I am a massive Interpol fan. The first time I heard Turn on the Bright Lights I felt like someone had knocked my naive music self into a different realm of sound. So of course when Paul Banks came out of his Julian Plenti shell with a 10 year anniversary celebration for TOTBL under his belt and a new solo project, I took notice!
The Base is the first single off of Bank’s second solo effort, aptly titled Banks, scheduled for an October 22nd release. Take a listen and soak in the musical yumminess that is Mr. Paul Banks!
I decided to take a break from music tonight and get reacquainted with my kitchen. A shameful 23 days has past since my last mealpost and tonight was the perfect night to bring you guys a new recipe.
Things have been so crazy the last month and I was completely drawing a blank on what to cook. Thankfully, Food Network was reading my mind and served up one of the best recipes I’ve made in a long time. I added my own little flair to the pasta and it turned out to be the quickest and tastiest pasta I’ve ever made.
3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
Kosher salt
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 tablespoon leaves
1 clove garlic, smashed
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved
Pasta
8oz Penne Pasta
1 tbsp rosemary leaves
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1/2 lemon, juiced (make sure it’s a juicy one)
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/4 kosher salt
1/4 black pepper
1/4 cup shredded parmigiana reggiano
drizzle of olive oil
Preheat the oven to 450. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet and drizzle with the juice of the remaining lemon.
Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
While the chicken is roasting cook the pasta until al dente. Lightly drain and return to the pot. Mince the rosemary and parsley together and stir into the pasta with the remaining 6 ingredients.
Serve each chicken breast with a drizzle of sauce, veggies and the pasta.
The summer officially escaped me along with most of 2012. Heading into late September things have been moving at lightening speed. I’ve been so busy prepping for my opening gig with Monica next weekend (click HERE for tickets if you’ll be in the DFW area on September 29th) that I don’t even remember the last time I’ve cooked. So of course, I have massively failed to deliver new food posts to you guys. Hopefully in the next few weeks things will slow down a bit and I can spend some time in the kitchen.
In the meantime I think LA based duo Poolside, the self-proclaimed inventors of Daytime Disco, have delivered the perfect tune and mantra for us all to live by. Soak it in, replay a few times, then head back to your crazy lives! 🙂
Last week in place of a typical Friday Song of the Day post I featured my interview with Wind-Up Records artist Jillette Johnson. If you haven’t read it yet, check it out, she is a refreshing new talent and a killer songwriter.
For all of my long time readers you might (faintly) remember Song of the Day version 1, MyTunes!. In early 2010 I featured a young Belgian artist that immediately blew me away with one listen. Blending soul with a touch of reggae her debut album is a non-stop listen from track 1 to 13. She’s talented, she’s beautiful, she’s Selah Sue.
When Fiona Apple wrote about a Shadowboxer and feeling like a Criminal it was impossible to not become transfixed with the world she painted with her lyrics. The nineties and early aughts bred a slew of female singer songwriters that told the deepest stories through song.
Over the years popular music has become increasingly watered down, with focus on lyrical content falling in second place to house beats and campy tales of love and partying with friends. With the success of artists like Adele it’s clear that people still crave and respond to music that’s emotional and above all, honest.
Growing up in New York Jillette was born to a non-musical family with the passion to entertain and create at an early age. She started piano lessons at 6 and writing at 8 years old. With the support of her parents she started playing venues in New York City at just 12 years old. After getting her first manager at the same age Jillette used NYC as her canvas to create music that was open and honest.
That honesty caught the attention of Wind-Up Records Executive Gregg Wattenberg with the title track Cameron.
“Powder and a brush can cover any cuts / And quickly running cotton under cold water / Rinses out the blood marks / Cameron you’re a star, a light where there is dark”
tells the story of being alienated for our differences and embracing that uniqueness. After being signed to Wind-Up Jillette started writing for Whisking & Frosting.
Jillette isn’t resting on her laurels, “All of the music on the EP was written by me in my apartment over the last year. I’m having a lot of fun but it’s just the beginning. There’s a lot more work to be done.”
With her debut album set for an early 2013 release she’ll spend the next few months creating a buzz with the EP and radio in the winter. So where did Whiskey & Frosting come from?
After a horrible day Jillette and her boyfriend were headed back to her apartment where she hoped they would spend a quiet night alone. When they walked in all of her friends were there to throw her a surprise party and on the menu for dinner…whiskey and frosting, two of her favorite things.
“Whiskey and Frosting represents that twinkle in my eye and saying something real or dark with a hint of sweetness.”
Jillette doesn’t shy away from dark messages and difficult subjects. That fearlessness in her writing, the desire to create her own little world, has kept her on the creative path that has lead her up to this point. “It’s so important to be real and honest when you’re creating music.”
That realness meant turning down a prime spot on the hit show The Voice this past season. After attending an audition with a friend she turned down the opportunity to continue on the creative path she began, and to not compromise the voice she worked so hard to build throughout her career.
“It takes a lot of courage to audition for a talent show, you go through a lot. What I do is very holistic and unfortunately there’s no room for that in a show meant to entertain people. It feels like sacrilege to not be myself and for my voice to not be heard.”
This commitment to her music and bringing authenticity to what she creates also meant leaving New York University after one year to put 100% of her energy behind her career. When I asked her what would she be doing if she wasn’t creating music her response was simple,
“I never considered doing anything else. If you have a plan B then your plan A doesn’t really matter. I wanted everything I did to be about my career.”
That passion and vulnerability is evident in songs like Pauvre Coeur (poor heart).
“Dare I say I was enamored / By the stories of your pain / You were darkened in the wild fight / And I was tangled in your mane.”
The story of compromising yourself in a broken relationship that leaves you completely lost is told beautifully over Johnson’s aching vocals and rolling piano.
“I was trying to make you see me / Like the way you did before / So I took off my clothes and I opened a bottle / And told you I’d do whatever you wanted / Naked on the floor, crying I’m too beautiful / Oh my poor, poor, pauvre coeur / Beats no more.”
Jillette sings and composes with a passion that comes from such an authentic place. From her own life experiences to the streets of New York Jillette is influenced by life around her and the city that raised her.
“New York has hugely influenced me. There’s so much to draw inspiration from. I really think it’s the epicenter of the universe, so much beauty to inspire.”
Music legends Paul Simon, Prince, Carol King and Randy Newman are a few musicians that have influenced Johnson and her creativity. Newman’s simple approach to his lyrics and music that isn’t “overly flowery but to the point and eloquent” is what inspires Johnson. “They help me figure out what I want to say. I have to have a message in my music.”
Torpedo is Whiskey & Frosting’s anthem tune with Jillette’s beautifully layered vocals and poignant piano laced with hard hitting drums and of course, those lyrics.
“So come on torpedo do your worst / Get me right in the heart, blow me up ’til you see my ghost / But I will not lay down in the road / I will not make it easy / I ain’t got no saints or saviors / This is guerrilla and I will fight this war / So come on torpedo.”
Whiskey & Frosting Track Listing:
Cameron – Where it all began!
Torpedo – Most upbeat track on the EP
When the Ship Goes Down – “Probably the best song I’ve ever written”
Heathen – Friend favorite
Pauvre Coeur – “The most fun to play live”
Since this is Sarah’s Musical Kitchen I took the opportunity to ask Jillette who were some of her favorite NYC artists and of course, what are some of her favorite places to eat and drink in the city.
What’s your favorite thing to cook?“Beef Stew for my mom.” I think we need a recipe!
It was a pleasure speaking with Jillette. The eloquence and passion in her music is evident when she speaks about her musical journey and what the future holds. Her fearless approach to writing and absolute awareness of who she is as an artist is refreshing and inspiring. Whiskey & Frosting is the heart and soul of a talented artist waiting to just blow you away. Download it today and look for the debut album in early 2013.
I’m writing you from 37,856 feet on my way to the City of Angels for a fun week of gorgeous weather and networking opportunities. First things first, for the first time in years I’m actually enjoying my flight thanks to Virgin America. I’ve never flown the airline before and now I’m officially spoiled. If you get the chance, book a seat, the experience is better then any carrier I’ve ever flown on. Moving on….
Last week I posted a new video of my partner in crime, Josh Goode, and me covering ZZ Ward’s “Got it Bad”. Since she’s been a huge inspiration on the new material we decided to record another cover of her latest single, “Put the Gun Down”. So here you are, another YouTube video to tide you guys over until the new material is released. If you live in Dallas and want to check out the new music first come to the House of Blues on September 29th! I’ll be opening for Monica with Josh Goode and some other amazing musicians.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to LA and I couldn’t be more excited. Tonight Matt and I are kicking things off with a party hosted by Yahoo! featuring one of my favorite bands, Chairlift. I won’t be reviewing the show but I’ll definitely be documenting the night’s events. Maybe I’ll even get a chance to meet Caroline Polacheck…wishful thinking.
The rest of the week I have a few meetings with some new contacts and old friends. It’s amazing what the universe delivers to you once you stop holding back and put yourself out there. Never stop dreaming!
A few years back I wrote about a unique find near the DFW airport, Lobster Harvest. This my friends is where Lobsters come to retire, where the weakest links find their way on my plate for a fraction of the cost. Now keep in mind, we are not in Maine, and today’s soothing 106 degrees reminded us all that for us here in Texas, summer is far from over.
Even though we’re hundreds of miles away from fresh succulent lobster doesn’t mean it isn’t here for us to enjoy. So since you all made Discounted Lobster in Dallas? one of my most popular posts I thought I would step it up a notch and tell you where you can buy delicious, plump, and slightly more expensive lobster.
Central Market never fails to amaze me. Between an abundance of the freshest produce in Dallas you can find an array of exotic fruits, any type of stuffed, seasoned and picture perfect meat and of course, the freshest seafood I’ve seen in the city. I haven’t sampled all of the many fish markets in the metroplex but out of the few I’ve tried, I always find my way back to Central Market.
On that note it can get pretty pricey for a normal week night meal, BUT every week like a mini present in my Inbox I receive their weekly specials that always have a seafood special. Lobster is on that list quite a bit ranging from $5.99 for a lobster tail or per pound for fresh Maine lobster.
I apologize in advance for the redundant recipe (not really) but I can’t resist a plump lobster roll when I see $5.99 a pound. So for those of you in the DFW area check out Central Market, subscribe to their newsletter and prepare to not be disappointed.
Remove the freshly steamed meat from the shells and rinse. Pat dry and chop into bite size chunks. Toss in a medium size bowl with the green onions, parsley, lemon juice and mayo.
Season with the salt and pepper according to taste.
Toast the buns and fill with the delicious meat!
When I’m making lobster I want to taste the full flavor of the meat so I avoid crowding it with too many ingredients.
Browser snafus, traveling and limited data plans are all of my excuses for the ridiculously late Song of the Day post today. Matt and I are saying goodbye to summer at the lake house this weekend with some much needed R&R and family time. So on the drive down we were listening to one of my favorite new songs that fit the blue moon night perfectly…and I had to share!
Family time awaits so I’ll let the song do it’s thang. 😉 What’s everyone up to this holiday weekend? Let me know in the comments below.
Over the last few months I’ve been working with Josh Goode from Goode Vibes Music on some original tunes and I am sooo excited to start recording the stuff we’ve written. Tonight we met for our normal writing session and ended up talking about our biggest musical inspirations and who has inspired me the most over the last few months. ZZ Ward has heavily influenced the new material and it seemed only fitting to cover one of my favorite tracks off her mixtape, Eleven Roses! So here it is, about 7 months overdue, a new YouTube cover!
We did one take to capture the rawness that you only get without over rehearsing and over analyzing the song…which can be hard for me to do!
Check out this yummy new track from Astronauts, Etc. for today’s Song of the Day and head over to It’s Forever, Kids for some more tunes. Happy Listening!
“Astronauts, etc.” just released a new single, “Mystery Colors,” which is the first single off their debut EP, “Supermelodic Pulp,” Set for Release on September 8th. The EP will feature a sci-fi music video for each of its five tracks, with a loose narrative tying them together.
“Astronauts, etc.” is the solo project of Anthony Ferraro, a Berkeley student who found electronic music when arthritis prevented him from pursuing a career in classical piano.
“Astronauts, etc.” just released a new single, “Mystery Colors,” which is the first single off their debut EP, “Supermelodic Pulp,” Set for Release on September 8th. The EP will feature a sci-fi music video for each of its five tracks, with a loose narrative tying them together.
Sarah's Musical Kitchen 