The creative spark inside Andrea Menard has caught fire on her third album, a multi-genre original work that celebrates the glittering winter, but also embraces the beauty of summer. Sparkle is a Christmas release, but it encompasses roots and jazz songs for all seasons.

"I called this album Sparkle, because that is my prayer for the winters ahead - to allow the spark within us to burst into flames and ignite a grand illumination all across the globe," says Menard. "So sparkle, my friends." Menard, an acclaimed singer, writer and actor, is travelling a new path carved out by her understanding of a universal consciousness and a deep desire to defend the planet. "I dedicate this album to Mother Earth, our blessed mother who is awakening and inspiring me in ways beyond description," says Menard. "And that means awakening my ability to laugh at myself as well."

The original songs, written with long-time collaborator Robert Walsh, cover a wide spectrum. Sparkle describes the crisp, clear winters, "full of icicles, stars, snow, tinsel, and crackling fires," she says. Yet it also contains songs for all seasons including Evergreen, which will be released as Menard's first music video. The name of the song is appropriate, since it describes Menard's own talent - fresh and evolving, with roots that run deeply into her Métis heritage.

From feasts to famine and reverence to irreverence, Menard's take on the winter season is definitely evergreen. The title song, Sparkle, invites all of the human family to unite. My Winter Song has been translated into Cree by award-winning writer Maria Campbell. A humorous, jazzy duet with actor Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas), called The Christmas Slump, will surely become the next "Baby, It's Cold Outside". And parents of all ages will relate to Santa, I'm Broke.

Sparkle showcases Menard's powerful, lyrical voice, and is emblematic of the direction her life is taking. Listen, laugh, and sparkle.

Sparkle is available online at:
Merchandise,
iTunes,
Indie Pool

To arrange interviews, please contact:
Randy Stark, Stark Ravings Management
905 948-9692
stark-ravings@rogers.com or management@andreamenard.com