9/11

veryday, acknowledge, cherish and appreciate your family and all your loved ones. Count your blessings and understand the value of having those special people in your life. Don't take them for granted. Show them your love everyday. Life is precious and fragile as thin ice.
It can change on a dime. xo

blast blast blast....blues blast

Listen up!!! I'm going to on the cover of an upcoming issue of Blues Blast Magazine. This is an online blues publication and it's really cool, informative and FREE! To be sure you receive the issue in your inbox, subscribe here: http://www.thebluesblast.com/emailsignup.htm

Face it Foundation

Thursday evening, August 18th, I'll be singing @ the Face It Foundation's 2011 Benefit Gala @ the Red Bull Space in SOHO, NYC.
This event will raise money for the Face It Foundation, which helps men & their families cope with depression, as well as overcoming the stigma of depression in men.
There will also be an art exhibition from globally celebrated artists AND a live graffiti performance. Gonna be cool. Tix are $100 but to learn more about the foundation: http://www.faceitfoundation.or​g/

Don't get in my way

President Obama's visit to NYC, 2 big baseball games, and a funeral service for a former mayor is causing major gridlock in in the city all day today. But I wont let this stop me from making it to my gig tonight opening for Joan Osborne at City Winery. NOTHING will stop me. Even if I have to jump and run and hop over taxi cabs to get there!!

New music video is here!! Check it out!

Hey everybody!!

I'm very excited to show you my latest project.

Here is my new music video for my song "Addicted", directed by Saturday Night Live's Tanya Ryno. This video was a BLAST to make. We had so much fun filming over 4th of July weekend in NYC, even though it was 95 degrees and humid! It was such a wonderful experience. I recently had a music video release party in NYC's Gibson Showroom for a small group of people, but am thrilled to share the video with you all now. So, without further adieu, here it is!!

Hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did making it!! xoxo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZGPDSgbRso

Worrisome

There's truly a reason I'm a blues singer. That didn't just happen.
Didn't occur without an innate reason.


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yayyyy

Excited!! My music video for "Addicted", directed by Saturday Night Live producer/director/writer, Tanya Ryno, will officially be released August 4th, and we are a planning a special release party for that night in NYC at the Gibson Showroom!! More details to come!!

Tell me....

J-lo & Marc Anthony divorcing?? Ok. Which one cheated?
Tell me...


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Go!!!!

Go out and see live music. That's what I'm doing tonight. Ok. That's enough. Get up! Out the door! Go! NOW!!


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Just lovely

I'm feeling quite inferior to the ravishing beauty & astonishing perfection of the day. Everything is glistening. Even the black pavement & the red stop signs. Gorgeous.


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Woohooo!!

Follow this link to read about the top 10 Blues CDs of 2011 from About.com (So Far) .....

(I'm included in the list!!) http://t.co/zmPshl5

I'm very flattered!

New beginning

VERY excited. I've signed with a new booking agency that I think will lead me in the direction I wanna go! I'm super happy & optimistic! Details coming soon.... :)
It's a beautiful day!


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Can't wait!

This weekend I'm shooting a music video for my song "Addicted" with Tanya Ryno, former Saturday Night Live writer, director & producer. SO lucky to be working with her and so excited about the locations we'll be shooting in. But I'll keep that a secret. Gonna be killer!!!

Can't wait to share it with you all!

Just do it!

Today is a day of making plans and going for it. Because really, why the hell not?! It's a good day to be foolish.
And don't forget, tomorrow is the first day you can vote for the Blues Blast Music Awards. I'm nominated for the "Sean Costello Rising Star Award"
Details coming soon...


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stop right there!!

Sometimes life makes you feel like you're sitting in stop and go traffic.

Life can be a game of go, stop, go, go, stop!! ;-)

Guess what?

The sky is dark and there's a chill in the air, big storm is gonna start, but I got hope in my heart.

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A dream reborn

When I was in college I took a brief hiatus from singing--a concept unfathomable to me now. For a very short while I had given up the idea of a singing career and I was determined to become a great journalist. All focus went into my studies and many hours were spent at the library researching and trying to perfect my writing. Words became my passion and through writing, I sought to find the most precise and unique ways to describe things. This was my fascination. Well, that phase didn't last long. I snapped out of that insanity real quick when I put this song on one night. I made up my mind, right then and there, that I was going continue with my original plan of being a singer. That dream was reborn and a few nights later I began going to a weekly blues jam. I've since never looked back or doubted what I wanted to do with my life. You've obviously all heard this song before, but maybe if you listen to it again, it will inspire (or re-inspire you) the way it did me when I was 19.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWBbEJXnOFk

Adult apparel

I've got a video shoot coming up next week for "Addicted". Got some cool concepts. Today I awoke and thought, "Must find adult shop for most skanky looking hooker outfit"
Can't wait!!!!


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Let's get positive!!!

Here's a tip: Before you go to bed, end your night in the most positive way possible. Smile, laugh, think of something great in your life, anything. Go to sleep with a smile and you'll wake up feeling positive, optimistic, and all-around content. I know life is more complicated than this, but try it. It really works. If you go to sleep miserable, that's exactly how you'll wake up.

The Next Food Network Star

I'm obsessed.
So inspiring to see people who are not in their teens, going after a dream as developed, experienced, talented adults.
LOVE watching their brilliance and ideas. That, and I love food.


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grateful

Reflecting on what's happening in my life. So grateful for the positive response to my new album, to be nominated for a Blues Blast Music Award, to have a great new manager, to be shooting a music video w/ an awesome SNL producer & to be opening for Joan Osborne. The list goes on. This summer's already been so much more positive than last year. Amazing how things can change w/ some dedication & faith. NEVER GIVE UP!

Great news!! I've been nominated for a 2011 Blues Blast Music Award in the category of
the "Sean Costello Rising Star Award", an award in honor of the late young blues musician, Sean Costello.

These awards are given by Blues Blast Magazine, a free online blues publication. This is Gina's second
Blues Blast nomination. I was also nominated in 2008 for "Best New Artist".
Thank you to the nominators! Voting for these awards will begin on July 1st. More details to come soon...

fountain of youth please fall on me

Ok, 26 years old & look at me trying to stay young:

Callogen supplements, fish oil, anti-oxidant supplements, sunscreen everyday, & sunbaths never. Unfortunately, I'm a willing victim of the youth-obsessed world I came of age in. Still, a word of advice to myself & others trying to stay young.

Don't forget to laugh, love, stay young at heart, & always enjoy life's adventures or even the most wrinkle-free face wont masque your oldness.

Ok...off to apply some vitamin E oil to my face!

Palm Trees

Love when I'm on a long drive and suddenly palm trees appear.


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Florida

Palm Trees and hot air here I come!
Doing 4 gigs in vacation-central this week.
No stress, no anxiety, no worries, no troubles, just sunscreen and music and hot weather and hot people.
Bring it!!
x

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FLORIDA

Next Stop: FLORIDA!! Here are the dates:
6/10 - Bradfordville Blues Club - Tallahassee
6/11 - Back Room - Delray Beach
6/13 - Ace's Lounge - Bradenton
6/14 - McWell's - Orlando

See you there?!?!?

Hope so :)

Just your average ensemble

Black dress. Silver heels. Pink lipstick. Nothing special but the moon.


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"The Road" in 10 minutes

Back on the road!!
Route 81 North.
Bound for Rochester, NY.
We already got pulled over.
Cop let us go.
I charmed him.
The air is thick and humid.
Luckily, the van is air-conditioned.
The band is chit-chatting about baby names.
A billboard for Pet Supplies Plus just past me to my left.
There's a big cloud in the sky that looks like Mickey Mouse.
Exit 194 is offering some "crunchy, spicy, melty food".
We are still 4 hours away from Rochester.
I just saw a bird.
Scot brought along an aged banana.
He just ate it.
My hair is up.
Tom is wearing flannel.
I'm admiring my pedicure.
We aren't listening to music.
Just the sweet sounds of Tom eating something loudly.
Dave is probably thinking about studio gear.
I'm thinking about what I should wear to the festival in Toronto.
Just saw another bird.
The sun gives off a lot of light sometimes.
Look! There goes another bird.
Dave just saw one too.
So many birds.





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Losing big.

The ringing of slot machines: The official anthem of Loss.


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Love & War

Is all fair in love & war? Or is that saying just a clever way for naughty people to justify the naughty things they've done?
Comments, please! :-)


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John Hammond

Opening for the legendary John Hammond TONIGHT at the Sellersville Theatre at 8PM.
Acoustic duo w/ Dave Gross.
Very excited to be back at this beautiful venue. Hope to see you there! xo


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My own little world

Just wrote a new song.
Songwriting is so amazing. My own little precious world of words & melodies where no one exists but me & them.


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love me please!!!

Heard WXPN in Philly is testing my new album on their listeners. Hope they love me!! This could be big! WXPN has a lot of pull! Fingers crossed!


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#1 on XM Radio!!

Woohoo!! I've got the #1 song being played on XM radio's "BB King's Bluesville" - Channel 70!!

Check it out :)

Hmmm

What is this????
If you have any idea please come forward:

The King

This is the Lansky Bros clothing boutique in Memphis.
Started out as a humble, family-owned clothier in the 1950's but rose to legendary status after Elvis Presley became known to frequent the shop.
It's located in the gorgeous Peabody Hotel.

Lansky Bros:






Peabody Hotel:






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Take me to Memphis baby

Flying to Memphis today!!
Cannot begin to describe my excitement.
So wish I could bypass the airport, airplane, and stop-over portions of this trip and just blink my eyes and find myself in sweet Memphis, surrounded by my beautiful friends. Here we are on our way to the Philly airport:


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Justice?

Osama Bin Laden is DEAD nearly 10 years after 9/11. Wow.

In this situation, is death justice? Did Bin Laden deserve something far worse, far more brutal than a quick death?





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NYC

Only a few days left in NYC.

I'm gonna miss the quietness of walking back to my apartment late at night when not too many other people are around.

I'm gonna miss the sounds of trash trucks coming through my opened bedroom window, which let's in the coolest and sweetest of breezes at night.

I'm gonna miss the crepes.

I'm gonna miss walking aimlessly around the island and building some serious buns of steel.

I'm gonna miss my careless life here.

I'm gonna miss the exhilarating people-watching.

I'm gonna miss the energy and great ambition of the city.

I'm gonna miss my drunk neighbors who argue relentlessly one floor up.

I'm gonna miss the kind, rude, impatient, generous, pissed off, too-busy-for-me, good people of NYC.

I'm gonna miss NYC

Man from Kosovo

Went into a pizza place today on 2nd avenue and chatted for a bit with the owner of the place, who was a really sweet man from Kosovo who's been in NYC for 25 years now. A young, blonde and very obviously homeless girl, who couldn't have been any older than 30 walked in with filthy skin and ripped clothes. The owner gave her a free soda and pizza. I thought that was really nice. Something about him and what he did will stay with me. Going to write a song about him. Already have some lyrics written down. I think he is a really kind man who did what not many struggling restaurant owners would have done.

What's been going on!!

Ok. Here we are. April 27th, 2011.

I'm sitting here peacefully in my East Village apartment. Even though my bedroom window is open and I can hear all-too-well the sounds of cars, trash trucks, & motorcycles zooming by, tires squeaking, constant sirens, random shrieks coming from the mouths of random cranky pedestrians, I still feel a sense peace this morning. These otherwise obnoxious sounds have come to replace the bird chirping and breezy trees in Pennsylvania as my sounds of serenity.

Only a few days remain in my stay here in NYC.

I know I had promised to blog everyday about my experiences in the city as well as the adventures that would be inspire my songwriting.

Well, promises aren't always meant to be kept. Blame the city though, not me.

As you might be aware, Manhattan is quite a large island (or peninsula to be accurate). My stay here has been my most lovely and exciting sojourn in my recent memory, not too mention a spectacular distraction, hence the non-blogging.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you a little bit about what's been going on in my career.

Earlier this month I signed with my very first manager, Cindy DaSilva.

I'm SO truly excited about this partnership. Cindy is one AWESOME lady with so many fresh ideas. I absolutely adore her. A GOOD manager is VERY hard to find, so I feel so fortunate to be managed by daSilva Artists.

We have many things in the works right now, including an Americana/AAA radio campaign, for which we've partnered with Serious Bob Promotions, who has been around a very long time in the business, and has been successful at helping artists crossover into the realm of Americana/Rock/AAA.

The new CD, "Can't Control Myself" was sent to 150 stations, and I've already gotten several adds this week, with hopefully more to be added in the coming weeks.

Let's see. What else?

Well, in the first half of this month, around the time I performed at the renowned Berks Jazz Festival, my original song "Gimme a Simple Song" reached as high as #94 of over 15 MILLION mp3's available for download on Amazon.com...I think that's pretty cool.

I've also gotten some great reviews on the new CD, including a killer review from About.com, which you can read here: http://blues.about.com/od/cddvdreview1/fr/Gina-Sicilia-Cant-Control-Myself-2011.htm

Yep. It's been a GREAT April.

Coming up: I'll be attending the 2011 Blues Music Awards on May 5th in Memphis, Tennessee, and I'm incredibly excited to return to Memphis and reunite with some of my best musical friends. The BMAs are ALWAYS a blast.

Following the Blues Music Awards, I will be performing at the 25th Annual Carolina Blues Festival in Greensboro, NC. I'll be performing with Bob Margolin's band, which includes my good friend and former band mate Matt Hill.

I will be filling in on that day for the talented Ann Rabson, who's had some health issues arise, and wont be able to perform at the festival. I send her my love and best wishes.

On May 20th, I'll be opening for the great John Hammond at the Sellersville Theatre in Sellersville, PA. I love this venue and am super excited about the gig.

Exciting things are happening and hopefully more exciting things are to come!

I feel very proud for being 26 years old and having 3 studio albums under my belt, all of which have been welcomed with open arms by the blues community.

I'm very lucky.

My songwriting is an ongoing process, one I absolutely love and cherish.

I gotta say...I love songwriting almost as much as I love singing and I really, really, REALLY LOVE singing :)

As for new tunes, I've got some great ideas for future albums, and my songwriting seems to have naturally progressed into something a bit more edgy and in-your-face. Really excited about some of the new songs I've written.

And there you have it...a little update on what's been going on.

And something's definitely going on :)

Now I'm off...into the city...to be inspired, to snap some mobile photos, and to breath in the excitement of one of the greatest cities in the world.

A presto,

Gina

xoxo

Inspired

Over the past two days the city of New York has inspired me immensely.

Wrote half of a song tonight inspired by water in the city. Will finish that one tomorrow. I think it's pretty catchy! Time will determine it's fate ;) ;)

Well too late in the night now to give you a play-by-play of all that happened today.

Tomorrow I'll fill you in on all the juicy details of what Manhattan had brought to my life
over the past two days since I last blogged.

In the meantime, check out these precious, and I'm assuming edible, cupcake creatures that I spotted in Chelsea Market today:




I do believe they are just TOO cute and TOO sweet to eat. Imagine being so cruel to take a bite off one of their adorable, innocent little smiles!!

Smile everyone. And be inspired.

G

Gonna be a hot NYC night. But how could it not be?!? Here I am in my cab on my way to hotness.



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Water is starting to boil

...song ideas are brewing for 10 songs inspired by NYC in 10 days project....some particulary inspired by a vintage shop I dropped into this afternoon...and by my cellphone. Stay tuned.


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East Village

Home (for now)



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Ok here we go. Just 10 days remain in my NYC adventure. I truly hope those 10 days manage to crawl by gracefully with a snail-like slowness, as I'm enjoying my experience here in the East Village far too much to watch it slip away. However, just in case these days do happen to flash by in a dizzying blur like life tends to do, I figured I should make the absolute most of the remainder of my stay here by documenting everything that's worth documenting (e.g. putting on my socks in the morning is not worthy of documenting) in my favorite form of expression: Songwriting. And maybe I'll throw in a cell phone photo or two.

Just simply being in the city each day fills my head with great ponderings, laughter, and surprise.

Last night I was standing in the kitchen with my ear to the wall, listening in on a seemingly highly inebriated couple's absurd heated argument about cheating and their contempt for each other and how "DOUGLAS, I'M DONE WITH YOU...YOU'RE SUCH A #$@#%@ HYPOCRITE! JUST LET ME TAKE A BATH AND STOP TORTURING ME YOU $%&#@^!!"

Now that little episode between Douglas and whatever-her-name-is (I think he referred to her as $@$!#&, though I can't verify that) definitely deserves mention in a song (or more suitably in some alternative psychology textbook)

So. Please bookmark this blog and visit frequently over the next 10 days.

I want to share with you all my experiences in NYC, all that inspires me, and the process of turning these inspiring things into actual songs. I wont be posting the songs in video, audio, or text form, but maybe, just maybe, I'll record one of them someday. Who knows? Maybe I'll get a whole 10-track album out of this? Time will tell.

Now it's time for me to be on my way, to step out onto the endless-possibility-ridden-streets, and conduct some unconscious research on every single little thing that catches my curious eyes.

Yep. Ok here we go..

Love Songs

How many more love songs can possibly be written?

Especially without inserting tired cliches?

Throughout history an uncountable number of tunes have been written on the topic.

Is there anymore we need to say about love?

Are we creative enough to concoct new & interesting ways of saying

"Love hurts" or "Your love changed me" or "I need your love"?

Have we tired out all options? Has that well but run dry?

Should we move on to a more unexamined subject like, say...rain that falls from the sky as tears fall from ones eyes? ;-)