Nell Bryden

“Downtown Lullaby” Live Acoustic Video

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:26:34 +0000

To give you a preview of one of my new songs, I recorded a live acoustic version of “Downtown Lullaby” in my apartment in Greenwich Village, NYC. There’s also a quick interview where I talk about how the song got recorded for the album (though this is a live version, not the official recorded version).

New Album

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:18:37 +0000

The story of Nell’s upcoming album, “Beyond The Wire,” began at Metrophonic Studios just outside London in summer 2010. It was there that she met Patrick Mascall, a British guitarist and songwriter with more knowledge of American culture than most Americans. The pair immediately hit it off after discovering a mutual admiration for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris, and quickly began writing a flood of songs that would later form the backbone of Beyond the Wire.

On a car ride home from the studio one evening, Patrick played Grammy-winning producer Mark Taylor some of their work and plans for cutting an album immediately ensued. In early 2011 a band of carefully selected musicians went into West London’s State of the Ark studio. Owned by legendary songwriter Terry Britten and renowned for its large collection of vintage gear, including an old EMI console complete with “Mick and Keith” scratched into it courtesy of some former users, the studio provided the perfect environment to bring the album to life.

“Beyond the Wire” is a line from one of the album’s tracks, Echoes, written about Nell’s tours to Iraq to play for US troops. It is a military term that refers to everything outside of a Forward Operating Base’s boundary. However, due to her non-stop touring schedule over the past five years, as well as living away from her native Brooklyn in both London and Dublin, the term took on a far greater metaphorical meaning for Nell and perfectly summed up the album’s primary themes of being a long way from home, the desire to return to one’s roots, and the need to explore outside of one’s comfort zone.

“Beyond the Wire” is expected to be released in 2012.

New Album!

admin — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:17:01 +0000

Nell is currently recording a new album with producer Mark Taylor in London. The album is expected to be released in 2012. In the meantime, to stay in the loop please check Nell’s blog page for regular updates.

New Album!

admin — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:16:15 +0000

Striking a Chord

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:20:47 +0000

Susan Rockefeller’s documentary about Nell’s tours to Iraq was produced in partnership with Nile Rogers’ We Are Family Foundation.

ABOUT “STRIKING A CHORD”

The impetus for making Striking a Chord is our growing awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and its devastating effects. As director Susan Cohn Rockefeller researched the project, she realized how little civilians actually know about the demands made on soldiers stationed in combat zones.
Striking a Chord brings the audience right into the army bases in Iraq. The film shows the boredom and isolation, the effect of repeated deployments, and the need to create experiences that bring the troops some consolation. Long lines of soldiers waiting to speak with Nell Bryden and the band after every concert attest to the effect of the music on the troops. Their fervent applause and heartfelt comments show how deeply they respond to the concerts.
Inter-cut with uplifting and moving scenes of Nell’s performances and talks with the soldiers are interviews with a psychiatrist who discusses how music addresses PTSD, promoting relaxation, expression of feelings and healing invisible battle scars.
Most importantly, Striking a Chord reminds us that when our soldiers return home, they need special care and attention. PTSD is a disorder which many veterans are ashamed to speak about, yet it’s all too common. As the film shows, music can provide a way to begin the healing process.

Please visit http://strikingachordthemovie.com

Nashville

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:24:05 +0000

I’m down in Nashville this week for some business meetings, and it’s been awesome to be back in Music City. Last night I managed to get out to a little dive on the edge of town to see the Wooten Brothers play. The weather has been crazy, with major lightning storms cutting out power around the city, and buckets of rain falling in ten minute bursts. I fly back to New York tomorrow, weather permitting.

New Album!

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:01:48 +0000

Nell is currently recording a new album called “Beyond the Wire” with producer Mark Taylor in London. The album is expected to be released in the Autumn of 2011. In the meantime, to stay in the loop please check Nell’s blog page for regular updates.

Striking a Chord Screening in MA

admin — Sat, 21 May 2011 19:25:33 +0000

Tonight I had a screening and performance of “Striking a Chord” at the Memorial Town Hall in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. The Q+A section after the film was especially interesting this time, since there were family members of servicemen and women in the audience who were able to weigh in on the psychological implications of the troops fighting unpopular wars, and enduring multiple deployments and long times away from their families. In a liberal town like Shelburne Falls, it was nice to stress again the importance of removing all political implications and opinions from the dialog about supporting our troops. My performing for our soldiers was never an endorsement of the wars America is embroiled in. By removing politics from the discussion I was able to get to the heart of the matter, which was meeting the brave men and women out there on the front lines, and connecting with them on an essentially human level through the universal language of music.

Charity Event Tonight with John Mayer

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:27:10 +0000

I flew back to New York City to appear at a charity event tonight with John Mayer at the Highline Ballroom, to benefit troops suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. John played an acoustic set to a very intimate audience, and showed a 20 minute clip of “Striking A Chord,” which he was very moved by. The night was organized by Nile Rogers’ We Are Family Foundation, and I was so happy to see Nile looking healthy and well after his radical surgery to battle cancer. I also met Steve van Zandt from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, who told me he loved my music and what I had done, at which point I turned into a puddle on the floor, and somehow managed to get someone to take a photo of us together (thanks Marc Birnbach). Best of all I got to see my dear friend Lt Colonel Scott Rainey again, who was the man that brought me to Iraq both times and who I’ve stayed in close contact with.

Round Two in the Studio!

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Round Two in the Studio! The band-that-can and I are back at State of the Ark in Richmond. Being in the studio may be my favorite activity on earth. After all the touring, it’s great to have the quiet and reflection and excitement of creating something new. We’ve got five days to record eight songs, and then will do overdubs at Mark’s studio at Metrophonic as before. I’m bouncing off the walls.