Nightingale sings

Adrienne Nightingale is one gifted singer-songsmith, as her work schedule readily attests. Nightingale constantly tours across the U.S. and abroad, working over100 gigs a year in places like Canada, Mexico, Spain and Kenya. She’s been heard over public radio from New York City to Los Angeles and on almost 700 Internet programs around the globe, including Feminine Groove, Music Highway Radio, Netteradio and Radio Crystal Blue.

Nightingale’s music has a lilting, haunting quality that lingers with you long after she’s finished singing. Perfect stuff for Saturday mornings in autumn. When you play the album Love and Light machine, just as soon as it stops playing, you will want to start the disc all over again. On November 10, Adrienne Nightingale headlines The Terminal Bar. Also on the bill are raw folk wizards James Curry and singer-songwriter Dwight Hobbes with whom Nightingale recently spoke.

Headlining at Terminal Bar on November 10, 409 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612) 623-4545

DWIGHT HOBBES: You have such an original style. What are your influences?
ADRIENNE NIGHTINGALE: I’m influenced by many songwriters, musicians and mostly by nature. My influences come in genres more than individuals or bands. Each year, by chance, I find myself intrigued with different genres. One year flamenco, another blues, country, bluegrass. This past month, I’ve been drawn more to classical.

DH: Where do you get your lyrics?
NIGHTINGALE: From my own personal politics and spirituality. I used to draw lyrics solely from my personal experiences. My first album was very confessional. It needed to be that way. That is changing with the second album, due some time next year.

DH: Do you write poetry?
NIGHTINGALE: I wrote poetry first, before songwriting was ever an idea to me. These days, I still keep my poetry private. Like painting, poetry is something I do for my own personal enjoyment.

DH: How pleased are you with “Love and Light”?
NIGHTINGALE: I am very pleased with the energy and the messages in that album. It is my first album, and those songs all mean so much to me personally. They are each drenched in my heart. The actual recording is a different story. I was engineering, mixing and mastering both my album and another artist at the same time. Since the other was a paid job, I ended up devoting more time and work on that project, and left my CD on the back burner. Then, I rushed the album to have it ready for a four-month tour. I’ve learned so much from that mistake.

DH: Did you come out with anything that surprised you? Or was the result
exactly what you expected?
NIGHTINGALE: Oh man! I was surprised to have extra instrumentation on the album! I made a last minute decision to bring in some friends and session musicians to record a few extra parts. One week before I sent the master off for manufacturing, I started bringing people in to lay down some extra tracks. I’m laughing now as I think about both the magical and not-so-magical results.

DH: What’s next?
I just started a not-for-profit organization that is based worldwide. I’m using my music to educate communities about HIV/AIDS. I’m about to return for my third trip to Kenya this year. I feel compelled to use my voice in this way at this time. I just created a website for the project: www.CEETAproject.org. Sometime in 2008 I also expect to release my sophomore album as well as tour nationally to promote it.