|
| |
| |
Split Second Treasure modern day Blues woman
Coming to national attention in 2008 on the Blues, Roots,
Soul & R&B scene, Nicole Hart made an impressive beginning
completing three highly successful tours: she was the featured
female performer of Jacksonville Beach, Florida’s “Springing
the Blues”; the featured female headline act of Laconia,
New Hampshire’s Big Three Motorcycle Week; she performed
many more prominent festivals, including the Jersey Shore Red
Bank Jazz & Blues Fest, among other renowned venues on
the national circuit. Her initial independent CD release, “NICOLE
HART & THE NRG BAND, LIVE!” received airplay on radio
stations worldwide & continues to receive airplay to this
day.
|
During a recording
session for 2008 Blues Foundation Nominee Albert Castiglia,
she met up with Blues Leaf Records label president
Joseph Morabia, who soon signed her to the label. Her
2009 Blues Leaf release, “TREASURE,” debuted
on the Living Blues charts at # 14, and is currently
in rotation on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and the nationally
syndicated Music Choice television channel.
In
May 2009, Nicole became an award-winning vocalist, being
recognized as “Female Vocalist of the Year” by
the 5th Annual Los Angeles South Bay Music Awards.
As a modern day Blues woman, Nicole straddles
a diverse musical terrain defined by such icons as Koko
Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, Janiva Magness, & Bonnie
Raitt. Hart’s impressive resume also includes work
in television, film & live performance outside the
realm of Blues. “As an artist, I am influenced
by all great music, and inspired by many of the greatest
artists of our time. I aspire to create a feeling & a
depth of integrity representing those influences, while
also conveying a viewpoint toward the world of my own. After
losing her beloved husband, keyboardist and business
partner, Lance Ong, to cancer in 2009 Nicole is at last
ready to tackle touring and promoting the new CD. "I
am actually quite shy, and I am never happier than when
on stage or in the studio with musicians I trust.”
|
I’ve got about 4,000 tunes on my iPod
and it is set to shuffle. I love that, because it becomes its
own DJ and I am the lucky listener. I can appreciate virtually
any music – As
Duke Ellington said, “There are two kinds of music. Good
music, and the other kind.”Nicole feels fortunate that
music in the public school system was highly valued. "I
am very concerned that the arts may be eliminated in a short-sighted
view of economics: what music gives to the young is priceless."
Currently having recently relocated from NY to South Florida. Nicole
will be performing with The Beats at NY Steak in Dec 29th and preparing
for dates promoting her new CD, “Split Second” due out officially
April 9, 2013. Though Nicole admits to not be a prolific songwriter, but when
she truly feels inspired with something to say it doesn’t take too long
to manifest itself with a song and most times she can hear entire arrangements,
as well as melody and lyrics.
“TREASURE,” features a duet with label mate Castiglia,
is produced by Grammy award winner Jack Kriesberg (Paquito
D’Riviera, Elvin Jones), is mixed and mastered by Grammy
award winning engineer Ben Elliott (Eric Clapton, Keith Richards),
is distributed by Allegro and available nationwide at Barnes & Noble,
Borders Bookstores, J&R Music World, Amazon.com, CD Universe,
on this website (see “SHOP!”) and at every performance.
Award-winning
vocalist Nicole Hart’s
forthcoming CD, “Split Second,” continues the
musical journey commenced on her inaugural Blues Leaf Records
release, “Treasure” (15 Weeks on the Roots
Music Report “Blues Weekly Charts”; debuting
at #14 On the Living Blues Charts; # 3 BB King’s
Bluesville, Sirius Satellite Radio). Delving deeply into
her soulful heart with the Texas swing of “12 Bar
Blues” to the flirtatious “Can’t Let
You Go”; from the growling Memphis Slim classic “Clap
Your Hands” to the R&B chestnut, ”What
Will Later On Be Like?” Hart shows her diversity,
enticing & challenging the listener to follow along
the path of her many musical influences. Renowned for her
mesmerizing, riveting and sensual live shows, “Split
Second” is Nicole Hart’s finest CD yet.
“The stage caught fire
in 8 seconds flat with the roars, whispers, shouts,
and celestial movements of Ms. Hart’s voice.
She is truly one of the best ladies of the Blues.” ~
Charlotte Blues Society
“Imagine that classic band fronted by a beautiful blonde with a gospel
voice and all the moves of Tina Turner. Get the picture?” ~
The Working Musician
|
|
|
CURRENTLY IN ROTATION
ON MUSIC CHOICE AMERICA AND SIRIUS SATELLITE
RADIO
|
The human voice is a marvelous instrument. It is sound
made by the vocal folds in combination with the lips,
the tongue, the lower jaw, and breath support. The physiology
of this instrument is something a singer should be as
keenly aware of as a guitarist is aware of the parts
of a guitar.
It is used for talking, crying, screaming,
laughing and singing. If properly trained, it limitless
in its range of expression. In singing, it can be used
to attain the high “Cs” in an Italian wide range of musical
instruments as have Bobby McFerrin, or “old school” hip-hop
artists. Or it can be used in dynamic speaking such as
politicians, clergy, or teachers do. If properly cared
for it will last the owner a life time.
No one likely understands all this better than classically trained coloratura
soprano Nicole Hart. Singing since the doctor took her out of her mama and
spanked her for air...”that was my first high note!” jokes Hart.
Her father was an opera singer and she was interested in singing and in music
since she was a toddler. "I feel fortunate that music in the public school
system was highly valued…I am very concerned that the arts may be eliminated
in a short-sighted view of economics: what music gives to the young is
priceless. "
Hart studied voice at the university level. This plus
the subsequent training that she has received since completing
school, and the innumerable vocalists with whom she has
worked has made her that much more aware of how people
sing. She was the first Caucasian Shirelle by Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame’s Shirley Alston, with whom she
toured for close to a year. She recorded a live video
with Billy Joel; shared the stage with Chuck Berry and
Bo Diddley; has also worked with Harry Belafonte and
Michael Monroe; and she worked on a soundtrack for director
Jonathan Demme. In the blues, too many vocalists, to
imitate the blues with which they are familiar, affect
a “blues growl” that risks permanently damaging
the vocal chords by overloading the larynx and creating
polyps, nodes and other conditions that could ultimately
diminish an individual's ability to talk, let alone sing |
Nicole believes in taking the risk of following my own vision
rather than being a perpetual sideman. She always tries to
really not sound like anyone but herself, so better to be real
than try to be Beyonce!
Connecting in a soulful, meaningful or playful and lighthearted
way, whether it be with the musicians she shares the stage
with or with the audience is a given. "When people let
me know they appreciate what I do, I am always amazed as well
as very grateful. I also love that if one is truly connected,
the moment is all that really matters."
At this point, everyone is aware that the industry is in a
major state of flux with regard to the business. What this
artist does like is that the independent musician can forge
a career without the help of a major label. She thinks all
of us would like to see more venues with live music. Recordings
are wonderful, but nothing replaces the shared experience of
an actual live performance.
"I feel deeply humble to be able to participate in any
capacity that effects or helps people. Music is the muse, and
creativity trumps all. Venues need to make a profit to stay
afloat, and artists need venues to perform for their audience
and make a living touring. It is getting harder and harder
to put together a tour from venue to venue, day to day, as
many clubs are going under due to the economy or other reasons.
Best case scenario, no one would take advantage of anyone.
We all need to support each other to create an outcome where
everybody wins: artist, audience and venue alike."
|
|
|
