"Moving Along" Video, directed by Andrew Bui
Fox Backstage in Japan interviews Nina Vidal after her performance at the Apple Store in Shibuya Tokyo. (3:12 in)
It is said that our destiny is written long before we’re born. So then it would seem that Nina Simone Vidal was given little choice in the matter on what she would eventually become. Named after the legendary jazz and soul artist by her mother, Nina’s future seemed pre-determined.
Growing up in Queens New York, Nina’s musical studies began with piano lessons as a child and continued through her high school years. In her early teens, while the playlists of most of her peers included only Top 40 hits and commercial R&B, Nina’s musical tastes were a bit more eclectic. Influenced by artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Anita Baker, Sade, Fiona Apple, Stevie Wonder and of course her namesake Nina Simone, her ears were attuned for music with more depth and musicality. It would all add to her creativity as a vocalist and songwriter in the years to come.
At 18 Nina was accepted to New York University, and moved into the heart of bustling Greenwich Village. She found herself in the center of a cultural melting pot. Poetry slams, open mics, late night jazz jams and Hip-Hop cypher’s all added to Nina’s college experience. She also began to come into her own as a songwriter. Though she’d been writing songs for a few years now, not many of even Nina’s closest friends knew how talented she was but that was about to change. While attending one of the famous open mic nights at the now defunct Ultra Violet Café on the NYU campus which had hosted such artists as Talib Kweli, Savion Glover, Erika Badu and others, Nina signed her name on the list, and waited for her name to be called. And when it was, she took to the stage, sat alone at the piano and flawlessly performed one of her own compositions. New York is known for its crowds, but the New York college crowds are particularly critical. Perhaps it was the 3 seconds of silence after Nina finished her song that made her heart pause, but it was a moment just long enough for her to contemplate her destiny before she looked up to see a standing ovation. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe this was her destiny.
After graduating from NYU with a degree in music, Nina has begun laying the foundation for a diverse and exciting career. She has performed at prestigious venues including the Cotton Club in Japan, The Blue Note, SOB’s, and The Bitter End in NY. With the release of her debut self-titled album, Nina showcases her talents as a vocalist, songwriter and pianist. The album has received rave reviews from notables in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and maintained the number one spot on the iTunes Japan Jazz chart for several months following it’s release. Nina Vidal has made her entrance into the world of music a memorable one.
Hi Nina！<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed your performance at COTTN CLUB TOKYO！ <br />
I'm so happy to see you again there．<br />
<br />
And I think to myself,<br />
I love your music！！！ <br />
<br />
Thank you so much！ <br />
See you again！ <br />
<br />
Fusako
Thanks for the friendship! For some funky beats check: www.myspace.com/silenta All the best, keep it smooth! ||:mono:|| poly- mellow tunes out of the black forest
