Sheryl Crow, Carol King, Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, Tori Amos, Zero 7, Sarah Mclachlan, Aimee Mann, Shelby Lynn, Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton,
Melanie, Suzanne Vega, Neneh Cherry, Sting, Alicia Keys, Pink, Duran Duran, Fleetwood Mac, Fiona Apple, Death Cab for Cutie, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Dashboard Confessional, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix
Sounds Like
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Nicol’s softly spoken, humble approach and innocent ‘bedroom eyes’ paints a rather misleading picture. Sometimes shy, but often quirky and with lots to say; what you get from Nicol is a mind blowing vocal delivery, so powerful and precise, it’s hard to understand where it all comes from.
Raised in Encino, California in the late 1980’s, American music has left an indelible mark on Nicol and still remains a major influence on her classic pop/folk sound today.
Although the idea of living in sunny California appeals, especially while window gazing out into a vacuum of grey misery and classic British drizzle, Nicol explains a series of large earthquakes and subsequent minor injuries paved the way, at least in part, for a transatlantic move to London with the family during her early teenage years. Nicol’s geographic history has undoubtedly contributed to a unique Anglo-American blend.
N: ‘some people say to me, hey…you’ve got a posh English speaking voice, so what’s with the west coast sound dude? Well…musically, I take a lot of inspiration from the States but there are loads of British bands I adore too. I love artists like Stevie Nicks, Carol King, Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow….but I also listen to The Police, Elton John, Imogen Heap, Bowie...For me it’s all about great songs…it doesn’t matter where they hail from. Anyway, I did grow up in LA’.
So off to Blighty she went and it has to be said, English boarding schools.....a daunting prospect for anyone! However, the handy music room facilities did not go unnoticed. In fact Nicol spent the best part of her early teenage years working on intelligent melodies and insightful lyrics, some of which would later feature among a repertoire of timeless compositions….the kind Joni Mitchell would surely be proud of.
N: ‘I just felt there’s no better way to express myself. I wanted to write my own songs. I’ve never played covers. Even as a classically trained pianist, I would play a little Mozart and by the end of the session…the Dictaphone would be out, ready for my new ideas’.
Neither a scholarship offer from Saint Martins College of Art, nor an invitation to study at the Sylvia Young Theatre School could tempt Nicol away from her singing and writing. Maybe it’s just in the blood. Nicol’s uncle (formerly the guitarist in Johnny Kid and The Pirates) has toured with the likes of Van Morrison, Brian Ferry and Sir Paul McCartney.
Having recently completed numerous studio recordings, Nicol explains she is now ready to release her music to the world for the first time.
N: ‘You can’t hide forever; I just feel the time is right for people to get a chance to hear what I’m all about. I’m ready to get undressed and expose myself’.
‘How Does It Feel Now’, ‘Everybody Knows’, ‘Fall Down’, ‘Hayley’ and ‘Love’ are arguably the pick of the bunch, although Nicol is quick to confirm there is plenty more to come.
A spiritual person, Nicol strongly believes in a ‘higher power’ and her own psychic ability. This ‘darker side’ leaves one curious to find out more, yet her endearing and charming honesty inspires a sense of optimism and satisfaction.
Nicol is simply pop music at its best and most sophisticated.
