Parallel Universe

Nijole Sparkis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: July 18, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Golden Goat Records
• ASIN: B000AESEZY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #551,527 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Nijole (nee-YOH-luh) Sparkis is a true Lithuanian-American artist – born and raised on Chicago’s South Side in a tight-knit Lithuanian community, she combines her American pop music instincts and song structure with the Lithuanian love of singing and choral harmonies she grew up with. (Lithuania is the country that staged the Singing Revolution in 1991.) While Nijole grew up singing and acting in the Lithuanian language, her ears were drawn to certain exotic elements in American rock found in such hypnotic songs as Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit", Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir", or the David Bowie "Lodger" album, all of which have a Middle Eastern influence and which inform Nijole’s music. Her studies of Jazz and 20th Century Music Composition helped give her the vocabulary for what she was hearing, resulting in strong memorable melodies with haunting chord progressions. Since then, Nijole’s been singing, songwriting, and performing with various groups in the Midwest and L.A., as well as acting in performance art and avant-theatrical shows and college films, and teaching singing at her own studio The Vocal Point, at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, and briefly for the Disney Channel. Recently, Nijole sang the theme for the DVD release of "Timothy Leary's Dead". Her favorite female vocalists are Norway’s Anneli Drecker (Bel Canto), Russia's Milla Jovovich, Scotland's Eddie Reader, Canada's Loreena McKennett, India's Najma, Morocco's Amina, and Egypt's Natasha Atlas.

Product Description

Nijole (nee-YOH-luh) writes sensual melodic songs with mystical landscapes, exotic twists, and lyrics to uplift and inspire. Accompanying her delicate lead vocals, she performs layers of Lithuanian background vocals, hinting of the choirs she grew up with in Chicago. The production of Fritz Heede features gifted players on ethnic percussion, stringed instruments, flutes, violins, as well as classical cello, electric guitars and synthesizers. Overall, “Parallel Universe” is a powerful journey for the heart and soul.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parallel Universe~Nijole Sparkis, December 21, 2005

By 

Ona G. Hagreen (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parallel Universe (Audio CD)

I just love this CD....I'm in a sad place now and it smoothed me and made me feel better.I'm telling all my friends about this CD.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touched Me On All Levels, December 10, 2005

By 

Evolve - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parallel Universe (Audio CD)

What I love about this CD is that it is great on all levels. The music and production are fabulous, with exotic instrumentation. The vocals are beautiful, they have great tone and depth and the words are meaningful. The notes and melodies are interesting to listen to. Overall the whole CD is passionate and uplifting.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nijole sparkles!, November 18, 2005

By 

Aaron Paley (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parallel Universe (Audio CD)

Sparkis' cd is a rare combination of original material using contemporary musical references as well as folk sources. Sparkis combines her diverse influences and sources seamlessly. Highly recommended!