Nicolette is a singer-songwriter from America who has recently released her electro-pop debut single “Drowning”. She recently took time out of her busy schedule to chat with us here at CelebMix. We discussed her debut single, some of her biggest musical inspirations and what the rest of 2017 has in store. You can check out the interview below.
Hi Nicolette, how are you?
I’m good, thank you. How are you?
Good, thank you. Thank you for chatting with us today.
No problem. Always a pleasure.
Firstly, what made you decide to follow a career as a singer-songwriter?
I’ve been singing for a really long time. I got inspired by music by my older brother. He does music, well he used to do music, he used to DJ, so I was always around it when I was at home and I guess I sort of got inspired by it. I started singing karaoke and using YouTube for karaoke. I sing every day and from there on my brother asked me if he wanted me to record, cause I wanted to record a song through his microphone and I would always want to record after that, like through his microphone. It just grew on to me and I wanted to do it for a really long time. I knew that this is what I wanted to do.
So, growing up, we know you were influenced by Michael Jackson. Were there any other artists who inspired you?
I used to sing a lot of Michael Jackson songs, along with Taylor Swift. All her karaoke, all her music, I used to sing that all the time. Those are the two main artists that I used to cover their songs. Oh, and Demi Lovato. All the Disney characters, I started off with them like they inspired me, I always loved listening to them, I loved all their music and I loved singing to their music. My mum would always want me to sing for her friends and those were the songs that I would sing. If it wasn’t by them then I can’t really remember anybody else who I would sing along with their songs. (They’re good choices!) Demi Lovato is my favourite. Her voice is like really amazing and she’s always been one of my favourite artists, vocal artists.
You’ve just released your debut single “Drowning”. Can you tell us why you chose this as your first single and can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the song?
Well, I remember when I started out with that song. When I started writing that song with my producers I was going through that whole, like rough love, tough love. I felt like, basically, I felt like I was drowning. And I feel like it can relate to a lot of people that are in a relationship that they feel that they’re not, whether they’re not doing enough or something’s not right anymore and they just feel like they’re drowning in love and that’s what basically, that’s what the chorus of the song is. Drowning in love. And I feel like it can relate to a lot of people, and it just, it was pretty easy to write, being that it actually related to me. That’s why I wanted that single to be first because people could relate to it.
So, we’re loving the single. I listened to it a couple of days ago and it has given us a lot of summer vibes. We’re right in the midst of our summer over here in the UK, what are your favourite songs to get you in the party mood?
I love music, one of my favourite songs that I still listen to is, like I’ve very, when I listen to a song or I hear a new song, and I make it a favourite I’ve listened to it for a really long time. So, like the new music to me, if I listen to new music it’s people and music that was new to other people already because I’m very behind or I’m just stuck on that one song. So, there’s this one song that came out not so long ago, but It’s Charli, it’s called…oh wow, OMG it’s one of my favourite songs and I can’t remember the name of it. (laughs)
We’ll move on just now. We’re wondering if you play any instruments. And if not, are there any you would like to learn?
When I was in school I played the clarinet, not the clarinet, well it was in sixth grade, it was a long time ago. (laughs) I went to class just because I didn’t have much to do after school other than going home and singing. My music teacher knew that I sang so he loved my voice. He tried to get me into choir but I was always very shy when I was younger.
So, he tried, my three years of middle school he tried getting me into choir and I, I told him no. He showed up at one of my talent shows and he found out through like the other students and school and stuff like that. He asked me, well why don’t you just join one of the other music, like you don’t have to sing vocally, you don’t have to do any solos or anything. It’s like an instrument so I played one of those instruments, I forgot what it was. I kind of fell off with that, I stopped going to classes but I started playing the acoustic guitar in the summertime.
Every summer I went to this summer camp and one of the counsellors had brought me a guitar because me and him, we grew a bond. I saw him as my dad, like my grandpa or something and I would always hang out with him after camp and he would teach me how to play the guitar and I started playing. I only knew a few songs and it was a leftie guitar but, I stopped playing that too. But really want to get into the piano as I love the piano. At my dad’s house is this giant piano, an old school piano and I used to play it all the time when I was little when I would go visit my grandparents. I’d love to play the piano.
Can we expect an album from you anytime soon? And if we do get an album, what can we expect from it?
I’m working on my EP right now. Things have been a little slow, only because you know, I’ve been writing for other artists with my producer. I’m just a perfectionist. I like taking my time to make sure all the records are good and everybody will like the record. Soon though, soon. (We’re looking forward to it whenever it does come out.)
If you could collaborate with any other music artist that is out there, who would it be any why?
Bruno, Bruno Mars. (Good Choice!) Yes, he is amazing! He is like, he’s just amazing. There is no other explanation for that. Every song he comes out with. There’s not one song that I could say he’s come out with where I could say, ‘Wow’, I really don’t like this song. It’s always like ‘Wow’ this song is really good. Maybe that’s just me but… (No, no I would agree with you there). We actually have sort of the same name. Well his first names’ Bruno, my last names Bruno. (laughs) It’s pretty cool.
I know you said earlier that you are a bit behind sometimes with what’s out there but are there any songs out there just now that you would like to cover?
I would love to do Alessia Cara’s song “Stay”. The one that, have you ever seen the movie Moana? (I don’t think I have, no). At the end of that movie, it was a song that played by Alessia. I didn’t even know it was her at first and then I kind of found out. You know how artists they have that certain voice where when you hear a certain somebody on the radio, you’re like, you can tell, oh that’s Beyoncé. Is it Rihanna or is this…? I picked up that it was her and I fell in love with the song. It would be really cool if I could do that cover. I just need to learn more of the words, but I love that song.
If there was any song out there from any time that you wish you had written, what would it be?
I wish I would have written…wow. What song? I don’t know there’s so many. I’m trying to think of one of my favourites that are really popular. Wow, I can’t really answer, there’s like a bunch. I’m thinking of all my favourite artists, all the artists I listen to and like those favourite songs that I have from each artist. I wish I would have wrote “Here” by Alessia. Cause she’s very unique when it comes to her lyrics, and it grabs a lot of people’s attention. I like it, I like the words, I like how different she is and her vibe and I wish I would have wrote that song.
Finally, what plans do you have for the rest of 2017?
I’m going to get a lot of things done. Music videos will come out. A lot of work’s going to be done and I’m just going to make sure I make everybody happy with the music that I come out with. Those are my plans. Make sure people love my music.
I’m sure they will, I know we really enjoyed “Drowning” when we listened to it and I’m sure everyone else will too. Thank you so much for your time today, it’s been really nice to chat with you.
It was lovely to chat with you. Thank you for your support.
You can listen to the debut single from Nicolette called “Drowning” here.
Also, don’t forget to follow Nicolette on Instagram @therealnicolette.
Finally, don’t forget to share your thoughts on our interview with Nicolette by tweeting us at @CelebMix.
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