Nadine’s Wild Weekend includes essence of an opener
BY JIM HARRINGTON
contributor
Publication date: 08/16/2002

THE young San Francisco-based singer known as essence had it all figured out in the mid-'90s. She would simply follow her road map to the stars down Interstate 5 and take her place with Hollywood's elite.

"I was really wide-eyed when I first started pursuing music. I thought it was going to be easier than it is," essence recalls. "So, I got in my car and drove down to L.A.. in my CRX with my first music video - which, by the way, you will never see - and
my demo.

"I didn't have a manager. I didn't have any appointments. I had a yellow pages of rock and the address books of record companies. And I just showed up on their doorsteps and said, 'Here I am. I'm the one you've been waiting for.'

As one might guess, that didn't go over that well. Years later, essence is still searching for the right deal. But things'are looking up for the singer-songwriter.

Thursday, essence plays opening night of Nadine's Wild Weekend at the Fillmore in San Francisco. The Fillmore show is an all-local bill that includes the Noe Venable Trio and the much-hyped Luce.

Started in 1998, Nadine's Wild Weekend has grown to become one of the Bay Area's biggest musical events. This year's " Weekend" features 135 bands playing 20 shows at 15 clubs over 4 days. Featured acts with strong East Bay ties include Swoop Unit, Locale AM and the Locals.

There's no doubt that essence landed a key slot in the festival. Luce is definitely a buzz band and there will likely be a great turnout for this opening night bash.

Things just seem to be going
essence's way following the recent release of her second CD, "Mariposa." Notably, she was fortunate enough to open three nights for the great folk singer
Shawn Colvin.

With "Mariposa," essence has created a mature work that draws convincingly from a stew of pop music and folk traditions. She updates the classic singer-songwriter sound with the use of modern electronics.

Befitting someone of her profession, essence is an equally
accomplished singer and songwriter. Most important, the voice and the words fit perfectly. On her new album, essence has managed to create a collection of songs that are
smart, poignant and believable.

With "Mariposa," essence has created a mature work that draws convincingly from a stew of pop music and acoustic folk traditions. She updates the classic singer-songwriter sound with the use of modern electronics.

Befitting someone of her profession, essence is an equally
accomplished singer and songwriter. Most important, the voice and the words fit perfectly. On her new album, essence has managed to create a collection of songs that are
smart, poignant and believable.

 

essence performs at Nadine’s Wild Weekend at the Fillmore in San Francisco. The Fillmore show is an all-local bill that includes the Noe Venable Trio and Luce.

"It's incredibly personal," essence says of the new album. "I dig pretty deep on this record. Things didn't work out with me the way I expected them to with the record companies. I definitely went through a dark night of the soul and I drew from that experience. This is the record that I meant to make.

Born into a bohemian family of flower children in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, essence seemed destined to become an artist like her parents, who both worked in the visual
arts.

"I grew up with no structure (and) no traditional values. My parents are extraordinarily liberal." essence says. "My parents just wanted me to find something that made me happy. And
the one thing that made me happy was music.

However, not everyone in the
family was supportive of her ca¬
reer choice.

"(My grandfather) was on the soapbox trying to get me to be a politician for I can't tell you how long. He's still very disappointed that I'm not the next Dianne Feinstein." she says. "He says that he won't come and see me until I am headlining the Oakland Coliseum."

Her road to headlining the Oakland Coliseum has taken a number of detours following a promising start.

After releasing her first CD, "Conception." in 1997, essence got national exposure when her song "Glitter Gone" was featured on an episode of CBS
TV'S "Nash Bridges." The following year, she won the National Lilith Fair Talent Search and played two years at the
high-profile celebration of women in music. As part of a Lilith gig in 1999, essence performed with Natalie Merchant, Joan Baez and others in front
of more than 80,000 people at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

During this time. essence was signed to two major label record deals. Both fell through before a studio CD could be
produced.

However, the third time could be the charm. She has weathered the severe backlash against female singer-songwriters that came after the unexpected. unprecedented success of Lilith Fair. And, essence believes, the tide is finally turning in her favor.

"It seems like people are ready to hear something besides Britney." she laughs. "And I'm really happy for that."