PHOTO CAPTION: Country artist Marthia Sides performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Huntsville Stars game on July 12. PHOTO CREDIT: Ken Shelton

MARTHIA SIDES WOWS HUNTSVILLE
WITH PERFORMANCE OF ‘THE
STAR-SPANGLED BANNER’ AT THE
STARS GAME ON JULY 12

***

Sides Also Appeared On WAFF-TV In
Huntsville To Promote Her Witty And
Rollicking New Single “Some Assembly
Required”

On July 12, country artist Marthia Sides wowed the crowd of approximately 7,700 at the Huntsville Stars minor league baseball game in Alabama with her performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Before the game, Sides also mingled with players from both teams, including Mike Constanzo from the Carolina Mud Cats.

While in Huntsville, Ala., Sides also stopped by the local NBC affiliate WAFF-TV, where she was interviewed during the Noon hour about her new witty and rollicking song and video “Some Assembly Required,” as well as her National Anthem performance later that night.

Sides has been busy promoting “Some Assembly Required,” visiting with country radio stations in the Southeast and recently released a video for the song, featuring Sides in the role of American icon Rosie The Riveter and was inspired grandmother who was a real-life “Rosie” working at Bendix.

The success of her 2006 debut Born Again In The Country, its first single “Picture Perfect Girl” and subsequent tours of the Midwest and Southwest led to Marthia working with multi-platinum producer Kevin Beamish, who helmed REO Speedwagon’s classic Hi Infidelity album and who has scored over forty five #1 and Top 5 singles by top country artists like Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black and Martina McBride. Beamish helmed Sides’ prophetically titled follow-up collection I Got Faith in addition to “Some Assembly Required.”      

The Virginia-born performer had a successful career off Broadway and in TV and Film before launching her music career after a chance encounter with songwriter Doug James while shooting the CMT Reality Show “Popularity Contest.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Country artist Marthia Sides with Mike Constanzo from the Carolina Mud Cats at the Huntsville Stars game on July 12. PHOTO CREDIT: Ken Shelton

Country artist Marthia Sides on the set of her new video, “Some Assembly Required”. PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Nelson

MARTHIA SIDES PORTRAYS AMERICAN ICON
ROSIE THE RIVETER IN HER NEW VIDEO FOR
‘SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED’

***

Marthia Sides Takes Over A Junkyard With An
Entourage Of Dancers As She Plays Rosie The Riveter
For The Filming Of The Video For Her Witty And
Rollicking New Single

Country artist Marthia Sides and an entourage of dancers recently took over a junkyard to film the video for her witty and rollicking new single “Some Assembly Required,” an anthem about the frustrations of finding the perfect man.

Inspired by American icon Rosie The Riveter, as well as Marthia’s grandmother who was a real-life “Rosie” working at Bendix, the video was filmed in Los Angeles and is set in a factory during World War 2 with women working hard while their men are away at war. Marthia plays the role of Rosie and flashes the famous “We Can Do It” image of the woman with the strong arm for some photographers visiting the factory. “Rosie” and her fellow workers get fed up with their slimeball boss, who clearly is in need of some assembly himself, and they breakout in a mission to trap him.

Directed by Martin Roe with Dirty Robber, the video is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

The success of her 2006 debut Born Again In The Country, its first single “Picture Perfect Girl” and subsequent tours of the Midwest and Southwest led to Marthia working with multi-platinum producer Kevin Beamish, who helmed REO Speedwagon’s classic Hi Infidelity album and who has scored over forty five #1 and Top 5 singles by top country artists like Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black and Martina McBride. Beamish helmed Sides’ prophetically titled follow-up collection I Got Faith in addition to “Some Assembly Required.”      

The Virginia-born performer had a successful career off Broadway and in TV and Film before launching her music career after a chance encounter with songwriter Doug James while shooting the CMT Reality Show “Popularity Contest.”

Marthia has been touring the Southeast in support of “Some Assembly Required,” visiting with and receiving rave reviews from country radio DJ’s and programmers.

Country artist Marthia Sides on the set of her new video, “Some Assembly Required”. PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Nelson

Country artist Marthia Sides and dancers filming her new video, “Some Assembly Required”. PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Nelson

***

The Singer Dresses Up In 1940’s Pin-Up For Sprint And RoughStock.com’s
Booths At The CMAs On June 12 &13 Promoting Her New Music Video
‘Some Assembly Required’

***

 The Pop-Country Songstress Will Perform For The USO
And The Wounded Warriors At The Walter Reed Army Medical Center
On Thursday, June 17 In Washington D.C.

 Rising country artist Marthia Sides will headline at Buffalo Billiards during the CMA Fest in downtown Nashville this Friday, June 11 at 6:15 p.m. CMA Fest goers can enjoy the acoustic setting show, as the venue is offering free pool and dart games, along with 2 for 1 drink specials. Opening that day for Sides will be artists Stephen Cohran, Jessica Cayne and Carrie Zaruba.
The headlining performance during CMA Fest only helps the songstress’ current momentum, as Sides will be at Sprint’s CMA booth on Saturday, June 12 from 2-3 p.m. and RoughStock.com’s CMA booth on Sunday, June 13 from 10 -11 a.m. promoting the release of her new music video, “Some Assembly Required.” The music video theme was inspired by the Rosy The Riveter giving Sides a great 1940’s pin-up look. The highly anticipated single and its catchy lyrics about putting together the “perfect man,” is already creating a buzz on selected country radio stations in the south-east U.S.

The singer will take that pin-up look, rightfully so, to Washington D.C. to support USO’s summer BBQ event at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, giving a special performance to the Wounded Warriors on Thursday, June 17.  Looking cute and sassy with her can curled hair, red lip stick, and 1940’s inspired outfit, Sides will fit the role of military entertainment performing “Some Assembly Required” along with tracks from her successful album I Got Faith.

EVENT RECAP:

Friday, June 11
Buffalo Billiards
during CMA Fest
154 2nd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 
(615) 313-7665
6:15 p.m.
Free
21+

Saturday, June 12
CMA Fest
@ Sprit’s Booth
601 Commerce Street
Nashville TN 
2 p.m.
Free to CMA Fest Ticket Holders
All Ages

Sunday, June 13
CMA Fest
@ RoughStock’s Booth
601 Commerce Street
Nashville TN 
10 a.m.
Free to CMA Fest Ticket Holders
All Ages

Thursday, June 17
USO’s Summer BBQ Event
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington D.C.  
special performance for the Wounded Warriors

Rising country artist Marthia Sides performing at the “Country Cares” Benefit held at Center Stage in Nashville on May 12.

Rising country artist Marthia Sides with American Idol Alum Bo Bice at the “Country Cares” Benefit held at Center Stage in Nashville on May 12.

MARTHIA SIDES AND FRIENDS “COUNTRY CARES”
BENEFIT A SUCCESS IN SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF
THE NASHVILLE FLOOD

In the wake of the recent Nashville flood, rising country artist Marthia Sides, who resides in Nashville and was also evacuated from her home close to the Cumberland River, and friends recently teamed up to put on a benefit concert for victims of the Nashville floods on May 12.

Held at Center Stage, the benefit raised money for Country Cares and was a success thanks to the artists who volunteered their time to perform, including Marty Raybon (former lead singer of Shenandoah); legendary country music artist Razzy Bailey; Lofton Creek Records artist Kristina Cornell; Grammy & Dove nominated contemporary Christian group DecemberRadio; Rachel Williams (former Nashville Star finalist); Thom Shepherd (hit songwriter for such songs as “Redneck Yacht Club”); Megan Linville; Clay Underwood; Vicki Raye; Kenny Olsen; Tim Akers (band leader for Rascal Flatts); Lindsey Hager; Chris Golden (son of William Lee Golden and band member of the Oak Ridge Boys); Charlotte Melody; Marc Eric; Rodeo; and Tommy York. Marthia also performed during the event.

 “After speaking with friends who lost everything, I just couldn’t image starting from the ground up again. I decided to create an event and bring my love of music and my compassion for the flood victims together to help organize ‘Country Cares,’” said Sides.

Marthia recently released her new single “Some Assembly Required,” a witty and rollicking testament about the frustrations of finding the perfect man, and will resume a radio tour later this month. This weekend Marthia will shoot a video for the single in Los Angeles inspired by Rosie The Riveter.

***

Nashville Is Going To Need ‘Some Assembly Required,’

The Title Of Marthia’s Current Single, PromptingThe Singer

To Put Her Own Song Title To Some Good Use Victims Of
The Flood

Nashville based country singer Marthia Sides woke up to a heart-wrenching phone call early Monday morning from her close friends Stephanie and John Stone of East Nashville, as their ranch home was instantly flooded. Stephanie explained to Marthia that they were scrambling to grab anything they couldn’t before having to evacuate, as the water kept rising and eventually to chest level. Saddened by this news, Marthia, knowing firsthand how hard Stephanie and John work to upkeep their home, and with the struggling economy, she knew this is last thing her close friends needed.

Marthia, homeless herself at this point, was also evacuated from her home close to the Cumberland River, due to power outage and no running water. With a little help from her friends and local artists, Marthia has decided to organize “Country Cares,” a benefit concert called for people like Stephanie and John.

“Country Cares” will take place on Wednesday, May 12 at Center Stage in Nashville to help raise funds for the many people who have lost their valuables and homes. The event runs from 3-10 p.m. with a $5 Cover. 100% of the proceeds raised will go directly to victims of the recent floods.

Artists already lined-up to perform at “Country Cares” are Marty Raybon (former lead singer of Shenandoah); legendary country music artist Razzy Bailey; Lofton Creek Records artist Kristina Cornell; Grammy & Dove nominated contemporary Christian group DecemberRadio; Rachel Williams (former Nashville Star finalist); Thom Shepherd (hit songwriter for such songs as “Redneck Yacht Club”); Megan Linville; Clay Underwood; Vicki Raye; Kenny Olsen; Tim Akers (band leader for Rascal Flatts); Lindsey Hager; Chris Golden (son of William Lee Golden and band member of the Oak Ridge Boys); Charlotte Melody; Marc Eric; Rodeo; Tommy York; and as well a  performance by Marthia with more acts to be announced.

 “After speaking with friends who lost everything, I just couldn’t image starting from the ground up again. I decided to create an event and bring my love of music and my compassion for the flood victims together to help organize ‘Country Cares.’ This way I know the proceeds will go to the people directly in need,” states Sides.

For more information email makeadifferencenashville@gmail.com

EVENT RECAP
May 12

Center Stage

514 8^th Ave. South

Nashville, TN

(615) 915-2043

www.thecenterstageonline.com

3-10 p.m.

$5 Cover

Donations Welcomed

Artists performing include: Marthia Sides, Marty Raybon, Razzy Bailey, Kristina Cornell,  DecemberRadio, Rachel Williams, Thom Shepherd, Megan Linville, Clay Underwood, Vicki Raye, Kenny Olsen, Tim Akers, Lindsey Hager, Chris Golden,  Charlotte Melody, Marc Eric, Rodeo, Tommy York with more acts to be announced.

Rising country singer Marthia Sides attended the Alabama Music Hall Of Fame 13^th Induction Banquet and Awards Show on March 25 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Montgomery where she mingled with fellow rising country singer Jamey Johnson and country music legends William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys and George Jones.

Marthia recently announced her boycott of Toyota when her very own 2010 Prius started having the same acceleration problems that many Americans are experiencing and still does after being fixed under the recall.

Ironically, her new single “Some Assembly Required” mentions Toyota with the line, “I sure wish I had a new Toyota” as a reference to problem-free assembly, in her playful song about trying but failing to find the elusive perfect man. Marthia has pulled the line from the version that was released to country radio on March 15.

Marthia will hit the road in mid-April to visit country radio stations in support of “Some Assembly Required.”

Rising country singer Marthia Sides with country music legend George Jones at Alabama Music Hall Of Fame 13th Induction Banquet and Awards Show on March 25.

Rising country singer Marthia Sides with fellow rising country artist Jamey Johnson (left) and William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys (right) at Alabama Music Hall Of Fame 13th Induction Banquet and Awards Show on March 25.

PHOTO CAPTION: Rising country singer Marthia Sides with her 2010 Toyota Prius.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ken Shelton

MARTHIA SIDES

COUNTRY SINGER-SONGWRITER
MARTHIA SIDES APPLIES THE BRAKES
TO HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TROUBLED
TOYOTA CORPORATION!

After Marthia Sides gets through with her temporary boycott of the Toyota Corporation, there’s going to be “Some Assembly Required”—the name of her new radio single—to repair the rift in her longtime love for their gas-efficient and usually reliable vehicles. 

For now though, along with a lot of other people around the world with the same safety concerns, she’s putting the relationship in reverse. 

In response to the auto company’s recent recall of over nine million cars worldwide due to accelerator pedal and pedal entrapment problems, the multi-talented country singer/songwriter recently edited out a line with a Toyota reference in “Some Assembly Required.” Ironically, she originally sang “I sure wish I had a new Toyota” as a reference to problem-free assembly, in her playful song about trying but failing to find the elusive perfect man.

The version being shipped to country radio is now “Toyota free”—but still irresistible!

Sides also pulled her own 2010 Prius off the road because she was experiencing acceleration issues when she hit a bump; she had it fixed but is still not sure if the problem has been completely resolved. She plans to visit the rental car lots before her upcoming radio promotion tour in support of the March 15th release of “Some Assembly Required.”

The success of her 2006 debut Born Again In The Country, its first single “Picture Perfect Girl” and subsequent tours of the Midwest and Southwest led to her working with multi-platinum producer Kevin Beamish, who helmed REO Speedwagon’s classic Hi Infidelity album and who has scored over forty five #1 and Top 5 singles by top country artists like Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black and Martina McBride.

Beamish helmed Sides’ prophetically titled follow-up collection I Got Faith in addition to her current single “Some Assembly Required.”

The Virginia-born performer had a successful career off Broadway and in TV and Film before launching her music career after a chance encounter with songwriter Doug James while shooting the CMT Reality Show “Popularity Contest.”

Sides contributes her time and talent to several organizations serving the needs of those less fortunate. These include Operation Smile (for children with deformities) and Virginia Stop Modern Slavery (an anti-human trafficking organization).

Rising country artist Marthia Sides was recently excited to learn that her song “I Got Faith” will be used in an episode of the new series “Karma Butler’s American Dance Legend.” The show features 100 dancers age 14-26 who aspire to become entertainment industry dance professionals and will air every Saturday in June on ABC in Virginia, before being distributed nationally on DVD.

“I Got Faith” will also be included on the series’ compilation CD expected to be released this summer.

Karma Butler is an internationally recognized Choreographer/Dancer, Recording Artist, and Entertainment Producer, whose dance experience includes many well-known dancers Wade Robson, and Tovaris Wilson and Gil Duldulao of Janet Jackson fame.

Sides has been busy promoting the release of her witty and rollicking new single “Some Assembly Required,” about the frustrations of finding a perfect man.

Sides teamed with multi-platinum producer Kevin Beamish – who helmed REO Speedwagon’s classic Hi Infidelity album and who has scored over 45 #1 and Top 5 singles by top country artists like Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black and Martina McBride – on “Some Assembly Required” as well as on her I Got Faith collection.

The multi-talented performer starred Off Broadway in “Alice In Wonderland” and has made appearances on HBO, Comedy Central, TLC and HGTV. Sides was also part of CMT’s hit reality competition show “Popularity Contest.” Her agent suggested she audition for any show where she could show off her musical talent. When she got picked, her unique performance background earned her the nickname “the NYC Opera Singer”—even though she hadn’t sung opera in years.

THE MULTI-TALENTED INDIE COUNTRY CROSSOVER
SINGER/SONGWRITER PUTS THE PIECES OF
SUCCESS TOGETHER WITH HER LATEST
RADIO SINGLE “SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED,”
HELMED BY SUPERSTAR PRODUCER KEVIN
BEAMISH (REO SPEEDWAGON, KENNY CHESNEY,
MARTINA MCBRIDE)

The Virginia Born Performer Had A Successful Career Off Broadway
And In TV and Film Before Launching Her Music Career After A Chance
Encounter With A Songwriter While Shooting The CMT
Reality Show “Popularity Contest”

“Some Assembly Required” by Marthia Sides is more than simply a witty and rollicking new single about the frustrations of finding a perfect man. Its title is also a spot on reflection of the many different ways to approach the story of the multi-talented, classically trained singer/songwriter’s rise as an indie artist since the release of her 2006 debut Born Again In The Country.

As Grassroots Promotion in Nashville promotes the track onto pop and country airwaves nationwide, we can start with the whimsical, not so “Crazy” notion that she was born to be a country crossover star. Among Sides’ musical heroes is Patsy Cline, another Virginian whose music spanned the country and pop idioms effortlessly. It would be easy to jump from there to the singer’s current home of Nashville, where she recorded her first album with producer Larry Rogers, whose legendary credits include Ricky Nelson and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Her first single “Picture Perfect Girl” got radio play at small and large market stations—including KGYO, the biggest station in Denver—and she toured the Midwest extensively. A Jefferson Pilot station jumped all over Sides’ music and the station’s support helped her get into the prestigious Taste of Colorado festival. In Arizona, the song won a station make it or break it contest before the Eager County Festival. 

These successes led to her working with multi-platinum producer Kevin Beamish, who helmed REO Speedwagon’s classic Hi Infidelity album and who has scored over 45 #1 and Top 5 singles by top country artists like Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black and Martina McBride. Beamish helmed Sides’ prophetically titled follow-up collection I Got Faith in addition to “Some Assembly Required.”

It might also be appropriate to mention the way serendipity works in Sides’ burgeoning career, particularly in the way she discovered the song that became her new single. “I write a lot of my own material,” she says, “but if I hear an outside song that I identify with or think I could have written myself, I’m going to take notice. I found it on the desk of Jim Vest, a veteran Nashville music guy who produced the ‘American Beauty’ track I recorded to promote the U.S. Beauties Pageant event. The title ‘Some Assembly Required’ intrigued me and the lyrics were unexpected and knocked me out. He told me that it was going to be recorded by a 15 year old singer, and I said it’s too edgy for a kid, that I would love to bring my own life experience to it. Ultimately, it was the perfect fit.”

But perhaps the most intriguing part of Sides’ story is how a multi-talented performer who lived in New York for seven years and found success in every area of the entertainment world ultimately became a formidable country/pop singer/songwriter. One of her notable roles in her Off Broadway career was in “Alice in Wonderland,” and her film and TV roles included appearances on HBO, Comedy Central, TLC and HGTV. This leap from the Big Apple requires a bit of off road traveling to the small town of Vega, Texas, population 900, the site of Country Music Television’s reality performance competition show “Popularity Contest.” Her agent suggested she audition for any show where she could show off her musical talent. When she got picked, her unique performance background earned her the nickname “the NYC Opera Singer”—even though she hadn’t sung opera in years.

27-year-old songwriter Doug James, a native of Vega who was back home visiting during this time, saw Sides doing one of her concerts in town and asked her to check out a few of his tunes. Before she even heard the songs, she committed to recording “Already Gone” and “Dreamin’ Out Loud” live on the show. She liked the Americana flavored tunes so much that she later invited James to sing duets on these songs when she recorded them several months later (as “Popularity Contest” was about to air on CMT) on Born Again In The Country. 

“I had been developing my confidence as a songwriter for quite some time and always wanted to record my own full CD,” she said. “The fact that Doug’s songs went over so well really inspired me to move in that direction,” says Sides. “I had gotten back heavily into country music by then and so it seemed like the perfect path to travel. My opera training is helpful in making my vocal timbre unique from other singers in this genre and, more importantly, it makes me understand the voice from a different perspective so I will be able to sing for years without hurting my voice in any way.   

“My music is pretty modern,” she adds. “I most admire the female singers who bring a range of real life experiences to their art along with their innate talent. I Got Faith has a lot of women empowerment songs that reflect me finally coming into my own and knowing what I want out of life as both an artist and person. Even with 15 years of vocal training, I realize that if you are good at your instrument, you are always working to make it even better. I’ve worked hard to get my voice to this point, but I realize that it’s never perfected. I have many hard memories of Broadway auditions with 800 other girls, another thing that keeps me very humble. There is always further to go and others out there who want these opportunities. I’ve been singing onstage pretty much my whole life, so this makes performing now seem very comfortable, a natural extension of that.”

While pursuing her musical dreams, Sides has never been shy about giving her time and talent to the needs of those less fortunate. Her sister runs a New York based organization called Operation Smile, which raises funds for large reconstructive surgeries on children with facial deformities; Sides has performed numerous shows and participated in many fundraising events for them. In September 2009, she joined her best friend, opera singer Jessica Johnson (who co-wrote “I Got Faith” with Marthia) on a march dedicated to the cause of anti-human trafficking that took place in Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles. Sides also performed for her fellow participants in the event, which was sponsored by Virginia Stop Modern Slavery (VASMS), a grassroots community organization promoting anti-human trafficking efforts in Virginia.

The assembly of the parts of Marthia Sides’ life wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the amazing performing and musical talent that’s part of her family history. Her great grandma was a young, Italian born vaudeville star who sang and danced under the name “Barazzo” at places like the Beale Street Palace. Her grandmother was an opera singer who was once asked to participate in the Met’s Young Artist program. And her paternal grandfather was Elvis Presley’s engineer at American Studios, where The King recorded after his years at Sun Studio. Her dad was also an engineer who sang.

Looking back on the greatest piece of advice she was ever given, Sides says, “My dad told me from a very young age, ‘No matter how talented you are, no matter what you do, no matter how successful, you’re going to be lacking something if you sing only for yourself.’ He told me that as a singer, my work was all about making people happy. He would say, ‘You’re there because at the end of the day, your audience is out there because they want their lives to be better. They’re looking to you to help them escape what may be the worst week of their lives.’ I remember a show I played in a college town called Manhattan, Kansas, where a friend had, ironically, moved after studying in Manhattan, New York. After the show, a guy literally came up to me and said, ‘I have had the worst week of my entire life and you have made it better.’ Turns out my dad was right, and it’s my pleasure to get out there now and bring as much joy as I can to people who need to hear it most.”