electronic press kit

 
 

Whimsy-rock singer-songwriter Calista Garcia delivers flairs of folk, Latin, blues, roots and chamber pop, all tied together with her signature blend of both introspective and "philosophizing" lyricism. Her distinctive, expressive style, dubbed “new classic”, musical ingenuity and "vaudevillian" live shows have made her a critical darling. and a must-see New York act.

Her first full length-album “Confession” was released May 2023. Recorded at Plyrz Studios and produced by GRAMMY Award-winning producer Jim Scott (the Chicks, Tom Petty) in collaboration with Calista and GRAMMY Award-winning producer, Davíd Garza (Fiona Apple) showcases a “new classic” style — with a fresh, modern twist that hearkens back to the ‘70s era — drawing inspiration from legends such as Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell.

Previous LP singles released include lead track, The Coals,” that gained immediate support from Spotify’s official “Fresh Finds Folk” Best of 2022 playlist, “The Way I Love You,” Kalamazoo” which Under The Radar remarked as “a delightfully vintage piano rocker, recalling Elton John’s glam-laden tributes to rock and roll,” and “Flowers in My Hair” that Wonderland Magazine commented: “Calista Garcia is amongst the upper echelons… as she concocts a diverse, expressive and innovative sound that lays the foundation for striking, thoughtful songwriting. Atop the groove-laden, sentimental instrumental backdrop, Garcia delivers a delicate but endearing performance…”

Confession follows Calista’s previously released EP’s, A Beautiful World (released October 2021) and Wild Woman (released April 2019), which garnered a nomination for “Best Roots/Country EP” in the 2020 Independent Music Awards. The project also won multiple nominations and awards from International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA), the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) and the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest (MASC).

As seen on Season 16 of NBC’s The Voice, Calista is a prolific songwriter who plays guitar, piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and harmonica. She is a 2022 Kerrville New Folk Winner, the 2022 Songwriter’s Association of Washington Young Artist of the Year, 2022 winner of 2 DC Area “Wammies” music awards (Best Folk song & artist), a 2021 Chris Austin Songwriting Finalist at Merlefest, a 2021 “She is the Music Foundation” Connect TogetHER Songwriting Fellow, the 2020 National YoungArts Gold Winner in Voice/Singer-Songwriter (top prize), a 2020 Johnny Mercer Songwriting Project Fellow, a 2019 Strathmore Artist in Residence, a 2017 & 2018 Berklee Performance Showcase Winner, the 2017 Bernard Ebbs Young Songwriter of the Year and a two-time Grammy Foundation Young Songwriter Program Artist.

A member of ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild, Calista also writes for the stage, having completed her second folk-rock inspired musical, Crystal Skies, which premiered in April 2018. Crystal Skies was a 2020 semifinalist for the Eugene O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference. Calista is based in Brooklyn. She is on Takamine’s worldwide roster of Takamine guitar artists.

She is currently in the studio capturing a new simultaneously tougher-edged more playful sound, one that’s been winning the hearts of crowds in the city (most recent shows at Sleepwalk and Berlin were both nearly sold out). Her first single off the new project, “Entertaining Children During Wartime” is set to be released in 2024. In addition, she launched a unique exclusive Memberspace experience called Calista’s Curiosities in September 2023, featuring unreleased music, poetry, tarot readings and more.

Live Performances

Featured Videos

 

“Entertaining Children During Wartime” Live at Berlin Halloween Show

 

“Deep Blue Diving” Live at Berlin St. Paddy’s

 
 

 Highlights/Stats

  • As seen on Season 16 NBC The Voice

  • Youtube - 234,500+ views & 1,620 + subscribers

  • Spotify - 1,200,000+ streams

  • Instagram - 8,817+ followers

  • Facebook - 3,400+ followers

  • Takamine Worldwide Guitar Artist

  • 2022 Kerrville New Folk Winner

  • 2022 MASC Young Songwriter of the Year

  • 2021 Chris Austin Songwritiing Finalist (Merlefest)

  • 2021 Alicia Keys “She Is the Music” Foundation Songwriting Fellow

  • 2020 National YoungArts Gold Winner

  • 2020 Independent Music Awards - Best Roots/Country EP Finalist

confession

Album Released May 26, 2023

A beautiful world

EP released October 29, 2021

 
 
 

My love, my love, my love

Featured Video

 

Wild Woman

Released April 2019

press quotes

“The 22-year-old Virginia native’s 8-track [Confession] is basically folk-pop rock showcased in an expressive mature style. Tunes are vulnerable, challenging but always sensitive. It has its introspection, lyricism, nostalgia & it’s distinctive… Calista does weave a stylistic charm through each tune with finesse.”

Americana Highways

“CALISTA GARCIA changes the world for you”

Takamine, takamine.com

Calista is making ripples with her original music, and this album is just proof of how deep and wide she can go as an artist. I found her on Instagram about a year ago, and her young, lilting voice, her radiant smile, and her timeless lyrics won me over from the start. This album, which takes from greats like Bob Dylan and Carole King, helps solidify her place in modern music. For me, it is a bit like hearing Jewel for the first time in the nineties, a voice and lyrics that wow you, and win a well-deserved place in your heart and soul.

Prism Reviews

"On the surface, it’s an old-school rock record that borrows from folk music and the blues, with dashes of Tejano/Tex-Mex tossed into the mix. These aren’t the typical slice-and-bake (aka generic) songs that litter many modern playlists, in other words; they’re chockfull of personality, whimsy and wit."

The Old Grey Cat

“Musically she could be Sheryl Crow’s younger sister, although she also has something of storytellers like Joni Mitchell or Paul Simon. CALISTA GARCIA charmingly transfers the feeling of the seventies to today.”

John Vand de Mergel, brothersinraw.com

“CALISTA GARCIA’s A Beautiful World acknowledges the chaos and turmoil that runs rampant in a pandemic-era world, but it doesn’t dwell on external circumstances. It turns inward in a display of introspection, exploration of identity, and a celebration of memories with nostalgic production reminiscent of greats like Fleetwood Mac and Joni Mitchell.”

TREMG