As a special Mother's Day tribute, noted mother-daughter artists Iwi and Nicole Laurel are launching their version of the ‘80s hit “Special Memory” on May 9 via Spotify. The music video will have a digital launch on May 14 via Facebook Live.
“This song really took me by surprise because way back in 1983, I was singing, working, and studying at the same time, so when I was offered this song, I thought my mind was set on becoming a lawyer, but then the film became a hit and the song garnered awards, and so I guess I became a singer, not a lawyer,” Iwi says.
It was three years after Iwi’s serendipitous first encounter with the Cecile Azarcon masterpiece that she had become a mother to Nicole.
Raising Nicole as a single mother had its many challenges, but ultimately, an unbreakable bond between them, through blood, unconditional love, and music was forged.
Nicole recounts her utmost gratitude through a musical tribute.
“Growing up I was familiar with ‘Special Memory’ because everyone knew my mom for it and I would constantly run into people who would ask me: ’So, you are Iwi’s daughter…. Can you sing her song?’ I grew up around that beautiful melody, but it was only as I got older that I realize how much more ’Special Memory’ meant to me than a song my mother once sang,” Nicole shares.
“It was the last song she recorded before changing her life entirely to raise me. I saw how tough things were for mom when I was growing up around her, how she worked tirelessly making ends meet, how she made countless sacrifices to ensure me a better life. I relished every home-cooked meal and home-baked cake. I saw the tears and I saw the happiness, I am forever grateful,” she adds.
Homer Flores had arranged the original version of “Special Memory.” The 2021 version, on the other hand, was given a contemporary twist with the help of Home’s son, Nikko.
“I thought it would be an interesting twist to have a stellar and greatly accomplished ‘father-and-son-in-music’ arrange the 2021 version of the song as a tandem. Thankfully Nikko immediately said yes,” Nicole says.
Homer, Nikko, and the rhythm section recorded in their homes, and as soon as Nicole had the tracks, they immediately booked Wildgrass studios where the horns section and vocals were recorded.
The tracks were then mixed by award-winning engineer Angee Rozul and mastered in Abbey Road UK.