Eliane is a genre-busting singer, guitarist and songwriter. Born in Switzerland and based in NYC, she has performed in clubs and festivals from Buenos Aires to Berlin, Bangkok to Beijing, and everywhere in between. Combining Jazz, Latin, African and Brazilian rhythms with funky grooves and retro pop, she creates a sophisticated sound all her own. You can find her original music on Netflix, in several award-winning series, and on international broadcasts. Her melodies and lyrics are as fresh as the Swiss Alps where she was raised, taking you on a voyage from the stunning vineyards of Switzerland to New York City’s canyons of steel.
BIOGRAPHY
Singer, guitarist and songwriter Eliane Amherd is a true cosmopolitan artist: Born in Switzerland, she lives in New York, and it is that city’s savvy multicultural energy that most influences the unique sound of her original compositions: jazzy, groovy and rooted in African, Brazilian and Latin music. Inventive, enchanted yet earthy. Amherd is an equally talented composer/lyricist whose words and music are as refreshing as the air of the Swiss Alps where she was raised.
A graduate from The New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music, she performs as a leader or a featured artist in New York’s premiere clubs like SOB's, Blue Note, Nublu, BAM, BBKing and tours in North- and South America, Canada, Europe and Asia, where she appeared in international Festivals in China, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Mongolia, e.g., International Festival in Hong Kong, Beijing Nine Gate Jazz Festival, Shenzhen OCT Loft Festival, Beishan International Festival in Zhuhai, Jazzmandu Festival in Kathmandu, Giant Steppes of Jazz Festival in Mongolia, Yangon World Music Festival in Myanmar, Unplugged Festival in Zermatt. Montreux Jazz Festival and Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Mondo.NYC Festival with Swiss Live Talents.
In 2023 Eliane had the honor to compose a song “Viola” for the reception of the Swiss Bundespresident 2024 Viola Amherd. The live performance was featured in the Swiss National news. Her albums "La Dégustation" - a musical wine tasting", “Now and from Now on” and "Skylines" which are broadcast internationally, continue to receive great press reviews and have topped the play list of several US Radio Stations. Eliane also arranged and produced the Swiss Miss Sampler “heimweh”, featuring reknown Swiss artists like Eliana Burki, Nubya, Gigi Moto, Corin Curschellas, Mia Aegerter etc. This recording has earned her many great press reviews, interviews on Swiss national radio stations and an appearance on the popular Swiss talk show "Aeschbacher".
In 2013 she was a candidate of the first edition of "the Voice of Switzerland" on Swiss National TV and in 2017 she was the runner up for "best Singer Songwriter in Switzerland" at the Montreux Jazz Festival. From 2010 to 2020 she was the musical director of the "Frauenstimmen Festival" in her home town Brig, Switzerland and in 2015 she was the musical director of the "OrchExtra Gottardo" at the Expo Milano, Italy. In 2010 she was the first recipient of the MUSIK PRO award from the Kulturrat Kanton Wallis.
Eliane's original songs can be heard on the Netflix series "An astrological guide to broken hearts", on the award winning web series "Constance Cooks" and the award winning movie “Approaching Union Square” by filmmaker Marc Meyers. She plays guitar in the Pacha Massive video “don’t let go“ on MTV, appears on the Swiss National TV SRF production “A Night at the Apollo” and her voice is featured on Jeremy Mage's song "Slippery Light" which aired on the NBC hit TV series "Lipstick Jungle".
Eliane plays at Embassies around the globe and entertained companies like Bvlgari, Time Warner Cable, C.F. Bucherer, Baloise, MySwitzerland Tourism and major events, e.g., the World Expo 2015 in Milan, the Soiree Suisse at the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC, the reopening of the Silverstein Building at the World Trade Center (alongside Lou Reed, Susan Vega, and the Brazilian Girls), the opening of the Swiss Business Hub in Hong Kong, the 20th anniversary of Switzerland in the United Nations, the reception of Swiss Bundespresident and many more.
Eliane plays guitar in different NYC bands and has worked with greats such as Randy Brecker, Marcus Strickland, Bashiri Johnson, Bill Ware, Hagar Ben Ari, appears on many albums of fellow musicians and DJ’s as a featured singer or guitarist, and performs with the best musicians NYC has to offer.