Vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter Neara Russell was homeschooled by artistic parents in rural Wisconsin, where she was an award-winning pianist and vocalist by age 10. After writing her first song at age 12, she devoted her energy to producing her own concerts and studio recordings while working as an accompanist, nature researcher, and cookie baker to fund her musical projects.

Following her appearance on the National Public Radio show "From the Top" as a featured young composer, Neara accepted a full-ride Presidential Scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where she studied contemporary composition and piano/voice performance before moving to Hollywood to pursue her full-time music career.

As a writer, Neara is an honoree of ASCAPLUS Awards and participant in the exclusive ASCAP Lester Sill Workshop for advanced songwriters. As a keyboardist/backing vocalist, she has performed with American Idol finalist Haley Reinhart, Sony artist BC Jean, and violinist Lili Haydn, with appearances on X Factor, The View, and Much Music Canada.

Neara is currently touring as keyboardist with Hollywood Records artist Bridgit Mendler and working in Los Angeles as an independent musician. Her original self-produced albums "Noise and Silence” (2011) and "Food for the Gods" (2006) can be found on iTunes, Pandora Radio, and Amazon.

Sounds Like

“Combining the rich sound of a grand piano with

everything from toy drums to synthetic soundscapes,

Noise and Silence is … filled with songs that are

complex to think about, but easy to relate to.”

- Performer Magazine April 2012

“Hints of classical piano, rock, and electro masterfully

blended together …”

- Boston's Weekly Dig

“This music isn’t crap, people!”

- iTunes reviewer

 

“Neara Russell is a multi-faceted artist who

has displayed undeniable talent …”

-Wildy’s World music review