Nicole Mish – Whole Damn Sky
Nicole Mish is releasing her debut album of fourteen seasoned sounding original folk songs out this week: Whole Damn Sky. Each song comes stepping lightly but with depth from the heart – and years of thoughtful training and reflection. Mish makes her home in beautiful San Francisco, with two songs written during retreats in old world Poland at Kris Gorski’s studio.
“Fly Away to You” launches the album on a gentle reflective journey – with piano joined, ever so subtly, by strings that blend pleasantly with Nicole’s vocal tones: “every little once in a while I catch a glimpse of your face … I know that you’re gone… but can I help it if I sometimes fly away to you.” “Give Me More Time” features Nicole’s vocal range, which is dynamic with a strength as it rises and falls, pleading for more time.
“Wild Song” hosts the melody with acoustic guitars and a series of philosophical questions: “what if I climb up the hill to the place where the coyotes sing, and I’m no longer afraid of the wild things?” Here is where the title track is pulled from a lyric line. This song is a poetic exercise in reflection.
“Flower To a Bee” is already a lovely title, and as the song opens, it’s almost a spoken-word style poem as Mish confesses to having that someone to run home to that makes her heart soar: “Tomato soup and grill cheese warms me through…. have I told you I am happy? Have I told you that you gave this gift to me?”
“Don’t listen to my words, listen to my heart,” is the core of solid advice Mish offers on “Listen to My Heart.” “Sorry For Your Tears” adds a touch of banjo weaving throughout this soaring declaration and then the chilly harmonies join in. “Darling It Is Time To Sleep” has an unidentified (to me anyway) music box quality that starts with a high metallic keyboard sound that’s followed by bright guitar – an ode to a small child. Unique and special.
There’s nothing here that’s overdone or too sentimental. It’s all easygoing and rings true. Everything about the album is conscious and clear, with touches of old timey folk in an original more modern style all her own and Mish’s songs will stick with you.
Whole Damn Sky was produced, mixed, engineered and arranged by Aeron Z Jones; and mastered by James Collins at Tangent. Musicians on the album are Nicole Wish on lead and backing vocals; Aeron Z Jones on guitars, keyboard, piano, backing vocals and bass; Łukaskz Łapiński on drums; Kenneth Blacklock, Katy Bridges, Filip Wnukowski, and Sylwia Namroży on violins; Daniel Sobiesiak on cello; Kris Gorski on keyboard and piano; and Noah Gothelf on banjo. Strings arrangement was courtesy of Kenneth Blacklock, Katy Bridges, and Aeron Z Jones
Find the music and lots of links here: https://linktr.ee/nicolemish
Find more details and information here on her website: https://nicolemish.com/
💗 Thank you, Elise and American Highways.