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| Nilia Berkin CD Launch - "Whirlwind"
May 23, 2008 @ Jello Bar By: Carey |
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| Every once in a while you have to venture out and try something new. Well, I don’t know how adventurous it was for me to ‘try’ Nilia Berkin’s music out, but it turned out to be a well-calculated risk. Nilia Berkin is a Montreal native (originally born in Sherbrooke) who studied music at Vanier College and Concordia University. A classically trained pianist who has been playing since the age of four and she also studied choral music. The woman has put time and effort into learning her craft! At the end of her time at Concordia she joined a male friend’s band called “Les Poupées Gonfables” as a background singer and dancer. This lasted a few years and was her first dose of playing in front of crowds and rock music. Next up she began to study piano under Lorraine Desmarais for two years. Nilia started playing at small cocktail clubs around Montreal as part of a duo with ex-The Asexuals guitarist TJ Plenty, a partnership that continues in the present. After playing for an extended time in Japan, Nilia returned to Montreal and started writing the music for what would become her debut 12-track album, “Whirlwind”. At the CD launch at Jello Bar (funky place, which I have not been to in a dog’s age and have to try and make the effort to get to more often), where Nilia showcased 9 tracks (most from her debut album), she performed with the aide of partner in crimeTJ Plenty on guitar and two female background singers (Danielle and Stephanie). Everything about the hour-long set was very intimate and cozy. From her cute banter in between songs to her clear, sweet voice to how each of her songs gave you insight into how this woman views the world she made you feel like you were in her living room listening to her sing a few songs. After commenting on how pleasantly surprised she was that so many people turned up as she had feared she would be playing in front of an audience of seven, she continued to charm everyone in attendance for the duration of her set. Several of her songs have a kind of childlike quality about them, which is different sounding and easy to listen to. Playing music that is a mix between pop and jazz, Nilia sound is easy on the ears and quite catchy in a fun kind of way. Playing keyboards for the most part, except for one song she did on acoustic guitar, the room was almost completely silent while she sang except for several toes tapping and hands clapping in time with the music. This coupled with the loud, warm applause that greeted the end of each song indicates to me that she has made music that people connect with. It is an album of music full of heart and wonder and Miss Berkin should be proud. Towards the end of her set, Nilia told the audience that from beginning to end the CD took her roughly three years to complete. I believe that she can rest assured that it was time well spent. Setlist: 1) Whirlwind 2) Full Well 3) Land of the Dim 4) Just Like You (?) 5) Feast 6) Strange Days 7) Naughty Boys 8) Buckaroo Bunny 9) Ain’t Got No – I Got Life (Nina Simone cover) Additional information: -Website: www.niliaberkin.com | ||||||||||||||
