JFH News: Broadway Powerhouse Actor/Singer, ASCAP Award-Winner, & "Billboard" Chart-Topping Songwriter, Carla Bianco, Releases Music Video for Debut Single, "You Love Me As I Am," Today, September 24, 2021

BROADWAY POWERHOUSE ACTOR/SINGER, ASCAP AWARD WINNER, & BILLBOARD CHART-TOPPING SONGWRITER, CARLA BIANCO, RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO FOR DEBUT SINGLE, "YOU LOVE ME AS I AM," TODAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Highly Anticipated Debut CCM Digital EP, You Love Me As I Am, To Release October 8, 2021, Followed by Physical CD Release October 29, 2021, from Ivory Note Records/BFD/Sony Orchard

Carla Bianco, Releases Music Video for Debut Single, 'You Love Me As I Am,' Today

Broadway powerhouse actor/singer, ASCAP Award-winner, and Billboard chart-topping songwriter, Carla Bianco, has released the music video for "You Love Me As I Am," the title cut and debut single from her upcoming first contemporary Christian EP, You Love Me As I Am. Pictured: Bianco on the set of the video shoot, near the stunning Quakertown Falls, close to the Ohio/Pennsylvania border. (Marla Defenhardt photo.)

NEWS SOURCE: McCain & Co. PR
September 24, 2021

NASHVILLE, TN. (September 24, 2021) - Broadway powerhouse actor/singer, ASCAP Award-winner, and Billboard chart-topping songwriter, Carla Bianco, is thrilled to announce the release of the music video for "You Love Me As I Am," the title cut and debut single from her upcoming first contemporary Christian EP, You Love Me As I Am.

The video impacts streaming services everywhere today, Friday, September 24, 2021. To watch the "You Love Me As I Am" music video, click here.

Working with director Peter Guellard, Carla has created a multi-sensory experience, showcasing the profound message of the song, while surrounded by the glory of God as revealed in nature.

"I'm so thrilled to be able to put a visual expression to the song with this new video," says Carla. "We wanted to go for a very natural feel that depicts the joy and freedom of knowing God's unconditional love."

Shot near the stunning Quakertown Falls, close to the Ohio/Pennsylvania border, the ethereal, dreamy imagery of the video was hard-won and well worth it.

“The location itself was quite hard to get to,” says Guellard. "It required some hiking and climbing with film equipment. The extra effort paid off with unforgettable imagery of Carla performing her song under this beautiful waterfall. This wasn’t just another music video; it was an adventure.”

A lifelong Christian, Bianco is perhaps best known for her starring turn as Maureen in the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, RENT, both on Broadway and the West Coast. She was discovered by legendary music producer and manager John "Jellybean" Benitez (Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Sting), who signed her to a management and publishing deal while she was still in college.

The powerhouse pop vocalist soon inked a distribution deal with Sony/RED and released two albums as a recording artist on Ivory Note Records. She went on to become an ASCAP Award-winning, No. 1 Billboard chart-topping songwriter.

Her new CCM single, penned by Bianco and produced by Sam Hart (Aaron Shust, Tasha Layton), features Bianco's crystal-clear vocal set to a backdrop of shimmering pop instrumentation and an infectious groove that will hook listeners from the first note.

“You Love Me As I Am” is a nuanced anthem of revelation, humility, and devotion to Jesus. It was inspired by Bianco's spiritual reawakening following the death of her parents, when life-long feelings of self-doubt and insecurity threatened to take over her mind and heart. The song marks a new direction and stylistic shift for the acclaimed singer/songwriter and performer.

Five years ago, while still wrestling with her losses following her parents' passing, Bianco participated in a spiritual retreat, where she says she was overwhelmed by the grace of the Savior she has called her "Best Friend" from childhood. She began to experience the unequivocal, unconditional love of God in a brand-new way. She also felt God calling her in a new direction artistically, leading her to pen songs of worship, praise, and self-reflection.

"Something just broke loose," she explains. "During that retreat, I was immersed in scripture and felt His love and reassurance comfort me and distill a new sense of identity and purpose unlike any I've ever felt before."

“I’m excited to finally share this music that’s been on my heart for over five years now," says Carla. "I think it’s coming at a time where the world needs to know more than ever that we are loved.”

To watch the "You Love Me As I Am" music video, click here.

Bianco's debut CCM EP, You Love Me As I Am, will release digitally on October 8, 2021, followed by the physical EP release on October 29, 2021, through Ivory Note Records/BFD/Sony Orchard. To pre-order the EP, click here.

To stream or download Carla Bianco's new single, "You Love Me As I Am," click here. For more information about Carla Bianco and You Love Me As I Am, visit carlabianco.com, or follow on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

About the You Love Me As I Am EP:

Carla Bianco's stunning new EP, You Love Me As I Am marks a new direction and stylistic shift for the acclaimed singer/songwriter/performer. Bianco’s spiritual re-awakening has stirred new creative passions within her. She felt God calling her in a new direction artistically, leading her to pen songs of worship, praise, and self-reflection.

Bianco's formidable writing talents are on display throughout the EP, which draws on the production skills of Sam Hart (Aaron Shust, Tasha Layton). Hart steps into the co-writer's chair for a few songs as well.

"We are thrilled to continue working with Carla on her new album!" says Bob Frank, CEO of BFD/Sony Orchard. "Her songwriting is inspiring, and we are proud to be involved with her and this project."

"From the moment Carla sat down at the piano to sing me one of her songs, I knew she was a gifted and talented artist," says Jellybean Benitez, who has expressed his excitement about Bianco's new music and direction.

The 7-song EP kicks off with the shimmering power-pop declaration of faith, “Love is the Answer,” which Bianco co-wrote with Hart. The song extols love as the answer to every question, and the direction for every path of life.

The song segues effortlessly into the title cut and debut radio single, “You Love Me As I Am,” penned by Bianco. With her crystal-clear vocal set to a backdrop of shimmering pop instrumentation and an infectious groove that will hook listeners from the first note, the song is a nuanced anthem of revelation, humility, and devotion to Jesus.

“All For Your Glory” is a joy-infused pop tune that begs for audience singalong, and could easily find its way into contemporary worship services on Sunday morning. Bianco pulls back for an introspective, prayerful mood for “Guardian” which exudes an intimate, worshipful attitude as Bianco sings, “I raise my eyes to the sky. You hear me when I cry, my Guardian!”

“Vessel of Your Love” uses a minor key to ratchet up the intensity, which ebbs and flows like the waves of a troubled sea. Bianco returns to the power-pop genre for the thumping, head-nodding, song of encouragement, “Hero Rising," also co-written with Hart. The project closes with the peace-evoking, piano-driven confessional, “You Are My Hope.”

"I feel blessed to have the opportunity to share this wonderful assurance I have discovered as if for the first time," says Bianco. "I can't think of anything I'd rather sing about than God's unconditional, unshakable love for me."

About Carla Bianco:

Carla Bianco’s career was launched after meeting legendary music producer and manager John "Jellybean" Benitez, best known for discovering Madonna and producing the likes of Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Sting. Impressed with the young unknown singer/songwriter, Benitez immediately signed Carla to a management and publishing deal.

Since then, Bianco has earned multiple recording and composition deals, appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, and West Coast stages (most notably in the role of Maureen in the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Rent), and garnered industry recognition, chart placements, and awards, including an ASCAP award and a No. 1 Billboard hit.

Her work has received international press coverage, including features in publications such as The New York Times, The New York Post, and The Huffington Post, and television performances including Good Morning America. She has shared the stage with the likes of Platinum-selling Grammy winner Kenny Loggins, and she has appeared in commercials and notable films including Unstoppable with Denzel Washington, and Promised Land with Matt Damon.

Bianco is married to Jack Becker, a writer and television producer for AT&T Sportsnet, who produces the Inside Pirates Baseball show. They have one son, Luca. Bianco lives in Pennsylvania, where she writes, teaches, and inspires young artists.

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