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| Hilary Scott |
My return to Saigon on July 12th felt like a bit of a
homecoming. Everyone greeted me warmly and it felt
good to get back into the Park Lounge where I perform
every night but Tuesday. Knowing more about the city
this time I've not had to undergo as much of an
adjustment culturally, so I've spent more time with my
guitar writing songs, and more time devoted to
projects back in the states.
One of those projects, writing and recording America's Song with singer/songwriter Keith Colley, I am hoping to finish in mid-October when I return to Seattle for a few days. Keith is involved in many projects involving music and helping other people. I admire his humanitarian angle and the way in which he wishes to implement music to bring about change. Later in this newsletter you will find some information about Keith's recent project "Neda's Song." Most of us know that Neda is a young woman who was gunned down at a rally during the Iran elections. Keith explains why he chose to use this tragic incident as the centerpiece for making a statement about personal freedom. It is best left to his own words, but I did want to say that since part of my career lately has been traveling more and meeting people of many different cultures, this theme of universal respect and personal freedom (even if one does not have political or social or other kinds of freedom due to their circumstances) is of utmost importance. Even if we are caged, we should have the personal freedom to think and feel. Please do check out Keith's project. For now, with about 6 weeks left in Vietnam, I am trying to enjoy the palm trees, surprise storms and beautiful heat as much as possible since I am not sure I will get the chance to see this country and these people, whom I've grown quite fond of, again. Honestly, the hardest part for me while doing these jobs is all the alone time with my thoughts, but my friends here try to keep me busy. I've been taken on quite a f ew adventures to find some of the best traditional Vietnamese food I've ever tasted, riding as a passenger on a motorbike and getting into some WAY TOO NEAR scrapes with busses and cars, Vietnamese karaoke, and many more. But even so, I'm looking forward expectantly to getting home and seeing you all again, my friends!!!! |
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Travelin' the road...
Upon her return from Seoul, South Korea, in April,
Hilary headed to Columbia, Missouri where she
embarked on a three-week tour with Wes Wingate for
their album Consonance and teamed up for several
shows with the band John Henry and the Engine of St.
Louis. Fans and critics are praising the duo's version
of "Like a Virgin" and their original contributions to the
album as well. Hilary and Wes have a MySpace site
for the album: myspace/wesandhilary
Eric Cohen, Music Director, WAER 88.3 Syracuse New York has this to say about Consonance: "Let's just say I give CONSONANCE two thumbs up! I have really enjoyed the tunes we have played thus far." WAER has been playing Dirty Old Town, Steal The World Away and Back To The River. Wingate and Scott will perform in Columbia's Bluebird Festival in mid-October and plan on touring the Midwest region again this winter. Hilary will also appear with the Hilary Scott Band for several shows in the area. Check www.hilaryscott.com and the gigs link for continually updated information. Also while in the Midwest in May and June, Hilary worked in the Mansion Studio with Bruce Barkelew and Adam Roehlke to record Indigo, which is set for release this month. The record includes 12 carefully-chosen piano/vocal tracks, all arranged and performed by Scott, with Bill Adams and Bruce Barkelew appearing as guest guitarists. Fan votes as to which songs should appear on Indigo were considered in track selection, and artists as variant as Louis Armstrong, Imogen Heap and Crosby, Stills and Nash are covered. Photography by Anastasia Pottinger and graphics/design work by Lynne Lampe make this album a truly unique project. Hilary is currently performing six nights a week at the Park Lounge, Saigon. On October 10th Hilary will return to the United States, and will record America's Songin Seattle with Keith Colley before heading back to Missouri for the Bluebird Festival and several other shows, and a new recording project in mid-October. Scott will collaborate with St. Louis musicians AJ Gennaro and Nick Heim for an EP of all new original material. From November 10th-November 21st Hilary will be in Italy for writing, recording and collaboration with international artists at Sanremo's Festival Degli Autori. Hilary's music was discovered by festival directors and she applied and was accepted for one of the limited spots in a collaboration campus geared at launching artists in Italy and Europe. Hilary is currently the lyricist in collaboration on three original songs with Italian musician Maurizio Opinato, and will also team up with producer Ermanno Croce among others for recording projects in Rome. Hilary was recently one of several musicians interviewed for GO Magazine (Columbia Daily Tribune) about her experience playing music overseas. Read the article here: The Road Revelers. Columbia musicians travel nation, world to broaden their audiences.http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/ 2009/aug/27/the-road-revelers/ Belltown Records has engaged Two Side Moon Promotions to promote Hilary Scott in the UK and Europe. Two Side Moon Promotions helps artists get radio play, press articles and reviews. In January 2010, Scott heads back to Asia for a three- month extended performance contract in Japan. |
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| Photo by Anastasia Pottinger |
So, you couldn't make it to the Paris Lounge in Seoul
or the Park Place Lounge in Saigon to hear Hilary
perform?
Not to worry - Indigo, Hilary Scott's upcoming album set for release in September 2009, will take you there! Like the color, Indigo the album combines many musical "hues" and is overlaid with a feeling of blue. This album covers songs from nearly every decade since the 1930's, and bounces from jazz to pop to folk. These arrangements were borne from Hilary's time abroad and her focus on piano/vocal performance and improvisation. Hilary performs vocals, piano and violin and invites some guest guitarists onboard as well. Be sure to check www.hilaryscott.com for release details! |
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Check It Out
Keep up with Hilary as she writes about her
experiences abroad!
Her blogsite includes a feed subscription feature and you can also access recent posts from Hilary's website. |
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| Keith Colley pays tribute to Neda Salehi Agha Soltan |
Keith Colley has written a tribute song to Neda Soltan,
the young woman who was an innocent victim of the
violence that erupted at the rally in Iran questioning the
results of the national elections.
On the tribute page Keith has built, he writes, "Neda's Song" is not an emotional tribute to a young life cut short by a bullet. Nor is it an incendiary device to incite global rebellion. "Neda's Song" simply refuses to accept the circumstances of this girl's death. The name Neda means a voice, a calling. "Neda's Song" interprets this voice as spirit of change. Change occurs over time...sometimes quickly; more often, over a longer period. Regardless, "change" requires motivation; "change" requires effort.
"workin' on Neda' song" reflects one's personal
commitment to working for change - today and
tomorrow. By being willing to "workin' on Neda's
song," each of us helps insure we strive to achieve
positive change. In so doing, we enable Neda help
us rally the world population to not accept anything
less than personal freedom.
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Purchase CDs on the Hilary Scott
website ,
on the CDBaby
website and digital downloads on
most of
your favorite download sites such as iTunes.
Note: Hypothermia, The Best of Hilary Scott Live - Volume 1 and Kansas City Rockers For Life can only be purchased at gigs and on the Hilary Scott website. To purchase CDs and merchandise....click here |
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In these perilous economic times, there are so many
in need. Pastor Wright and the Total Experience
Gospel Choir continue to help those affected by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To
donate and receive a gift of the "Blessed" CD, follow
this link: Hurrica
ne Relief/Blessed
You can support our troops through the non-profit, Support America's Armed Forces. Click on the link to visit their website. You can even send a gift of some great donated indie music, including Hilary Scott's Road To Hope. |
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