NEeMA

Location:
Montreal, Ca
Type:
Artist / Band / Musician
Genre:
Folk / Pop / Dub
Site(s):
Label:
Tonality Productions
Type:
Indie
Canadian songstress NEeMA's new second album Watching You Think is a collection of twelve musical stories that seamlessly meld elements of world music, folk and jazz, with a good measure of pop. Produced in association with Leonard Cohen and Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan, Ron Sexsmith), Watching You Think contains songs of love, life and simple observations that read like parables and sound instantly familiar. The US release of the album also contains and a new version of her deeply moving musical prayer, "Masi 2010"
The album finds NEeMA's uninhibited and authentic style perfectly complemented by some of Montreal's best musicians, who add nuance to every mood and emotion of the new release. Players include Howard Bilerman, Tim Kingsbury (Arcade Fire), Tom Mennier (Martha and Rufus Wainwright), Joe Grass and Miles Perkin (Lhasa de Sela), and Gurpreet Chana (Nelly Furtado); production duties were assisted by Haig V and Fred Bouchard.
Of Egyptian and Lebanese descent, NEeMA commands a presence on and off stage that is as powerful and charismatic as her voice is honest and unique. She has traveled extensively, and has shared time with the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa; she had worked with street children in Egypt, as well as having had the privilege of working with the Tribal Elders of Wekweti, an isolated First Nation community in northern Canada. No doubt these experiences have helped her develop the ability to communicate her stories through poetry and song, focusing on those themes that are dear to the human heart.
For NEeMA a song always begins with a seed, be it a lyric or a melody. On several occasions she has found herself singing a chorus of a yet to be written song. "The more I write songs, the more I realize it's about uncovering the story that wants to be told, not writing the one I have in mind."
NEeMA did not envision collaborating with these producers on the new album; it just evolved that way. Discussions were born out of friendships with both Pierre and Leonard, and seeking their input and expertise was a natural process. "I learned from both of them the importance of starting over if something isn't working,' NEeMA explains, 'or holding on to something when the magic is already there."
For instance, the track "Running" was initially recorded as a demo in NEeMA's living room. She tried to recapture the feeling of this first recording at three different studios with various musicians but ended up using the version she had done at home. NEeMA explains, "I love the intimacy it captured."
"Escape" was written while NEeMA was living in Los Angeles. She was staying in the house of a guitar maker and was sitting in his studio surrounded by dozens of guitars. "I found the environment inspiring,' she explains, 'I picked up an electric guitar for the first time ever - and this song poured out if it!"
"Elsa's Lullaby" began as a poem. While touring Canada a few years ago NEeMA brought her beloved canine companion Elsa along. She met a young girl who fell in love with the pooch and told her "you must have so many songs written about her!" She had none at the time. "Thus began a poem that went on for pages and pages and basically wrote itself- all I had to do was watch her."
NEeMA first arrived on the scene with her 2006 debut album Masi Cho, which was nominated for a MIMI (Montreal International Music Initiative) in the World & Roots category. Since then, NEeMA has toured Canada, Ireland, Australia, England and the U.S. In the summer of 2007 alone, she performed more than 33 concerts, including Nova Scotia's Privateer Days Festival and the South Country Fair Festival in Alberta. Other highlights include her 2008 concert at the Electric Picnic Festival in Ireland, the 2008 Winterfolk Festival in Toronto and Canadian Music Week, and sold-out shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in both 2009 and 2010. Over the past year, NEeMA has toured Canada and the US extensively, with highlights including performances at SXSW and the National Folk Alliance Showcase, her album launch at Joe's Public Theatre in NYC and a stint opening for Jesse Winchester and The Chapin Sisters on their national tours.
Leonard Cohen has said of NEeMA, "in the midst of all the static, a voice of true feeling arises - a rare event!" Cohen also drew the portrait of NEeMA that serves as the album's cover art. Watching You Think was mixed and partially recorded at Pierre Marchand's studio in Montreal. Marchand has described NEeMA as "an inspiring presence," adding, "her evocative lyrics and warm voice paint beautiful, timeless stories and portraits."
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