as Shenandoah and Ciambotti’s own compositions that seems to appeal to all age groups. Of these, the most catchy songs are the title song Go Away Little Monkey and I’m Not Afraid.

Snowflake features Ciambotti’s close friend Ned Albright adding backing vocals and her own father, Dr. John Ciambotti performing bass. Albright also wrote two songs for the album Never Want You Far Away and Flying.

Ciambotti’s former band mate, Meredith Brooks, released a similar project, If I Could Be in 2007. Who said mothers couldn’t be rockers, and vice versa?

On Her Own

Exactly one decade after Blurring The Edges made Brooks a star, Ciambotti released her own debut adult contemporary album, Right As Rain. Though Ciambotti’s album was not an overnight sensation as Brooks’ was, it is a very strong, haunting, and beautiful work of art, in my humble opinion.

Ciambotti’s record label, New Light Entertainment, proudly promotes Right As Rain as an album that “draws you into the moment without sense of time or space. Her vision and artistry put her at the forefront of a new wave of artists with the experience and seasoning to forge music into the next era.”

As for Ciambotti’s future plans, in a message sent to me via MySpace, she says:

“I would LOVE to tour Australia! I appreciate your buying my CD.. Let me know what you think. I will be singing backgrounds with Joe Walsh this summer in the US… and one date in Canada. Nothing else on the books right now. I am glad to hear that you are well now. I definitely want to see your review of Right As Rain.  And I agree, being heard worldwide is my intention. Thank you for your interest and support Michael. I hope to meet you in person.. sooner than later.

Blessings
~Gia”

For more information about Gia Ciambotti, please visit her Official MySpace
All Photos courtesy of Gia Ciambotti

Tagged Charlotte Caffrey, Gia Ciambotti, Merideth Brooks, music, The Go-Go's. Belinda Carlisle, The Graces