Published: September 29, 2007 7:39 AM EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior
(Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight:
Nikki O'Neill
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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
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