Bloom to perform The Adele and Amy Songbook at Laycock Street Theatre on April 7 | video
BE MOVED: Perth singer-songwriter Amanda Canzurlo - aka Bloom - sings the songs of Adele and Amy Winehouse in her acclaimed new touring show which arrives at Laycock Street Theatre on Saturday. Picture: Supplied
THE first time I became aware of the Australian singer Amanda Canzurlo was when she performed the national anthem before a cricket Test match in Perth a couple of summers ago.
I liked her from the get go because, unlike so many others who take on Advance Australia Fair before a sporting fixture, she didn’t over-sing it.
Canzurlo, who performs under the pseudonym Bloom, is introducing her soulful voice to a very different national audience with her new show The Adele and Amy Songbook.
Each artist alone has more than enough songs to sustain a tribute show: think Adele’s Hello, Rolling in the Deep, When We Were Young and Winehouse’s Valerie, Rehab and Love is a Losing Game.
But Bloom always wanted to bring the songs of both artists together in the one show.
“I didn’t want to just do one because there’s a lot of just Adele and just Amy shows,” Bloom said.
More than that, Bloom sensed a synergy that could be explored by teaming both artist’s music on the one night.
“I saw similarities and I thought the songs complemented each other.
“Similarly, they sing about loss of relationships, and they’re quite sad songs. But in a nice balance, Adele does big power ballads whereas Amy has got a bit more grit.”
Under-pinning the union is each singer’s soul base, and Bloom’s own earthy tones.
Amanda Canzurlo is Bloom. Picture: Supplied
And just like her approach to the national anthem, Bloom doesn’t mess with unnecessary adornments to songs that fans cherish.
“Like the anthem, I try not to change them too much,” she said.
“I stay true to my own sound, but as far as the songs go I keep them as close to the originals as possible so that people can sing along and it sounds familiar to them.”
Apart from her vocal chops, Bloom has been praised for her ability to move an audience with her song interpretations.
“I definitely want people to feel moved. Everybody who comes to the show cries, so BYO tissues,” she said.
Bloom is also a songwriter, and performs a couple of her original works in the second half of her show.
Bloom will perform TheAdele and Amy Songbook at Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford, this Saturday night, April 7. Tickets cost $65 for adults.
The earthy vocal tones of Amanda Canzurlo are well suited to the songs of Adele and Amy Winehouse. Picture: Supplied