Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Dynamic blues vocalist and veracious live performer Gina Sicilia’s new album, Tug of War, celebrates her status as one of the reigning voices in modern blues marking a potent evolution in her songwriting. This 11-song set is Sicilia’s seventh release since her emergence as a doyenne of the genre a decade ago. Today, Sicilia’s life experiences coupled with her warm, flexible, emotionally-nuanced vocal styling resonates like never before.
Sicilia will celebrate the cd release of Tug of War with a special show in her adopted hometown of Nashville on June 4th. Pre-orders for Tug of War are available now.
Tug of War’s title alludes to the complexities of life, which ring throughout this album’s original tracks, mostly written by Sicilia, and it speaks of her own experiences. “I’ve been through a lot in the past three years,” she relates, “I suffered through a painful and dramatic event in my life and needed to start over, so I moved to Nashville—where I didn’t know anybody, and went into a period of really challenging myself as a songwriter.”
“Damaging Me” bares all of the emotions Sicilia experienced. “I Don’t Want to Be in Love” plays like a sequel to “Damaging Me”, that tug of a lost love rising up again after suffering heartbreak. This track takes the album closer to Memphis with its Hi Records and Stax inspired arrangement. Sicilia co-wrote the song with Dave Darling, who also produced fellow Blue Elan blues artist, Janiva Magness’ 2016 Grammy-nominated Love Wins Again.
Darling plays guitar as well as handles production duties on “I don’t Want to be in Love” as well as on a soul-soaked take of the Beatles “All My Loving.” Sicilia’s voice and Darling’s tremolo’d six-string accomplishes the rare feat of bringing something wholly original to a familiar classic. The majority of the album was produced by multiple Grammy Award winner, Glenn Barratt, who also helmed Sicilia’s 2013 release, It Wasn’t Real.
Another timeless element of Tug of War is its strong base in blues, the genre that Sicilia has pursued with limitless passion since her bold, dark-honey voice made her a sensation singing in jams at Warmdaddy’s, a Philadelphia jazz and blues club, when she was just 19. “The blues is the starting point for everything to me,” she says. “Not only because my early heroes Etta James, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Bobby Bland come from that style, but because it’s the basis of most forms of American music—even today.
Sicilia was still in college, her 2007 debut, Allow Me to Confess, was released and after that, things happened fast. She was signed by one of the nation’s premier roots music booking agencies just one week later and began to tour the globe, play major festivals and rise up the blues charts. The album garnered her first Blues Music Award nomination, for Best Debut Artist. Since then Sicilia has remained in the upper echelon of female blues vocalists, regularly releasing albums that earn accolades and ride the charts, and playing 150 dates each year. Asked about her passion for making music and her tireless pace, Sicilia replies, “Working—writing songs, touring, recording—motivates me. I see myself as always evolving, reaching for a kind of perfection within the music I love to make. I’m not sure I’ll ever find it, but I’ll never stop searching.”
Tug of War – Track Listing
1. Don’t Want to Be (in Love)
2. Damaging Me
3. He Called Me Baby
4. I’ll Stand Up
5. Never Gonna End
6. I Cried
7. They Never Pay Me
8. Abondoned
9. Tell Him
10. All My Lovin’
11. Heaven
Gina Sicilia on Tour:
5/31/17 – Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill – Grand Rapids, MI
6/1/17 – TC’s Blues Stage – Napoleon, MI
6/2/17 – The Club Above – Ann Arbor, MI
6/3/17 – Willie’s Locally Known – Lexington, KY
6/4/17 – “Tug Of War” CD Release Party – The 5 Spot – Nashville, TN
6/5/17 – Blue Plate Special – Knoxville, TN
6/8/17 – Blind Willies – Atlanta, Georgia
6/11/17 – Sellersville Theater w/ Devon Allman – Sellersville, PA
6/13/17 – Treasure Lake Ski Lodge – Dubois, PA
6/14 – Moondog’s in Blawnox, PA (Pittsburgh area)
6/15/17 – World Cafe Live (downstairs) – Philadelphia, PA (Casey Abrams from American Idol/Post Modern Jukebox)
6/16/17 – Bridge Street Live – Collinsville, CT
6/17/17 – Tupelo Music Hall w/ Mike Zito – New Hampshire
6/18/17 – Turning Point Cafe – Piermont, NY
6/21/17 – Ruthie’s BBQ – Montclair, NJ
6/22/17 – Stanhope House – Stanhope, NJ
6/23/17 – 9 Wallis – Beverly, MA
6/24/17 – 89 North – Patchogue, Long Island, New York
6/26/17 – Rockwood Music Hall (stage 3/7:30pm) in NYC
6/28/17 – Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen – Newark, DE
7/1/17 – Isis Music Hall – Asheville, NC
7/18/17 – Rhythm Room – Phoenix, AZ
7/19/17 – Harvelle’s – Long Beach, CA
7/20/17 – Harvelle’s – Santa Monica, CA
7/22/17 – World Records Showcase Theater – Bakersfield, CA
7/23/17 – Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA
7/25/17 – The Big Easy – Petaluma, CA
7/26/17 – Boom Boom Room – San Francisco, CA
7/28/17 – Poor House Bistro – San Jose, CA
8/2/17 – Steve’s Guitars – Carbondale, CO
8/3/17 – The Gold Room – Colorado Springs, CO
8/4/17 – Ziggie’s – Denver, CO
8/5/17 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO
8/6/17 – Des Moines Social Club – Des Moines, IA
8/8/17 – Zoo Bar – Lincoln, NE
8/10/17 – Corner Bar – Fremont, NE
8/11/17 – The Flatted Fifth – Bellevue, Iowa
8/13/17 – BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups – St Louis, MO
8/19/17 – Gray’s On Main – Franklin, TN
8/20/17 – Daniel Day Gallery – Birmingham, AL
10/6/17 – The Blue Note Grill – Durham, NC
10/15/17 – Cafe 9 – New Haven, CT
10/17/17 – Capitol Ale House – Richmond, VA
