One of the things most frequently noted about Vancouver-based singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Amanda Dean is that she makes the listener really believe the message in a song. Amanda digs deep down to bring the heartfeltness with a voice that has been described as gravelly and rich yet somehow smooth, soulful, old school and impactful.
Her powerhouse vocals and astonishing vocal range (which spans over four octaves) are
evenly matched by her energy-filled, charismatic stage presence which successfully connects with and draws in the audience.
Amanda has extensive experience in the music industry, performing internationally in North America, the UK and other parts of Europe. She was signed (no longer under contract) to an independent record label in London, England, at the age of sixteen. Her debut single, a contemporary R&B song ‘My Family Say’ (under the name ‘Nicci Hall’ reached number seven on the Zip Chart in Japan. In addition to this, it was also featured on many soul/R&B compilation albums released internationally, and was featured on various video games such as Nintendo Wii U Dance Games Party. She has also worked as a session vocalist, both live and in the studio.
She was heavily influenced by Soul music as a child, and has since had the honour of sharing the stage with a number of Motown artists such as Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, (Does Your Mama Know About Me) The Elgins, (Heaven Must Have Sent You) Charles Davis and the Contours, (Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance) The Undisputed Truth, Thelma Jones, Almeta Lattimore, (former background vocalist for Aretha Franklin) Pat Lewis, (background vocalist on many Motown hits) and many others. She was also equally influenced by rock and counts Led Zeppelin and the Beatles as some of her earliest influences.
She has also had the pleasure of performing the Canadian and American National Anthems for major sports teams such as the Vancouver Canucks (NHL), BC Lions (CFL), and Vancouver Canadians (MiLB).
In addition to her solo career, Amanda fronts the popular, long-established, Vancouver R&B band ‘Incognito’ and performs as part of the ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’ show with Rob Montgomery and his All-Star band.
Amanda is currently in the studio writing, producing and recording an album of original material that will incorporate, guitar-driven rock, R&B and contemporary ballads. Amanda strives to write great commercial songs that have wide appeal, but her aim is to make music that hopefully captures the magic of those early records that influenced her. She has a team of some of the top musicians in Vancouver, involved in the project. Amanda writes a lot of her songs from personal experiences and her mission is to connect with and inspire others through her music.