This is my song written for the NYC of my childhood and my love song to Gil Scott-Heron. The NYC I was born into in the 1970's is long gone, sadly. And for those of us who can remember when, we recall all the funk and creativity and black power and integration and roller skates and fire crackers and nickel bags with wistful nostalgia. Gil Scott-Heron is a huge influence on me musically and intellectually; he and Brian Jackson are the ultimate sound of my New York Nostalgia.

New York Nostalgia

Marika Hughes

Click Three Times

I was listening to the wonderful artist Lhasa de Sela a lot when I wrote this tune. I was interested in writing an instrumental tune with  only a few words. The lyrics were inspired by the poem, Autobiography in Five Chapters by, Portia Nelson.

Chapter 4

I wrote the best love letter I had ever written. I labored over this handwritten letter for an entire day on my front porch. I sent it off knowing I would never hear from him again. And I didn't. But I remembered the letter word for word. So I went upstairs and wrote this song over the next few days, using the words from my love letter.

Dream It Away

I wrote this song a few months after my little brother died unexpectedly. This was my first song written on the piano.

For The Last Time

I was trying to write myself out of getting involved in a really bad idea for a romantic entanglement. When I finished the song it was clear, I shouldn't do it. But alas . . . . .

Fool's Gold

Not quite a love song, and not rooted in heartbreak (hallelu!), this song was written after a sweet and kind-of sexy evening talking with an old friend while sitting at an empty bar in downtown NYC after a gig.

No Dancing

I am a native New Yorker who lived in California for 10 years. When it was time to move back to NYC I ran outa Cali and didn't look back. At least not until I'd settled into Harlem. Then I began to recall my early days in California fondly - my twenties.... driving up and down the coast, serving folks coffee, exploring new musical styles on the cello, and happily stoned.

This is the Sound

This Is The Sound

I wrote this song a few months after my younger brother died unexpectedly. And just after having seen an old lover for the first time in many years.

marikahughes