Friday Favorite: Marie Hines

single cover

I’ve been listening to Marie Hines for years now, and what’s more, I’m proud to say that I have contributed in a small way to her success by writing bios for her past three releases. I’ve been so impressed with the young Nashville singer/songwriter’s bright, blushing melodies from the beginning, but her newest effort, a collection of love songs called The Tide and the Sea, is as bold and mercurial as I have ever seen her, and I cannot praise it enough.

The Tide and the Sea begins briskly, a crisp breeze fluttering through spring grass, playful and steady. “My Love Will Never Fail You,” the expansive, glittering single, makes confident declarations on the origins of love with lyrics like, “I don’t believe in chance. I think it’s the choice we make, and I choose you for the rest of my days,” its melody expanding into broad, undulating layers of a soaring orchestral spectrum. “In My Arms,” co-written with fellow Nashville songwriter Justin Halpin, is a richly textured, sanguine tune with a spirited rhythm. The golden, ebullient “Always Been You,” another Justin Halpin co-write, boasts the title lyric – “You be the tide; I’ll be the sea. The rise or fall brings you home to me, brings you home to me. It’s always been you, love.” – and acts as the magnetic, whimsical cornerstone of Marie’s silvery tunes.

“Forever Falling for You,” co-written with Justin Tam of Nashville folk band Humming House, is a glowing, ethereal track with lyrics warm and hopeful: “We’ll build a house someday; we’ll build a home in the meantime.” And the lilting, dramatic “Forever Mine,” co-written with Justin Halpin and featuring background vocals by Marie’s new fiancé Ben Ringel of Nashville blues band The Delta Saints, swells and diminishes in arresting, elegant strokes, closing the album with an exultant, richly resonant ballad of halcyon love, repeating the chorus: “Oh my love, my life, always you and I, steady as we rise; be forever mine.”

Listen to the new single on Spotify, and look for the love song EP, The Tide and the Sea, on 02/12/13. I highly recommend her past work as well, Worth the Fight and HeartCrash in particular, and for more info about Marie, see http://www.mariehines.com.

Haunted by Taylor Swift

Okay, so I am definitely not a fan of Taylor Swift. I can respect her ability to write and sing songs that teenage girls freak over. I can appreciate her showmanship and strength to tour consistently. I can even admire her devotion to remaining a “nice, normal girl,” despite earning millions every year. But I can’t pop her album into my stereo, roll down the window, and sing along. I just can’t.

However, with all that said, the song “Haunted” from her most recent album, Speak Now, is incredible – epic and darkly powerful, with robust instrumentation and a very ominous strings section.

This is a pretty cool looking video of the track with a weird little interview in the middle:

Oh, Taylor. You’re alright.

LBD for NYE

The past two New Years’ Eves have been big events for the people I’m close to. Last year was the first year my boyfriend’s band Moon Taxi played NYE in Nashville. The show sold out and had a line out the door all night. This year, they played the same place and sold it out in presales. Needless to say, these are exciting times for the band, and they love going all out for such a big show.

And accordingly, I love dressing up for such a big show. I shopped around a little for the perfect NYE dress, before falling in love with this Little Black Dress from White House | Black Market.

sequins are essential

With it, I wore these shoes (also from WHBM):

par-tayyy

This ring (from Francesca’s) as my only jewelry:

quite fancy

And carried this little guy for my lip gloss, ID, and phone (a gift from a friend a year or two ago):

little guy

And the show was fabulous as expected (both of these photos were taken by Emmie Futrell):

midnight at exit/in

the crowd

See for yourself: “Whiskey Sunsets,” complete with drum solo AND drum line accompaniment (it’s a little long, but so worth the watch).