It's been nearly six years since R&B/POP artist Stacie Orrico released her last album, 2006's fantastically underrated Beautiful Awakening.  Since then Stacie has been seemingly M.I.A., leaving hardcore STANS like me waiting with baited breath for her to make her next move.  Well, I've got good news fellow Stacie Orrico stans.  It would appear that Stacie is on the verge of a comeback.  The evidence comes in the form of a new single, "Catch Me If You Can," and while it's not in the same musical vein as past hits like "Stuck," and "(There's Gotta Be) More To Life," new Stacie Orrico is new Stacie Orrico and I'll take whatever the hell I can get.

"Catch Me If You Can" is a swinging jazzy little number written by Stacie and currently being used to promote new East Village hot-spot, NoMad in New York City.  Featuring the Gabe Cummins Orchestra, "Catch Me If You Can" features Orrico's sultry, vampy vocals sounding better than ever.  While jazz is not where I expected Orrico's career to take her, the genre seems to suit her vocal stylings perfectly!  Let's not forget that this wouldn't be the first time Stacie Orrico has underwent a style transformation.  Orrico got her start as a contemporary Christian singer/songwriter, signing with ForeFront Records and releasing her 2000 debut, Genuine, which went on to sell 13,000 copies in it's first week.  The album spawned two top ten singles, including, "Don't Look At Me" which topped the Christian charts for ten consecutive weeks.

In 2003, Orrico released her self-titled sophomore album, a decidedly more pop affair than her previous release.  Orrico suffered backlash from some of her Christian fans who felt that this new music was less than Christian, a sentiment that was only exacerbated by Orrico's sexier pop star image.  The album saw four singles including the international hit single "Stuck," and Orrico's only Top 40 Billboard hit to date, "(There's Gotta Be) More To Life," which peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Follow up singles "I Promise" and "I Could Be The One" were both top 40 hits in the UK but failed to chart in the States.  In 2004, Orrico was nominated for a Grammy for 'Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album' ultimately losing out.

Orrico returned in 2006 after a soul searching hiatus back home, where, among other things she worked for $7.50 an hour at a local restaurant with her best friend.  After returning to LA, Orrico hit the studio with big-time hitmakers like Dallas Austin, Dwayne Bastiany, KayGee and The Underdogs, releasing her third album, Beautiful Awakening in August of 2006.  The album, which aside from first single "I'm Not Missing You," was considerably more R&B than her previous release, something that might have hurt the talented chanteuse's chances of further U.S. success.  "I'm Not Missing You" peaked at #19 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, while follow up single "So Simple," was only released in Europe and Asia.  Beautiful Awakening never saw a U.S. release, an apparent casualty of the Virgin Records/Capitol Records merge which essentially left her label-less. 

Now it's 2012 and, it would seem that the passion has been reignited within Stacie Orrico.  At this point, it sounds like a new album release is imminent, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.  Let's start with what we do know.  For starters, there's Stacie's official website.  Currently the website is a holding page with a note, teasing "Updates soon," with a link to her "new Facebook" page.  Stacie has also joined Twitter and started a YouTube channel.  In addition, Stacie is selling her new single, "Catch Me If You Can" on CDBaby.com, a website that caters to independent/self-released artists trying to promote themselves. In addition to the "Catch Me If You Can" lyric video, Orrico uploaded an acoustic performance of her singing Billie Holiday's "Me, Myself, and I," further solidifying speculation that jazz is her genre of choice at the moment.

While we eagerly await more news on Stacie Orrico's comeback, we have her official Twitter to keep us occupied.  It would appear that Stacie is living in New York City and taking acting classes at NYU.  In addition, it sounds like that Stacie Orrico/Gabe Cummins Orchestra collaboration on "Catch Me If You Can," isn't the only work she's doing with them.  Stacie tweeted about "heading into the studio" with the band to record a Billie Holiday cover, which suggests that there will be a studio version of the little acoustic jam session she released on YouTube. In addition, Stacie Orrico can be heard singing with The Fray on the deluxe version of recent album, Scars & Stories.  Apparently, Orrico hooked up with the boys for a cover of "Ready or Not" by The Fugees (listen for Stacie at the 1:24 mark).  This is all BEYOND exciting news.  Watch this space for the latest in Stacie Orrico developments and download "Catch Me If You Can" on CD BABY HERE. (Via The Prophet Blog, StacieOrrico.org)

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