May 02, 2008

By By Ann Donahue, L.A.

Singer-songwriter Anya Marina has signed to Chop Shop Records, the
Atlantic-based label of music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas.

Marina's first, still-untitled album will be released by Chop Shop in September. It will feature collaborations with Spoon's Britt Daniel, Louis XIV's Jason Hill and Unwritten Law's Scott Russo.

"She's such an interesting songwriter with personal lyrics and a really singular voice," Patsavas says. "I've seen her live a few times over the years, and she really holds the audience in the palm of her hand."

Patsavas and Marina previously collaborated when Marina's song, "Miss Halfway," was placed in an episode of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," one of the shows Patsavas supervises.

"I was talking with a friend and I said 'There's this new show called 'Grey's Anatomy' and I would love to have my songs on it," Marina recalls, with a laugh. "Two days later, I get a call from an unknown number, and this voice says 'We're just calling to notify you that we'd like to use your song 'Miss Halfway' in 'Grey's Anatomy,' - would you license it to us?' I said, 'Fuck you, Angie,' thinking it was my friend...and there was silence on the other line. That was the moment I realized I had made a terrible mistake."

Amends have been made, however, and the announcement of Marina's signing came on the heels of Marina performing at the Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge at the Tribeca Film Festival. Patsavas is in New York to curate a music showcase at the festival, "Breaking the Band," which is sponsored by Target.

It's the third signing Patsavas has made for her label, which also has The Republic Tigers and Jade McNelis on the roster.

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