Nicole Mish Hope is Restless
Hope is Restless is the new album of heart searching folk songs out this week, courtesy of San Francisco based folk artist, songwriter and musician Nicole Mish. The operative quest within these songs is to consider how do we hold onto hope, and what does hope feel like? Sometimes it’s tested, sometimes it mulls over self-doubt but ultimately it never gives up as it walks among ghosts, walks through nature, and overall, looks for the meaning of home.
From the opening notes of the first song “Tell Me Something Good,” there are bright guitar strings, and clear and vibrating harmonies. The opener is a song that pleads for the listener to tell them something good: “tell me the chaos ends democracy is safe again, tell me something good, tell me we will be all right tonight.”
Acoustic guitar continues to lead on “Ease My Mind” and we are trying to understand how to keep our balance in life and it’s homage to that person who is a rock in your life: “you just ease my mind.” In “Talk To Ghosts” there’s a hushed tone and “the spirits tell me I’m all right, you medicate your silent screams.” It’s a song about putting down the smartphone and screen, and going for a walk at night, looking for ghosts, looking in the shadows, to find meaning. Banjo on this song is gentle and modern sounding with a touch of twang. Gentle violins add flair to “Lose My Restless Mind” with easy melody lines that dance in and out at times.
“A heart wants what the heart wants” is the subject matter of “Heart Wants” as this song explores the way a wild heart cannot (and should not) truly be domesticated and tamed. And you’ll come away feeling like it’s vitally important to stop limiting yourself.
Later in “Wild Song” there’s an exploration of the natural world (“what if my socks are wet from the dew on the blades of grass”) and overall a confrontation of internal fears. The strings in this one are again employed sensitively and never push. “How To Dream” continues the exploration natural metaphors of the show that covers it all over, until birds sing again.
This is 13 folk songs with an ease about them, and a harmonious style of vocal expression, as they explore life taking its toll, looking for ghosts, and seeking answers in nature. The production is thoughtful and easy with a muted approach that never showboats. A great album with a restrained contemplative approach to learning to know oneself from within, while finding the best way to flourish, which is never straightforward and never easy.
For anyone out there who’s a fan of Jana Pochop, this is in the same ballpark.
Find the music here: https://linktr.ee/nicolemish and check our her website here: https://nicolemish.com
Musicians on the album are Nicole Mish on lead vocals and backing vocals; Aeron Z Jones on guitars, bass, backing vocals, mandolin, piano, keys and percussion; Cooper Lower on guitars; Thomas Vang on bass; Kris Gorski on percussion, piano and keys; Łukaskz Łapiński on drums; Daniel Sobiesiak on cello; Noah Gothelg on banjo; and Katy Bridges, Kenneth Blacklock, and Sylwia Namroży on violins.
Hope is Restless was produced by Aeron Z Jones, Kris Górski, and Nicole Mish; arranged by Aeron Z Jones and Kris Gorski; and co-arranged by Kenneth Blacklock, Katy Bridges, Nicole Mish, Cooper Lower, Thomas Vang, and Noah Gothelf.
It was recorded and engineered by Aeron Z Jones, Kris Górski, Nicole Mish, Cooper Lower and Thomas Vang; mixed and mastered by Kris Górski, Aeron Z Jones and Nicole Mish. Kari Estrin was the creative consultant, photography was by Stephanie Mohan, and album design was courtesy of Emily Shirley.