This Week on the Taz Michaels Show: Linda Bassick and Rebecca Kopycinski (Nuda Veritas)

Words by Nick Kramer. Photo by James Lockridge.

Rebecca Kopycinski, who performs under the Gustav Klimt-inspired Latin moniker Nuda Veritas, swung by The Radiator to play some songs and chat about her current projects. A classically trained vocalist, Rebecca’s crafts both multi-instrumental sonic experiments, and sparse songs filled to bursting with gorgeous vocal melody, interspersing both with fragments of spoken word.

Rebecca arrived at the studio fresh from a string of tour dates playing in support of her sophomore disc 'Verses of Versus. Her most recent stops included a night in Northampton, MA, and an, “I love shows like that,” success in Keene, NH. As if that weren’t enough, last Sunday Nuda Veritas took to the Higher Ground stage for the first time. Rebecca described the show as an amazing experience—the first time she’s arrived at a venue and had a swanky backstage setup with a fruit plate, her name on the door, and all the trappings of stardom.

Always a solo artist — “I’m the talent and the agent all in one" — Rebecca has, however, wondered what Nuda Veritas might sound like with a drummer and bassist, since, “my music tends to be a little treble heavy.” According to Rebecca, “I try to keep an element of improvisation in my music.” So, even though she is “not quite in the writing stage” at the moment, she does have a new loop pedal and looks to give her songs new life live.

Next up, Nuda Veritas will take a break from touring as Rebecca organizes her Crapulous Christmas Party, a benefit show-cum-ugly sweater party that will raise money for the Vermont Food Bank. December 17 at the Monkey House.

Linda Bassick, another multi-instrumentalist with a chillingly beautiful voice, was also in the house to play some tunes and discourse with Taz and Shannon. Linda just released her first solo LP 'Tickle Belly' and, according to the singer-songwriter, the seven song set of deeply personal music has a lot of herself in it. The music is, “just me trying to express myself.” Recorded with a group of friends both old and new, the name “Tickle Belly” arose out of what Linda sees as “the same visceral feeling” we encounter when we hear good news, bad news, or get nervous.

Putting the album together became something of an epic. Sessions began with Ralph Eames in Montpelier, but were interrupted when the studio closed. Says Linda. “I was a total guinea pig for Ralph.” After some effort on her part to retrieve her recordings, she was able to set up in her own basement at home and finish the record. For Linda, mixing the record herself was a tough but rewarding process. Focusing on mixing proved timely, however, since she broke her pinky and actually played two gigs before getting an X-ray and realizing, “OK, now it’s time to finish this record.”

The release party for 'Tickle Belly' will be at the Radio Bean on November 11, and will feature performances from Linda and many of the musicians who performed on the album. In addition to that party, she will also be playing shows with her ‘60s inspired ensemble, Mellow Yellow, next week at Studio A, and the Brown Market Bistro in Groton.

In the midst of performances and album debut fanfare, Linda has continued to write new material. “I’m going through some personal crises,” she admits, which have inspired an outpouring of songs. At the moment she has enough material for another whole album—one she sees as a “part two” to 'Tickle Belly. She hopes to start work on it this winter.