Hopefully, I can be forgiven for not hearing the name Dionne Stanbridge, or her artist name, The Artist Red until now, but the good news is, I get to dive in head first with her debut album, Gemini Woman.
And what a package to unravel.
A songwriter since childhood, she performed in the Taupo cover band, Back to Zerro for years, too shy to share her music to the world, and despite this, the saying is true, better late than never. Since 2019 she had had a swag of publicly released singles to her name and it’s clear that Dionne is a powerhouse of an artist with a strong sense of self and an unapologetic approach to her craft.
While artists like The Artist Red may seem like a dime a dozen, the truth is, there is something wholly imaginative about her musicianship that makes you take notice.
With a multi-genre sound, Gemini Woman is a 10-track debut that is soulful as it is sultry.
It’s also easy to hear that Dionne is magnetic, as a musician and most likely as a person. Are they even exclusively individual? Probably not. It’s the perfect kind of morphing that makes her sound an exhilarating experience to listen to, and I can imagine experiencing live too.
Straight off the bat, first track from Gemini Woman is Tourniquet Sugar. It’s solid, crunchy guitar riff gives bluesy rock n roll and a whole lot of sex appeal. Exactly as it should be. With riffs like this, it’s also just the start of Dionne’s vocal prowess and her distinct lyrical inflection.
Further in, and dependent on whether you’re listening to track four, or ten (both are the same track) is my personal favourite, Mother Show Me A Remedy. One thing to note, is one is the radio friendly edit, and the other, well you can guess is the version we’d all much prefer to hear over the sound waves. It’s gritty but delicate but doesn’t lose much around the edges and has the right amount of rock n roll pedigree swag. I just know you’ll be putting this one on repeat too.
These 10 tracks on Gemini Woman, I feel are just a glimpse into the brilliantly minded Dionne and what is to come. She wears her heart on her sleeve and wears it proudly.
A stunning piece of art that captures her essence and probably more she never knew she had.
The Artist Red AKA Dionne Stanbridge is a musician hailing from Tauranga, New Zealand. With a passion for music since childhood, The Artist Red has been writing songs & playing the drums since the age of 13. She learned to play the guitar at 19.
Drawing inspiration from a range of musical genres, including rock, blues, and folk, The Artist Red has developed a unique sound that sets her apart from other artists in the industry.
The Artist Red's recent debut album release Gemini Woman showcases her emotive and introspective lyrics, explore themes of love, activism, hyperactivity and self-discovery. Her powerful vocals and skilful songwriting ability are a testament to the dedication and effort she has prioritised as a musician.