Tag Archives: Nicolai Prowse

Nicolai Prowse

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by Jo

Betsey Trotwood, 2nd June 2007

18 months, waiting for this one. Since the much mourned demise of Do Me Bad Things, Nicolai’s been writing, working, recording, This then is the first live outing for the results – an acoustic set in a tiny place. Intimate isn’t the word! I wasn’t going to miss this for the world, not after all I’ve heard and written already!
It wasn’t a long set, but it was packed with pure notes pouring effortlessly from the boy’s mouth. Nicolai’s building his band, but what better way to gauge the power and glory of a voice, than when it’s accompanied only by a guitar? A small crowd, but a very appreciative one. The songs are all familiar to me – I’m quite good friends with them, actually, but they do sound better live. That’s a good sign! When they have got a full band behind them, they’re going to rock the senses. ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ is a particular favourite of mine, but they’re all sweet and sharp enough to sting you to thought.

What WAS a surprise was ABBA’s ‘SOS’ – I didn’t know that was going to happen! It’s a tricky song, tackled with smooth skill. I’ve been at other band rehearsals where it’s been abandoned because it just didn’t work. Obviously it needs to be simple, stripped down to the barest bones – if you’re not ABBA of course. We did get the first verse twice, with apologies, but who cares? Singing along to the chorus was great fun!

First gig over. Nicolai can approach the rest with confidence – there’s nothing to worry about. He’s got ‘it’, he can sing, he’s pretty cute and his stage banter is a damn site better than some!

Tell us more stories, Mr Prowse. We’re listening very hard.

Setlist:

When I Fall Down
Sky Scraper
Blue Eyed Boy
Running Away
SOS
How Life Works

There are gigs organised, and more to come. See www.myspace.com/nicolaiprowse for uptodate listings. Also, from this gig:

Nicolai Prowse

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by Jo

AAGGHHH! He’s back! Running up fast, anyway.. Nicolai’s been a very busy boy. Writing, recording, working hard. Let’s have a look, shall we? There will be a website shortly, but for now there are four songs on myspace – www.myspace.com/nicolaiprowse – so just check that out. Don’t expect any DMBT stuff.

Actually, if you take the four as a whole and want to see/make up a story emerging, listen to them in reverse order. I have no idea if that’s intentional, or true, but it works for my tiny mind, and this is MY article!

Running Away is easily the rockiest, fastest track of them. Upbeat, but sort of a kind of fragile hope in it.. things aren’t always gonna turn out better, no matter hard you try, but you have to try. And try together.

Heart Like a Wheel is my favourite. There’s selfdoubt in here, an apology for things that could never be, delivered in that sweet, soaring voice of Nicolai’s that you should just open up to and let into your life.. sad realisation and reluctant acceptance that it ain’t gonna work. It just isn’t.

Feel So Good has slow breathy, shivery vocals. A lament for what has passed / is passing, still in the throes of grief. Watch out for the chorus, it’ll make you jump.

On to Blue Eyed Boy, then. Trying to move out the other side of that once sweet, doomed, unforgettable relationship, with a clearer view of it, anger, resignation and some bitterness. Ouch. Smooth silk of a voice, again, so versatile. There’s a bit of hope in here, too. Just a bit.

You need to pay attention to lyrics around our Nicolai’s work, and not just be seduced by light, simple tunes and harmonies. That voice is capable of a hundred emotions, but in some places, the words don’t need any special inflection to carry them home. There’s nothing where it shouldn’t be, and so much where it should. Careful, Nik, or you’ll be beseiged by those convinced they can alleviate the pain of a certain Blue Eyed Boy.

None of that may be true, so don’t sue me. Listen, instead. Wait for more. Let’s get him onto a stage.