Nancy Falkow
Encyclopedia
Nancy Falkow is an American singer/songwriter and musician from Philadelphia.
.
After graduating high school in 1988, she graduated from Temple University
with a BA, and from Beaver College with an MA.
At Temple, she met Mark Getten who later introduced her to Scot Sax, (who both went on to be involved in a number of bands including Wanderlust (band)
and Feel).
They encouraged her musical and songwriting efforts and spurred her into pursuing Philly area gigs which culminated in recording a 5-song EP (produced by Scot Sax) in 1997 which gained many favorable reviews.
On the strength of this, Nancy won a local talent search for Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair
festival, winning one of 14 slots on the tour. The prize saw her sharing the stage with Sarah McLachlan
and the Indigo Girls
.
From this many opportunities followed doing background vocals for artists such as Astrud Gilberto
and G. Love & Special Sauce
. Nancy combined her day job at Indre Recording Studios with time to record her first full-length album "Smitten" (produced by Emmy-winning engineer and multi-instrumentalist Shane McMartin). The album was greeted by many positive reviews including Billboard Magazine which singled her out by saying,
, starring Tim Roth and Gabriel Byrne.
A string of nominations in previous years from the Philadelphia City Paper Music Awards resulted in a win in 2002, as Best Singer-Songwriter/Folk Performer. A number of notable gigs confirmed Nancy as a fixture on the Philadelphia music scene. The highlight of her career occurred when she toured with Daniel Lanois
as a background vocalist on his "Shine" tour of the east coast in 2003. Nancy also was the main female vocalist with Mike Brenner
's slide guitar hip-hop hybrid "Slo-Mo" and appeared extensively on their second album "My Buzz Comes Back". By 2003, Nancy was busy recording and co-producing (with McMartin) her second album "Clear View."
In 2003, she performed at a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society charity concert.
This brought a close to the Philadelphia chapter of her career as Nancy relocated to Dublin, Ireland in 2004. With marriage, a baby daughter and a chance meeting on a train, Nancy started a new project called "Sunflow" in 2006 with Dublin singer/songwriter Fran King, an album of lullabies followed called "Under The Stars" produced by Duncan Maitland. In 2010 "I Wish You Love" from that album featured in an episode of "Life UneXpected
" and is currently featured in an Toyota Prius commercial.
Biography
Falkow grew up in Margate, New Jersey as part of a Jewish family and at sixteen took first prize for writing in the National Foundation for Advancement in the ArtsNational Foundation for Advancement in the Arts
The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts honors the most talented high school seniors, or, more specifically, American students in the 17-18 year-old age bracket, in the performing, visual and literary arts through the YoungArts program...
.
After graduating high school in 1988, she graduated from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
with a BA, and from Beaver College with an MA.
At Temple, she met Mark Getten who later introduced her to Scot Sax, (who both went on to be involved in a number of bands including Wanderlust (band)
Wanderlust (band)
Wanderlust was an American power pop band of the mid-1990s based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Formation:Scot Sax, a native of Philadelphia, had been playing and writing songs since the age of 13, and had actually performed with fellow Philadelphian Rob Bonfiglio a number of times...
and Feel).
They encouraged her musical and songwriting efforts and spurred her into pursuing Philly area gigs which culminated in recording a 5-song EP (produced by Scot Sax) in 1997 which gained many favorable reviews.
On the strength of this, Nancy won a local talent search for Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair
Lilith Fair was a concert tour and travelling music festival, founded by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk Music Group's Dan Fraser and Terry McBride, and New York talent agent Marty Diamond. It took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999, and was revived in the summer of 2010. It...
festival, winning one of 14 slots on the tour. The prize saw her sharing the stage with Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
and the Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
.
From this many opportunities followed doing background vocals for artists such as Astrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She is well known for the Grammy Award-winning song "The Girl from Ipanema".-Biography:...
and G. Love & Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce is an alternative hip-hop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are known for their unique, "sloppy", and "laid back" blues sound that encompasses classic R&B. The band features Garrett Dutton, better known as G...
. Nancy combined her day job at Indre Recording Studios with time to record her first full-length album "Smitten" (produced by Emmy-winning engineer and multi-instrumentalist Shane McMartin). The album was greeted by many positive reviews including Billboard Magazine which singled her out by saying,
Falkow is writing infectious pop/folk songs with palpable soul.The song "It Could've Been Anyone" from Smitten made it to the soundtrack of a movie called Emmett's Mark
Emmett's Mark
Emmett's Mark is a 2002 American thriller film directed by Keith Snyder and starring Scott Wolf, Khandi Alexander, Talia Balsam, Sarah Clarke, John Doman, with Tim Roth and Gabriel Byrne. Also featuring Ira Hawkins, Benjamin John Parrillo, Elizabeth Reaser, Carolyn McCormick, Adam LeFevre, and Greg...
, starring Tim Roth and Gabriel Byrne.
A string of nominations in previous years from the Philadelphia City Paper Music Awards resulted in a win in 2002, as Best Singer-Songwriter/Folk Performer. A number of notable gigs confirmed Nancy as a fixture on the Philadelphia music scene. The highlight of her career occurred when she toured with Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois
Daniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...
as a background vocalist on his "Shine" tour of the east coast in 2003. Nancy also was the main female vocalist with Mike Brenner
Mike Brenner
Philadelphia musician Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner is the veteran of many bands and has recorded tracks on over 100 CDs of both independent and major label artists....
's slide guitar hip-hop hybrid "Slo-Mo" and appeared extensively on their second album "My Buzz Comes Back". By 2003, Nancy was busy recording and co-producing (with McMartin) her second album "Clear View."
In 2003, she performed at a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society charity concert.
This brought a close to the Philadelphia chapter of her career as Nancy relocated to Dublin, Ireland in 2004. With marriage, a baby daughter and a chance meeting on a train, Nancy started a new project called "Sunflow" in 2006 with Dublin singer/songwriter Fran King, an album of lullabies followed called "Under The Stars" produced by Duncan Maitland. In 2010 "I Wish You Love" from that album featured in an episode of "Life UneXpected
Life Unexpected
Life Unexpected is an American television series that ran for two seasons, from 2010 to 2011.The show premiered on The CW on Monday, January 18, 2010. The 13-episode first season run ended on April 12, 2010...
" and is currently featured in an Toyota Prius commercial.
Discography
- Under the Stars - with the band Sunflow Produced by Duncan Maitland 2008
- Clear View – Produced by Falkow and McMartin 2004
- Smitten – Produced by Shane McMartin 2000
- Nancy Falkow ~ 5 song E.P. – Produced by Scot Sax 1997
Songs on other compilations and recordings
- "1921" – Facedown Records tribute to The Who - Who’s Forgotten
- "My Head is Only in My House When it Rains" – Genus Records tribute to Captain Beefheart- Mama Kangaroos
Notable Vocal Appearances
- Wood - Songs from Stamford Hill (Columbia)
- G Love & Special Sauce - Electric Mile (Epic/Okeh!)
- Astrud Gilberto - Jungle (Magya Productions)
- Shirley Caesar/Patti LaBelle duet – on "You are My Friend" (Word Entertainment)
- Marah - 20,000 Streets Under the Sky (Yep Roc Records)
- Slo-Mo - My Buzz Comes Back (PHIdelity)
- Slo-Mo - Smokey Mountain (PHIdelity)
- Daniel Lanios – Live from the World Café appearance March 2003