With their pure and spacious instrumental and an outpouring of tender vocals, Lori Diamond and Fred Abatelli have made their presence known on Worcester’s music scene. Storytellers at heart, they combine a beautiful classical piano and a warm-toned guitar to make music that seeps into the soul and permeates the senses.

Worcester natives may recall that Diamond and Abatelli won the title of Best CD in 2012 and Diamond took home the honor of Best Female Vocalist at both the 2011 and 2012 Worcester Music Awards. I asked Diamond how it felt to hear her name called, and she described the experience as “extraordinary. …We really had no idea if we were even close to being contenders. It was a magical evening that we won’t forget!” Diamond and Abatelli have also performed at the famed Wachusett Valley Music Festival and will be a part of the music series again this year, performing in Sterling with Brooks Williams on April 11. On April 18, they will perform at the Viva Bene Italian Ristorante on Commercial Street, so if you are up for dinner and a show, make it a date night.

Lifted, their new album offering, has been nominated for another WMA and is a sweet, meditative and alluring record that may just earn them one. With elements of pop, folk and blues, the album is beautifully presented. Some songs make you want to tap your foot with their catchy beats, and others are almost like soothing and soulful lullabies.

“This particular CD is extremely special to us,” Diamond said. “It is the result of a year of powerful challenges, blessings, healing and ultimate gratitude. It took us over a year to create, as we were experimenting, growing and enjoying the creative process. Plus, we still had to work out logistics like child care and work, in addition to studio time and performances. It’s a massive effort but truly a labor of tremendous love. The title, Lifted, was chosen because it is a message of love and appreciation.”

Abatelli, who would love to share a stage with Eric Clapton and loves watching anything on the Velocity Channel, and Diamond, who would jump at the chance to sing alongside Sarah McLachlan and loves Project Runway, are an “opposites attract” kind of musical duo. Though they are inspired by radically different things, they combine their different influences and similar, hard-working dispositions for their own unique brand of music.

“There is no better inspiration than one’s life experience,” Diamond said. “Oftentimes, I think our best songs have come when we’ve floundered our way through powerful challenges and have come out on the other side with a completely fresh perspective. It’s a fulfilling writing process when you can construct walls of darkness and then knock them down with light and hope.”

To learn more and pick up a copy of Lifted, visit loridiamond.net. A portion of proceeds from CD sales will go directly to NEADS.org. This organization provides highly trained assistance dogs to offer relief, physical autonomy and freedom to individuals with unique challenges.

By Jennifer Russo