Miwa Gemini

Fresh from the Bakery

originally published May 21, 2008

Sometimes it takes an outsider’s perspective to offer a fuller view on any situation, and that’s certainly the case with Miwa Gemini’s take on music. The native of Japan’s southern Fukuoka region - she’s been a New York City resident for several years now - finds common ground in several American styles of music, and her new album This Is How I Found You touches on ‘20s torch songs, ‘40s jazz, early country and uncluttered singer/songwriter fare.

Her tunes are decidedly lovestruck and sentimental (though never maudlin), with lyrics like “I had a few romances that would make good movies. You know, the kind that would leave housewives in tears…” from “Something Ordinary,” and then there’s “Crazy Over You,” a slinky noir-tinged number in which she sings, “Talk to me, love, silence is killing me/ Leave me, love, you’ll find me at the corner.”

Gemini spent early 2006 recording the entirety of This Is How I Found You here in Athens with local producer Andy Baker. She says the experience was a valuable one, and that getting away from the distractions, noises and energy of New York allowed her to focus on the tunes and develop their relaxed tone. “It's nice to be able to get away from your daily life and completely immerse yourself with recording,” says Gemini. “Plus I really like the peaceful and beautiful scenery of Athens, like hydrangeas and front porches. Now that I've been there a few times playing shows, I really enjoy meeting people from Athens. It's a small town, but filled with interesting creative people.”

Of the recording sessions at Baker’s home studio at the end of Boulevard, she says: “It was a marathon! I worked poor Andy like 16 hours a day for four days. But it was fun; it's always fun recording with Andy. He gives me all the creative space I need, and if I get stuck, he's always got useful suggestions. But still, I have to admit, it was a lot of work playing all those instruments myself, plus recording vocals and backup vocals.”

Brian Lackey, the former Savannah-based drummer who also plays on the new album, introduced Gemini to Baker. “When I began working with Brian, he immediately told me about Andy,” says Gemini. “We recorded my first album with Andy, and I fell in love working with him.”

The recordings created at Baker’s studio - affectionately and unofficially known as The Bakery - efficiently balance the different instrumental elements of Gemini's songs, but the emphasis remains on her voice; Gemini's vocal style falls somewhere between the passion of Nina Simone, the tenderness of Patsy Cline and the affecting delivery of Björk’s hazier moments, all further defined by her subtly lingering, crisp Japanese accent. She says she writes her songs in bits and pieces, letting elements fall into place organically. “Melodies and words usually come up separately,” she says, “and if they are lucky, they find one another. Kind of like romance - some of them match each other perfectly, some of them have really bad relationships, and some of them [are] still waiting for their Prince Charming to show up.”

A piano shows up on opening track “Picnic,” lending the song a contemplative mood, while subtle mandolin notes pepper the background. Both instruments make their first appearance in Gemini's songs on This Is How I Found You. And the song “Traveling Man” is a real stomper, full of rough, bluesy electric guitar and whomping drums, but the song never gets too heavy, thanks to subtle yet everpresent banjo plucking.

Gemini received the mandolin as a gift two years ago, and decided to figure out its intricacies and incorporate them onto the new album. “At the same time I began picking up banjo,” she says, “and [it] seemed natural that that should be part of it as well. The most difficult one was the piano, which was rather ironic since piano was my first instrument! Now I have added accordion to my collection… I'm excited to include that as well for my next album.”

Though This Is How I Found You expanded Gemini's instrumental palette, she is currently touring and performing on her own, opening this week’s Dexter Romweber Duo show at the 40 Watt Club.

“I'm a lone ranger, a singular troubadour when it comes to traveling… just kidding.  I just haven't found partners in crime yet,” she says. “ But I'm traveling with another solo musician.  His name is Guitar Bomb, and thank goodness, we can split the gas!”

Chris Hassiotis

WHO: Dexter Romweber Duo, Ham 1, Miwa Gemini, Guitar Bomb
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
WHEN: Friday, May 23
HOW MUCH: $6 (21+), $8 (18+)