Nilima – Nothing Left But Me

I cannot recall now how I stumbled upon Nilima’s website and the first strains of Nothing Left But Me stunned me with its beauty and grace but I am glad I did and then one thing led to another and I bought her entire EP. I also had the audacity to send her a fan mail and was then pleasantly surprised by a reply! I got even more brave and sent her a request to review her album here and give away a track for free. She agreed whole-heartedly and even said yes to my plea for an email interview – a first for AI!

Nilima is part Indian(one parent), part Polish(the other parent!) and some parts German(she grew up there) and equal parts Canadian(where she moved and where her gift of song-writing and singing blossomed) but wholly a great songstress! Her short EP, Nothing Left But Me, comprises of five well-crafted songs, including two absolute gems – the title track which is available below and another one called Die Alone. The songs range from sweet pop-ish tunes to melancholic elegies, but at all times jazzy, soulful and filled with yearning.

Sad strains of the violin open the title track(available below) and you know this is going to be something special and then in wafts Nilima’s voice, so melancholy and so seductive at the same time. But then it takes an optimistic turn and the mood lightens up considerably… as she sings,

Cause once again the air tastes sweet
And the raindrops are dancin’ with me
So why should I be afraid of the dark
Why should I be afraid of my heart
There’s a spotlight on and I
Will let it catch my soul this time
Will let it rock me like the sea
Until there’s nothing left but me

Her song-writing skills are her forte and she writes unnerving lyrics whether it’s about love (“If we were in love, tell me, why didn’t we/Do it on kitchen floors… If we were in love, tell me, why didn’t we/Kick in those ‘no entry’ doors”) or about desperation (“But his love is just another grain of sand/In her hourglass of fear/Its trickling sound echoes in her hemispheres/And so she carves her name in paper trees/To drown out the scream that spreads on her lips – /I don’t wanna die alone”). Those last lines are from the saddest and most beautiful song on the EP and a personal favourite, titled Die Alone. I would have bought the entire album only for this one song.

Enough said! Here are some links to her website/ Facebook/ Twitter/ MySpace(where you can hear the entire EP and also some yet unreleased tracks). The interview I mentioned earlier is below preceded by a video of the title track and after that is the track itself available for your listening pleasure and free download. If you like it, please do consider buying the EP.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
MySpace
Buy her EP!

AI: Who is Nilima? If you had to introduce yourself in a few words/sentences…
N: I couldn’t. Because it changes every day and from hour to hour: One minute I’m a tough business woman (well, maybe not that, but I’m working on it…), the next an enthusiastic sous-chef (my boyfriend’s always the chef – should I be worried about that?). That’s what makes BEING so much fun.

AI: Tell us about your EP – how did it come about?
N: I came to Canada, I broke a heart, I wrote songs about relationships (admittedly one of my favourite topics). And then I met Chris (through craigslist actually – thanks, internet!) who introduced me to Alfred, the producer of the EP, and Eric, the sound engineer. All three are close friends now and one of the many reasons I have fallen in love with Toronto.

AI: Which song from the EP is your personal favourite?
N: Nothing left but me. Because every time I hear or sing this song it reminds that in the end there is nothing left but me. “Me” is who I am accountable to, nobody else. And that feels good.

AI: How has the response been so far?
N: Great! I am very lucky to have friends and family in all corners of the world so I know that my songs have been played in India, Poland, Germany, Israel, France and many other countries including Canada, of course. That’s a nice feeling, to know that my music is travelling.

AI: Any recording contracts on the horizon? Will people see a Nilima album on the shelves some time in the near/distant future?
N: For sure there will be an album. How exactly will it be recorded, who will sponsor it? I don’t know, time will tell. I will just keep on writing songs and meeting and playing with amazing musicians, that’s all I can ask for.

AI: Now something about your influences. Who is your favourite musician/band/songwriter?
N: I like to think that I’m influenced by every single sound that I hear. Including cell phone ringtones, the ttc announcer and the sound of wild rice crackling in a pan with hot oil. And instruments, all kinds, the weirder the better! On my next recording I definitely want a tabla and one of these unbelievably creative African string instruments that look like they’ve been built from stuff you can find in your back yard.

AI: What does Nilima listen to mostly? What’s playing on your iPod/MP3 player nowadays?
N: Honestly – I hardly use my ipod. But I’ve recently asked a friend to send me some youtube links, stuff she likes, non-Western music. That’s how I found Souad Massi and her song Raoui. And instantly loved it.

AI: Any musical genes? Parents/Grandparents/Uncles/Aunts?
N: My father is a good singer and I was told that my grandmother who I was named after had a lovely singing voice.

AI: What would Nilima be doing if she wasn’t making Music?
N: Sitcom writer maybe or elephant researcher (they are my favourite animals – matriarchy AND vegetarians? Can’t be any better). Professional traveller, flamenco dancer or cocoa farmer. I definitely wouldn’t have trouble finding things that interest me, choosing something would be hard…

AI: Any last words?
N: Never. Only first words.

Nilima – Nothing Left But Me

Buy Nilima’s EP, Nothing Left But Me