2006年VOA标准英语-Leigh Nash Releases First Solo Album

By Larry London
Washington, D.C.
18 December 2006
 
watch report on Leigh Nash

When Leigh Nash was 16, she found herself on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans performing a number one hit.  That song, "Kiss Me", topped the charts internationally.  Five albums over 14 years is impressive for any band, but for Leigh Nash and her time with Sixpence None The Richer, it was a difficult period filled with what she calls bad business decisions.  The band broke up in February 2004. 

Nash has now released her first solo album, "Blue On Blue", along with a holiday EP [extended play recording¹ - usually 4-5 songs] called, "Wishing For This".  Larry London welcomed Leigh Nash and her guitarist into VOA's studios to discuss the past and the future.

Leigh Nash during her VOA interview   
  
Sixpence None The Richer started in a small town in Texas as a Christian² music band, earning numerous Dove Awards until ultimately ending up with one of 1999s most-recognized pop songs, "Kiss Me."  The song was featured in the film, "She's All That" and on the U.S. television show, "Dawson's Creek³", also earning a Grammy nomination⁴.  "Kiss Me" was even the wedding song for Prince Edward of Britain's Royal Family.

Sixpence None The Richer took "Kiss Me" to number one in 11 countries, including the U.S.

Leigh Nash told us, "I think we (Sixpence None The Richer) were in Italy, and we were already having a really good time.  We were always very unassuming and just kind of going about our business with our heads down (laughs).  Not that we were ashamed, just interested in each other and having a good time.  Then we heard some great news like that and I guess we still reacted the same way, we were just shy about it." 

A number one hit like "Kiss Me" is not necessarily complicated to write. This one was written in just 20 minutes by Nash's bandmate, Matt Slocum. 

"We were both sitting in a motel in Holland, separate rooms.  He called and said, 'I have this new song I just wrote.  Come over here and learn it!' – which was generally the way he talked to me, barked orders (laughs).  But I came over there and learned the song.  We performed it at this festival in Holland called "Flavofest" that night, I think.  They were the first people to ever hear it.  There were kind of different lyrics⁵ because he ended up changing them a few years later.  That song was written a few years before we actually recorded it and before it became such a big hit." 

All good things come to an end, and in 2004, Sixpence None The Richer decided⁶ they had had enough.

  
  
"We were exhausted,” said Nash. “It had been 14 years.  We kind of looked at each other, and [working] like this was going to end in one of our deaths.  We needed to quit while we're kind of ahead, so we did.  I was pregnant with my first child (Henry), and so I was about to enter this whole new chapter anyway.  I felt pretty secure in the decision that this is what I needed to do because my life is going to be different now.  I do feel more in control now, which is good when you have a kid."

Leigh Nash has a beautiful voice.  She wrote or co-wrote all the songs for her debut⁷ solo CD, "Blue On Blue." 

  
  
It wasn't always her plan to be a singer, however. "Well, I wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force for a long time, but then I grew out of that and decided I love Patsy Cline, and I started to try to imitate her voice around my dad and his crazy friends.  They thought it was really funny, and would have me do it in front of them just to entertain them, I guess.  That's how I learned to have my own voice.  So I started singing country music, and then met Matt Slocum in high school, my partner from Sixpence.  The next thing you know, we had a record deal and it got crazy."

As one door closes, another opens.  And so goes the musical journey of Leigh Nash. She has no idea where her new path will lead her. 

"Mainly what I feel is really proud of the accomplishment⁸ of making my first record and being able to stand behind it, and to say that I think it’s wonderful and I'm really proud of it,” she says. “I don't really feel a lot of pressure because I feel like it will either happen or it won’t.  I'm going to work as hard as I can and do as good a job as I can and if it doesn't work out -- too bad."

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

8 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。