Gina Forsyth is an accomplished singer/songwriter, violinist and guitarist based in New Orleans. Her songs are marked by economically written lines that cut straight to the point, and haunting melodies drawn from a wide array of traditional and contemporary influences, all sung with a unique alto voice that has been described as "confident and expressive and... with a barefaced passion that is just lovable."

Born in Florida and raised in Alabama, Forsyth grew up on hymns, country songs and old time fiddle tunes, as well as rock-and-roll and rhythm-and-blues from the radio or stereo-- either of which was almost always on in the Forsyth household. In 1983, Gina moved to New Orleans, studying classical and jazz violin at Loyola University. Forsyth quickly grew to love Cajun music, even moving at one point to Lafayette to immerse herself in the Cajun tradition. She toured with the Cajun rock band Mamou in 1989, and sang "Valse de la Vie" on the group's Ugly Day CD, released on Rounder Records (1992).

After stints with a number of other Cajun bands, these days she regularly tours with Bruce Daigrepont, and appears on his most recent CD, Paradis, also on Rounder Records (1999). In addition, she is great demand as a session player for many other musicians.

Gina also tours with the Malvinas, a folk group, with current and former Texans Lisa Markley and Beth Cahill, and appears on the trio-s debut CD, I-m not like this (2002). Their most recent CD, Love, Hope, + Transportation, was released in January, 2005.

As a singer/songwriter, Forsyth has earned many honors, including Emerging Songwriter Winner at the Napa Valley Folk Festival (1993), and New Folk Winner at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival (1996). Two of her original songs, -Somewhere Off the Foot of This Mountain,- and -St. Anthony- were published in Sing Out! in 2005. Her work can also be found on numerous compilations, including two from Waterbug Records.

She has been named Offbeat Magazine's People's Choice Winner in the folk category (1994). She also won Offbeat Magazine's Best Singer/Songwriter for two years in a row (1995-96) and was the winner of the Best Cajun CD of the Year in 1996 (Dans La Louisiane, with Waylon Thibodeaux). She regularly performs at The Neutral Ground Coffeehouse, New Orleans' hangout for the singer / songwriter set, and often hosts touring shows there.

Gina Forsyth's latest release, on Waterbug Records, is You Are Here (2001). This debut solo CD was heralded as, "...an eclectic, beautifully played testament to choosing the right personnel and crafting a great song." (The Daily Advertiser, Lafayette, LA).

Gina is beginning work on a new solo CD, slated to be released later this year.

"Gina Forsyth is a gifted songwriter with a passionate and honest voice...Her songs are simple, strong, insightful and original. She's a master songwriter, with a great ear for melody and an enviable way with words-Forsyth-s voice is confident and expressive-and she sings with a kind of barefaced passion that is just lovable." - rambles.net

"Forsyth is one of New Orleans' great unsung talents, a singer/songwriter with a voice of gold and treasure chest of moving songs-She-s also a wizard on the violin and the guitar." - Gambit Weekly