It took a worldwide epidemic to make vocalist Nica Carrington fully realize that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.

Although she has been singing and studying voice since she was a young child, her shyness made her feel more comfortable singing in choirs surrounded by others rather than stepping into the spotlight as a solo performer.

But now with the release of her debut album, Times Like These (due out September 23rd, 2022), audiences will get to appreciate her smokey, warm voice and soulful interpretations of great American standards.

For her debut album, Carrington chose songs from the Great American Songbook that she learned about from her father’s record collection. Says Carrington, “I’ve always admired the composers and lyricists of the great standards. Their songs are timeless and I wanted to stay true to them, but I also wanted to present them with my own more contemporary style. The album is also an homage to my father. He passed away a couple of years ago, but his influence on me is indelible, and I needed to channel my feelings through music.

1. Skylark
2. Left Alone
3. When Sunny Gets Blue
4. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye
5. We’ll Be Together Again
6. The Summer Knows
7. You Don’t Know What Love Is
8. Angel Eyes
9. The Shadow of Your Smile
10. Here’s to Life

This beautifully crafted and wholly heartfelt new album opens on the stillness of Skylark and the lushly orchestrated Left Alone and then follows them up with the beautiful When Sunny Gets Blues, the yearn of Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye and then the gentle flow of We’ll Be Together Again is brought forth.

Up next is the veritably shimmering The Summer Knows the aching ode within You Don’t Know What Love Is and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the quietly perky Angel Eyes, the album rounding out with the exquisite The Shadow of Your Smile, closing on the sculptured intoxication of Here’s to Life.

“Times Like These began as a “pandemic project” with my vocal coach, John Proulx, singer, pianist, composer, recording artist, arranger, and instructor,” Carrington further explains. “I met John through JazzVoice.com, an online vocal jazz educational community founded by Alexis Cole.”

“It was truly a divine nudge that led me to join JazzVoice.com. Prior to becoming a member of the JazzVoice.com community, I had been a serial vocal and trumpet student floating from one vocal and music coach or workshop to the next, doing the “hokey pokey” with my singing, trumpet, and piano lessons. I had dabbled at my musicianship most of my life, taking a course here and there, mostly singing to my bathroom walls—and then came COVID.”

​ “When the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world, I finally got serious about my craft. There were songs I had to sing.”

​ “I had my first lesson with John on August 17, 2020 and a year later on August 13, 2021, we were in Paul Tavenner’s Big City Recording Studio recording an album with two of John’s musical mentors, jazz legends Chuck Berghofer (bass) and Joe LaBarbera (drums).”

“It was a blessing to record with John, Chuck, Joe, and Paul. Featuring songs about endings and beginnings, this album is meant for Times Like These.”

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