Marissa Levy started writing songs because she needed an outlet for her emotions and therapy was just too expensive. She was born and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, then transplanted to the big bad streets of New York City. Armed with a mind for music and a 1963 Favia classical guitar Marissa began to express herself through song in a thoughtful if slightly scattered manner.

Eventually, the Favia (may it rest in peace) broke and Marissa moved on to a new guitar and a more serious attitude about songwriting. She sought spiritual guidance from the folk and pop troubadours (Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Christine Lavin, and Billy Joel) that Marissa truly believed were kids singers as a tot, as well as modern chick rockers including Lisa Loeb, Dar Williams and Jill Sobule. Through this combination of influences she emerged with a sound that falls somewhere not so neatly in between.

In 2003, Marissa released her first full-length album adorned, lookmanohands produced and engineered by David Perlick Molinari and mastered by Drew Lavyne (Elvis/JXL, Sting-Brand New Day, Santana-Supernatural, Dave Matthews Band-Before These Crowded Streets). It was representative of her folksy background but never really captured the rocker she knew was inside her.

The long awaited sophomore album from the singer/songwriter/pop finally arrived in 2007. With its energetic rock/pop anthems, Charmed & Dangerous is a departure from LookMaNoHands. The songs are an eclectic mix of Pop, Rock, and Country with a hint of electro R&B snuck in there. It’s a record sure to have 13-year-old girls pining over the life they’ve yet to experience and leave adults tapping their feet to its contagious melodies.

Marissa’s witty lyrics and charming tunes are not to be missed. Teaming up with producers Mike Skinner (Kevin Devine, Scissor Sisters, Bloc Party, Diana Ross) and David Perlick Molinari (French Horn Rebellion), and mastering engineer Paul Geluso (Sufjan Stevens, The Animal Collective, Antony - of Antony and the Johnsons) Marissa and her band has birthed a surprisingly aggressive record. It shows significant growth, mixing mature lyrics and themes and a wide range of musical styles. Charmed & Dangerous outlines the life of a New York wild child, living the charmed life in her early 20’s having fun, raising hell and stumbling though the potentially dangerous consequences of those actions.

Marissa is currently touring and dreaming up ways she can get her new album out into the world.

for more marissa madness, check out myspace and sonicbids

People Marissa has shared the stage with
Matt Nathanson Julie Loyd
evan dando Brian Joseph
Kevin Devine Brianna Lane
Gavin degraw Mike Clifford
Kaki King Liz Clark
Barry Weber Craig Kleemann
David Perlick Molinari tessa perry
tom rhodes David Kolker
   
Other links Marissa Likes
YouTooCanWoo Wired 4 Sound Records
The Baggot Inn CB's Gallery
Decaf Poet MP3.com
Curly and Spike Gigs
the local music directory CD baby


nice things people have said about marissa:

I have heard these songs from their initial stages to their production. I was amazed at the talent before and now I'm just left astounded. This CD takes you through all walks and all stages of life with enough irony to be called profound.
credit: Drew Wilson of Wilson Listenings

Marissa Levy
2/01/03
This very folky sounding artist starts off this CD with a rocker; strong vocals, nice guitar work and nice lyrics. Good alternative rock or soft rock radio track. "Life After High School" - is the best track on this CD. The following tracks are basically story telling, alternatively written in folk punk-rock type sound. Marissa has a very good potential for some nice air play.
credit The Music Review: CD Music Reviews

Marissa Levy - Look Ma No Hands (self-released)
April 2004
She isn’t scared to rock out or let her emotions fly free, and that comes through in Marissa Levy’s first album, Look Ma No Hands. With catchy lyrics and melodies, an angelic voice, and an abundance of personality, Marissa adds something new and unique to the folk-pop scene. Where many solo acoustic acts find their comfort zone in trite pop songs, Marissa doesn’t feel the need to stay in that box. Rather, she ventures out with tunes that tell creative stories based around a plethora of interesting characters.
While “Suitcase” and “Don’t You” reflect a deeper, more introspective side, she will have you cracking up in “Life After High School” and “Robert Downey, Jr. (live),” where she claims anorexic mothers won’t cook you a good meal. Her lyrics are like a mixture of Lisa Loeb and Ben Folds, though her musical influences are much more difficult to pin down. The album ranges from the full sound of a 4-piece-band to the mellow sound of the hollow, wooden guitar. Although some of her songs are typical boy-girl songwriter stuff, she balances the album with plenty of unorthodox and imaginative tales. Marissa is a wonderful extrapolation of the high school chick rocker formula, mixing great poetry with a sense of humor and melodious acoustic guitar.
Credit: Corey J. Feldman,: Cityzen.tv