Category Archives: Music Monday

Smells Like Teen Spirit

It’s Music Monday!

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Now, I’m not normally a grunge kind of person. It’s not that I dislike it. It’s just that most of the time, I like other things better. But. Evidently grunge rock didn’t pass me by! And there are classics that you cannot fail to love.

Last week, while I was working fast and furiously on my mini-WiP, this particular song carried me through. It is perfect on so many levels… you’ll have to way until a little later in the year to fully understand, but let yourselves be intrigued by this notion. Why would Nirvana suddenly inspire Nicky Wells, rock star romance author extraordinaire?

Guesses welcome!

Broken Wings

It’s Music Monday!

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This week’s song choice is an appropriate theme song for one of the subplots of my new WiP, aka Book 4. I  even have two interpretations for you! Here’s number one; it’s a classic and you’re bound to know it.


 

Aha, and here goes the second. You’ll need to click through but it’s well worth it. It’s hard and fast and lyrical and one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITES!

EUROPE ~ ON BROKEN WINGS

I’ve always adored the metaphors in these two songs; the idea of flying again, of starting afresh, of never giving up. The whole ‘broken wings’ idea just gets me, appeals to me and gets me writing.

 

So. Broken Wings ~ what do YOU with yours?
And how do you think these songs are inspiring my writing? What am I ‘on’ about?

 

Pompeii

It’s Music Monday!

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Wishing everyone in the UK a Happy Bank Holiday Monday on this fine morning. At any rate, I am going to be an optimist about this!

I’m posting a song today that’s been on the radio for a while. It’s by an alternative rock band from London whose lead singer is called Dan. #Justsaying. And just for the record, let me point out that I started writing the Rock Star Romance Trilogy long before this band ever came into existence. Still… It’s a nice fit, isn’t it? And I happen to adore the voice and the song.

 

There you go. Wasn’t that fab?

Have you got a song that’s an after-the-fact accidental and-probably-not-perfect-fit with your mood or your work but that captivates you nonetheless?

I Will Wait

It’s Music Monday!

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Hello, you! Have you had a great weekend? Good. Good! Me, too. :-)

I was going to continue with the ‘hot’ theme this week but I couldn’t find legal versions of the songs I wanted. Plus, of course, my lovely husband had a birthday last week and one of his gifts has dominated our house these past few days. The music, while not perhaps usually my cuppa and completely devoid of any kind of electrical guitar whatsoever, has been slowly permeating my brain and… I quite like it. I’d love to hear what you think about the phenomenon that’s Mumford and Sons!

So. What do you reckon? Thumbs up?

Hanging By A Thread

It’s Music Monday!

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And it’s a very special Music Monday today. I have an exclusive! Oh yes, I do! Remember THE HUSH? They’ve visited this blog many times now: for Nicky Reviews Rock, to celebrate a video release and to take part in book launches!

Well, today, it is my great pleasure and privilege to bring you a clip from their brand new single, Hanging By A Thread, released on 10 April!

Read on for the clip and an exclusive interview with Jazmine and Lee… but first of all, the PRESS RELEASE. Oh yes, you get the full-on rock star treatment here!

THE HUSH Hanging by a Thread cover

For Immediate Release

 NEW TRACK FROM L.A. ROCK BAND
THE HUSH DEBUTS APRIL 10

Femme Fatale Fronted Indie Powerhouse Band Making Great Progress on Sophomore Album

April 9, 2013 – Los Angeles — Alternately haunting and powerful, THE HUSH’s new track, Hanging by a Thread, is a love-sick sucker punch with slippery tones wrapped around silver soaked vocals that make the venom go down easy. Singer/lyricist Jazmine Giovanni’s pitch-perfect delivery is an alluring ride from sweet temptation to calculated chaos.The well articulated rock sound pouring out of the band sets the emotional stage from the first drum beat and intro of seemingly innocent gun-slinging guitars.

The much-anticipated April 10 release of THE HUSH’s third single on iTunes, cdbaby and other popular digital sites marks much progress toward their upcoming album. The new track joins recently released singles Touch and Go along with Hold You Down, the latter accompanied by their first video that debuted on YouTube April 1, 2012.

After receiving wide praise for their first EP, “Scene of the Crime” (2010), THE HUSH has spent the last two years writing their sophomore effort while continuing to play live in popular Hollywood (CA) venues.With nine more new tunes in the works and their next video in development, THE HUSH is definitely getting louder.For more information, including links to twitter, facebook, Reverbnation and more, go to THEHUSHrockband.com

# # #

Cover photo  by Evi T’Bolt. All rights reserved THE HUSH. From left: Jazmine Giovanni, vocals; Blake Paulson, drums; Andrew James, bass; Greg Pajer, guitar; Lee Landrum, lead guitar.

Hanging by a Thread  2012 copyright: Pacesetter.MP3 provided for media/promotional use only and is not intended for sale or distribution by the recipient. All rights reserved THE HUSH.

HANGING BY A THREAD ~
EXCLUSIVE TASTER CLIP

THE HUSH have very kindly made available to me a short clip from this latest release to give you all a flavour for what it sounds like!

Isn’t it FANTASTIC??? Go get it, now! :-)

NICKY REVIEWS ROCK
Mini-Interview with Jazmine and Lee

You know how much I love rock, of course you do. So you cannot be surprised that I’ve connected with this amazing band, and that I had some questions about this single! :-) Lead singer Jazmine Giovanni and guitarist Lee Landrum have kindly indulged my curiosity and here are there answers. YOU ROCK, guys!

Hanging By A Thread… I know that feeling well! What was the inspiration for the song?

Jazmine:   The inspiration for “hanging” was really just where I was at personally at that point in time.  There was a lot of change looming but the song is really a portrait of a frozen moment; a sort of suspended animation before the hammer falls, so to speak.

How long did it take to put together?

Jazmine: I recall having the melody right away but not knowing what to say. I knew how I felt listening to the progression, but my emotions were in a nebulous state and it took me quite some time to simplify them adequately.  They eventually came, four or five months after the music.  This one I kept in my writing rotation because I just felt it had something.

Lee:  The music came together rather quickly.  We (the guys) had a lot of ideas for this one.  After Jazmine wrote the lyrics and melody we went back in and fine tuned a few parts, like the gunslinger guitar sounds and some of the drum rolls.

What’s next for THE HUSH~ can we look forward to another album?

Lee:  Yes, our first full-length album is in the works.  Three of the songs have already been released as singles, Hanging By A Thread being one of them.  We might release a couple more as singles along the way, hasn’t been decided yet.  The new material is great, I’m looking forward to getting back in the studio to record.  We’ve grown a lot the past couple years and it will show in this next album.

*Squeeee! Nicky is very excited about this….*

You know I love little insights into the wild and wonderful world of rock. You won’t be surprised if I’ m asking whether anything out of the ordinary take place during writing/recording… but you can, of course, take the fifth! :-)

Lee:  While we are mainly a down to business band, something almost always happens that stops us all in our tracks for a laugh or two — usually some stupid “guy” joke from one of us, Jazmine included.  Out of the ordinary usually happens at shows where the environment isn’t so controlled.  Not too long ago I plugged in on stage and nothing…not a sound from my amp.  We were ticking down to showtime so the sound person and I had to quickly trace the problem.  I found a dead plug on stage, easily remedied but somewhat of a momentary heart-stopper.

Gosh, I can imagine! Thank you both for taking the time to stop by and chat, I really enjoyed having you here today. Rock on!

Was that awesome, or was that awesome?

How about you? Do you ever feel like you’re Hanging By  a Thread?

And here’s a reminder ~ you can get the single in now on iTunes and cdbaby!!

:-)

Summer of ’69

It’s Music Monday!

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We’re still in the hot zone and the magic is still working! So by popular request, here’s The Man. The opening riff has me jumping off my seat every single time without fail. It has to be one of the best opening riffs… ever, even if it’s only just rock.


 

I’m still taking suggestions to keep the nice, warm, sunny weather going so go on, come up with more Hot Songs!

Contenders from previous weeks are:

~Dancing in the Moonlight (Toploader)
~Sound and Vision (David Bowie)
~Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
~Summer in the City (Lovin’ Spoonful)
~In the Summertime (Mungo Jerry)
~Rio (Duran Duran)
~Summetime (DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince)
~Summer in the City (Joe Cocker)
~Heat of the Moment (Asia)
~Hot Hot Hot (Arrow)
~Boys of Summer (Don Henley)
~Too Hot to Sleep (Survivor)
~Surfin USA (Beach Boys)

What a hot playlist ~ any more suggestions??

Hot in the City

It’s Music Monday!

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Last week, I posted a cold song and invited you all to make suggestions for a hot song to break the freezing cold weather spell. Well, it worked! All right, it’s hardly tropical but the sun’s been out all week and there’s life erupting all over the garden. Roll on spring (and for goodness’ sake, don’t stop now!).

Thank you all for your most excellent suggestions. I thought I might take you up on your ideas and start posting the ‘hot’ songs over the coming week, always assuming that there are official versions available. Robin already posted her response in video format in her response of last week, so I took the remaining songs and picked the first one out of a hat. And this week’s choice is…

 

AWE-SOME!! Well, that takes me right back! We’ll be on to another hot song next week so meanwhile, keep the suggestions coming. Remember, our goal is to keep the sun shining and the mood sunny! Rock on!

Cold As Ice

It’s Music Monday!

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I hope you’ve all enjoyed your Easter celebrations, if you’re celebrating indeed. Well, with that more or less out of the way, it really should be time for spring, right? But it is April 1 and… it’s still freezing cold. So here’s my ode to April. Maybe that’ll break the spell…

How’s about you help me out and let me have some HOT songs?

Rock on!

 

 

I Belong To The Night

It’s Music Monday!

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And oh my god, I’m still reeling from an out-of-this-world FM show on Friday night. I have seen them so often now and still I get blown away every single time, without fail. So I’m dedicating this week on my blog to FM. Today, I’m posting one of the great songs that featured on the set list; and on Friday this week, I’ll be offering you a blow-by-blow account of what the gig was like, photos, interview and all. Rock on!

Meanwhile…. *sings*  I belong to the night…


Oh man, it was rocking, hopping and fantastic. I can’t wait to share the full story with you. Hold on to your hats…

Who’s your blow-me-away-every-time artist?

Eye of the Tiger

It’s Music Monday!

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Today I’m shooting from the hip, in a manner of speaking. What I mean by that is that I have no specific reason for posting this song other than… well, I love it. There’s a surprise.

Frankly, I can’t believe I haven’t posted this before. I just love the song (and I don’t even like Rocky, other than in Rocky chocky bars). It was playing on the radio over the weekend and my kids and I rocked out in the kitchen together, headbanging, air guitar, drums and all. (They’re getting the right education here, evidently). You simply CANNOT beat the rush that comes from that so here goes… Get ready to sing along!

What’s your “I simply have to get up and rock” song?