BE AS IT WILL (reviews)

Listening to Dina Regine’s debut CD, Be As It Will, it’s easy to tell why she counts among her influences producer Daniel Lanois and singer-songwriter Chris Whitley. Boasting ambitious-acoustic-based arrangements often overlain with droning guitars or cello, this homespun collection is roots music with a modern twist. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Regine handles duties on guitar, mandolin, and harmonica with assured grace, creating deliciously skewed folk music that’s sometimes densely textured, and other times rendered with a spartan touch.
A fixture on the Manhattan music scene, where she does double duty as an acclaimed club DJ, Regine gets able assistance from a fine cast of enablers that includes Malcolm Gold (bass), Russ Reilly (drums), Martha Colby (cello), and Michelle Casillas (backing vocals). High points on Be As It Will include the churning, anthemic “Where You Go,” the haunting, Celtic-tinged “Wild Love,” and the sprite, mandolin-laced title track. Moreover, Regine’s vocals evidence a restraint that fits these introspective compositions like a hand-in-glove. PERFORMING SONGWRITER
With a hue of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”, and a free-fall caterwaul closer to Sinead, the multitalented Regine weaves, strums and soars with thrilling skill on “Be As It Will” AQUARIAN ARTS WEEKLY*
On the back cover there’s a familiar inclination to Dina Regine’s head and the enigmatic Mona-Lisa smile. And though the hat is not a beret and there’s not little stogie wedged in the angle of her lips, the cover image of Rickie Lee Jones ‘debut LP looms deja-vu like as an icon. Regine has a bluesy, cool-as-ice vocal delivery that occasionally carries a tinge of gravel like Rickie Lee or Kim Carnes. The opening phrases of “To Get Back Home” in fact might convince you that this is an anonymous Rickie Lee side project. There’s some superb songwriting and production happening on Regine’s CD “Be As It Will”. Beautiful incorporates a tasteful cello accompaniment into a blues-tinged ballad. “Wild Love” is a soaring conglomerate of self-harmonization that could be the flipside to Sheryl Crow’s “Every Day is a Winding Road”. Regine uses an open-string acoustic sound to add a hypnotic drone-like vibe to her unique brand of rock, especially heard on “Heaven’s Road”. Leave it all Behind” and “Where You Go” are ethereal, yet driving in the spirit of U2. Very cool. MINOR 7TH
When I first threw on this disc I was in a foul mood, but by the time the music ended, I was at peace with the world. Regine might be well known for her career as a DJ; she’s done the major clubs and some celeb parties, but that could change with this release. The 12 songs here balance between acoustic and electric, with never too much of either. Nor is Regine a slouch on guitar. Her fingerpicking is strong and on “Thru the Dust,” she lets a hint of the Delta shine with some slide work. This isn’t the kind of disc that grabs you by the throat, but rather sinks in deeply with repeated play. Think of sitting around on a summer night with a light breeze, a drink in your hand, no worries, and you’ll get the idea. NY ROCK
Moody, soulful and introspective, this mature artist’s work is a well-executed, full-length collection of acoustic/electric pop music. Backed up by a tight group of musicians, Regine shines on her brooding, compelling opener “Leave it all Behind”, which shows she can approach Alanis Morissette without aping her style. The pace quickens and the sun breaks through on “Where You Go” which generates a breezy momentum thanks to Regine’s brisk mandolin strumming. This performer clearly shows ability and should also be of interest to publishers. MUSIC CONNECTION
Native New Yorker Dina Regine is one of the most promising female artists I have heard in many a year. Not only is she a commanding singer and songwriter, she has also earned a loyal following as a club DJ. Regine melds influences as diverse as Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Daniel Lanois and Chris Whitley into her introspective music. Like Lanois, she uses lots of tone, texture and ambience in her music. Her latest disc, BE AS IT WILL truly deserves a major audience. Vocally Regine sings with confidence and conviction. The subtle mix of electric and acoustic guitar along with cello lends her songs a hypnotic quality. She’s a capable guitarist too, as she shows in the atmospheric instrumental ‘Thru the dust’…. You won’t be disappointed. RELIX MAGAZINE

THE WOMEN OF MP3 DINA REGINE INTERVIEW

WM: When did you get your first guitar?

Dina: When I was 12. I played it 'til my fingers bled for about two years 'til it died...

WM: What happened?

Dina: It got caught in the doors of a NYC subway train and didn't quite make it out.

WM: Who inspired you when you first started playing?

Dina: Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Page, Bonnie Rait and Joni Mitchell. Then, in the '80s I fell in love with James Honeyman Scott and the Edge. They all had this seductive quality to their performance that would just pull me in and get me fired up. That's what inspired me to write my own songs and start performing.

WM: When did you start playing out?

Dina: When I was about 16. I would sneak into the city and do open mics.

WM: You've played in many loud bands in the past. How does it feel playing solo?

Dina: Sometimes it's more powerful and, in its own way, just as loud.

WM: Do you have any other passions besides music?

Dina: Skiing. I wrote "Heaven's Road" about how magical a sport it is. Gliding down a mountain is an amazing sensation.

WM: You're also a pretty well-known DJ in the NYC clubs, is it true you DJ-ed for Keith Richards and Cher?

Dina: Yes, Cher really knows how to throw a party, and Keith's surprise 50th birthday party was incredible. He had heard me spin at Heartbreak and loved my playing, and a year later his wife Patty asked if I would DJ the party. I recently got to DJ the VIP room for the SNL 25th anniversary after-show party, which was a blast. It's a cool 9-5 Ö that's 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

WM: Have you ever thought of doing remixes of your songs?

Dina: I'd love to do some trance and trip-hop remixes.

WM: What CDs are you listening to right now?

Dina: Perfect day--Chris Whitley, Mule Variations--Tom Waits, and Stories from the city, stories from the sea-- PJ Harvey.

WM: What would you consider the worst aspects of today's current pop-music climate?

Dina: Homogenization

WM: Do you drink milk?

Dina: Only chocolate (smiles)