Album Review: Full Bloom by Nancy Shoop-Wu

Review by Lissette Cascante 

In her second full-length album poignantly titled Full Bloom, classically trained, symphony musician, and award nominated violinist Nancy Shoop-Wu showcases her many talents and versatility as composer, singer-songwriter, arranger, and violinist extraordinaire. Nancy not only embraces her classical background but also her affinity for contemporary melodicism inspired by the beautiful surroundings of her home in the Hawaiian Islands. “Full Bloom came out of a time of personal expansion and growth for me. The songs are a reflection of my inner journey over these past few years, and they are songs of beauty, freedom, dreams and hope” shares Nancy. The result is a beautiful symphonia of ethereal, dreamy melodies that convey serenity and contentment throughout. The title track opens the album with a nice, laid-back blend of vocals, violin, percussion, piano and violin.

Other tracks such as "Night Rainbow", "Flying Away", "Olinda Winds" and "Golden Leaves" feature uplifting and playful, flowing piano and violin tunes that beckon the listener to explore the sense of wonder, gratitude and anticipation of new days, seasons, and possibilities.

More serene, evocative melodies evolve in tracks such as "Dreams" and "Serenade" as a gentle piano and violin engage in peaceful, musical dialogue.

In "Beautiful", Nancy offers up a deeply moving expression of love for her mother who passed away in April 2021 with a gorgeous, melodiously tender composition for piano and violin.

"Angel Above Me" features Nancy’s beautiful voice expressing the lyrics she penned as her violin artfully conveys a faith and hope beyond the physical realm.

All songs on the album were composed and arranged by Nancy Shoop-Wu and feature not only herself as a violin and vocal soloist, but she also shares the stage with Derek Nakamoto on piano and Cello (Qiele) Guo on Cello, while Aidan Carroll contributes on Bass; Mitchell Long on Guitars, and Peter Korpela adds Congas and Percussion. 

Full Bloom is a beautiful symphonia of ethereal, dreamy melodies that convey serenity and contentment.

~Lissette Cascante for Aural Awakenings 

For more information, please visit Nancy Shoop-Wu's website. Full Bloom is also available at Amazon, Apple Music and more.

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Camille Nelson

We’re delighted to present an interview with Camille Nelson. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah and currently residing in Switzerland, Camille hails from a musical family with an opera singer mother, while her brother, Steven Sharpe Nelson is a member of the successful classical crossover group The Piano Guys. Camille plays both guitar and violin, including on her latest album Sacred Lullabies, which features an impressive line-up of guest vocalists. So please get comfortable in your own sacred space, tune in, and enjoy!

Music from the albums Sacred Lullabies and Lead Me Home can be heard throughout this interview.

Spotlight: Lead Me Home by Camille Nelson

Camille Nelson is a highly-accomplished guitarist and violinist whose second studio album, Lead Me Home, was released on Stone Angel Music. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Camille also lived in Nashville, Tennessee for a couple of years, has visited more than 70 countries, and speaks English, German and Italian. 

Comprised of 12 compositions that feature renditions of traditional hymns and pieces composed by the artist, Lead Me Home is a glowingly captivating acoustic guitar and string ensemble album, which could be further described as a unique blend of classical, inspirational, acoustic-folk and contemporary instrumental styles with notable overtones of Celtic and Americana. Shane Mickelsen is the album’s conductor and string arranger, while an outstanding lineup of contributing musicians variably lend violins, viola, cello, fiddle, mandolin, dobro and pedal steel guitar. 

The album opens with one of the most beautiful instrumental renditions of “Amazing Grace” I’ve ever heard, with acoustic guitar providing the lead melody amidst violin and a string symphony. Richly encompassing and warm with a crystal-clear resonance, Camille additionally lends a perfect vocal touch with her softly ethereal intonations, making this one of the most deeply moving compositions on the album. The following piece, “How Great Thou Art”, embodies the often lulling, soul-soothing essence that many of the compositions herein possess with its comforting melody and tender arrangement of strings and guitar. 

My favorite piece on the album is a rendition of a traditional Irish hymn entitled “Be Thou My Vision”. Featuring the exquisite Celtic vocals of Alex Sharpe singing in Gaelic, this gorgeous arrangement also showcases emotive violin and velvety guitar with softer brushes of violin deftly mimicking bagpipes within the enveloping string ensemble. 

Songs like “Israel, Israel, God is Calling” convey a folksier feel with rhythmically acoustic and pedal steel guitar accompanying the violin. Another favorite is “Come, Come, Ye Saints”, which features Camille’s brother, Steven Sharpe, of The Piano Guys on cello. I especially like the woodsy percussive effect throughout, which seemingly guides the listener on a night journey across the Great Plains. “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” is another highlight possessing a notably Celtic bent, which showcases Ryan Shupe on both fiddle and mandolin. “Count Your Many Blessings” perfectly concludes the album with a current stream of softly resonating piano that’s accentuated by acoustic guitar and violin. 

An utmost professional, sophisticated and inspirationally heartfelt album, Lead Me Home never comes across as being ostentatious or over-embellished. Deserving of widespread recognition, I was personally moved by these beautiful compositions, and left in awe of this artist’s immense talent and musicianship. What a refreshing listen! ~Candice Michelle



For more information please visit the artist's website. This album can also be purchased at Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and Google Play.

Album Review: A Hero's Journey by Karen Olson & Crispin Barrymore

A Hero’s Journey is the collaborative recording of violist Karen Olson and pianist / multi-instrumentalist Crispin Barrymore. Promising a “voyage into a sonic landscape that merges contemporary classical influences with ambient textures, rhythmic elements, and new age melodicism”, its description not only fits to a tee, but the sheer beauty and emotional depth of this album proved to be far more than I ever could have expected.

“Horizon’s Calling” begins with a swelling mist of chords that soon introduce a gentle viola melody, immediately creating a warm and enveloping soundscape which conveys both a subtle melancholy and sacred introspection. Setting the mood for the rest of the journey, an illuminated ambience that’s often characterized by seemingly processed environmental sounds permeates the album, while highlighting minimal classical motifs throughout as expressed via Karen’s beautiful viola playing. On the second track, “Life’s Persuasions”, her lovely instrument weaves in and out of swirling metallic timbres, which are gently guided along by a lightly tapping electronic rhythm. The fourth track, “Still Crying”, is a most hauntingly gorgeous piece and quite easily my favorite on the album, in which Karen’s viola shimmers and vibrates among glistening electronic textures and a slow breakbeat-type rhythm. By the sixth track, “Facing Fear”, the perceptual notion of this album being about an inner personal journey of sorts really comes to fruition. Here, the viola is more at the forefront of the composition’s somewhat stark and foreboding yet inherently minimal soundscape. Lending a subtle contrast in mood is the seventh track, “Going Beyond”, which conveys a gently comforting and radiant aura with its sparkling piano and soothing viola. The eighth track, “Life Force”, is another favorite of mine, in which an emotive viola melody intertwines with environmentally lush layers and a liquid chill rhythm. Concluding the album is “Epilogue”, which paces along in a procession-like manner, lending cinematic touches to the ensemble of viola, organ and synths, as well as the occasional brush of symphonic drums.

Comprised of twelve compositions spanning over an hour, A Hero’s Journey is essentially a classical-laced ambient album which boasts sensually warm atmospheres with an underpinning of poignancy throughout. Perfectly understated with many subtle intricacies and improvisational nuances, a constant stream of restlessness or stirring beneath the music’s overarching serenity also felt present – a most intriguing aspect that I intimately connected with. An essential album to own, A Hero’s Journey is easily among my favorites of recent musical discoveries! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available at Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby.