Personal history has certainly shaped the musician Gina is today. She grew up near LA in a family involved in the arts: a cinematographer father and a music loving mother. Unfortunately, the home life took a downturn when she was eight and her parents divorced. Many from the entertainment industry still frequented her house, including musicians and songwriters such as Don Robertson, who’d written tunes for Elvis, Dolly and Glen Campbell. Eventually she learned to play guitar. Another of her artistic channels is photography. While studying this at The Brooks Institute of Photography in the Santa Barbara area she attended a concert at age 20 by Rickie Lee Jones. She was able to have a conversation with her after the concert and at this point she committed to being a musician. The next major life milestone for Gina was a horrific accident that left her blind in her right eye. This was in October, 2003 when she was right in the middle of the sessions for Rock and Roll Pony and put everything in her life on hold for months. A mental darkness ensued and she eventually used finishing the CD as therapy; a reason to get out of bed and do something. This suffering and introspective thinking led to a creative songwriting burst that was as healing as anything for Gina, even more than rave reviews and standing ovations. She said, “after I lost the vision in my eye my songs became vessels that led me face-to-face with my inner reality.” Deep thoughts; deep person; deep music.
The CD is full of gems, starting with the rockin’ opener, the title track “Miles Away.” Although there are a few country leanings on the CD, such as pedal steel, this is essentially a rock record. Several slower tunes are definitely highlights, including “Hard Enough” and “Let’s Fall Apart,” which probably leans more toward country than any other tune. The CD closes with my favorite track, the faster “Somebody Save Me.” Whatever the tempo, Gina’s voice is heartfelt. The lyrics throughout are what you’d imagine, dark and mysterious, probably holding somewhat more meaning for the writer than the listener, but then again, Gina has used music as her own personal form of therapy. We’re just lucky enough to have been invited along for the sessions!
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