“December” – Reigan

I always thought Reigan Derry was one of the more interesting acts on X Factor, but I felt she got pushed into a pop diva direction. While she pulled it off, it was in her quieter performances that I was really moved. It’s wonderful to hear her in that sort of introspective mode here with her new EP, December.

This isn’t the Christmas EP that you put on if you want a big family singalong. It’s delicate and introspective. It’s for the quiet moments of reflection that often come at this time of year, as we face saying goodbye to one year and hello to the possibilities of the next.

Reigan’s taken the bare bones of Christmas carols and traditional songs of worship and reinterpreted them beautifully, giving them new names and changing a word here or there to make them more modern. Her intimate take on “Amazing Grace,” simply called “Grace” is truly stunning. “We Three Kings” becomes “Star of Wonder,” a haunting, ethereal number. I must admit, I’m not familiar with the Lutheran carol “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” but the Middle Eastern vibe of her version, called “Rejoice,” is so musically interesting and moving. “Holly,” a version of “Deck the Halls,” is December’s lightest moment. It brings the celebratory feel that most of us associate with Christmas to the EP. With her strumming her acoustic guitar and friends lending their vocals to the chorus, it feels like a family jam at Reigan’s house.

December isn’t your traditional Christmas recording, but I think that’s a good thing. There are so many Christmas recordings delivered schmaltz and sentimentality if that’s what you want. This is a recording that showcases a real artist delivering so much more than predictable Christmas covers.

Triple Treat for Flying Doctor Fundraiser

There’ll be three times the divas at this year’s Altitude event, as Jessica Mauboy, Reigan Derry, and Dami Im join forces to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) of WA.

“We are very excited that these wonderful Australian artists are performing at Altitude in what is a very special year for us – the RFDS celebrating 80 years of service in WA,” explained the state’s RFDS chief executive officer, Grahame Marshall. “The number of people needing our services are today at record levels and growing every single year with us managing 35,000 patient contacts around the state last year alone, and we want to ensure that we’re still here responding to the needs of the people of WA for another 80 years at least.”

To achieve that, the RFDS needs your help. Tickets to the event aren’t cheap, but you’ll be treated to first-class entertainment and the knowledge that you’re doing good.

Altitude hits Crown Perth’s Grand Ballroom on July 25. Tickets are available online now.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Aussie Girls Score American Deal

Local lasses Tamara Jaber, Reigan Derry, and Hayley Aitken look set to take America by storm. The trio recently signed a multi-album deal with America’s Def Jam records, and they’re currently working on their debut release.

Tamara was one fifth of the failed pop group Scandal’us, but these days she’s better known as Kyle Sandilands main squeeze. Her solo career failed to ignite here, despite some major backing from Kyle, and she’s been trying her luck in the US ever since.

You may remember Reigan from last year’s season of Australian Idol. She definitely had the looks and the vocal chops, but some questionable song choices saw her make an early exit.

Hayley released a couple of singles in Australia about five years ago, but none of them really made an impact on the charts. She also wrote four songs on Ricki-Lee Coulter’s debut album.

So while none of these girls has made a massive impression on their own, together they may just be a force to be reckoned with. It worked for the Young Divas, right?

Image source: Paul Cush @ Flickr