Nikki just did this interview with the Texan music blog.
Nikki Jean: I love Austin! Austin is one of my favorite cities because there’s a really great music and music appreciation scene here and there’s also really cool little restaurants. And there’s this jewelry store called Parts and Labor that’s my favorite.
BOJ: I saw the video you posted on YouTube the other day with Mikey Rocks [of The Cool Kids]. Seems like you’re making some pretty cool friends these days…
NJ: I met Mikey at SXSW! It’s funny how things are all interconnected. The Cool Kids are friends with He Say/She Say, who are new artists Lupe is working with, and I’m rooming with Drea from He Say/She Say on tour.
BOJ: When you’re touring with so many interesting, talented artists, does that make you creative? Do you find yourself writing things down or recording music, or are you just in the moment?
NJ: Particularly with ‘Ye’s set. Working with lupe when he was writing his album was really inspiring to see his creative process and his work ethic. But with ‘Ye’s set, I just can’t miss it – even though it’s an hour and a half and I’ve seen it before. His songs are just so inspirational! And he’s struggled so much to get where he’s at that it just gets me amped. So there’s a lot to learn out here.
BOJ: So tell me about Nouveau Riche. How’d you get involved with Dice Raw and all those guys?
NJ: The boys! I was in Philladelphia for a barbecue and Dice and Khari [Mateen, bassist and producer] heard me singing and playing piano and asked me to be in the band. Our first show was like 10 days later at the Kimmel Center, which is huge.
BOJ: With The Roots connection and being a band with a rapper, you guys must get compared with The Roots a lot…
NJ: [incredulously] We never get compared to The Roots! I think because our sound is so much more rock than they have ever been and because Tariq [Trotter, a.k.a. Black Thought] is so clearly their front person… whereas I’m the lead singer in Nouveau Riche and there is so much singing… So we’ve never really got that comparision.
BOJ: Hmm, maybe it’s just me. Listening to the Long Tail EP… by the way is that named after the Chris Anderson theory?
NJ: Yes.
BOJ: Cool. Listening to the EP, you’re lyrics have a very sort of real-life poignancy to them. There’s one lyric where you say: “I don’t like myself, I’m in love with you just to spite myself.” That’s pretty heavy stuff. Is it cathartic for you to write like that? Are you a heart-on-your-sleeve kind of girl?
NJ: I think that’s probably the biggest difference between the first EP and the second EP [the unreleased Free Money]. The new one has a lot more universal stuff on it. I have been known to write a string of mean-spirited love songs or kind of bittersweet girl songs… at one point we stopped playing “Save Me” [the song in question] and everything because I was like “What is this? Why am I saying these things over and over again?” So I think it is cathartic writing them, but you have to grow and develop as an artist from a point where you’re just writing songs for yourself or for selfish reasons. I think there’s always room for honesty, but at the same time, you shouldn’t have to cut yourself and bleed just to write a song. There are so many things to be inspired by.
for the complete interview
Click Here
there's a new Nouveau Riche EP (Free Money) and an album (Bankrupt)
on the way
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