Vanessa Carlton dreamily plays the last few notes of “Hands On Me,” a track from her new album, Heroes and Thieves, on the piano in her Manhattan loft. Her 20-something audience she's invited to this listening party all applaud, but are definitely quieted by the mood of the song.
Then, smiling, Vanessa busts out that immediately-recognizable first snippet from her 2002 mega-hit “1000 Miles,” but she quickly stops and says, “Remember that song? Yup, that was me.”
Vanessa then goes on to describe filming the music video for her album's lead single, “Nolita Fairytale,” in which a cab runs over the piano from her “1000 Miles” video. She shrugs, “But I can play that song too. I like that song.” I still wonder if I was the only one who desperately wanted her to – now I love that song, Vanessa.
“Nolita Fairytale” (you can watch her perform it here) refers to Vanessa’s neighborhood in Manhattan, around the NoHo – Chinatown area. She said long walks in those New York streets inspired most of her third studio album, due Oct. 9, this time with label The Inc.
The mood of the evening at Vanessa's listening party last night could have been totally formal – Vanessa’s loft was gorgeous, the party had Dean & Deluca caterers, the lights were dimmed and soft candles were burning throughout, but Vanessa insisted everyone have a good time and that we were all just “cool people enjoying music.” She even asked one guest to take off his press necklace as soon as he got out of the elevator.
Dressed in a floor-length white dress with a black vest, Vanessa bustled around the party making sure everyone had a drink in their hands (reminding us we’d probably like her music more after a few glasses), occasionally stopping to shower attention on her dog, Victor.
And later, Vanessa’s new partner for Heroes and Thieves, Irv Gotti of Universal Motown (which backs Vanessa’s current label, The Inc.), gathered everyone around Vanessa’s piano, giving her glowing praise and calling her "V." He admitted the lines in the lead single "spent the last two years getting to what's real...And now I can see so clear...I hope you feel just like I feel" always get to him. The pair then recounted their first meeting, which involved Irv jumping up and shouting to Vanessa, “You’re the f*cking sh*t!”
For her informal performance, Vanessa also played the tracks “The One” (she prefaced that this wasn’t "The One" from The Matrix), “Heroes and Thieves” and “Home.” All of the songs were honest and beautiful, and I think Vanessa is one of those artists whose talent you don’t really appreciate until you see her perform in person.
Between songs, Vanessa giggled and apologized that vodka-Redbulls and being in her own home were making her too chatty.
The songs I heard were all great, and I think the album will be too, but “Nolita Fairytale” is definitely my favorite – I love the added percussion.
Vanessa references her old label, A&M Records, in “Nolita” as the record deal she "doesn’t need;" she left them after they failed to promote her second album, Harmonium, which flopped big-time. After that, she toured for two years with Stevie Nicks (she offers a guest spot on one of the album's tracks) whom she also references in “Nolita.”
Vanessa looked to be on the verge of tears after just mentioning Stevie, adding that her mentoring and support changed her life. Vanessa then asked us to imagine a mini-Stevie sitting on her piano and continued to play.
SOURCE:
http://www.newnownext.com/2007/08/post-3.html
