“I’m not sure if we’ve met in person but I think you know me. My name is Nina Leilani Deering. I have no website. I have no audio/video portfolio. I was born in San Diego and I have been a musician since... longer than I can remember.”
Sunday, Feb 10, 2019, 9:12pm
In the field of music, I am fluent. As a servant/humanitarian/altruist I feel ineffably pulled to ask you for your support/partnership in personal yet collaborative/communal musical events. You are aware of my ability as vocalist/keyboardist/musical director in San Diego-based (& internationally known) projects: BABY BUSHKA, Voices of Our City Choir aka SD Homeless Choir, Louis Valenzuela and Nina Deering Jazz Duo aka LuNi Tunes....and perhaps as a church director in the most bitchin 115 year old church in SD: Mission Hills United Methodist Church
I have been blessed with the gift of programming… And I am desperately seeking you advice, response… And hopefully support in carrying out several musical expressions & social services (concerts that aim to address the needs of San Diegans of all classes and walks of life) throughout the year of 2019 and beyond.”
CALICO DREAMS
In short and to the point, I am proposing my album release in full and a concert series to consider.
I am releasing an album (33 tracks) this year. This will be my debut album and will be comprised of three normal length albums....Ergo its name: CALICO.
Date: 10/31/19 Halloween
I am hopeful that you will believe in me and the Halloween appropriate/ high contrast nature of my music which is ultimately romantic, symphonic, electronic, … And ultimately harmonically driven. The set-up/orchestration is mainly keys (synth, Rhodes, piano, organ, and voice (solo, ensemble, small chorus, big chorus), symphonic (8 upright basses, 1 cello, 1 viola) with aux percussion and live processing.
Drenched in Theatrical elements to entice all senses (...Live Polynesian dancers, old world Appalachian chorus, choreographed dark pop..)
SKETCHES
MADDAM GUIDELINES
start humble
mean it
disrupt their visual eve
solo
resonate with the vibrations of their consiousness
Steal away to here and now
then be their leader
surround them
then be led by them
kidnap the subconscious
we are all the surroundings
movement
development
awe
domination
incorporation
installation choreography
Watch Nina’s Halloween Concert
On October 31st 2019, Nina Leilani Deering hosted her own memorial. Who knew that 6 months later she would die in a tragic car accident on June 11th, 2020. Yet again Nina leaves us guessing and haunted by her beautiful voice and profound music. This concert is special because it was one of her last and is a bittersweet celebration of life and some of the music she had composed and was hoping to release one day.
ORIGINAL SONG SKETCHES
Nina left us clues and pieces of her original songs scattered throughout social media and the internet.
Below are transcriptions of Nina’s original song sketches, created posthumously, by her music family Natasha Kozaily, Ed Kornhauser, Bob Pierzak, Lexi Pulido and Batya MacAdam-Somer.
BEFORE CREATION
STAIRWAY TO THE STARS/NO PROMISES
SHEET MUSIC
BALLADE POUR WHISKEY
SHEET MUSIC
THERE WAS A TIME
SHEET MUSIC
LAY DOWN
SHEET MUSIC
CUTE AS HELL
SHEET MUSIC
SHADOWS
SHEET MUSIC
RANGER
SHEET MUSIC
AND YOU DON’T STOP
SHEET MUSIC
WORDLESS
AIN’T GONNA WORRY
IMMORTAL LOVE
SHEET MUSIC
Nina’s Novelette
Among her library of sheet music and sketches left behind was Francis Poulenc’s Novelette in E minor. Scribbled above and below the notes were lyrics she had added. It was an artistic practice of hers to add lyrics to classical pieces she loved. It was all apart of a larger plan she had to arrange and record these classical pieces with original lyrics into an album.
Sadly, she was never able to realize her dreams of a debut CALICO before her tragic death.
Poulenc’s Novelette is the only piece of its kind that has been found with complete lyrics written out by Nina.
An interpretation of this “found score” was arranged for voices by Lexi Pulido and performed at her memorial by vocalists Victoria Robertson, Lexi Pulido, Rebecca Smith, Ed Kornhauser on Piano and Batya MacAdam-Somer on violin.
Nina’s Lyrics
Whether we will or whether we won't whenever the smoke clears I feel you sudden,
Flickering lights ,oh closing our eyes yet somehow we're seeing much more
Whether the stillness breaks every silence, whether we steal every moment
Whether we stay or whether we stand, breezes will bury me you and the sand, gasping for more of the sea
Oceans will rise up pulling us out of bounds we say time (for me to go), slowly
Why don't you stay and why do I go?
We remember who will, why can't we remember who were?
Surprised to be hues
Why?
Time isn't real, I know that you feel the same way that I do so
why can't i tell you the whole reason why, the whole truth?
Well...because of the strength of our fears
No time.
I'm yours!
Scriabin’s VERS LA FLAMME Lyrics by Nina Leilani Deering
Oh muse oh moon
Put me down
Suspended in ecstasy
No i cannot reach the ground
Why sleep so soon?
Let me rest
My rosy cheek in the palm of your hand
No sleep no sleep in the sound
I drag my feet across Orion
Ripples in the mirror of ocean
An unending lullaby so beautiful i can’t breathe
“WHEN STREAMS TURN PINK IN THE SETTING SUN, AND A SLIGHT SHUDDER RUSHES THROUGH…”
“MUSIC MUSIC EVERYWHERE”
sad sunset speakeasy concert series
“Read first : the definition of catharsis...purification or purgation of the emotions (guilt, angst, brokenness, inadequacy, pity, fear primarily through artistic expression..to purge or purify ones personal state in a fashion that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension)
I have been curating a series cathartic concerts that comprise my “sad sunset speakeasy” musical offerings throughout 2019. If my first concerts (dec 18) are as successful as the rest in this yearlong venture...I feel it could be done annually with greater and greater ease.
sooooo....I’m inquiring about any dates that you might have space for me to do this next level shit...”
In December I did three concerts titled:
the winter of our discontent
featuring music by Seal, Leonard Cohen, Schubert, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Sara Bareilles… And many others
In February I am holding three concerts titled:
Music to heal the wounds of lovers past
Featuring music by Radiohead, Nick Drake, Nancy Sinatra, Elton John, Chet Baker, Chet Faker, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Etta James… And surprise appearance by Victoria Robertson opera singer where she sings the most heart wrenching song about the moon from a Czechoslovakian opera.
In March I will be holding one concert (so far)at Mr. Brown’s Barber shop titled:
Murder ballads and sad songs from around the world...
In May, a pan-latin potpourri of heart wrenching content on various boats/yachts ie the osprey. Opening act: ancient songs of sea faring lament, hardship, and hope.
