Thank you Performing Songwriter for recognizing Sunflow's "Under the Stars" in the Mar/April2009 issue, we are honoured!


http://performingsongwriter.com/pages/music/116.cfm


Sunflow
Under the Stars
Featured Download: "I Wish You Love" MP3

Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers next time you’re at a train station
in Dublin. The chance meeting and subsequent trans-Atlantic pairing of
American Nancy Falkow and Irishman Fran King (both accomplishd solo
artists in their own right) has resulted in a deliberately dreamy set
intended to lull your little ones to sleep. From the first notes of
“Slumberland” to the last of “Goodnight,” Under the Stars is a blissful
blend of simplicity and sophistication, alternating the singers’
complementary vocal styles.

At turns evoking the melodic sensibilities of Carole King, Paul McCartney
and Harry Nilsson, Sunflow deliver jauntily plucked ditties (“I Wish You Love,” “Sleepytown”) and lush lullabies
(“August Moon,” “Dreamboat”) with equal finesse. Kid-inspired but
captivating for all ages, Under the Stars is supremely soothing proof that
the universe is indeed unfolding as it should. —GMG

Hi there

I just wanted to post the amazing review we got for the new album....I am blown away, Warren Truitt of  http://kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com REALLY got it...thanks Warren!!!!

http://kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com/2008/10/sunflow.html

We were talking earlier about "Naptime Music," tunes that are not really lullabies, but songs to contemplate while you're watching clouds float by or just taking a break from the annoying skronk of the world in general. Sunflow's Under the Stars is another great example of that genre, an album that features soothing lyrics, loads of harmonies, and knowing nods to Emitt Rhodes, Harry Nilsson, Paul McCartney & Wings, The High Llamas, and Barry Manilow. Personally, this is ex.act.ly the kind of record that makes me want to plug in my bass and sing that fourth or fifth harmony part.

American Nancy Falkow and Dubliner Fran King, both accomplished popmeisters in their own right, teamed up to create Under the Stars with help from fellow melody maker Duncan Maitland. All three are based in Ireland now, which may account for the lyrical images of oceans, rain, rivers, and seas that populate several of the songs on Under the Stars.

Fran and Nancy trade off lead vocals on every other song, singing their own compositions. Under the Stars kicks off with the co-written, impossibly beautiful "(When You're In) Slumberland," Fran's Harry Nilsson homage. I just can't believe people are still allowed to write songs this good! Next is Nancy's sweetly jaunty "I Wish You Love," reminiscent of Nilsson's late '60s tunes (Sunflow love Nilsson!), and not a little similar to The Jellydots' "Pretty Little Baby." Fran follows with his very Paul McCartney-like "Eve's Lullaby (My Little One)," a song so tasty the ex-Beatle would trade his knighthood for it.

Nancy's "Sleepytown" is a quietly acoustic tune that contains the awesome line "Bumpy, rumbling stones will sooth your soul / Just a little break from rock and roll", after which waves wash up on a shore, fading into Fran's "Daisies & Orchids." The song begins serenely and builds into another McCartney-ish tune, with a chorus straight outta Paul's Flowers in the Dirt era. And Nancy's "Rock-A-Bye Dreams" is another mostly acoustic tune that would (and should) be a chart-topper on American country radio.

Fran's breezy "August Moon" features the baion beat that so fascinated Leiber & Stoller and Pomus & Shuman (check out "Spanish Harlem," "There Goes My Baby," "Save the Last Dance for Me," and "This Magic Moment"), and a chorus that would have been right at home on McCartney's Red Rose Speedway. The sweeping "Now Sleep" is Nancy's exploration of the connection between parents and their children, and the comfort kids take in mom or dad's arms at bedtime. The album ends with Fran's soft Tin Pan Alley tune, "Dreamboat," and Nancy's dreamy waltz, "Goodnight."

I've talked a lot on this blog about music being a powerful entity, a force that transcends genre, era, or listener age. This here album is so full of good vibes and beautiful melodies it's a shame you have to cobble it with a label like "children's music" ... so we won't! Under the Stars is music, folks ... dig it, and buy copies for all your family.

Good Morning Campers!

I am so very proud to announce that my new album "Under the Stars" by
Sunflow - is now available for digital download at ItsAboutMusic.com!!!

The band is my partner Fran King and myself, and the album was produced by
the ever so talented Duncan Maitland (who basically played almost every
instrument and also sang lots of harmonies, & wouldn't be what it is
without him.) I will include the press release below....

Thank you in advance for buying our record, it has been a year and a half
in the making, and it has far exceeded our expectations!  I was hoping for
a simple acoustic album of lullabies, but it became so much more than
that.

Go to the link, listen to samples of the entire release and then CLICK THE
DOWNLOAD BUTTON!  :)

Hardcopies with beautiful artwork (digipak- environmentally friendly) will
be available from the end of November from ItsAboutMusic.com (and probably
cdbaby). SO if you need the actual disc (which looks fantastic) wait a
little bit or pre-order(and it will make a great gift for the holidays or
new baby I tells ya!)....but if you can't wait...get downloading!


Go directly here:
http://www.itsaboutmusic.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=434_929

Click DOWNLOAD OR Pre-order the cd and look at our fancy new page here:
http://www.itsaboutmusic.com/sunflow.html


Feel free to forward this to anyone you think may be interested!

Thank you again for all of your support over the years, I am floored by
your kindness and loyalty in music and life.

Love,

Nancy

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

For Immediate Release
October 2008

The Moon Rises Over Trans-Atlantic Duo -- Sunflow
"Under the Stars" Release for Digital Download

(DUBLIN, Ireland)"Under the Stars" a ten-song collection of lush, sweet
melodies to help get to Slumberland, will be available for advance digital
download to the press and bloggers globally from October 6.

The new duo, SUNFLOW, is the brainchild of two trans-atlantic songwriters
Nancy Falkow(USA) and Fran King(IRELAND). Upon a chance meeting at a train
station in Dublin, Ireland, Falkow and King became fast friends due to
their mutual musical interests.

A few years and ten timeless tracks later, "Under the Stars" was born.
Originally intended as a lullaby album, the songs seemed to take on a life
of their own. Drafted in to augment this project was producer, engineer
and multi-instrumentalist Duncan Maitland (The Honeybus/Colin Hare), who
elegantly and effortlessly brought out the best in each
composition.

Having both recently become parents, Falkow and King had searched in vain
to find music on the market to equal such time honoured records as Harry
Nilsson's classic "The Point" and Carole King’s “Really Rosie.” They then
decided to put together an album of their own-- music for parents and
children to enjoy together-- and Sunflow shone.

"After I heard Fran's song, 'Eve's Lullaby,' I was inspired to write
something for my little girl," explained Falkow. "I would be honoured if
kids that hear this, grow up and revisit it with their kids someday."

Sumptuous, warm vocal arrangements rest comfortably on beds of acoustic
guitars, strings, and keys. The result is an enchantingly refreshing album
that celebrates childhood innocence & parenthood. “Under the Stars” is a
must for any new parent, and lovers of songs that brim with melodic
harmony!

"After listening back to the final masters of this album, I became very
aware of the reality that songs and records of this style are almost a
lost art," discussed King. "I had Harry Nilsson in one ear, and James
Taylor at my shoulder (in my head anyway) with Carole King waxing the
melodies--I hope this album inspires listeners as much as it's influences
have inspired us."

Fran King, native of Dublin, is a pop/rock artist with an internationally
acclaimed debut album (“Beautification”/Head Space Records/2006) already
under his belt, and a follow up album "Anywhere but Here" due for release
in 2009. Nancy Falkow is a native of Philadelphia (via New Jersey)
currently based in Dublin, with three equally melodic albums already in
her discography, her last release being the well received, Clear View
(2004.)

“Sailing along on an ocean of sound on a ship that's always homeward
bound, With you on my shoulders as I hold the wheel, you make every
moment, a moment to steal.” - 'Daisies and Orchids' (fran king)

The album will be available to the public digitally via ItsAboutMusic.com
and hard copies with lovely artwork will be available from the end of
November.

View the video for "I Wish You Love" and be our friend here:
http://www.myspace.com/sunflowmusic

Thank you for taking the time to download and try not to fall asleep!

###

Also visit:
www.myspace.com/frankingband
www.myspace.com/nancyfalkow
www.myspace.com/duncanmaitland

Hey there Kids,
Fran gave the Sunflow page a facelift and loaded 2 tracks from the upcoming release "Under the Stars." 

Of course we'll let you know when the new album is available, but until then, go over to the myspace page, listen to the tracks, watch the video and be our friend!

http://www.myspace.com/sunflowmusic

Thanks!

Yes we changed the name of the band (long story) to Sunflow.

Yes we're finished the record and dare I say, producer Duncan Maitland did a beautiful job.  I am so glad I met Fran King 3 years ago and so glad to be his partner in this gorgeous new record.

Please pop by to our myspace page, be our friend, and watch the new video I made for one of the tracks!

http://www.myspace.com/sunflowmusic

The new album "Under the Stars" is being mastered (in Philly!) as we speak and we're hoping for a Fall release....

much love from eire!

xoxoxo

http://www.myspace.com/sunflowmusic

Enjoy, thanks to Fran King for uploading the sampler!

xo

I feel like celebrating! We finished the vocals on the new album.  So I had several mimosas and I'm about to burn a cd of all the roughs and have a listen. That's just a good feeling, as I haven't released a new album since 2004. Time flies while you have a baby!

We still haven't decided on an album title yet but we made a myspace page! Fran King,  Duncan Maitland and myself make up the new band Sunflow. http://www.myspace.com/sunflowmusic

We will be debuting with a short set at the Ruby Sessions in Dublin on April 8th.

Visit our page, be our friend and check back for music samples soon.

xoxo

Hello friends...

It's a new year so I guess it's time for an update here on the ol' blog! Fran King and I are still working on our new collection of songs for parents and children to listen to as they fall asleep, produced by Duncan Maitland.  We are finishing all of our vocals this month and hope to wrap things up by the Spring. I do so enjoy working with these fellas. It's coming along slowly, but will be a beautiful addition to my catalog and I can't wait for you to hear it!

We have decided on a name for the project so look for the new album under the band name Sunflowers.

I am truly looking forward to a SOLD OUT songwriting workshop in Cape May, NJ at the Winter Getaway. .  As my 10th year doing this particular workshop, it feels good to have so many of the same fabulous writers return and see some new faces as well. This is the first time we've sold out, so I think I'm buying a cake!

xoxo

Hello friends, it's been a while and a busy summer!

The family and I enjoyed a month long trip home to NJ. I forgot how nice it was to have a piano right in the living room.  We've been hard at work on a new album- a collection of lullabies. Chugging along with co-writer Fran King and producer Duncan Maitland we hope to have it out by the end of the year, fingers crossed! 

I'm stealing the song list from Fran's blog, thanks Fran:

Tracks are as follows (in no particular order):

I WISH YOU LOVE
ROCKABYE DREAMS
DAISIES AND ORCHIDS
AUGUST MOON
NOW SLEEP
SLUMBERLAND
MY LITTLE ONE (EVE'S LULLABY)
DREAMBOAT (New Version)
SLEEPYTOWN
GOODNIGHT

& possibly one or two extra tracks, we'll see how things pan out.

Otherwise I'm enjoying life in Ireland, we celebrated our baby's 1st birthday, and I'm looking forward to my best friend's wedding in September --and hopefully recording some new tracks for his project Indignitaries while we are there.  I'm trying to get to some vocals done on Wiggins&Maroo , the mastermind behind an old side project Aisling Being---but I tell ya' it's hard to cut vocals in a tiny cottage with a sleeping baby!  

Lastly, I have confirmed that I will be running the Songwriter's Workshop at the Winter Getaway,  in Cape May, NJ in January 2008. This will be my 10th year so this is sure to be special!

Thanks for checking in!

xoxo

Hi

If you really truly want to be my friend on Myspace. Please take the time to send me a message and tell me why. Otherwise, unless I really like your music, I'll probably deny. Sorry!

Thanks

I just wanted to say thank you to all of the amazing people who made our trip home so lovely.

The Winter Getaway - Songwriting Workshop - This was the best year yet.  Everyone who attended was a returning writer so I considered it a master class!  The songs they all wrote that weekend, some of them were incredible.  I really hope they start recording their creations.  I look forward to next year I'm definitely coming back! Thanks for bringing the extra guitar for me Richard!

The show at Milkboy- what can I say? Amazing.  Thank you to everyone who helped us OVERSELL it out! Had we known there were so many of you, we'd have done 2 shows!  For those of MY PEEPS who didn't get in, I have one thing to say BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE! Do you know the guilt I felt for all of you amazing people who drove to the venue from far and wide and couldn't get in? I'm SO SORRY!  Thanks to Dena and everyone at Philly Songwriters, we couldn't have had such a great night without you. Of course a HUGE THANKS to Amber deLaurentis and Christine Havrilla for your time and talent....always a fun night for me.  Thank you to LOUIS for selling my merch, *who I said I was going to dedicate an entire blog to, but decided just to give a shout out here. Thanks so much for selling my cd's!!  Thanks SO MUCH to Lisanne Knott for loaning me her beautiful guitar (and to Glenn for attempting to loan me the Martin!)

Gene Shay, my old (by old I mean I've known him a long time not OLD) dear friend invited me to be on his radio show in the beautiful XPN World Cafe studio AND let me invite an audience. Does it get any cooler than that?  It allowed me to arrange to see people I couldn't squeeze into my tight schedule, so a million thanks to Gene (and Erin, Shane&Sherry, Don who rearranged your schedules).  What a lovely interview with Christine, 6 songs between us, wow!  Lots of fun and just a nice way to end our holiday.  Hannah was so quiet til the very end, and then she ba ba ba'd her way on the air, her first interview! Anyone tape it? I'd love to hear it!

Thanks to everyone who took their time to meet us (basically at all of my favourite restaurants), you know who you are. And thanks to Angela and Lauren & Ethan for opening your homes to Frankie, me and sometimes crying baby Hannah!  Hannah even got to meet her soul sister Tori, daughter of my old friends Cecily & Charlie.

My other HIGHLIGHT was meeting my favourite author Jennifer Weiner, a chance meeting in Fresh Fields where I chose to meet the lovely and talented singer songwriter Deirdre Flint for a snack. I was like a weirdo stalker deer in the headlights with nothing to say.  What I should have said was, "How are you Jennifer? Congrats on your new book and all of your success."  Instead I said something creepy to her kid like, "I'm your mommy's biggest fan." and "Thanks for putting me in your top 20 on Myspace." I'm a dork.  What will I say when I meet Bowie or Mc Cartney? I should just insert my foot in my mouth in advance!

So, being back in Ireland is lovely, rain and all.  We missed the cottage and Hannah missed her exersaucer!  We are enjoying are time abroad immensely, but I definitely miss being in the USA.

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but I don't want to bore you with every detail.  I just wanted to thank you all for a lovely trip.  We had a brilliant adventure and look forward to the next one. Hannah and I will be home for a month in June, can't wait to see you all again!

WEBSITES:

http://www.wintergetaway.com

http://www.phillysongwriters.com

http://www.geneshay.com

http://www.christinehavrilla.com

http://www.amberdelaurentis.com

http://www.lizanneknott.com/

http://www.deirdreflint.com

http://www.jenniferweiner.com/

Cecily's blog - http://zia.blogs.com/wastedbirthcontrol/

Did I miss anyone? I'm sorry if I did. Let me know and I'll add you!

xoxoxox

Way back when, one of my oldest, dearest, music-making friends Josh had me cut some vocals.  He then took them to California, spliced and diced them and created "A Thousand Words"....then later with a little help from my engineer pal Geoff in Philly we did 2 more "Gravity" & "Fade Away." 

Josh is extremelly talented....go check out his long awaited myspace page and befriend him!

http://www.myspace.com/aislingbeing  

In no particular order this is the new music I enjoyed to the hilt this past year:

The Beatles - Love

The Roots - Game Theory

Duke Special - Songs from the Deep Forest

The Feeling - 12 Stops from Home

Fran King - Beautification

Cerys Matthews - Never Said Goodbye

The Racontuers - Broken Boy Soldier

Slo-Mo - My Buzz Comes Back

Beck - The Information

I'll update this as I remember who I've forgotten!

Happy New Year everyone. In 2006 I celebrated my 1 year anniversary married to Frankie-the-wonder-husband, had a beautiful baby girl and met some amazing and special new friends. In 2007 I am looking forward to my first trip back home to the good ol' USA in a year, watching Hannah grow and recording a new album of lullabies with Fran King. Things are pretty damn great, huh?

I thank you for your support and wish you all a happy and healthy 2007.

xoxoxoxoxoxo