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New Music Spotlight: Nikki O'Neill

Sunday, September 30, 2007, 12:01 PM [General]

Published: September 29, 2007 7:39 AM EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior
(Juniorscave.com)

New Music Spotlight:
Nikki O'Neill



	Photo Credit: by Estelle Silberman

When Nikki O'Neill performs on stage, she brings all the raw energy that one would think a rock and soul singer, guitarist, songwriter would. Now she is putting all that energy into her new debut album. This album is being produced by Dapo Torimiro (Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill). Nikki recently took the time to speak with us at Music Now as we picked her brains about a variety of information.

Isaac-Joseph: Hi Nikki, I wanted to say first of all that you are an extremely amazing artist. What were your first memories of wanting to do this venue as a life career?

Nikki: Thank you so much! Life career is a great way of describing it... I think the first time I wanted to be a musician and performing artist was in high-school. I grew up in Europe - in Sweden - and I went to a high-school of arts in Stockholm... kind of like a Swedish equivalent of the "Fame" school from the movie. Back then, visual arts was my medium, but I would always hear the music students rehearse and perform Latin jazz, bebop and Stevie Wonder tunes, and I was mesmerized. Then, I saw Prince perform, and his band included Sheila E and Wendy & Lisa. They all really inspired me to become a performer. But, all these artists also made such deep impressions on me as songwriters. I got into songwriting because I wanted to try to connect with and recreate that amazing emotional impact that some of these writers had on me.

Isaac-Joseph: Your debut album is being produced by Dapo Torimiro who has worked with such legends as Stevie Wonder and Lauryn Hill. How was your experience of working with such a seasonal producer especially as Dapo brings his own style to your music?

Nikki: I used to have a tough time in the past finding musicians that could play my songs with a soulful and effortless feel. I don't think my tunes are complicated compared to, say, jazz tunes, but some less experienced players can freak out if you use more than three chords in a song. I also really love R&B music, and that style may sound deceivingly simple to some musicians just like blues, but you either understand the vibe or you don't. Working with Dapo was such a treat because he's an amazing musician who's played with some of my heroes in soul music, and he helped me realize the sound of the songs that I was hearing in my head. He helped me take my love for British pop like George Harrison and classic soul music and blend it all together with his arrangements. I really believe arrangements can really make or break a song. Dapo helped me create the perfect arrangements... his ideas for the keyboards and bass sound so tasteful, effortless and RIGHT. And these cats on my recording didn't freak out by my chord changes - they nailed them on the first take!

Isaac-Joseph: You really come from a variety of backgrounds including coming from Santa Monica, CA, by way of Sweden, Poland and New York City. How has your background add to deliverance of your music?

Nikki: I heard all kinds of music played at home...everything from Polish evergreens to Carlos Santana to disco and classical music. Growing up in many places and countries has made me feel like I'll always be a bit of an outsider and never really belong to a specific group, but at the same time it's made me more open to different kinds of culture. I studied and played a lot of different styles of music. At times it was a curse trying to find your own identity as an artist, but eventually I chose a musical direction that I feel happy committing to and it feels honest and genuine for me.

Isaac-Joseph: You are a trained singer and guitarist in jazz and classical music, but your true influences lean more heavily toward Southern soul, classic rock, funk and the great pop songwriters of the 60's and 70's. How important is making music that you want to make is to you?

Nikki: It's really important for me to stay true to myself. I've auditioned for situations with very famous artists where I was asked to play differently and have a look that's very different from who I am... I sometimes wish I could be more adaptable, because I would probably be more successful in today's music business. But, I'm a really bad actor and I can't fake anything. I also react really negatively when I hear singers on the radio that are putting on a fake sound or style - to me it sounds so obvious.

The greatest artists are great because they are themselves, and they dare to reveal themselves - that's the only way you can move other people.

Isaac-Joseph: What can fans expect from this debut album?

Nikki: Soul-Rock straight from the heart!

Isaac-Joseph: What can we look forward to you in 2008?

Nikki: A new band, more songs, solo acoustic shows and shows with the full band on the west and east coasts and the Chicago area. And if there are any festivals elsewhere in the country, we'd love to play there too!

Isaac-Joseph: Final thoughts you would like to share with our audience:

Nikki: I want to thank you for your curiosity, maybe even interest, in my music and songs. I really appreciate it! Please visit my MySpace page for updates: www.myspace.com/nikkioneillmusic

Also, for drummers out there: my drummer Rich Lackowski has just written a very cool new book on drums called "On the Beaten Path" (Alfred Publishing). It's got legendary beats and solos from lots of legendary drummers, beautiful pictures by top-notch photographers, and it reads like great rock journalism... it's really captivating even for non-drummers. It's available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Guitar Center. You can check out the book on Rich's MySpace page: www.myspace.com/richlackowski

Photo Credit: by Estelle Silberman.

Nikki O'Neill