Nicolette Aubourg
Los Angeles, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
"I finally took time out to listen to your song, - sound, - sorrow, --- soul; over and over; - (like a teen-ager); - and I am not sorry I spent the time.........
I am moved by your plaintive honesty, allowing access to such as me - so remote - and yet with so much in common - and craving to share - artfully - with those we may touch - with profound concern; conviction; passion; compassion.............
Gratefully;
Ernest R.
Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles
*****************************
Even better than the first album!
By The Uncool, April 20, 2008
"I wasn’t in the mood to check out anything new. And I definitely wasn’t in the mood to get emotional. But that’s just what happened when I popped in Nicolette Aubourg’s latest record. You know I think it proves what I heard Paul Schrader say one time: the most personal thing you write is usually what ends up having the most universal appeal. It’s ironic but true. Proof of that is no more clear than in the opening track “Learning to live without you”. I mean it’s a very PERSONAL song about getting on with life after a major breakup, but I guarantee everyone can relate to every line in it. I haven’t even had a major breakup, but even I find myself relating big time to the concept of doing anything (reading a book, drinking some wine, going on a hike) just to keep my mind off of someone. “Craig’s List” is a great song too. First off, what a great hook-y (I know that’s not a word), melodic, sing-a-long chorus (actually the whole song is a sing-a-long). And the great thing is, one can take it at face value that the person really has been saved from desperate loneliness by the personals and is genuinely thanking Craig. Or, it could even be a bit of a scathing commentary on the kind of society we are in now. Using “10 year old pics” for our profiles, being so disconnected that it takes a long time to go from email to phone, and we can’t even type without making typos! For me, it could be either meaning and that’s what makes it great! I’m not going to go on and on about every song… Oh, wait – “You Don’t Care” is another really great song. A pretty brutal and frank song, yet it’s dressed up in such great vocals and sweetness that the listener almost forgets that this is about someone feeling that, “I have no power to change your past, your pain, your sadness, your cold heart…” This is really great songwriting. “I should have saved myself” is great stuff too. If the title doesn’t say it all, how about lines like “…and I hold on to the pain just to be near you” to show the kind of emotional mind field we’re dealing with here? Emotional mind fields that are dressed up in folky-poppy musical arrangements, insightful songwriting and great vocals. Folks, it doesn’t get much better than that."
- iTunes
"I finally took time out to listen to your song, - sound, - sorrow, --- soul; over and over; - (like a teen-ager); - and I am not sorry I spent the time.........
I am moved by your plaintive honesty, allowing access to such as me - so remote - and yet with so much in common - and craving to share - artfully - with those we may touch - with profound concern; conviction; passion; compassion.............
Gratefully;
Ernest R.
Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles
*****************************
Even better than the first album!
By The Uncool, April 20, 2008
"I wasn’t in the mood to check out anything new. And I definitely wasn’t in the mood to get emotional. But that’s just what happened when I popped in Nicolette Aubourg’s latest record. You know I think it proves what I heard Paul Schrader say one time: the most personal thing you write is usually what ends up having the most universal appeal. It’s ironic but true. Proof of that is no more clear than in the opening track “Learning to live without you”. I mean it’s a very PERSONAL song about getting on with life after a major breakup, but I guarantee everyone can relate to every line in it. I haven’t even had a major breakup, but even I find myself relating big time to the concept of doing anything (reading a book, drinking some wine, going on a hike) just to keep my mind off of someone. “Craig’s List” is a great song too. First off, what a great hook-y (I know that’s not a word), melodic, sing-a-long chorus (actually the whole song is a sing-a-long). And the great thing is, one can take it at face value that the person really has been saved from desperate loneliness by the personals and is genuinely thanking Craig. Or, it could even be a bit of a scathing commentary on the kind of society we are in now. Using “10 year old pics” for our profiles, being so disconnected that it takes a long time to go from email to phone, and we can’t even type without making typos! For me, it could be either meaning and that’s what makes it great! I’m not going to go on and on about every song… Oh, wait – “You Don’t Care” is another really great song. A pretty brutal and frank song, yet it’s dressed up in such great vocals and sweetness that the listener almost forgets that this is about someone feeling that, “I have no power to change your past, your pain, your sadness, your cold heart…” This is really great songwriting. “I should have saved myself” is great stuff too. If the title doesn’t say it all, how about lines like “…and I hold on to the pain just to be near you” to show the kind of emotional mind field we’re dealing with here? Emotional mind fields that are dressed up in folky-poppy musical arrangements, insightful songwriting and great vocals. Folks, it doesn’t get much better than that."
- iTunes
Excerpts from "Grand View Drive” reviews: (see full reviews at end):
“hauntingly beautiful voice, I agree, but to me it is about the songs. They are so right on. I get them.”
“… beautiful beautiful songs”
“… brilliant guitar player”
“This is the type of album that does not come along very often!! I love it!!”
"One of the reasons I really love this CD is that it affects me both intellectually AND emotionally. And the great thing is that it does both of these without sounding like it's trying to at all. Not many albums can do that."
“I have found myself playing many of the songs over and over. They are sometimes soothing, sometimes provocative and many times touch my heart.”
“ … guitar work is excellent.”
Full reviews:
“Beautiful beautiful music:
I am a caregiver in Pasadena, California, USA. My sister gave me this CD recently when we had a quiet moment together. Now, whenever I come home from a really hard day, I make the house dark, light candles, slip into the bath with a glass of Merlot, and listen to these beautiful beautiful songs as sung by Nicolette Aubourg, as sung
by one who has loved well, and often, and deeply.”
A music fan from Pasadena, CA 12/11/02 (Amazon.com)
“Lovely music, lovely artist, lovely album:
My trainer gave me this album as a birthday gift earlier this year, and I keep telling her how wonderful it is. Thank you, thank you, thank you. She (my trainer) said that Nicolette Aubourg has a hauntingly beautiful voice, and I agree, but to me it is about the songs. They are so right on. I get them. This is the album that was written for me. I love it and highly recommend it to everyone. Nicolette, you go girl!”
Christy from Walnut Creek, CA 12/11/02 (Amazon.com)
“The best new album I have heard all year!
Nicolette Aubourg's Grand View Drive is an outstanding album. Her songs are haunting, well crafted and memorable. She is also a brilliant guitar player, performer and singer. This is the type of album that does not come along very often!! I love it!!”
A music fan from Los Angeles, CA 11/22/02 (Amazon.com)
"One of the reasons I really love this CD is that it affects me both intellectually AND emotionally. And the great thing is that it does both of these without sounding like it's trying to at all. Not many albums can do that."
James Beaton 3/3/03 (website)
“I found your music, and lyrics to be even inspirational as I became absorbed in your songs. You being able to write from life's experiences with both humans and animals says something to me about you the person.”
Dave Fibiger 10/13/02 (website)
“… hauntingly beautiful reminds
me of silver moonlight - gives goosebumps …”
Jane Rolfe 10/2/02 (website)
“I have been playing your CD over and over trying to decide which song I like best and all I have succeeded in doing is to confuse myself totally… I love the Cello in the accompaniment and think your guitar work is excellent.”
Grace Reeler 7/20/02 (website)
“I have found myself playing many of the songs over and over. They are sometimes soothing, sometimes provocative and many times touch my heart.”
Maria Fibiger 7/8/02 (website)
“It is beautiful… The arrangements and orchestration are wonderful…”
Jamie Lewis 6/13/02 (website)
- Amazon.com and website
Excerpts from "Grand View Drive” reviews: (see full reviews at end):
“hauntingly beautiful voice, I agree, but to me it is about the songs. They are so right on. I get them.”
“… beautiful beautiful songs”
“… brilliant guitar player”
“This is the type of album that does not come along very often!! I love it!!”
"One of the reasons I really love this CD is that it affects me both intellectually AND emotionally. And the great thing is that it does both of these without sounding like it's trying to at all. Not many albums can do that."
“I have found myself playing many of the songs over and over. They are sometimes soothing, sometimes provocative and many times touch my heart.”
“ … guitar work is excellent.”
Full reviews:
“Beautiful beautiful music:
I am a caregiver in Pasadena, California, USA. My sister gave me this CD recently when we had a quiet moment together. Now, whenever I come home from a really hard day, I make the house dark, light candles, slip into the bath with a glass of Merlot, and listen to these beautiful beautiful songs as sung by Nicolette Aubourg, as sung
by one who has loved well, and often, and deeply.”
A music fan from Pasadena, CA 12/11/02 (Amazon.com)
“Lovely music, lovely artist, lovely album:
My trainer gave me this album as a birthday gift earlier this year, and I keep telling her how wonderful it is. Thank you, thank you, thank you. She (my trainer) said that Nicolette Aubourg has a hauntingly beautiful voice, and I agree, but to me it is about the songs. They are so right on. I get them. This is the album that was written for me. I love it and highly recommend it to everyone. Nicolette, you go girl!”
Christy from Walnut Creek, CA 12/11/02 (Amazon.com)
“The best new album I have heard all year!
Nicolette Aubourg's Grand View Drive is an outstanding album. Her songs are haunting, well crafted and memorable. She is also a brilliant guitar player, performer and singer. This is the type of album that does not come along very often!! I love it!!”
A music fan from Los Angeles, CA 11/22/02 (Amazon.com)
"One of the reasons I really love this CD is that it affects me both intellectually AND emotionally. And the great thing is that it does both of these without sounding like it's trying to at all. Not many albums can do that."
James Beaton 3/3/03 (website)
“I found your music, and lyrics to be even inspirational as I became absorbed in your songs. You being able to write from life's experiences with both humans and animals says something to me about you the person.”
Dave Fibiger 10/13/02 (website)
“… hauntingly beautiful reminds
me of silver moonlight - gives goosebumps …”
Jane Rolfe 10/2/02 (website)
“I have been playing your CD over and over trying to decide which song I like best and all I have succeeded in doing is to confuse myself totally… I love the Cello in the accompaniment and think your guitar work is excellent.”
Grace Reeler 7/20/02 (website)
“I have found myself playing many of the songs over and over. They are sometimes soothing, sometimes provocative and many times touch my heart.”
Maria Fibiger 7/8/02 (website)
“It is beautiful… The arrangements and orchestration are wonderful…”
Jamie Lewis 6/13/02 (website)
- Amazon.com and website
Discography
“GRAND VIEW DRIVE” (2002) widely acclaimed for its enduring songs and deeply personal content including original paintings and ancestral family photographs. The track “Be the One” was heard on NBC’s “Passions”. “Lay down your arms” reached #110 on Neil Young’s “Living with War” website, and received an Honorable Mention in the 2006 Peacedriven.com Songwriting Award. It was also part of TuneTank@NXNE2006 compilation CD. The track “Dust on Dust” received an Honorable Mention by Billboard Songwriting contest.
“Grand View Drive” was co-produced and engineered by Steve Holroyd (Counting Crows, Kara’s Flowers (Maroon 5), Elvis Costello, Ryan Adams, B.B. King, AC/DC, Joe Satriani, Stanley Clarke, Linda Ronstadt, Stray Cats, David Lee Roth, etc.)
“SONGS FROM WILLOW GLEN” (released August 2007) Produced by Jorgen Carlsson.
Features the popular song “Craig’s List” which is can be heard on Indie Artists Alliance http://www.imuzic.com/artists/indieartistsalliance, “Songwriters and Storytellers Vol. 3” compilation CD, as well as New Music Here/Sky Music CD 1. “Craig’s List” received an Honorable Mention in the 2006 Singer/Songwriter Awards “We are Listening”. The track “Wild One” was added to rotation on Indie104-iRadio LA (http://www.iradiola.com) “Songs from Willow Glen” was recorded deep in the Hollywood Hills and features several songs inspired by living in the hills, as well as a song called “Garden of Remembrance” which is a tribute to the victims of September 11th.
Photos
Bio
Finalist and Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting in the 2023 Great American Song Contest’s 25th annual contest, singer-songwriter category, for “I Am Not Hamas - Song for Gaza”; Honors and Bronze Medal Award in the 2022 Global Music Awards for “You'll Rise Up Again (For South Africa)”; Semi-Finalist in Song of the Year for “You'll Rise Up Again (For South Africa)”; Finalist in the 24th Annual Great American Song Contest (2022) for "The Dog with the Moon in Her Eyes"; Finalist in 2019 ISC for "Take the Guns Away'; Runner-up in 2019 Song of the Year songwriting contest for "Take the Guns Away"; Semi-Finalist in 2018 Song of the Year for "#Freebilly (Where the Elephants Roam)", Finalist in 2015 Great American Song Contest for “Apartheid”; Semi-finalist in 2013 Song-of-the-Year for “Madiba, dedication to Nelson Mandela”; 2011 Indie Artists Alliance Music Compilation singer-songwriter award for "Wild One"; the 2009 “Song-of-the-Year” contest award (5thplace) for lyrics of “Child of Darfur”; Honorable Mention in 16th annual Billboard World Song Contest for "Make it up to you" (co-written with Jorgen Carlsson); Honorable Mention for Mike Pinder’s (Moody Blues) Songwars 2009 contest; "Collective Works Award" in the December 2007 Song-of-the-Year; Featured Artist in the Indie Artists Alliance 2007 Songwriters and Storytellers Compilation Contest; Honorable Mention winner for 2006 Peacedriven Songwriting contest; Honorable Mention for 2006 We are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards; Honorable Mention 3rd annual Billboard Songwriting contest for "Dust on Dust"; placement on Neil Young’s “Living With War” website for “Lay down your arms”. “Madiba, dedication to Nelson Mandela” was included on the official Nelson Mandela’s 2013 Mandela Day website, it was played on South Africa’s SAfm radio on Youth Day 2013, and on December 15th 2013 during Nelson Mandela’s funeral, Nicolette performed in Cape Town and was interviewed by Nancy Richards on SAfm. “Be the One” was featured in NBC’s show, “Passions”; “Crack of Light” has been featured on NPR’s “Morning becomes Eclectic”, and “Grand View Drive” has been played on NPR’s “Car Talk”. East Coast Radio in South Africa has played several songs by Nicolette Aubourg as well as presenting a live interview at Splashy Fen music festival, South Africa.
Links
