Alan Semerdjian

New York-based indie singer/songwriter Alan Semerdjian has quieted down considerably since his days fronting the sonic alt-pop outfit Surreal. Although the driving grooves and swirling guitars are missing, Alan's current work still has the same attention to craft and poetic sensibility of his earlier days as well as the deep melodic longing that earned him the respect of critics, fans across east coast and beyond, CMJ attention and radio airplay, and television and film credits. His newest batch of songs (produced by Mike Bloom of Rilo Kiley and The Elected) is his most accessible work to date and features a host of special guests from all corners of the music world.

Alan has had music placed in PBS, LIFETIME and WB network programs as well as a song in the short film "Whatever We Do" starring Robert Downey Jr., Tim Roth, and others. The unreleased short film (written by actor Kevin Connolly and produced by Tobey Maguire for FOX SEARCHLAB) is currently only available online.

His 2005 independently-released CD When There Was Something Wrong With You - which features the production work of Michael Bloom, Philip A. Jimenez (Wheatus, Easy Anthems, Beat Radio), and Brian Blackburn (Peggy Lee Sings Lieber and Stoller) – created quite a buzz in NYC. Alan was a featured performer on WFUV's City Folk Sunday Breakfast in 2006 and its Under the Radar Series in 2007. In addition, songs on "When There Was Something Wrong With You" received airplay on internet stations such as Indie Artist Radio, Fearless Radio, Harris Radio, and Buzzplay.

Recent tours in support of When There Was Wrong With You (including stops at The Hotel Café in LA, Casa Del Popolo in Montreal, and The Living Room back home in NYC) have introduced Alan’s unique style of songwriting to new fans and critics across North America.

Alan’s new album, The Big Beauty, is produced by Mike Bloom. Basic tracks were recorded with Matthew Cullen (My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne, Rachel Yamagata) at The Clubhouse Studios in Rhinebeck, NY and special guests include Franz Nicolay from The Hold Steady and international duduk player Jivan Gasparian Jr. While The Big Beauty is perhaps Alan’s most commercially-accessible work to date, it still retains the gutsy inventiveness and integrity of one of New York City’s most interesting voices.