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Archive for trista musco

Bound in White Lights Like Barbed Wire

By jilltracy
Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

The Silver Smoke, Star of Night Photo Shoot

When photographer Audrey Penven and I first assembled the photo shoot for Silver Smoke, Star of Night–it was like everything else with this album, an accident.

The one thing I did know I wanted was to utilize some of my collection of old religious statuary. I have been a bit partial to archaic figurines of the Infant of Prague over the years- their broken, gilded bits lurk all about my San Francisco apartment. How perfect to incorporate them in the photos—it’s a Christmas album after all.

We talked about creating a shot hidden in smoke, borrowed a portable fog machine from The Hypnodrome theater…but the thing was malfunctioning, so at the last minute that idea was out.

I think it’s so important to share these behind-the-scenes tales because as independent artists we do NOT have a lavish photo studio, lighting crew, team of art directors and tons of expensive gear, wizardry, and budget at our disposal. We also have very little free time. That’s the magic. We figure out ways to do it ourselves, achieve our vision, but through our own meager ingenuity. And most often that makes it even more spectacular.

These shots were taken lying on my office floor as I assembled a calculated pile of fabric and pillows. And 11 Infant of Prague statues. We weren’t sure yet how we were going to arrange everything, but exploring some options.

Audrey decided to wrap me in strings of white Christmas lights, like barbed wire, which provided an otherworldly element and texture. This was the ONLY lighting used in the black and white shots, which gives it a very elegant, dramatic, film noir glow. My eyes reflected in the string lights seem to ignite a sense of reverence.

Artist Trista Musco wanted to create a fantastical element, which was actually part of the original shot, and not computer generated, so she came up with the idea of building star puppets, marionette-type white stars which dangled on strings. She operated them above my head out of sight of each shot. I love the surreal whimsy of them, how you can see the strings.

This photo above is the raw image for what became the Silver Smoke, Star of Night album cover. We loved the rich colors and contour of my body and hand. This image lent itself well to being cropped into a square, and seemed like it was almost screaming for text to be put on it.

Interesting fact with this close-up of some of the statues: I am actually lying on my back clutching them to my chest– so the color and texture you see behind them is really my flesh, collarbone, necklaces, and black lace bra. Ahhh, so all of a sudden that shot gets a lot more intriguing…

I’m thrilled to announce that both photographer Audrey Penven and artist Trista Musco will be displaying their work at the CD Release Party for Silver Smoke, Star of Night at DNA Lounge in San Francisco Dec 19. In fact, many of the talented souls behind the making of the album will be making an appearance, and so should you!  Here’s a link for tickets.

Listen and purchase Silver Smoke, Star of Night HERE.

Categories : Albums, New Music, Photography, Projects, Uncategorized
Tags : albums, audrey penven, carols, Christmas, holiday, Infant of Prague, lighting, photos, puppets, silver smoke, star of night, trista musco

Night Fragrance for Night Music…

By jilltracy
Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

The sense of smell is directly linked to the limbic system, the part of the brain where emotion and memory are centered.  A scent is instantly transportive, much more powerful than we realize. Perfumers were an integral part of the ancient Egyptian culture. Royal courtiers anointed themselves with fragrant oils, and incense and oils were burned in offering to their gods. Legend has it that Cleopatra ordered her servants to perfume the sails of her royal barge so the breezes that propelled it would also waft a gorgeous scent in its wake.

In the same way I create such a full sensory arc in my music, I’ve always wanted to create fragrances as a conjuring companion, similar to the way we concoct visuals with each album. Why not engage the olfactory?

At long last, I’m thrilled to reveal my collaboration with master perfumer Emerson Hart of San Francisco’s Nocturne Alchemy: Two magnificent new scents, an homage to dark elegance and beauty, smoke in the shadows.

My musical netherworld set to scent.

These two perfumes were initially created for me personally, I became addicted, and so many people (strangers especially) kept stopping me asking what that amazing smell was…that I decided to make them available to the public.
I realized they fit perfectly as Silver Smoke, Star of Night!

I adore incense, especially Frankincense and Myrrh, and wanted Emerson to create a very simple essence, capturing that erotic smoky, powdery element—not sweet or syrupy like typical Frankincense oil you find on Haight Street and similar places, but an experience like that of burning incense, profound, sacred on the skin.

So here they are!
The perfumes existed long before the album, and are definitely suitable year-round! Quite magical indeed. I hope you fall under their spell as I have.

Perfume Descriptions:

SILVER SMOKE:
Created using the finest Boswellia Carteri Frankincense Resin tears discovered in Egypt and Somalia and steam distilled into rich olibanum Frankincense perfume oil in San Francisco.

STAR OF NIGHT:
Rich Incense perfume derived from a sweet and woody Arabic Myrrh and rich golden Egyptian Frankincense with a touch of Egyptian Black Linen. Steam distilled and hand blended in small batches.

The limited edition hand-crafted perfume duet comes in a sheer black organza drawstring bag with 5ml dark amber glass bottle of each perfume.
Art card designed by San Francisco’s Trista Musco and personally autographed by Jill Tracy.

This is a strictly limited collectors’ edition in this holiday packaging! The perfect Christmas gift and stocking stuffer! Don’t miss out!

Purchase the perfume collection HERE.

Can be purchased separately ($35) or as a gift set with Jill Tracy’s Silver Smoke, Star of Night CD.


***Join me live in conversation with Emerson Hart of Nocturne Alchemy as we explore “Fragrance: The Allure and Magical History of Perfumes“ at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers December 5! I’ll be performing a full concert too, and you’ll be able to tour the fragrant plant greenhouse after dark. Don’t miss this rare opportunity! Tickets HERE.

Categories : Albums, Merchandise, Projects
Tags : Conservatory of Flowers, fragrance, nocturne alchemy, perfume, silver smoke, star of night, trista musco

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  • “Jill Tracy has a poise, finesse and enigmatic quality rarely seen these days—she effortlessly floats above the fray.” -SANTA CRUZ METRO

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