Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Being Manufactured!

Posted on January 31, 2007

I am listening to Witness
from the album “Surfacing” by Sarah McLachlan
on my iTunes right now!

OK I finally have a moment of rest to write in my blog for you folks.

First off let me say thank you to Shilah Morrow and everyone at The Mint in LA! Also a big what up and thank you to the newest members of “Southern Cousins” - Victor Indrizzo, Jinsoo Lim, Martyn Lenoble, and Jeremy Ruzumna. I will explain Southern Cousins a bit later… The official debut of Nakia in LA went off without a hitch and I was very pleased with the results. Here’s what Shilah had to say…

“OMG!!! Nakia was really good…so soulful! LA band was really tight! Amazing that they only had a 3 hour rehearsal.”

Here’s a couple of shots from the show that Phil Pyle took at the show. Thanks Phil!

The second is of me singing with The Mother Truckers on “Tumblin’ Dice!” Apparently this song, Lucinda Williams stopped in and hung out for the rest of the set. Lucky Truckers! Seriously though, Teal and Josh were so great! Thank you! It was cool seeing the guys from The Small Stars as well, albeit a bit strange for us to be back there together but playing different sets. They seemed to dig my set a lot and I certainly was impressed with how much they have improved that set of theirs. Of course, as previously noted before I went out, Vic was absent, thank god! Overall, The Mint ROCKED!
The next day I drove down to Anaheim for The NAMM Show and performed outside the convention center in front of the Marriott hotel for the John Lennon Bus. This was my 4th appearance and I think my favorite so far. I only wish I had a copy of the set. I did convince Steve from the bus to take some photos though. Here are some of them. For the rest, hit my flickr page.

Saturday night I hung out with friends and hit the bar for some non-alcoholic fun. My friend Jonathan, who’s been acting out in LA and doing some modeling took me out with his friends Matt and Don and Jeff. I had a real hoot! Don and Matt are really nuts! I also got to hang with some cool musicians in LA and do some writing. I worked on a couple of tunes with Ryan Goldfinger and hung out for a couple of nights. Word.

Sunday, my friend Richard and I had Italian buffet and I hit the airport running. I was ready to get home to the ATX.

Then it was crunch time. Approving the masters that Dave McNair was sending from NYC and finishing… OK, STARTING and finishing the artwork with my friend and very talented artist, Ryan Walker - bless his little furry heart! He stayed up all night - literally - working on the art for this CD! Sketching, painting, scanning, and coloring. Amazing though. He works quite well under pressure. I snuck some shots of him in his element. I think they looked best in B&W. I present to you the Incredible Ryan Walker…

As you can see from these photos and by looking around this site and my most updated MySpace page, I have named the record, “Playing The Cards” and I am using the tarot card imagery all over the place. I hope to have some merch real soon, but first things first.
So Disc Makers has the master and the art and is pressing the CDs as you’re reading this most likely. (They better be! HA!) Which means one thing…

SUPER NAKIA PROMO WEEK IS COMING!!

Yes folks… It’s all happening and I have been VERY busy working to provide with you an onslaught of Nakia shows and appearances in conjunction with my very first CD. I have even got the Austin Music Foundation on board as part of their “Love Austin Music Month” campaign!! What’s that you say? You’d love to hear all about that week? Why let me tell you all about it…

Tue. 2/13 - ABIA - Music In The Air Solo Songwriter Set - 3:30PM
Wed. 2/14 - KUT - Music with Jay Trachtenburg - 12:00PM
Thu. 2/15 - FOX 7 - Morning News Show - 7:30AM
Thu. 2/15 - KGSR - Sound Of Our Town with Bryan Beck - 9:20AM
Thu. 2/15 - CITY HALL - Mayor Wynn proclaims 2/15 “Nakia Day” - 5:30PM
Thu. 2/15 - ME TV - Almost Late Show with Bobby Bones - 9:00PM
Fri. 2/16 - KLBJ - Dudley & Bob Show - 8:20AM
Fri. 2/16 - FLIPNOTICS - Solo Songwriter Set with Andrew Walker - 10:30PM
Sat. 2/17 - LAMBERTS - Official CD Release Party and 32nd Birthday Bash - 10PM
Sun. 2/18 - AT&T MARATHON - AT&T Blue Room Presents - 7:40AM

Shows in bold italics will be played with my new band and will be billed as:
“Nakia with his Southern Cousins”

So this is the time of the show I get to explain the whole “Southern Cousins” thing to. As much as I love just performing as “Nakia” - the truth is that because I also do songwriter sets with just me and the piano that lately some of the venues have been a bit confused. They hear the new record and want to know if it will be a full band show or a solo set. In order to help clear it up, I have decided to do as many shows as possible from this point on with a full band and I felt the need to call the band something. I paced, and fretted, and sweated this one, y’all, but I finally settled on Southern Cousins after letting it sit a day or two. The idea is that because my lineup kind of “rotates” on a regular basis that any player could actually end up being a part of the band at some point and kind of making them a part of the “Nakia family” or a “cousin” if you will… Ah the deep, deep roots of rock n’ roll. If you want to hear some of Southern Cousins, I have created a MySpace page for the band here.

I have officially dropped off advance copies of the CD to the following stations and I encourage you to email and/call them today to request “Down In A Pinch” or anything from “Playing The Cards.”

KGSR - 107.1FM - (512) 390-5477 • Email The Program Director
KLBJ - 93.7 FM - (512) 390-5525 • Email The Program Director
KUT - 90.5 FM - (512) 471-2345 • Email The Program Director

And in case you’re wondering I will be shooting a video in a few weeks for “Down In A Pinch” and then of course it’s time for some calls/emails to ME TV. Until then you can watch me on the Almost Late Show with Bobby Bones in a couple weeks… Stay tuned.

And of course, you can PRE-ORDER the CD today by giving me a shout! I am also planning on instituting I learned from my days at Aware Records - Selling at discount for larger quantities and allowing you to sell them to your friends and family for a buck or two more and make a bit of money for yourself!

I might have more to say later, but for now, I need sleep as I have a photo shoot with Todd V. Wolfson at 10AM… Consider yourselves updated.

Peace -

Nakia

PS: That episode of Friday Night Lights may or MAY NOT be airing tonight. Set your DVR’s folks!

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Get Your Vote On!

Posted on January 17, 2007

I am listening to Inner Sanctum
from the album “Atardecer” by Friends Of Dean Martinez
on my iTunes right now!

There’s not much time left and if you haven’t already cast your ballot for this year’s Austin Music Awards, might I suggest that you head over to their online voting page and get busy before their January 25th deadline.

While you’re there, remember yours truly is a pretty darn good singer and I would greatly appreciate being considered for the Male Vocal category this year.

That being said, let me tell you how happy I am out here in the L to the A. Yes folks, Los Angeles is being very good to me and best of all, I got out of town before the big winter storm hit Austin. Sorry to all you Austinites who are suffering through it though. I have been doing some writing while I am out here and visiting some great spots to do that writing in. (Thanks to Roggie and Miss Pamela)

I am also very excited about my show on Friday night at The Mint here in LA. I go on at 8:30 in front of The Small Stars and a little band you might know of by now and if you don’t you will… SOON: The Mother Truckers! Sin City Presents the show (read that, my favorite cowgirl, Shilah Morrow and company) and it is going to kick major booty, folks!

What do you get when you add players from Beck, Macy Gray, Porno For Pyros, Joss Stone, Rod Stewart, Jane’s Addiction, Aimee Mann, and far too many more to name to the Appalachian Soul of one Texas singer/songwriter? I’d say that we’ll call that a sure fire killer show.

This being my West Coast solo debut, I called in a few ringers to help back me up on Friday night. So, get there early to get a good seat as they go quick on Friday’s at The Mint. Trust me!

NOTE: IF YOU ARE IN LA AND IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND HAVE A BUSINESS CARD AND WANT TO COME SEE THIS SHOW - PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY!!

Of course, the following day I perform at the John Lennon Bus at The NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. I go on at 1PM outside the Marriott on a street called Convention Way.

This past weekend in Austin, The Jimi Hendrix Show with Will Taylor & Strings Attached went SUPER GOOD! If you didn’t get a chance to show up in person, I hope you at least got to hear it live on KLBJ. Melanie Martinez got some amazing shots of the show - as always - and posted them at the link above. Here’s my fave though:

Phil Brown had a big film crew in there - Chris Butler’s Super!Alright! - and they should be releasing a DVD of the whole thing soon I hope. I will keep you posted. I had a really good time doing it. John Pointer cracked me up at the mic all night though: “Bored or Narcoleptic?” It was also a real honor to get to play with Pat Mastelotto (King Krimson, Mr. Mister). He and Jason McKenzie kicked serious ass on the drums and percussion all night. Who knows? I might end up in one of Will’s upcoming shows for the rest of the season.

OK - Time to get out of this cafe and out into the LA night air. I’ll check in soon…

~Kia

Are You Experienced??

Posted on January 3, 2007

I am listening to This Will Be My Year
from the album “Feeling Strangely Fine” by Semisonic
on my iTunes right now!

First up, before I forget. I HIGHLY advise you… Listen closely… It would be in your best interest to purchase ADVANCE seats for one of the two shows I am doing with Will Taylor & Strings Attached on Saturday, January 13th. It is going to be a REALLY big and VERY special show. Don’t blow this one folks! Tickets are available by clicking the lovely graphic I made below.

Well, I made into 2007 and boy oh boy was it a great 2006!

Let’s take a quick peek back at some substantial events in my life this past year…

• I played a bunch of Texas shows with The Small Stars from January through April, including SXSW. But I also toured to CA and NV for shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Reno.
• I recorded background vocals on “Day Job” for The Small Stars upcoming new album.
• I left The Small Stars in April to focus my efforts on my solo career.
• I played a songwriter set at the John Lennon Songwriting Bus when it made it’s first Austin stop of the year at the UT campus. I was joined on stage by Landis Armstrong and Kevin Remme.
• I sang “That’s The Way God Planned It” at the first tribute to the Concert For Bangladesh at The Hole In The Wall during SXSW.
• I signed with Roggie Baer’s RajiWorld Touring Consultants as my exclusive North American Booking Agent.
• I recorded 5 songs at Willie Nelson’s World Headquarters at his private ranch in Luck, TX with Matt Hubbard engineering the sessions which included Landis Armstrong (guitar), Kevin Remme (drums), and the late David Zettner (bass).
• I performed another songwriter set at the John Lennon Songwriting Bus. It’s second stop in Austin of the year was at the NAMM convention. Landis once again joined me on guitar.
• I went home to Alabama to celebrate my Grandmother’s 89th birthday and was able to visit with all of my immediate family and a lot of my good friends.
• I was once again asked to sing “That’s The Way God Planned It” for the second tribute to the Concert For Bangladesh. This time at Threadgill’s World Headquarters, sponsored by KGSR and hosted by Jody Denberg.
• I recorded 3 songs with Mac McNabb and began working with him to complete my debut EP.
• I was cast as “Eddie” in The Rocky Horror Show at Zachary Scott Theatre. The show ran from October 5th - November 12th and I made some of the greatest friends during the run.
• I performed the song “Savoy Truffle” at White Album concert with Will Taylor & Strings Attached at The Nutty Brown Cafe.
• The movie that I filmed over 2 years ago, Mike Judge’s, “Idiocracy” FINALLY came out! I’m in the film for all of two seconds.
• I was invited to appear on Fox 7 Morning News where I performed “Remember This Christmas.”
• I performed with Will Taylor & Strings Attached at their Christmas Show. I was honored to have Will arrange my song, “Remember This Christmas” for the show.
• I was chosen as the first winner in the KGSR/Apple Computer MacBook contest. The prize was a brand new Apple MacBook and airplay on KGSR. Jody played my newest song, “Down In A Pinch” not once that week, but at least twice! Thanks.
• I made my Cactus Cafe debut opening up a show for the phenomenal Ruthie Foster!
• I played my first full band show at Roggie’s 42nd Birthday Party - AFTER Party. We did about 90 minutes at Lambert’s in downtown Austin. The band was made up of Mac McNabb (guitar), Matt Hubbard (keys, melodica), Steve Zirkel (bass), and Kevin Remme (drums).
• Roggie booked me for my first full band show in LA to take place in about 2 weeks at The Mint. Oddly enough, somehow The Small Stars ended up on the bill, so I am actually opening for them before Shawn Pander later opens for The Mother Truckers. Should be a great show.
• I was asked to play the John Lennon Songwriting for the fourth time! This time in Anaheim at the NAMM Convention the day after my show at The Mint.

So, as you can see, it was a good year for me. I am truly blessed and very grateful to all of these good things that happened to me in 2006, but I could not have done them without the love and support of so many of you out there who write, call, IM, come to the shows, listen to the songs, share the music with your friends, and give back to me the love I try so hard to give to all of you.

As you can see, I was listening to Semisonic’s, “This Will Be My Year” when I started this post. I believe that wholeheartedly, but more importantly I am happy with the fact that I know that this will be my LIFE.

Thank you,

Nakia

PS: I have posted a new set of potential album covers at Flickr. Check ‘em out!

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