We’ve been to Republic of Pie a lot and it wasn’t always just for the pie. We went to hear the beautiful voice of Nina Shallman. We’ve been following this talented young lady’s career whose songs are a staple on our office playlists.
Nina just released a new single and video on August 18, “The Moon Can Stay,” which coincided with the month’s full moon. “The Moon Can Stay” is from her self-titled debut album Nina Shallman, produced by Andrew Williams. The album also features original songs including “Daisies,” “Arms,” and “Across the World,” as well as covers of Lennon and McCartney’s “Dear Prudence” and The Smiths’ “Ask.” Nina wrote the music and lyrics for “The Moon Can Stay.” The video was co-directed by Mike Schneier (also the cinematographer) and Andrew Williams.
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Mentioning the song in an article for LA Weekly, Falling James wrote, “On ballads such as ‘The Moon Can Stay,’ she breaks hearts with little more than sparse piano accents, the faraway swoon of violins and her wistfully ethereal vocals.”
On August 27 we will be heading over to Hotel Café in Hollywood to hear Nina Shallman perform with her band. In addition to vocals, Nina will play piano, guitar and ukulele; performing with her are: Aaron Blick (upright bass), Will Herrington (piano), Rob Humphreys (drums), and Adam Tressler (guitar).
Advance tickets are on sale now for $10 (plus $2.50 service charge) through Hotel Café’s website. If available, tickets may be purchased at the door the night of the show for $10. Hotel Café is located at 1623 Cahuenga Blvd., L.A., 90028 (https://www.hotelcafe.com/).
What influenced you to write “The Moon Can Stay”
I wrote The Moon Can Stay as a sort of meditation in melancholy. It’s not just a breakup song, although it can be. It’s a song about loneliness and regret, about sitting with your sadness. Even though I wrote it when I was 17 it still rings very true at 20. It gets at a sadness and a truth that I can always relate to, no matter how long it’s been since I wrote it.
What was it like working on the video?
The making of “The Moon Can Stay” video was very relaxed and natural. Actually, a bunch of family members were on set eating and drinking and chatting in between takes so it felt fairly similar to Sunday brunch at la casa del Shallman. Did I write that correctly? I took French in high school so that’s a guess. We wanted to make a video that complimented the song’s lyrics, melody and mood, and I think Mike and Andrew did a wonderful job.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I see myself being an artist full time, since I’ll have graduated by then; playing in bars and clubs all over the country, writing and recording more. I daydream about it all the time, actually. I have all my apartment furniture, even some of my future gigs’ outfits, planned out already.
If you could do an album of just covers what songs would you do?
I’d do a covers album of a bunch of the great old jazz standards– a real, live jazz album, with an orchestra and background vocalists. That’d be amazing. “Fly Me To The Moon”, “Cry Me A River”, ” beautiful songs I can croon while lounging on a piano.
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