According to singer/songwriter NiKOL, she has been on stage ‘forever’. This North Carolina-based rocker would hop on stage with her sister at their church. ‘When I felt like it, I would sing a note; when I didn’t, I’d just stand there with my thumb in my mouth — I just wanted to be ON the stage.’ At 18, NiKOL bought her first guitar and started taking private lessons with Robert Horne at Raleigh Music Academy. She also attended Berklee College of Music for Stage Performance in 2006.
In 2012, NiKOL signed with Tate Music Group and released her first full-length album, ‘Bittersweet’ in the summer of 2013. We got a chance to chat with this talented lady a bit about her album.
So NiKOL, how did it feel to finally get your album, Bittersweet, produced?
It’s amazing. I set high goals for myself continuously, and I am very particular, but I can confidently say I am really happy with the finished “product”. It’s exactly how I wanted it to come out, thanks to my amazing writing partners and producer, Tal Roughgarden.
We love your song ‘Denial’! What made you write it?
Denial is my favourite from the record. The lyrics are my favourite. My music is my way of getting through to the world — despite what you might be thinking after that story about shows in the living room when I was younger, I am pretty reserved — except when I get to do a show. “Denial” is about trying to forget about obstacles in life, and despite how hard you try to push it off and drown it out, it’s going to surface eventually — you have to stand up and face it.
What are your songs usually about?
Life, relationships, people I have met, situations I have been in, or situations I have heard about from other people.
Okay, we gotta ask, why the lowercase ‘I’ in your name?
It just came out that way. The dot on top of the lowercase “i” adds a little something I guess — never thought about it, it just happened that way when I drew it — maybe I have a problem with uppercase “I’s”?!
What is your favourite song to belt out at the bar or in the car?
Be My Escape by Relient K, Sunday Morning by Maroon 5, Ignorance/Misery Business by Paramore.
Want to hear NiKOL’s single ‘Denial’? Check it out here:
You can find more of NiKOL’s music on Soundcloud, Spotify, and on her Pandora station. You can also keep up with NiKOL on Facebook at facebook.com/nikolmusik, Twitter at @NikolMusik and on her website at nikolmusik.com. NiKOL also appears in the March 2014 issue of Chulo Magazine.
