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Mia Borders makes perfect 'deck' music at New Orleans Jazz Fest
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A specific description of singer/songwriter Mia Borders' music would be "adult contemporary R&B/pop....A specific description of singer/songwriter Mia Borders' music would be "adult contemporary R&B/pop." But the more applicable term, at least according to my dad, would be deck music.
Deck music is a term of my dad's creation, and it includes anything you would want to listen to at sunset or after dark while sitting on a deck overlooking the beach or, in the case of my parents' Lafayette home, a river -- really any body of water -- with a drink in hand.
Deck music doesn't overpower the breeze or crickets, and it's got a groove to get your head nodding and feet tapping, but not so much to compel you to all-out dance. Examples of deck music include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt -- and, as it turns out, Mia Borders.
Wearing a T-shirt that said "MUSIC SAVES LIVES," Borders delivered laidback R&B-tinged rock/pop to a poncho-clad Gentilly Stage audience that included a noticeable number of dedicated fans. Borders even had a pint-sized fan in the audience, prompting what may be the first shout-out to a baby I've ever seen at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell.
"Hi Noah," Borders called out. The kid looked confused as his mother pointed at Borders.
"I'm trying to give a shout-out to a child," Borders said, laughing. "Hi Noah! It's Mia."
The baby recognize her, and waved back.
Borders' set was similarly sweet and good-natured, as she and her band spun good vibes, including a great cover of Eric Clapton's "Crossroads," in the face of worsening rain. By the end of the set, though, the rain had stopped, the jams were flowing and everybody in the audience was doing a little grooving, deck music-style.
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Magnolia Blue ranges from blues to soul to classic rock
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Mia Borders is a new voice from New Orleans, the city that produced so many wonderful voices. Now th...Mia Borders is a new voice from New Orleans, the city that produced so many wonderful voices. Now that’s she’s gotten her degree from Loyola University, the young singer-songwriter is free to devote herself to music.
“I had that normal uncertainty,” Borders said recently about completing her English degree. “But I’m feeling confident about the musical direction that we’re going in, so this is my full-time job now.”
Borders’ second full-length CD, Magnolia Blue, appeared in April, shortly before her New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival debut. She wrote 11 of the CD’s songs and co-wrote a 12th track with her band’s lead guitarist, Kyle Sclafani.
Borders also produced Magnolia Blue. The disc ranges from the title song’s funky blues to the soul and rhythm-and-blues of “Fly” to the classic-rock of “Yesterday.”
In addition to her performance on the Jazz Fest’s Gentilly Stage (the festival’s second-largest venue), Borders’ other recent appearances in New Orleans include a March performance for 5,000 at Lafayette Square and a New Year’s Eve show in Jackson Square for 4,000.
The latter appearances in front of thousands were a huge jump from such atmosphere-rich but small venues as the Maple Leaf Bar, Carrolton Station and Frenchmen Street’s Blue Nile.
“It’s a totally different experience because there’s so much energy to feed off of,” Borders said.
Media attention for her has grown, too. Recent press coverage includes mentions in USA Today and The Times-Picayune and reviews in Offbeat and New Orleans Living.
Playing more often beyond New Orleans since her college graduation, Borders makes her Baton Rouge debut tonight via the Sounds of Summer concert series at 5 p.m. downtown at Galvez Plaza.
Playing Jazz Fest, especially, was a milestone for Borders and her band. The group’s membership — Borders, Sclafani, bassist Pablo Gonzalez and drummer Nick Hingel — has remained constant for nearly five years.
“They’re all about 10 years older than I am,” she said. “They’ve been in and out of bands for longer than I’ve been alive, so it’s nice to have that stability with them.”
Growing up in Uptown New Orleans, Borders seemingly was born for the stage.
“My mom told everyone that I was an Academy Award waiting to happen,” she said. “I was always putting on shows and showing off. I was always singing and acting and being dramatic.”
Borders played piano during childhood but soon found herself drawn to the guitar, the instrument she’s played since she was 11. After getting a full high-school scholarship to a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut, her studies there included classical music and theory.
“It wasn’t really that big of an adjustment,” Borders said of the boarding school in New England whose population included international classmates.
“But it made me realize so much more about New Orleans because people always asked me about my hometown. I started to realize how special being from New Orleans is.”
Borders chose to major in English at Loyola rather than music.
“I didn’t want to be an opera singer, which so many of Loyola’s musicians end up becoming,” she said. “Loyola doesn’t really cater much to ‘popular’ music, so I decided to go my own way.”
Going her own way included forming her own label, Blaxican Records. The label released Borders’ Southern Fried Soul, partially recorded in Nashville, in 2009, as well as this year’s Magnolia Blue.
“I started a record label when we went to Nashville because I wanted to protect myself,” she said. “I’m interested in expanding the label to other artists but that’s more a long term thing. I have to establish myself before I can bring anybody else along.
“For the most part, I think I’m doing what I need to be doing to build the career that I wanna have.”
In the short time between Southern Fried Soul and Magnolia Blue, Borders’ songwriting took a more rootsy route.
“I was in an age group when bubblegum pop was big and so that influenced me a lot,” she said. “As I got older and I listened to more of the older stuff. I don’t necessarily think about going in any specific direction, but the stuff that I’ve written recently is much more in that R&B, blues vein.”
Despite the progress they’ve made, Borders and her band are not yet at a place where they exclusively play original music.
“One-hundred percent original bands are hard to come by in New Orleans,” she explained. “So we throw some Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder in, stuff that people can dance to and recognize and sing along with.”
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Reviews- Mia Borders Southern Fried Soul
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MIA BORDERS
Southern Fried Soul
(Independent)
01 December 2009
— by Briana Prevost
Don’t be f...MIA BORDERS
Southern Fried Soul
(Independent)
01 December 2009
— by Briana Prevost
Don’t be fooled by Mia Borders’ shy and soft singing style. On “Don’t Say Forever” the soul-jazz singer attacks the words of the song with the fierceness of Fefe Dobson’s hate driven “Unforgiven.” She sings of a lover who abused her trust in this pop-rock anthem of breaking up and rebuilding. Kyle Sclafani’s lead guitar is a bold contrast to her soft musings with great harmonies.
But Borders taps into her sexy side on “Sustenance” and her cheeky side on “Scream,” an in-your-face tune that accusingly prods for answers about why she wasn’t good enough to keep her man and whether or not the other woman’s sex was worth it. “You’ll get what’s comin’ to ya. / I swear I’ll get you back,” she sings with such fury that you wouldn’t want to be the guy that wronged her caught alone one night in a dark alley.
And with emotions as varying as hers are, this CD is full of surprises. There’s no telling what Mia Borders will come up with next, and that’s half the fun.
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New Orleans’ Native Mia Borders Releases Debut Album for Own Label
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Mia Borders’ debut album, “Southern Fried Soul,” is slated for an August 8th release under Blaxican ...Mia Borders’ debut album, “Southern Fried Soul,” is slated for an August 8th release under Blaxican Records.
New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) July 28, 2008 – Mia Borders and her Funk-Rock & Soul band are currently touring New Orleans in support of their upcoming release, “Southern Fried Soul,” under the singer-songwriter’s own independent label, Blaxican Records. The eleven-song collection is the band’s second effort together, following their debut, “the ep,” from 2007 (under the band name MNSKP). Performance information is available online at http://www.miaborders.com.
Produced by Borders and hitmaker William J. Smith in Nashville, TN, the album features all original songs, written by rhythm guitarist Borders and composed with her band – Pablo Gonzalez (bass), Nick Hingel (drums), and Kyle Sclafani (lead guitar). Also featured on the album are Nashville piano pro, Jim Wilson and New York sax player Cyrus McGoldrick.
Hailed as “New Orleans’ hottest buzz band” by the City’s own, Where Y’at Magazine, and named one of “97 Quirky New Orleans Discoveries” by New Orleans Magazine, Mia Borders has left a lasting impression on her hometown’s local music scene. Her official website (http://www.miaborders.com) features not only full-length audio and video clips from the album, but also exclusive remixes, acoustic renditions, and live performances.
The official public album release party will take place Saturday, August 8 at 1PM at Peaches Records (408 N. Peters St., NO, LA 70130). “Southern Fried Soul” will be available for local hard-copy purchase at Peaches and Louisiana Music Factory, as well as any of the band’s live performances. The album – along with the band’s previous releases – will also be featured on Apple’s ITunes Music Store and available for digital download at all major digital music stores.
About Blaxican Records:? Blaxican Records, LLC is registered in the State of Louisiana and owned and operated independently. For more information, visit http://www.blaxicanrecords.com.
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Mount Helena Music Festival
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Here’s a closer look at the three hot female artists showcased in this year’s Mount Helena Music Fes...Here’s a closer look at the three hot female artists showcased in this year’s Mount Helena Music Festival, June 25-26 at Women’s Park: Michelle Shocked, Rosie Ledet and Mia Borders.
Mia Borders
Mia Borders is only 22, but this sultry-voiced singer is creating a lot of buzz in New Orleans.
She’s already caught the ear of an admiring national press.
Her 2010 release “Magnolia Blue,” was nominated for Best Emerging Artist from the Big Easy Music Awards. And her recent debut performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was nationally broadcast.
There’s more than a few predictions that this rising star is destined to shine forth on the national stage.
So you’ll want to be there at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, when she and her band play their unique blend of funk, rock and soul at the Mount Helena Music Festival.
Borders is hesitant to attach labels to her music.
“People have concrete ideas about New Orleans music,” she said in a phone interview from the Big Easy. “But we don’t fit any of those categories.”
Sensual, fresh and intelligent are just a few of the adjectives that spring to mind when describing her lyrics. Add her compelling voice, and Saturday’s concert should make for an unforgettable evening of music.
The Wolf Magazine, describes Borders’ album “Southern Fried Soul” as “pure New Orleans; it’s infused with soul and sex appeal and it oozes musical talent.”
“With emotions as varying as hers, this CD is full of surprises,” wrote Offbeat Magazine. “There’s no telling what Mia Borders will come up with next, and that’s half the fun.”
“Borders is one of those rare young talents that can sing about life, love, and loss and make listeners feel it. With lyrics so personal, so mature, and so direct she established herself as an artist to watch,” writes Keith I. Marszalek at NOLA.com, of Borders’ new release, “Magnolia Blue.”
A native of New Orleans, Borders can’t point to one particular moment that drew her to music. She was surrounded by it all the time and began writing lyrics and playing the guitar when she was 11.
During her high school years, she attended a boarding school in Connecticut, but returned to New Orleans the spring before Hurricane Katrina, and has since made it her home.
She began performing about four years ago.
After Katrina “the music clubs were all struggling for performers,” she said, so there were suddenly opportunities to get gigs.
Through her brother, she hooked up with a band, and they’ve been playing together ever since.
A recent graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans with a degree in English, Borders has been pouring her energy into song writing.
“I’m constantly writing new material,” she said. She will likely have a couple of new songs to share by the time she comes to Helena.
Inspiration for songs comes from reflecting on a truth in her life, she said, or sometimes it’s a word she likes or a turn of a phrase — such as “I keep your picture in my frame of mind.”
This is the band’s first trip to Montana.
“We’re all real excited to come to Montana, especially my drummer,” Borders said. “He’s really into nature.”
“We don’t go out for long stretches of time on tour,” she added. All the band members are married with kids and hold day jobs — as lawyers and a child psychologist.
The band includes Borders doing vocals and rhythm guitar; Nick Hingel, drummer; Pablo Gonzalez, bass; and Kyle Sclafani, lead guitar/vocals.
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Like Night and Day
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Get a taste of these great artists at Jazz Fest, then see them live in local clubs later
Ahh … spri...Get a taste of these great artists at Jazz Fest, then see them live in local clubs later
Ahh … springtime in New Orleans. That means only one thing for many people: Jazz Fest is here! This year marks the 41st anniversary for this world-renowned festival that celebrates the music, food and culture of our wonderful city. Hundreds of musicians, food vendors and artisans will make this seven-day festival the biggest one ever.
While most music aficionados will sample the various musicians during the day at the Fair Grounds, many will pack our diverse music clubs to feast on the full shows of the various artists. Among the best acts to catch in our famous music halls are some of New Orleans’ own funk/blues/jam fusion artists. Their high-energy shows, electric sounds and cool grooves are best seen with a more intimate crowd of dancing crazies. It is in these more cozy clubs where the artists truly shine.
Here is a list of some of the best local musicians to check out this year, both at Jazz Fest and in the clubs:
Mia Borders
Finally, take the time to catch the up-and-coming funky soul singer Mia Borders. Her amazing voice and guitar play reverberates through the clubs she plays. Backed by her high-energy band, her shows are experiences you won’t soon forget. You can see Mia Borders at Jazz Fest on Sunday, May 2, at the Rusty Nail on April 30 and Tipitina’s French Quarter on May 1.
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Album: Southern Fried Soul
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Not since the Spice Girls era has a woman embraced the “Girl Power” mantra and added her own cholest...Not since the Spice Girls era has a woman embraced the “Girl Power” mantra and added her own cholesterol building goodness.
Mia Borders’ album Southern Fried Soul is pure New Orleans; it’s infused with soul and sex appeal, and it oozes musical talent. The album taps into every emotion, making it relatable to the listeners. Borders ventures into tales of infidelity, lust, and heartbreak, all with her sensual vocals and alluring confidence.
“Sustenance” is a passionate track, mixed with provocative lyrics and a hip-grooving beat that couldn’t be any sexier. Borders pulls at the heart seams with “The Very Best Part of Me,” singing about reluctantly letting her love go – the perfect break up song. In “Scream,” Borders brings out her claws after her lover has been unfaithful and challenges his decisions with bold and almost arrogant statements: “You’ll wish [you’d] never done it/You’ll pray it’s all a dream/You’ll start to question/Was it worth it just to hear her scream?”
The album takes so many twists and turns, it’s hard to tell what kind of Borders you’ll get. Overall, with Mia Borders’ strong, sultry vocals and talented backing band, Southern Fried Soul is finger lickin’ good.
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Mia Borders...A Tasty Treat
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With an album title Southern Fried Soul, you know Mia Borders has got to be serving up something tas...With an album title Southern Fried Soul, you know Mia Borders has got to be serving up something tasty. Strong-willed, tenderhearted, sharp-tongued, and damn sassy when she needs to be, I’ve always found her sound resonated in the vein of Bill Withers… a compliment I don’t hand out lightly. But don’t just take my word for it; peep the tracks below (including a cover of the aforementioned legend’s classic “Use Me”), and check out this video of Mia playing outside of Jackson Square on New Year’s Eve.
supersonic
