Gina Sicilia's Blog

9/11

2011-09-11T10:26:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-08T17:25:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-15T18:25:00.001-07:00

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.org/

Don't get in my way

2011-08-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-08-09T18:25:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-03T23:26:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-19T19:43:00.001-07:00

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....

2011-07-15T16:32:00.001-07:00

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

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Go!!!!

2011-07-14T16:42:00.001-07:00

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

2011-07-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

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!!

2011-07-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-09T08:50:00.001-07:00

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!

2011-07-02T08:32:00.001-07:00

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!

2011-06-30T13:03:00.001-07:00

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!!

2011-06-28T17:31:00.001-07:00

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?

2011-06-28T08:41:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-25T04:56:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2011-06-23T22:47:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-21T21:51:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-06-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-19T22:11:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-10T12:20:00.001-07:00

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

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Florida

2011-06-09T09:44:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-01T17:59:00.001-07:00

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

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"The Road" in 10 minutes

2011-06-01T12:16:00.001-07:00

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.

2011-05-29T15:03:00.001-07:00

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

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Love & War

2011-05-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-20T09:09:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-18T12:49:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2011-05-18T10:53:00.001-07:00

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!!

2011-05-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

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

Check it out :)

Hmmm

2011-05-06T19:08:00.001-07:00

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

The King

2011-05-05T11:13:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-04T07:01:00.001-07:00

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?

2011-05-01T20:51:00.001-07:00

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

2011-04-28T23:05:00.001-07:00

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

2011-04-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

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!!

2011-04-27T08:22:00.001-07:00

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

2011-04-21T21:07:00.001-07:00

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

2011-04-20T17:06:00.001-07:00

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

2011-04-20T13:52:00.001-07:00

...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

2011-04-20T12:05:00.001-07:00

Home (for now)

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2011-04-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

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? ;-)

Happy Black Friday

2010-11-26T00:28:00.001-08:00

....well here in Philadelphia Thanksgiving is officially over.

Another Turkey Day bites the dust.

However, it is the official start of Black Friday.

As I'm typing this, it is precisely 3:45 AM, which means that, today, as utterly absurd as it seems, the Macy's Department store opens in just 15 minutes.

Just for kicks, I'd love to show up there at 4 AM just so I can witness first-hand what kind of shopaholic-wackos are in THAT much of a hurry to purchase the latest style of sheer black Playtex Pantyhose for an outstandingly discounted price before the rest of the day's crowds begin to stampede into the shoe department like a pack of merchandise-hungry wolverines.

Hmm. Should I?

Nah.

I reckon I'll retire to bed instead and gladly avoid the massively massive Black Friday masses.

Black Friday. Eeeek!

Quite honestly, the mere name of this post-Thanksgiving-day circus makes me quite uneasy.

Such a disturbing, eerie term for a day that marks the start of what's meant to be a joyous holiday season.

Black Friday brings to mind doom, gloom, death, a tortured caterwaul, a devastating, tragic, disastrous, apocalyptic occurrance.

Yikes. My head will be buried under the covers in T Minus 5 seconds.

.....

2010-10-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

("I am woman, hear me roar

I'm numbers too big to ignore

And I know too much to go back and pretend
Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman")

music biz

2010-10-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

You better try
Before you get old
Before you're nearly 23
And can't appeal to the tweens.
Yes you better try
Before you get too old
Before you're 29
...an old lady in their little eyes.
And it weighs on your mind:
"What will become of me in time?"
As years seem to fly...
So you better try
Before you get too old
Before you're 45
And they say you're way past your prime.

Cause when you're 45

With normal human facial lines

They prove your years of wisdom

But mask your inner fire.
So before it gets to late,
I'm telling you to try
There's a wholesome 15 year old girl-next-door
Who is waiting next in line!
Though she aint got what it takes,
Not a talented bone in her pure, skinny teenage frame
She's got young skin for now
And a hip one-syllable name.

Which is why she better try

Before it gets too late

Before her fans turn on her

For getting pregnant by mistake....

Ciao mi chiamo Gina Sicilia

2010-10-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure that most people who hear my last name have absolutely no idea how to spell it.

And I'm not gonna deny it. It's a tough one, for sure.

I've seen some very insane variations of my last name: Ssciillia, Sicellia, Secellia, Cecillia, Saclia, Sicilicilicilia and so on and so forth. ;)

Whenever I'm on the phone and have to spell my name for somebody on the other end, well, I wont even go into it because I've done it soo many times that I'm pretty much waaay too used to it by now.

But if you wanna learn how to spell it and pronounce it, just think "Sicilian Pizza", without the "n" at the end, so it's: Sicilia!

And there you have it!

Gina Ssciillia

Abortion

2010-10-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Here I am at Fat Rabbit Studios

Working on CD number three, or maybe five.

Yes here I am working at the studio tonight

Workin' on my new baby, will her eyes be green like mine?

The walls are a deep sensual red

The floor's a sweet cherry wood

Instruments are lined up like shiny homes

It's a musical neighborhood

The piano is old from decades ago

It stands against the wall

When it's played it cries so beautifully

It stands so proud and tall

The engineer is mixing

The producer is listening

They are top-notch musical surgeons,

You see, they are both the very same person

I'm at Fat Rabbit Studios in Jersey, U.SA

To record my 3rd musical baby

This cozy studio is where I came today

No way I'll ever abort this baby

Pink Paper

2010-10-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

I love the feeling of singing a song on stage and knowing that I wrote it just for me, and that sometimes there's a history behind it...a true personal story. For example, when it's nostalgic, or was written while sitting in middle school math class, or on my bedroom floor as a very shy teenager surrounded by a mess of notebooks and lose pieces of pink paper filled with scribbled-out lines or words.

Throughout my songwriting history, my lyrics have been written on a multitude of different colored and styled pieces of paper:

Blue, yellow, and green post-it notes. These are easiest to lose and are mostly used for very simple lyric ideas which, a lot of the time, turn into full-fledged musical compositions. Tragically, a greater number of these post-it ideas aren't as fortunate in life, and remain where they started: Stuck to some other unfortunate piece of scrunched and scribbly paper, and imprisoned for all eternity in the dark, chilly confines of my bottom-left desk drawer, never again to see the light of day.

These days my technological method of writing lyrics has changed with the times, as I'm writing some of my lyrics on my laptop. I've written on a paper plate, a restaurant paper table covering, on back of supermarket receipts, a napkin, and even an airplane vomit bag. But aside from all that I prefer to stick to the old-fashioned approach to writing. The tried, true, and timeless method: Taking a notebook, turning to the next clear page, and just writing and scribbling and circling and making arrows and underlining and doodling and scratching out with a simple pen.

Sometimes my songs are winners, sometimes they're losers, and sometimes they're confused little wannabes lacking that inherent X Factor.

However, as long as they're my own words, that's all that matters to me, be they written on baby blue, fluorescent green, sunshiny yellow, girly violet, plain ol' white or Barbie Doll pink paper.

New Column Published at RivetingRiffs.com

2008-02-28T13:36:00.000-08:00

Coming Into My Own: The Process of Life and Music
By Gina Sicilia

I'm on the cusp of a new age.

As I write this, I am walking steadily up that one way, up hill, rocky, gutter-filled, potholed road.

In a little over a week, I will be turning 23 years old. As I walk closer to that new age in my life, I look back fondly on how far I have come in such a short period of time.

With every gig that I do, every song that I write, and every new observation I make about myself, about others, and the changing world around me, I am inching closer and closer to finding my own voice. At this point, I'm quite there yet, but am closer to settling gracefully into that big, comfy, worn-in leather chair of knowing who I am, and being who I am.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a star by the time I was sixteen. Ha!! In my foolish head I believed that to be any older than sixteen in the music business was too old. Of course, I was living in a world dominated by Britney Spears and Britney Spears wannabees. For sure, that unhealthy reality took its toll on me.

My reality check came the day that I turned sixteen and was still singing in just one empty venue, my bedroom, for no one, but the Mariah Carey pictures which I had taped to my wall.

Alright, I'll admit it without shame, I have been a life-long fan of Ms. Carey. She had a very big influence on my singing. Even after the Blues came a' knockin', I was still listening to Mariah CD's and emulating her voice, and it's seemingly endless range, power, and technical genius.

Anyway, back to the present, I now understand, and LOVE the fact that things in life only get better with time, age, and experience.

I mean, if, right now, at this very moment in time, I was the very best, smartest, most experienced, most mature person that I could be, how boring would that be?? It would be very boring. I revel excitedly in the idea that, with each day, I will continue to grow and evolve as a singer, artist and human being in general.

The process of planning my second album has been an eye-opener for me. Though I hope to have the record out by summertime, I am still at the writing stage. I am learning very quickly that I need to simply be the person who I am. I shouldn't force anything. I have to accept my writing as being something that is wholly me.

If I sit down at the piano with the intense desire to write something I feel I should be writing (according to me!!), and something totally different emerges, something better, something that is me, I can't get frustrated and ask myself what is wrong is wrong with you Gina?. I have to embrace and respect what I write.

If I don't have respect for what I am writing, I am insulting the essence of who I am, and I am suppressing my inspiration. When this happens, my heart and mind are closed, with everything that I write becoming forced and sounding like stale cardboard.

Each song on my next release will be 100%, organically, Gina Sicilia. I have gradually come to accept the fact that I must embrace myself as an artist, otherwise I will not be mentally, spiritually, or emotionally successful.

I love being young, and I used to be afraid of getting older. I am no longer afraid of having birthdays, however, will I joyfully embrace forty or fifty, in the same way that I am now embracing twenty-three? Who knows? I sure hope so.

I think the key to achieving embracing a certain age is in doing the best you can, making the best decisions you can, and living the best life you can, all while you are still in your youth.

Doing so is imperative to saving yourself from harboring any toxic, heart-eating, regrets as you get older. Without regrets you will have no reason or desire to return to a younger time in your life (Unless you want wrinkle-free skin again, but that is a whole other column and a half, and I'm quite positive I have zero expertise in that area!).

I am determined to live a regret free life. At twenty-two, I have zero regrets and do not intend on having any for the rest of my life.

Back to reality.

I'm still groping around, searching for those colorful puzzle shapes, that will piece together and render me a complete artist.

As I lay cuddling with myself on a soft leather couch at home, it's comfy, but it will only become comfier as I settle into that place of knowing exactly who I am.

I'm happily awaiting that day. For now, let's see what twenty-three will bring me!

Gina Sicilia for Riveting Riffs ©

Gina Sicilia is a 22-year-old blues & R&B artist, who resides in Philadelphia. She was recently nominated for a 2008 Blues Music Award under the category of "Best New Artist" for her critically acclaimed debut CD "Allow Me To Confess." The record has been receiving enormous radio play and has made a overwhelmingly positive impression within the Blues world. To visit Gina's website go to www.ginasicilia..com or to purchase Allow Me To Confess visit www.amazon.com All Gina's columns are accessible from the main Blues music page of Riveting Riffs

Inch by inch, row by row, I’m gonna make this garden grow

2008-01-24T23:05:00.000-08:00

Tonight I was reading Bob Corritore's newsletter. For those of you don't know, Bob (http://www.myspace.com/bobcorritore) is a wonderful blues harp player and is super involved in the blues community. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Blues Music Awards last May and he was also a wonderfully nice person.

In addition to recording and performing, Bob hosts a blues radio show and owns a blues club in Arizona, The Rhythm Room.
He takes the time to release a regular blues newsletter that contains information on all sorts of blues happenings. It also offers ways readers can sort of contribute and communicate within the blues community.

What inspired me about the newsletter after reading it 5 minutes ago is that it totally dawned on me that it's people like Bob and the things he's doing that significantly help to create and maintain an important sense of community in this music niche.

Whether it's a newsletter, a messageboard, a club, a radio show,
a magazine, website, book, film or a simple blog.
Creating some kind of dialogue and encouraging interest, discussion, and contribution within the circle is what, to me, is so vital, so important to the continued longevity of this music.

I have always wanted to be someone as involved as Bob.
I want to open a blues club, start a magazine (see? my degree in journalism will not be wasted!!) start a label, help to sign and promote deserving blues artists, and write music for other artists. I want to do all of this. I want to help spread the word about blues to my generation as well as to those younger than my own.

I participated in Blues In The Schools last November and undoubtedly want to continue to do so. I encourage ALL blues musicians, especially the younger bunch, to consider doing that. You NEVER know who will be sitting in the audience at one of those schools. Even if it's one little 4th grader whose interest in the music you have sparked with one verse of your slow blues.
Sitting in the audience at those schools could be a future great blues musician, writer, or DJ. The young generation needs to be exposed to the music before they can like it. This is exactly what you would be doing at BITS. It is a very gratifying feeling and a good deed, indeed. :)
If you are interested in participating in Blues In The Schools, visit this link.

I encourage all of you who love and care about the blues to do as much as you can to do your part in preserving it. Inch by Inch, bit by bit, true preservation can begin. All the music needs is a whole lotta love. Is that SO much to ask?

If you have read through this entire thing, please respond by giving me your thoughts, ideas, and maybe even links to your favorite blues-related place or thing.

xoxo
Gina

Nice review and thoughts on 2007

2007-12-28T19:25:00.001-08:00

It's difficult to describe Gina Sicilia or her record without employing a whole bunch of clichés and making both sound like stereotypes– it's disrespectful and would demean a heck of record and a terrific performer. Facts are facts, though: she's got the goods. Big, big voice with the big Blues and Big Band sound, unbelievably "real" and deep and knowing for someone only 22. Big, swingin' sound from just a "little big band," only the organ and a jazz guitar plugged in, ten other horn and rhythm guys simply blowin' like there's no tomorrow. Big, fat blues tunes, most penned by Ms Sicilia herself, full of those big hurts, big bad dudes, and big attitudes. Big presence, too, starting with the big green eyes: she's got Big Star written all over. With all that, though, she never sounds like the same old, same old, which is why this reviewer is so big on Gina Sicilia, and you're gonna be, too! (Victory Music)

-----------------------------------

My, my, my. It's been quite a year.

Last Christmas my debut album hadn't even been printed up yet, and now...all of this.
I honestly NEVER expected it. I expected maybe a little radio play and some gigs. Never did I expect more, but I received more.

I have been SO SO SO lucky.

I know there is a fine line between being overly humble/modest and appearing ungrateful.

Ironically, what this past year's success has done has certainly humbled me. I'm not one to bring up in conversation with people good things that are happening. I don't want to seem like I'm bragging. Oftentimes I don't want other people (specifically other musicians) to know.
.
However, I also realize just how lucky I am, that things don't always happen so easily as they seem to have happened for me. I know they always wont. I will undoubtedly have down times. Everybody does and I'm expecting this. Who knows, maybe all of this is just a fluke. I'm preparing myself to NOT be disappointed if things start to not go my way.

I've barely scratched the surface of what I'm hoping will be a long career. I have only been doing gigs for 2 years. This is my life-long dream. When when I was 8 years old I used to brag to my family that I was going to go on world tour someday as a singer. I still want nothing more to having a career in singing. I'm not going to complain about any of this, that's for sure, and I would never give it back. This is what I want!

I don't want it to appear that I'm unappreciative of the good things or don't realize the magnitude of them or am not grateful enough.

Since I've never not had great things and opportunities like this in terms of trying to "make it", I don't know what it's like not to have them, and therefore do not know what immense gratefulness and appreciation would feel like for someone who finally reached certain goals or achieved certain things after a long time of falling short of that. Maybe it would be better for me and if I experienced failure after failure after failure.

I'm not trying to brag or toot my own horn here. I don't want this to be a self-indulgent, egotistical blog, but I do have to aknowledge just how lucky I have been over the last 10 or 11 months. I have to recognize that this is not all my own doing and I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without the helpful, supportive people I know and have met. I think by aknowledging this I am showing that I AM grateful. To mention nothing of it would signify that I'm indifferent, expected it, or am displeased. I have to be honest, and that's exactly what I'm doing.

So, thank you to EVERYONE who has supported me and helped me.

Let's see what the next 10 months brings!

To ignore the negativity and negative people, strive to improve, focus on the music, and be HONEST in everything I do are just a few of my resolutions.

I wish you all the best. Never let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dreams.

Hope your holidays were lovely and have a merry new year!!

<3
Gina

NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-12-19T23:10:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone!!! Great news!!!
I am SO honored and SO thrilled to announce that this month I have signed with the prestigious Piedmont Talent booking agency for worldwide representation AND that I have been nominated for a Blues Music Award for "Best New Artist"!!!

You can go to http://blues.org/bluesmusicawards/nominees.php4 to vote for me!!!

Visit http://www.piedmonttalent.com to check out my new agency!!! :)

What a year it's been! I'm a lucky, lucky girl!

I never expected ANY of this to happen less than a year after releasing my debut CD!

How wonderful this has been!

I want to thank ALL of you who have supported me through all of this. I could not have accomplished what I have without your support.

I solemnly swear that I will be posting much more often...

For now, here is a silly photo of a pair of quite painful shoes that a fan in Virginia insisted on shooting of photo of!!

Happy holidays to you all and a very, very merry new year!

xoxo
Gina

2 Things That Overjoy Me

2007-09-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

1. Going into a large record store, as I did last week, and, with euphorically ecstatic shock, discovering my debut CD for sale on one of the racks, right next to Etta James, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Susan Tedeschi, Shemekia Copeland, BB King, and other huge names I respect immensely . A few years ago I would ambitiously and insistently declare to others that someday they were going to see my CD right there in that store, alongside those exact names.
One simple, life-long,innocent dream has materialized splendidly.

2. Booking my first Blues festival in Europe (Finland to be exact)

What can I say? I am surprisingly easy to please.

If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to achieve it.

Alright, back to reveling in the grandiose and awe-inspiring beauty of Italia!
:)

Ciaociao
-Gina

Italia domani!!

2007-09-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

...arrivederci e baci

:* :*

Tomorrow I'll be in Italy.
I'll most likely be eating too much food, food that my relatives will, according to tradition, force feed me.

>:

:)

Life is wonderful

First column published!

2007-08-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

My first column for RivetingRiffs.com was published last week!

My editor told me with glad surprise that only a few days after the column was published, nearly 300 people had already read my column. Pretty good for a brand new online magazine!

Please click here to read my column.

Enjoy, and please let me know what you think...I would love to get some response on the issues I touched on in the column....

xoxo
Gina

Words, Thoughts, and Lyrics

2007-08-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

Words. I'm a sucker for words--spoken, written, or sung.
I'm a sucker for lyrics.
Most people will tell you that a singer's powerful or sweet or teary or heart-throbbing or gritty voice "gives them chills".

What gives me chills is lyrics: Beautifully written, thoughtful, thought provoking, personal, honest, meaningful, relatable, precisely descriptive lyrics.
What makes me cry tears of astoundment is lyrics.

Combine incredible, perfectly phrased lyrics with a great singer who is not forcing anything or trying to be anything he or she is not--a singer with a soulful, convictional, down-to-earth, honest voice--a singer who understands that power exists in subtlety and that great serenity and comfort can be found in intensely powerful vocalizing, and you've got a winning, tear-inducing match.

Just the way lyrics are phrased or placed within a phrase in the most creative and touching of ways, at the most effective point within a song, can bring tears to my eyes.

As I said, I'm a sucker for words, which is why I wrote these words for all of you to read. Hopefull you will.

With that said, good night! Tomorrow is another day when a whirlwind of words will be floating around in my head and leaving my sleepless mind all the more restlesss.

-Gina

Today/Hair Catching on Fire

2007-08-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

Today I began recording demos for my next record.
I'm super excited about it, slightly nervous, but very VERY anxious to get it out there.

and...

10 days 'til I'm in heaven!!
On Sept. 1st I'm going to the most beautiful country in the world to visit family in southern Italy and Milano. I have a ton of family over there, including aunts and cousins. The last time I was in my dad's hometown (in southern Italy), all my relatives through a huge surprise 16th birthday party for me at a restaurant in the town

Here's a funny story...(well at least to me it's comical)

As I was leaning my head over to blow out the candles on the cake, much to everyone's horror, my hair caught on fire!! I was able to quickly brush the fire out with my hands, but considering all the hair product I had in, I'm surprised I didn't go up in flames!! That's a birthday I'll never forget...and someone got the whole thing on tape!!!

I'll also be very excited to get back from Italy because, starting this fall, I have so many things planned. There are multitudinous things I want and need to do and accomplish...it's overwhelming at times but things are happening, so I can only be grateful!!

Buona notte :)

G

Thunderstorms

2007-08-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

There's something so comforting about being inside your home during a violent thunderstorm.

From inside you can hear the rain slamming down like iron pellets against your shaky windows.

The rooms always get shaded and gloomy. This darkness gives me an an ironically pleasant feeling of isolation, but I know my own company is enough to satisfy my mind.

The ominous skies are to blame for such bleak, shadowy skies.
I find strange comfort in such dreariness.

During these kinds of storms, a dim light, a comfy blanket, and the knowledge that you're safe from the harsh arguments mother nature occasionally has with herself--the angry bickering occuring right outside your front door--offer such a feeling of warmth and security.

I love thunderstorms. I look forward to them in the summer. I'm also fond of a Friday night that consists of staying in alone, keeping inside myself, and, if inspired by some whimsical thought while listening to that pitter-pattering against my window, writing a song and playing a little guitar.

Not to mention giving my doggie a few kisses...

...and this is exactly what I am going to do tonight.

Here he is. Little Chippy. 10 years old but doesn't look a day older than 6 weeks.<3

-G

Why Me???

2007-08-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

On August 21st, I will be putting my U.S citizenship to full use and, against my will, and quite unenthusastically, will be participating half-heartedly in the American Justice system:

Jury duty.

I've tried and tried but cannot get out of it. Damn, and believe me, I conjured up in my mind an encyclopedia of excuses and reasons for which I could not perform this duty.

-I claimed I was 9 months pregant and due any hour. Didn't work.

- I claimed I had a spastic spinal cord and am unable to sit for lengthy periods of time sitting and waiting and waiting in a brown, pew-like bench next to a man wearing the most rancid of musky colognes. They wouldn't hear it.

-I claimed I am heavily allergic to the exposure of boredom on my restless mind and an outbreak would require immediate medical treatment. They seemed to care less.

They just would not have any of this, but I suggested the staff arrange for an ambulance to remain parked outside the courthouse, as well as for a trained counselor to be on call who specializes in accute dementia caused by extreme, intense, I-would-rather-hang-myself-from-that-American-flag-over-there-in-the-left-upper-corner-of-the-dusty-ceiling-than-be-here-right-now kind of boredom.

Why me???

Time/Heaven/Absurd Amounts of Food

2007-08-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Time:

I'm certainly not where I imagined I'd be at 22.

I imagined something different.

Is it August of 2007 already?? Time sure does fly.

Pretty soon I'll be doing double time at the local bingo room, before which, of course, I'll be catching the early-bird special at the Red Robin Diner with the last of my surviving gal pals.

There, I'll likely be selecting chicken croquettes with a side of peas from the sticky menu and giving my order to the 22-year-old cranky waitress who is probably wasting her youth worrying and being bored, when, in reality, 99% of the things one worries about never happen and boredom is a sinful, poor excuse for laziness and lack of interest in doing all the living one can.

Life is too short to be bored. Don't spend your time wasting it.

Heaven:

I believe that, if heaven exists, it is not just some grand white ballroom comprised of poofy white clouds and cool, airy nothingness where everyone who has ever died congregates, reunites with their mother, finally meets their great, great grandmother from whom their gargantuan nose MUST have come from (because "it didn't come from my side of the family," used to say their mother), and befriends other deceased inhabitants of the other side, the by and by, upstairs, whatever you want to call it.

Nope. There are no divine white robes and euphoric floating around in my vision of the afterworld.

Heaven must be more personalized, more custom-designed than that!

I believe everyone has their own heaven.

It is a place that represents a time or place in the life of the deceased that brought them the most happiness, that they hold most dear, that is closest to their heart, that they long for to have or experience again, even if for just a split second.

It could be an old beach house where someone spent every summer of their enchanted youth-- swimming in the ocean, walking on the sand with their loving grandparents by their side.

It could be a 30th birthday party, freshman year in college, a honeymoon, a youth baseball game, a country, a city, a town, a house. Catch my drift?

Absurd Amounts of Food:

I had a great gig last night.
The band and I did our first set and took a break.

During our extended break, the multi-talented club owner/chef brought out an inordinate amount of food for us to feast on. It was nothing less than an exquisite buffet fit for a Roman Empress.

It would take a whole lot of time to list all the food my favorite new club owner so kindly served us.

All I can say is that, well, it was just like heaven.

-Gina