Audiophilia (Canada)
by Anthony Kershaw
Apr 7 2008

Grace Nikae is a piano artist of the 21st Century. She’s a superb pianist, blessed with excellent technique and sensitive musicianship, but this lady knows how to market in the era of ‘Social Networking’ and ‘Web 2.0’. A quick visit to Wikipedia will give you, dear reader, a succinct and articulate definition of the these terms. If you are the type of web enthusiast interested in finding information and interacting with others on the internet, you’ll need to know and be cognizant of both.

Many musical artists have turned to self promotion and self publishing, much like authors did in the 80s and 90s. And it is not only in the domain of classical music and jazz, rock musicians have had the rug pulled out from under them, too. The record companies are going the way of the Dodo (kicking and screaming, I might add, as they are hammered by iTunes) and contracts are becoming fewer and fewer. As such, intelligent self-promotion via the internet in all its forms (the web, Twitter, Pownce, Jaiku, blogs, forums, e magazines, podcasts, video blogging, YouTube channels, UStream, Viddler, and the list goes on and on) is becoming the norm. Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Moby, and other superb popular groups and musicians, are leading the popular culture charge, and artists such as Nikae, the classical.

Nikae’s new CD, Fantasies, is available on iTunes, Amazon, and other web based delivery models. She is promoting her art and recordings via a superbly produced blog and website, www.gracenikae.com. This is the way of the future, and Nikae’s model is a benchmark. I was introduced to this interesting artist on Twitter, a mini blog site that is growing exponentially. Intrigued, I checked out her main site and requested her debut CD.

Following the form of her website, the CD is gorgeously produced. The highest artistic standards are maintained both visually and in the written word. Ah, but what’s on the inside? Well, brilliance and artistry, it turns out, in the guise of a mixture of music by Scriabin, Liszt, de Falla, and Granados.

Nikae has a beautiful touch, whether hammering out chords in the de Falla Fantasia Betica or caressing gently in the sultry Scriabin Second Sonata. Technically, she is superb. The very difficult Sonetto 104 del Petrarca by Liszt holds no fears for her. My favourite recording of the Liszt is an 80s recording by Murray Perahia on Sony. He’s fantastic in this recording, and that Nikae even comes close is a testament to her excellence. In fact, there are moments in the piece where I prefer her touch and mystery.

The Spanish connection of de Falla and Granados are played with all the gusto for which the composers are famous (Nikae is US born and trained but Madrid based). Nikae is a real firebrand, here. Fantasia Betica is given a tremendous reading, lots of energy and passion. Same for the Granados.

The recording is miked closely but allows the piano to bloom in the fairly compact acoustic of Aula de Musica, University of Alcala de Henares, Spain. Full details are on the CD notes.

Fantasies is a very impressive debut CD. If the music entices you or you are a fan of outstanding pianists, surf on over to iTunes or Amazon and click the mouse. Better yet, order the hard copy from her website. You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.

External Link: Audiophilia
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