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Musician reviews: Miwi Gemini

Tattered hearts, enchanting worlds, roads that leave you deserted and those that lead you to heaven's gate are just some of the themes in Miwa Gemini's songs on her latest release This Is How I Found You. Dedicated to her husband James and recorded with her drummer Brian Lackey and sound engineer Andy Baker, Miwa's songs are a pure extension of herself. The intimacy of her performance on the record is reminiscent of torchlight singers, a long forgotten style which was popular in the night clubs of the Left Bank in Paris, France throughout the early 20th century.

Miwa reflects about her style, "I'm still all about ferris-wheels and merry-go-rounds but lately just moved from Coney Island (Astroland) to Paris in 1920's."

Miwa's reference to the 1920's is shown in her song "Traveling Man" from her album This Is How I Found You, in which Lackey plays a bass drum from the 1920's. "'Traveling Man' came about through listening to all these great country lady singers, particularly Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. They both have fantastic songs about a traveling man and I got an inspiration to write my own. I actually have a secret ending to this song that goes with my favorite Japanese saying but that's only for live shows. I'm happy with the way the song came out. The bass drum Brian used was from the 20's and has such a distinct sound, I really like it."

Miwa's bond with her drummer Brian Lackey and sound engineer Andy Baker goes back to her earlier album Forgetful Ocean and Other Strange Stories, self-released in 2005. She recollects about Forgetful Ocean, "We didn't have a producer. There was Brian, me, and Andy (Baker) who recorded us. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, plus Andy knows what he is doing. The whole thing was recorded and mixed in two days. The best way I can describe it is everything sort of fell into place beautifully."

She admits, "I couldn't play with a person I couldn't trust. I think that's why personality is very important. I think that when it comes to playing with other people, the best way is to let it happen organically."

She shares that when she met Lackey, the bond between them was there from the beginning. "Just like with everything else, I rely on my hunch and I knew Brian and I would work well together. We seemed to understand each other from the first rehearsal on. He was a friend of a friend of mine and the first time he came to see me play, we got to talking and next thing you know we were rehearsing."

Collaborating once again with Lackey


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Musician reviews: Miwi Gemini

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    by Susan Frances

    Tattered hearts, enchanting worlds, roads that leave you deserted and those that lead you to heaven's gate are just some

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