Nell Bryden
| Nell Bryden | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 8, 1977 Brooklyn, New York |
| Genres | Singer Songwriter |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Website | http://nellbryden.com |
Nell Bryden (born March 8, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter.[1] She was born and raised in Brooklyn, to Jane and Lewis Bryden, a singer and artist respectively.
Early life
Bryden was born in New York Hospital and grew up in an artist loft on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn Heights. Her parents divorced when she was five and she lived primarily with her father, Lewis,[2] a painter and sculptor until she was 12 years old. Bryden then moved in with her mother, Jane, a classical soprano and professor at Smith College in Western Massachusetts. Bryden graduated from Amherst Regional High School, and deferred going to college for a year to skydive on a drop zone in Arizona, study Italian and opera in Manhattan and eventually travel to Australia for three months of backpacking, where she bought her first guitar. A classically trained musician (she studied the cello for ten years), Bryden dreamed of becoming an opera singer before hearing Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin for the first time. Bryden attended Wellesley College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in English Literature. It was during this time that she began performing her songs live in the Boston folk and rock clubs.
Musical career
Bryden was living in Greenwich Village in New York during 9/11, an event that had a "profound" effect on her. The following year, she recorded an album in Nashville and toured the US to support the album. Disillusioned with the music business, she travelled to New Orleans to write a new album, inspired by the jazz, roots and blues influences of the Crescent city. Bryden began recording with producer John Hill, but after the project ran out of money they returned to New York with a half-finished album. Two weeks later, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, displacing many of the musicians on the record and destroying much of the town.
Bryden began touring the UK and Ireland by self-booking her tours, playing up to 250 shows a year abroad, opening for artists such as the Counting Crows and KT Tunstall. After coming across a Milton Avery painting during an attic clear out (a gift from her father when she was still a baby), Bryden auctioned the piece and received a substantial amount for it. She then used the money to re-record her album, but this time around bringing on board Grammy-winning record producer David Kershenbaum.
The resulting album, What Does it Take, came out on 12 October 2009 on Cooking Vinyl in the UK and Ireland and enjoyed considerable critical success.[3]
In 2008, following a chance meeting with a US Army colonel at SXSW in Austin, Texas, Bryden flew to Iraq to play for the Armed Forces. Her second tour there in 2009 was documented by Susan Cohn Rockefeller for her film Striking A Chord.[4] The film is about the healing power of live music for combat-related stress, which can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Striking A Chord[5] was sponsored by Nile Rodgers of the We Are Family Foundation.[6]
Shake The Tree was recorded at Metrophonic Studios, outside London, in the summer of 2010. Bryden collaborated with British guitarist and songwriter Patrick Mascall, with whom she began writing songs that reflected their mutual admiration for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris. By the following autumn, they had amassed forty songs.
Bryden started recording a new album in 2011 at State of the Ark studio in London, owned by Terry Britten. The first single from Shake The Tree, "Buildings and Treetops", came out in June 2012 and the album was released on the 18th. The single was awarded A-list BBC Radio 2 rotation and was greatly supported by Smooth FM and UK regional radio. Following the success of the first single "Buildings & Treetops" (which was a top 20 airplay hit), "Sirens" was released on 10 September 2012, and spent three weeks on the BBC Radio 2 A-list. A poignant and soaring anthem inspired by Bryden's hometown of New York, as well as her personal experience during the devastating aftermath of 9/11, "Sirens" was a song Bryden avoided writing for ten years. One day in August 2011, as the ten year anniversary of 9/11 approached, she began describing her experience to Mascall at Metrophonic Studios. By that afternoon, they had completed the song.
Following the release of "Sirens", Bryden was approached by Take That lead singer Gary Barlow, who asked her to join him as the support act for his UK tour from November to January 2013.[7] During these few months, Bryden also supported Jools Holland for several of his UK dates, including a second performance at the Royal Albert Hall,[8] the first with Gary Barlow earlier that month. Her 40 date string of gigs ended with a Nell Bryden headline tour in January 2013. Bryden released two further singles, "Shake The Tree" in January and "Echoes" in May 2013 with a further headlining tour from May to June of that year. The summer months saw her perform at a host of music festivals including V Festival. In September 2013, singer Cher recorded "Sirens" and released it as part of her album "Closer To The Truth".[9]
Bryden released new record Wayfarer, a double CD that includes both the original and acoustic versions of the album, on 28 July 2014 through Absolute.[10] The debut single from this album, "All You Had" was released at the end of 2013 and added to the BBC Radio 2 A-list.[11] The second single and title track from the album, "Wayfarer" was added to A-list rotation at BBC Radio 2 and released on 4 August 2014.[12]
157 Records
In 2000, Bryden started her own record label, 157 Records which is a reference to the address of her childhood loft (on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn), and released four EPs. Bryden recorded her first full album Day For Night in 2005 and released it independently through the label. The album failed to generate industry interest. Bryden recorded her second album Second Time Around in New Orleans with John Hill and released it via 157 Records. After the lucrative sale of a Milton Avery painting, she re-worked the album with producer David Kershenbaum, adding new songs such as "Not Like Loving You" and "What Does It Take", plus several new remixes. The resulting album, renamed What Does It Take, was licensed to Cooking Vinyl in 2009 while Bryden retained ownership of her masters. She left Cooking Vinyl in 2011 and signed a deal with Warner Music/ADA to release Shake The Tree under her own revived label 157 Records.
Personal life
In early 2011, during the recording of Shake The Tree, Bryden suddenly lost her hair from a stress-induced auto-immune condition called alopecia. She began to write songs that reflected the traumatic experience, but kept her condition from the public and wore a wig to continue performing. In June 2012, Bryden wrote a feature for the Mail On Sunday[13] in the UK documenting her story. Several months later, following great feedback from the article, Bryden decided to begin performing without a wig, preferring instead to present herself as she is now.
Bryden married Alistair Moradi, a British man that she met while living in Notting Hill. They had a wedding celebration in Wiltshire, England in June 2014 and welcomed their first child, Tala Elizabeth, on December 3, 2014.
Radio and television appearances
BBC Radio Two Support
- What Does it take (Single) Was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in June 2009 and remained there for 4 weeks[14]
- What Does It Take (Album) BBC Radio 2 Album of the Week on 8 August 2009[15]
- Second Time Around (Single) Ben Mason Radio Mix was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in September 2009 and remained there for 4 weeks[16]
- Not Like Loving You (Single) Ben Mason Radio Mix was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in December 2009 and remained there for 6 weeks[17]
- Tonight (Single) Ash Howes Radio Mix was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in March 2010 and remained there for 4 weeks[17]
- Goodbye (Single) Ash Howes Radio Mix was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in August 2010 and remained there for 5 weeks[17]
- Glory To The Day (Single) Danny Kirsch Radio Mix was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in January 2010 and remained there for 4 weeks[17]
- Buildings And Treetops (Single) was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in June 2012 and remained there for 5 weeks[18]
- Sirens (Single) was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in August 2012 and remained there for 4 weeks[19]
- Shake The Tree (Single) was released in January 2013 and added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist. The single was accompanied by a music video that featured clips from Nell's recent tour supporting Gary Barlow[20]
- Echoes (Single) was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist in May 2013[17]
- All You Had (Single) was the first release from Bryden's new album and was added to the BBC Radio 2 A-list in December 2013[17]
Interviews & Sessions
- Janice Long: Interview and session (2008)[21]
- Bob Harris: Interview and session (2008)[22]
- Janice Long: Interview and session (2009)
- RADIO 2 Celebrates Maida Vale: Interview and session (2009)
- Weekend Wogan Pilot: Interview and session (2010)[23]
- Weekend Wogan: Interview and session (April 2010)[24]
- Ken Bruce: World Exclusive of 5th Single ‘Goodbye’ (2010)[25][26]
- Steve Wright: Interview (Mid-August 2010)[27][28]
- Proms In The Park:[29] Interview and performance (2010)
- Chris Evans Presents Elvis Forever Live From Hyde Park: Interview and performance (2010)[30]
- Breakfast Show With Richard Madeley: Interview (2010)
- Weekend Wogan at The Palladium: Interview and session (October 2010)[31]
- Chris Evans, BBC Radio 2 – Mystery Caller (30 May 2012)
- Friday Night is Music Night with Ken Bruce, BBC Radio 2 - Hands Across The Sea with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Performance (6 July 2012)[32]
- Terry Wogan, BBC Radio 2 Interview (3 February 2013)[33]
- Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. Interview and performance with guests David Dimbleby, Laurence Fox and Billie Piper. (22 November 2013)[34]
- Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio 2. Interview with guests Vin Diesel and Olly Mann (28 July 2014)[35]
- Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2. Interview and performance with guest Ali Campbell. (17 August 2014)[36]
BBC Radio 4
- Woman's Hour: Interview and session with Jenni Murray (2010)[37]
Smooth Network
- Not Like Loving You (Single) was added to the Smooth FM Playlist for 8 weeks[38]
- Tonight (Single) was added to the Smooth FM Playlist for 8 weeks
- Goodbye (Single) was added to the Smooth FM Playlist for 9 weeks
- Paul Coia: Interview
- Network Blackpool Switch On: Performance (2010)[39]
- Mark Goodier: Interview
- Smooth Network TV Advert: featuring Goodbye was used for the Smooth TV advert[40]
- Smooth Album Of The Week (December 2010), What Does It Take
- Smooth Album Of The Week (June 2012), Shake The Tree[41]
Television
- BBC Breakfast (2008)
- Sky Sunrise, 17 June 2012
- Friday Night Is Music Night with Ken Bruce, Hands Across The Sea with the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Roderick Dunk, also featuring British pianist James Pearson and Michael Dore. Live on BBC Radio 2 from the Mermaid Theatre, London. Aired 6 July 2012[42]
- Lorraine on ITV. Interview (31 July 2014)[43]
- Weekend on ITV with Aled Jones. Interview and performance (3 August 2014).
Nell Bryden's New York Hour
Nell presented her first radio show on BBC Radio 2 on the 25th August 2014. The show was an hour-long dedication to music born out of New York and featured some of the artists who had inspired Bryden as songwriter, as she grew up in the city.[44]
Live performances
- The Secret Garden Festival, 2006
- KT Tunstall (US Tour), 2008[45]
- Counting Crows (UK Tour), 2008[46]
- Ben Taylor (musician) (UK tour), 2009
- BBC Proms in the Park, 2010
- Guilfest, 2010
- Camp Bestival, 2010
- Chris Rea (UK tour), 2012
- Duane Eddy (UK tour), 2012
- Smooth Radio Love Live 2012
- Hyde Park London, BT London Live 2012
- Guilfest Festival, 2012, 2012
- Electric Picnic Festival, 2012
- Jools Holland (UK Tour) Support Act Nov/Dec 2012
- Gary Barlow (UK Tour) Support Act 2012-2013
- Jools Holland (UK Tour) Support Act June 2013
- Jools Holland (UK Tour) Support Act Nov/Dec 2013
- Gipsy Kings (UK Tour) Support Act Feb 2014
- Jools Holland (UK Tour) Support Act July 2014
- Carfest North, 3 August 2014[47]
- Carfest South, 24 August 2014[48]
Discography
Studio Albums
| Album Title | Album Details |
|---|---|
| Day For Night | |
| Second Time Around | |
| What Does It Take |
|
| Shake The Tree | |
| Wayfarer |
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Second Time Around | What Does It Take |
| 2009 | What Does It Take | What Does It Take |
| 2010 | Not Like Loving You | What Does It Take |
| 2010 | Tonight | What Does It Take |
| 2010 | Goodbye (EP) | What Does It Take |
| 2011 | Glory To The Day (Helen's Requiem) (EP) | What Does It Take |
| 2012 | Buildings And Treetops | Shake The Tree |
| 2012 | Sirens | Shake The Tree |
| 2013 | Shake The Tree | Shake The Tree |
| 2013 | Echoes | Shake The Tree |
| 2013 | All You Had | Wayfarer |
| 2014 | Wayfarer | Wayfarer |
Live Albums
| Album Title | Album Details |
|---|---|
| Live From Iraq |
|
| Live In London |
Videography
| Year | Song | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Second Time Around | [49] |
| 2010 | Not Like Loving You | [50] |
| 2012 | Buildings And Treetops | [51] |
| 2012 | Sirens | [52] |
| 2012 | Shake The Tree | [53] |
| 2013 | Echoes | [54] |
| 2013 | All You Had | [55] |
| 2013 | Wayfarer | [56] |
References
- ↑ "Nell Bryden Biography". Nellbryden.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Lewis Bryden". Lewis Bryden. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden Press Archive". Nellbryden.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Striking a Chord - Documentary by Susan Cohn Rockefeller". Strikingachordthemovie.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Striking A Chord The Movie". Strikingachodthemovie.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "WAFF Website". Wearefamilyfoundation.org. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Gary Barlow/Nell Bryden". Back Stage Pass. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ↑ "Rhythm And Booze". Rhythm And Booze. Rhythm and Booze. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ↑ "Listen: Cher covers Nell Bryden’s 9/11 anthem ‘Sirens’ | News | Clickmusic | Online Music News, Downloads, Videos & More". Clickmusic. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden releases new video for "Wayfarer". http://www.absolutemarketing.co.uk. Absolute Marketing. Retrieved 27 July 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "BBC Radio Two". http://www.bbc.co.uk. BBC Radio Two. Retrieved 27 July 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Female First". http://www.femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Mail Online". London: Mail Online. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden Playlist". Good Seed PR. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Album Of The Week". BBC. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden BBC Radio 2 Playlist". Kassner Music. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "BBC Radio 2 Playlist". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden BBC Radio 2 Playlist". Hesso Media. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 2 Playlist". BBC. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ "The Official Site of Nell Bryden". Nellbryden.com. 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 2". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 2". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 2". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Wogan Weekend". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 3". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Record Of The Day". Record Of The Day. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 2". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Steve Wright In The Afternoon". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Proms In The Park". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Elvis Forever". Contact Music. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Weekend Wogan". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 2 - Friday Night is Music Night, Hands Across the Sea". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Weekend Wogan, With Nell Bryden and Libby Purves". BBC. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ↑ "The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, David Dimbleby, Laurence Fox, Billie Piper and Nell Bryden". BBC. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ↑ "Steve Wright". BBC. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden Weekend Wogan". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden Woman's Hour". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Smooth Radio". Smooth Network. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden Tonight at Blackpool". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Smooth Radio TV Ad". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Smooth FM". Smooth Network. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ "Friday Night Is music Night". BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ "Lorraine". ITV. ITV. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden's New York Hour". http://www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2014. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Nell Bryden". Cooking Vinyl. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden". In Dublin. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ "Carfest 2016 - Welcome to Carfest". Carfest.org. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
- ↑ "Carfest". Carfest. Carfest. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ↑ "Second Time Around (Official Video)". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Not Like Loving You (Official Video)". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Buildings And Treetops (Official Video)". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Sirens (Official Video)". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden - Shake The Tree [Official Video". YouTube. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden - Echoes [A short film by Ron Yeadon". YouTube. 2013-03-29. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden - All You Had [Lyric Video". YouTube. 2013-12-08. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- ↑ "Nell Bryden - Wayfarer [Official video]". YouTube. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
External links
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