t h e m u s i c i a n s
ANNE-MARIE HELDER

LUNA ROSSA’s lead singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Anne-Marie has been a successful recording / performing artist on the UK and international music scene throughout the 21st Century.
She released a debut EP 'The Contact’ in 2004, and toured prolifically as a solo artist. She has also played in many band incarnations, but is perhaps most famous for her work with the British rock band PANIC ROOM
(Also featuring Jonathan Edwards, below)
Anne-Marie fronts the band, and she and Jonathan are the main songwriters for both Luna Rossa and Panic Room.
The duo's songwriting collaborations have won many awards in recent years, including 'Best Song' from the CRS Awards for their track 'Satellite' (Panic Room, 'Satellite' 2010)
Famed for her warm, expressive and soaring voice, Anne-Marie was voted PROG Magazine's Best Female Vocalist of the year in both 2011 and 2012.
She is in great demand as a guest musician / vocalist, and has recorded sessions with artists including:
John Wetton & Geoff Downes (including 'Icon 3' and 'The New Dance Orchestra'),
Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters, Keith Emerson), Fish (ex-Marillion), The Skys, Andy Jackson, Iain Jennings, Moon Halo, and many more.
As a solo artist, Helder has also toured Live with such legendary musicians as Ultravox, Midge Ure, Steve Hackett, Paul Young, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze), and Nick Harper.
She has performed on stage at prestigious venues around the world, including Shepherds Bush Empire (London), Birmingham Symphony Hall, St Davids Hall Cardiff, Edinburgh Playhouse, Glasgow SECC, and theatres / arenas across Europe and the USA.
In a more classical setting, Anne-Marie regularly performs concerts with the highly-esteemed vocal chamber choir, Coro 94.
She was also previously a member of the British bands Mostly Autumn, Halo Blind (/ Parade), Karnataka, and TigerDragon.
She released a debut EP 'The Contact’ in 2004, and toured prolifically as a solo artist. She has also played in many band incarnations, but is perhaps most famous for her work with the British rock band PANIC ROOM
(Also featuring Jonathan Edwards, below)
Anne-Marie fronts the band, and she and Jonathan are the main songwriters for both Luna Rossa and Panic Room.
The duo's songwriting collaborations have won many awards in recent years, including 'Best Song' from the CRS Awards for their track 'Satellite' (Panic Room, 'Satellite' 2010)
Famed for her warm, expressive and soaring voice, Anne-Marie was voted PROG Magazine's Best Female Vocalist of the year in both 2011 and 2012.
She is in great demand as a guest musician / vocalist, and has recorded sessions with artists including:
John Wetton & Geoff Downes (including 'Icon 3' and 'The New Dance Orchestra'),
Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters, Keith Emerson), Fish (ex-Marillion), The Skys, Andy Jackson, Iain Jennings, Moon Halo, and many more.
As a solo artist, Helder has also toured Live with such legendary musicians as Ultravox, Midge Ure, Steve Hackett, Paul Young, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze), and Nick Harper.
She has performed on stage at prestigious venues around the world, including Shepherds Bush Empire (London), Birmingham Symphony Hall, St Davids Hall Cardiff, Edinburgh Playhouse, Glasgow SECC, and theatres / arenas across Europe and the USA.
In a more classical setting, Anne-Marie regularly performs concerts with the highly-esteemed vocal chamber choir, Coro 94.
She was also previously a member of the British bands Mostly Autumn, Halo Blind (/ Parade), Karnataka, and TigerDragon.
JONATHAN EDWARDS

The other half of LUNA ROSSA is songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan, who writes, records, and performs on the piano (and sometimes guitar!). A highly accomplished musician, Jon’s playing style is hugely expressive and instantly recognisable - journalists and fans have often singled him out for his wonderful creativity, shimmering melodies, but also his rare ability to create ‘space’ in an arrangements by letting the music breathe.
Jon was a founder member, songwriter and keyboard player for the award-winning Welsh progressive band, Karnataka - in their original line-up - in which he appeared on the first four albums and touring extensively.
He also performed occasionally with Mermaid Kiss (appearing on the 'Etarlis’ album, and 'Another Country');
as well as being one half of John Paul Jones (!) in a Led Zeppelin tribute band for a number of years…
(Someone else played the bass!)
After the original Karnataka split up, Jon went on to create the alt-rock band PANIC ROOM with Anne-Marie and several other ex-K members… And they never looked back.
The ultimate creative freedom of working in PANIC ROOM has allowed Jon’s writing and playing to truly shine, and many Awards have followed as a result. The close bond of friendship and songwriting shared with Anne-Marie has inspired a prolific flow of creativity, which then led to the birth of LUNA ROSSA!
The perfect outlet for the duo’s more acoustic and rootsy ideas, LUNA ROSSA also allows Jon’s beautiful and unique playing to really shine through the mix.
Jon was a founder member, songwriter and keyboard player for the award-winning Welsh progressive band, Karnataka - in their original line-up - in which he appeared on the first four albums and touring extensively.
He also performed occasionally with Mermaid Kiss (appearing on the 'Etarlis’ album, and 'Another Country');
as well as being one half of John Paul Jones (!) in a Led Zeppelin tribute band for a number of years…
(Someone else played the bass!)
After the original Karnataka split up, Jon went on to create the alt-rock band PANIC ROOM with Anne-Marie and several other ex-K members… And they never looked back.
The ultimate creative freedom of working in PANIC ROOM has allowed Jon’s writing and playing to truly shine, and many Awards have followed as a result. The close bond of friendship and songwriting shared with Anne-Marie has inspired a prolific flow of creativity, which then led to the birth of LUNA ROSSA!
The perfect outlet for the duo’s more acoustic and rootsy ideas, LUNA ROSSA also allows Jon’s beautiful and unique playing to really shine through the mix.
SARAH DEAN

LUNA ROSSA have welcomed some wonderful guest musicians to perform with them, but the most special guest of all must be the wonderful Sarah Dean!
Sarah was first asked to come and play with Luna Rossa during the recording sessions for their second album, 'Secrets & Lies'.
Anne-Marie was already great friends with Sarah after years of spending time in York (where Sarah is based); so she knew of Sarah's multiple talents and musical versatility, as well as her wonderful personality!
Anne-Marie was keen to welcome Sarah down to the studio in Wales and try adding some of her unique magic into the Luna Rossa blend... It worked beautifully, and the band have never looked back!
Sarah's shimmering Celtic harp was proved to be a wonderful addition to the band's unique soundscape. It features frequently on both 'Secrets & Lies' (2014) and the new album 'ATROPA' (2018).
But in addition to her harp work, Sarah's beautiful singing voice has allowed the band to play around more with some rich and exciting vocal harmonies, especially on the new album where tracks such as 'Midnight' and 'Red Moon' feature Sarah on a lead vocal, the perfect counterpoint to Anne-Marie's melodies.
In the Live arena, Sarah Dean has performed live on stage with LUNA ROSSA for almost every show they have played since 2014, and has become an integral part of the band's charismatic stage show.
Outside of Luna Rossa, Sarah is a prolific artist in her own right, with several solo albums & EP's to her name.
She plans to record and release a new solo album in 2019.
Sarah also performs regularly with the groups White Sail and SoundSphere.
www.sarahdeanmusic.com
Sarah was first asked to come and play with Luna Rossa during the recording sessions for their second album, 'Secrets & Lies'.
Anne-Marie was already great friends with Sarah after years of spending time in York (where Sarah is based); so she knew of Sarah's multiple talents and musical versatility, as well as her wonderful personality!
Anne-Marie was keen to welcome Sarah down to the studio in Wales and try adding some of her unique magic into the Luna Rossa blend... It worked beautifully, and the band have never looked back!
Sarah's shimmering Celtic harp was proved to be a wonderful addition to the band's unique soundscape. It features frequently on both 'Secrets & Lies' (2014) and the new album 'ATROPA' (2018).
But in addition to her harp work, Sarah's beautiful singing voice has allowed the band to play around more with some rich and exciting vocal harmonies, especially on the new album where tracks such as 'Midnight' and 'Red Moon' feature Sarah on a lead vocal, the perfect counterpoint to Anne-Marie's melodies.
In the Live arena, Sarah Dean has performed live on stage with LUNA ROSSA for almost every show they have played since 2014, and has become an integral part of the band's charismatic stage show.
Outside of Luna Rossa, Sarah is a prolific artist in her own right, with several solo albums & EP's to her name.
She plans to record and release a new solo album in 2019.
Sarah also performs regularly with the groups White Sail and SoundSphere.
www.sarahdeanmusic.com
LUNA ROSSA - THE BEGINNINGS . . .

While writing songs for PANIC ROOM over the years, both Anne-Marie and Jon found that their mutual love for acoustic music often filtered through into the band's sound.
But although some of their acoustic songs do find their way onto Panic Room albums, the pair found that they were also writing songs which didn’t really ‘fit’ into the world of Panic Room and created LUNA ROSSA to provide a seperate avenue to explore their more acoustic side.
Writing and arranging sessions produced a wealth of material (including some interesting and unusual cover versions), some of which can be found on the first LUNA ROSSA release. Anne-Marie and Jon decided to use a string quartet on many of the songs and on ‘Sleeping Pills & Lullabies‘ you can hear their first written string arrangements (the album was recorded before Panic Room’s ‘SKIN‘').
Keeping the acoustic vibe they also invited Andy 'Wal' Coughlan to play double-bass on the album as well as cellist, Leah Evans. With just some little electronic touches – the occasional rhodes part, or rhythm loop to lend some spikyness to the songs, they created a fresh new sound, that managed to sound both unique and familiar… the sound of LUNA ROSSA.
But although some of their acoustic songs do find their way onto Panic Room albums, the pair found that they were also writing songs which didn’t really ‘fit’ into the world of Panic Room and created LUNA ROSSA to provide a seperate avenue to explore their more acoustic side.
Writing and arranging sessions produced a wealth of material (including some interesting and unusual cover versions), some of which can be found on the first LUNA ROSSA release. Anne-Marie and Jon decided to use a string quartet on many of the songs and on ‘Sleeping Pills & Lullabies‘ you can hear their first written string arrangements (the album was recorded before Panic Room’s ‘SKIN‘').
Keeping the acoustic vibe they also invited Andy 'Wal' Coughlan to play double-bass on the album as well as cellist, Leah Evans. With just some little electronic touches – the occasional rhodes part, or rhythm loop to lend some spikyness to the songs, they created a fresh new sound, that managed to sound both unique and familiar… the sound of LUNA ROSSA.
SPECIAL THANKS...
Anne-Marie & Jon would like to thank our extended musical family:
Tim Hamill for his endless patience with us; for laying down some great guitar & dobro licks, and generally being inspirational and excellent!
Sarah Dean for her incredible Celtic harping, beautiful voice, general awesomeness, and for making us cry with laughter every time we're together.
Wal for being ridiculously good on the bass - we can't help grinning whenever he plays.
The LUNA ROSSA Quartet:
Leah, Artem, Rebecca and Ronan, for playing our string arrangements so luminously!
Thanks also to Peter and Sian for the loan of their Celtic harp for Anne-Marie to (try and) play on 'Sleeping Pills & Lillabies'...
And last but by no means least - THANK YOU, for helping to keep music sonic, visual and tactile!
x Luna Rossa x