Miwa Gemini, who combines a classical music education as a child in Japan with a creative aesthetic she developed studying art and living in New York City, embodies all of Grizzly Rose’s qualities. Her repertoire combines folk-infused lullabies with balmy nocturnes and the melancholy of a dust-bowl carnival.

It was not Miwa's intention to make her third album to be a "concept" album at all, much less about stories of Grizzly Rose. But as the recording process progressed, it has become clearer (or louder) to Miwa that Grizzly Rose indeed has lots to share.

Grizzly Rose has made an impression on others, too. LadyBug, who played bass on “Pioneertown Love Story,” happened to be on the same bill as Miwa Gemini one night. As soon as she heard the song “Grizzly Rose,” now titled “Pioneertown Love Story,” she went up to Miwa and told her "If you haven't recorded that song, I want to play bass on it!"

Miwa Gemini’s unique voice pairs wonderfully with the distinctive talents of Aaron Burns (accordion/glockenspiel), Matt Brundrett (drums/percussion), and many others, all of whom join as collaborators in Miwa Gemini’s vision, which is at once natural and other-worldly.

Miwa expands her sonic palette on The Fantastic Lies of Grizzly Rose. The opening track "Goodnight Trail" could be a perfect theme song for James Bond films if he was a cowboy; “Matchbox House Blues” and “Carroll Street,” employ a complex orchestration of nontraditional instruments; “Troubling Waltz,” transports the listener to a carousel; and adopting a third language, French, the closing track "Chanson" is a moving elegant ballad.

Fantastic Lies of Grizzly Rose is set to release on 05.31.11

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