Nick Jaina

Nick Jaina: Climbing The Beanstalks

Nick Jaina is at the top of his game.

In this reader’s opinion, Jaina’s produced some of the most compelling writing the Willamette Week music section (or any metro weekly paper or affiliated blog) has printed with his column Nick Jaina’s Little Box Of Lies.  The title is a miscue, as the writing is neither little, or the work of a liar.  Each installment is a full blown essay, and is brimming with the rare honesty of one who has calculated there’s really nothing to loose for not keeping up appearances, or probing prevailing notions.

There are a lot of words on the internet,  but if you have any interest in the topic of making a career in music, you’ll likely find Jaina’s writing touching, funny, insightful, well organized and occasionally contentious:

Nick Jaina’s Little Box Of Lies

While you’re reading, do yourself the favor of cuing up Jaina’s latest long-player The Beanstalks That Have Brought Us Here Are Gone.  It’s an edifying listen and noteworthy for Jaina’s decision to let an impressive and well-curated selection of women to sing on his behalf.  Get your own digital copy from bandcamp or wait a few weeks for a more tangible version.

Lastly, for the Portlanders that may be reading this, Nick is going to premiere his latest undertaking, music for The New York City Ballet this Thursday July 30th at The Alberta Rose Theatre.  (No dancing, just music.)  It’s safe to expect something great.

Nick Jaina – Best of Sleeping On The Covers FREE

https://hushrecords.com/zencart/images/coversfree.jpg

Selected from a body of work playing court musician to Kickstarter patrons, these covers gather the best of the off-the-cuff sessions. Nick says: “I played all the instruments and recorded it all myself at my friend Lee Howard’s studio, so I hope you’ll pardon the occasional shuffling sounds in between songs or some hot instruments that clip a bit.”

Get it in the HUSHshop

01 – Everybody’s Talkin
02 – That Summer Feeling
03 – Fields of Gold
04 – Revelator
05 – Cloudbusting
06 – May You Never Be Alone
07 – Trainwreck
08 – I Lost You
09 – Killing Moon
10 – Human Nature
11 – Cupid/ Mexican Blue
12 – Into My Arms
13 – Me and the Devil

Nick Jaina on KEXP

Portland’s Nick Jaina creates a unique blend of bluesy to boozy folk-rock. He’s joined by some fellow Northwestern musicians in the KEXP studio for this exclusive live performance that features some tracks from his LP “A Bird in the Opera House.” – W. Myers

Listen to the stream here.
Cincinnati
Full Performance
Love Potion
Ortolan
Sebastopol

Nick Jaina’s ‘Women Album’ Seeking Backers

Nick Jaina wants to release an album of his songs performed by local female artists, including Laura Gibson, Jolie Holland, Tu Fawning’s Corrina Repp and Y La Bamba’s Luzelena Mendoza. $10 will get you a free download of the album, while for $100, Nick will record a personal CD of three cover songs of your choice. And for $500, he’ll write an original song just for you (or someone you love).

So if 50 people donate 100 bucks, Jaina’s on the hook for 150 cover songs!  A true song and dance man if there ever was one!

Nick Jaina kickstarter page — watch the video

From Nick:

I call the album “The Beanstalks That Have Brought Us Here Are Gone”

Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting unmastered songs from the album here:
http://nickjaina.bandcamp.com/

Here are the songs and who sings them:

01. “No One Gives Their Heart Away” featuring Laura Gibson
02. “The President of the Chess Club” featuring Amanda Spring (of Point Juncture, WA)
03. “You Were So Good To Me” featuring Jolie Holland
04. “When the Blind Man Rings That Bell” featuring Kaylee Cole
05. “Once But Never Again” featuring Luzelena Mendoza (of Y La Bamba)
06. “Awake When I’m Sleeping” featuring Audie Darling
07. “Ortolan” featuring Myshkin
08. “James” featuring Johanna Kunin
09. “Whiskey Riddle” featuring Annalisa Tornfelt (of Black Prairie)
10. “Missing Awhile” featuring Corrina Repp (of Tu Fawning)

Loch Lomond and others on City of Portland Call Waiting

Listen Local with Loch Lomond from Mayor Sam Adams on Vimeo.

Portland, Ore – Mayor Sam Adams today announced the launch of “Listen Local,” a pilot program that replaces the City’s previous on-hold music with music by Portland musicians. The program seeks to highlight the vibrant, diverse and creative character of Portland to callers near and far and shine a spotlight on local musicians.

“From our entrepreneurs to our artists, what starts in Portland tends to be watched – and bought – around the world,” said Mayor Adams. “Portland’s economic prosperity is being built on our innovation and our creativity. Listen Local showcases both.”

Also included on the track list are HUSH roster artists Nick Jaina and Podington Bear

Nick Jaina Video Gems

Penny Jam just posted their recording of “Sebastopol” that The Nick jaina band shot a couple months ago:

And from Omaha’s Love Drunk, the band plays “I Don’t Believe You”: