Occhino’s album to debut on iTunes

by Brian Barr
Verification Manager

You may have seen senior Lisa Occhino walking to class or at one of her afterschool activities, but did you know that soon you will be able to find her music on iTunes? On February 20, Occhino will officially debut her first album, Discovery, on iTunes, Rhapsody, and in local CD stores. Although Occhino classifies her album as pop, it’s filled with everything from jazz to funky reggae jams that are sure to be a hit with all audiences.

“I thought Discovery would be an appropriate title for my first album because as a musician, I’m currently in the process of discovering my sound and my style,” said Occhino. “But I also titled my album this because I really wanted to relate to my audience. I think everyone goes through their lives trying to discover who they are as a person.”

Occhino’s songs are loaded with strong emotions and powerful messages of inspiration, encouragement, and coping. “Although I do draw inspiration from my own life, I find that I’m often inspired by other people’s stories. My goal is always to express universal feelings through my music, because the most important thing to me is that my listeners can emotionally connect to my songs,” said
Occhino.

Occhino performs all of the lead vocals, harmonies, and piano on her album. Her 11 years of passion and dedication to music have led to an invitation to showcase her talent at New York City’s oldest and most famous rock club, The Bitter End. She will perform on May 30 on the very same stage that has been graced by superstars such as Miles Davis, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, and Lady Gaga. “This was a goal I set for myself as a musician, but I never thought it would happen so fast,” Occhino said.

The news of Occhino’s the album release is clearly creating a buzz within the Stamford community and beyond. Within only two weeks of hitting the web, Occhino’s Facebook page racked up over 300 fans from all around the world. But for Occhino, it’s not just about recognition, but how she can give back to others. Occhino plans to donate 20 percent of her physical CD sales to the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic (SYAP) Outreach music program that serves all families, regardless of their ability to pay tuition.

“We at Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic are delighted to have Lisa join in our efforts to raise awareness of our long-standing commitment to music education and outreach into the community. During these difficult economic times, every donation goes a long way toward the continuation of scholarship help to those in need,” said Executive Director Joyce DiCamillo.

To listen to tracks featured on Occhino’s upcoming album, and for more information about the SYAP Outreach program, you can join Occhino’s Facebook fan page or head over to LisaOcchino.com.

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Occhino