She’s a vintage whore whose voice can shake the very depths of your soul. Growing up in Seattle, Kimberly Nichole always knew she was destined for the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, New York City. She found her voice in Atlanta while attending Spelman College and followed the yellow brick road to the NYC. Down to earth, confident and with a style like no other; Ms. Nichole is a force to be reckoned with. She will be re-releasing her acclaimed album “The Yellow Brick Journey Reloaded” on June 18th at Joe’s Pub. She shared her journey with me and reaffirmed why she is real fierce and taking the young soul movement to the next level.
RD: How did you make your journey from Seattle to Atlanta and then to New York?
KN: When I was in high school, I did a summer program in Atlanta at Spelman College my junior year. That reconfirmed my wanting to go to Spelman. After I graduated from high school, I relocated to Atlanta and I haven’t been back to Seattle since. After I graduated from college, I decided to move to New York. I did that in 2008 and I have been here ever since.
RD: How was it growing up in Seattle? Did you feel like you needed something more?
KN: I did. I was like the little girl that wanted an African name. My best friends still make fun of me because I had this fake name. It was Malika (laughs). I was like, “I’m gonna wear these African shells and go to Spelman (laughs). I think as a young black girl in Seattle, where it is predominantly white and asian, I kind of wanted to be around other black people that were like me; young black girls that wanted to be lawyers, actors and singers. Not to say that wasn’t in Seattle, but it was such a small percentage of it. I always remembered in the 5th grade when my god-sister said she wanted to go to Spelman. She told me a bit about it and ever since then I wanted to go and I did.
RD: Did you always want to be a singer?
KN: Yes.
RD: What did you go to school for?
KN: Economics (laughs)
RD: What was your angle for taking that major?
KN: Well I went in wanting to do music, but my father is such a realist. He was like, “I know you want to be a singer, but in the event that you don’t sing you need to study something where you can definitely get out into the world and get a regular job.” Spelman didn’t have a business program, but economics coincides with any business you are in. I worked in the field for a year or so after I graduated.
RD: Where did your passion for music come from?
KN: I grew up in the church and my mother was a singer. She always sang for the church and was part of gospel groups. From a young age she had me and my sister in gospel choirs. She was definitely influential in planting the seed of loving music in me. As I got older, I danced a bit in middle school and high school. Then I started writing songs. I have always enjoyed the arts when I was younger. I would draw and imagine myself being an actress (laughs). I always just loved music and as I got older the passion just grew. It was like a seed and it just blossomed.
RD: Did you always have this powerful voice?
KN: My voice has always been really strong. I remember when I was in high school and I joined this teen choir. People would always say,“ Kimberly has a loud voice and a loud mouth.” I remember my mom always telling me this story about when she was a teen singing in Louisiana in the church. People would always tell her,“ you so skinny with a big voice.” I definitely inherited it from my mama (laughs).
RD: Describe how you felt the first time you shared your music with the world?
KN: Naturally I was fearful that people wouldn’t like it so I would always test my songs on my family and friends. My sister is the worst critic. I remember I would sing something and she would just stare at me (laughs). My friends are kind of bias because they will love anything I do. When I first released my song to an audience usually the response was good. I haven’t really heard anyone say they dislike my music. Of course as an artist naturally you are fearful that people are going to criticize you. You fear that they will not understand your perspective or the subject matter, but at the end of the day damned if you do damned if you don’t. Someone will get it and someone else won’t.
RD: What have been some of your most memorable moments?
KN: One of the most memorable times to date was in August when I released the album and I did my release party in Atlanta. I remember leaving out the door after sound check and I saw a line forming . I left to go by my best friends’ house to get my makeup done and change. My creative partner called me to say congrats and he was like the line is wrapped around the block. I was like what!!!!! (laughs) Apache café seats 200 people, but for a person who is a newbie and you don’t think you have that much of a following, I was just so grateful to God for the turnout. I was happy when I walked in the door and it was so crowded. I couldn’t believe everyone was there to see me. Another memorable moment was the first time I saw people sing my songs with me.
RD: You call yourself the leader of the young soul movement. Why is that and what is the young soul movement?
KN: That was a term me and my best friend came up with to describe my sound back in ‘06. I felt that what I was doing was similar to the soul from back in the day, but it was young. It was the millennium generation of soul music. I still think the foundation of my music is soul. It’s refreshing and it’s progressive. It’s definitely representative of the 80’s and 90’s babies and where we’re trying to put music.
RD: where does your style of dress come from?
KN: I’m really inspired by vintage clothes. It depends on the mood I am in. I love the 50’s and 70’s era. I think women back then were classy and they had such style.
RD: How do you stay true to Kim and not get caught up in the hype?
KN: I have people around me who keep me balanced and stable. I always try my best not to question the abilities that God has blessed me with. I stay true to Kimberly particularly with writing or production because when it feels right I know that, that’s Kimberly Nichole. I feel I am a spiritual person. I grew up in the church, but I don’t believe too much in religion. I believe in spirituality. I always try to talk to God, stay clear on my path and not deter from what I know He has set for me.
RD: What can we expect on June 18th from you?
KN: It going to be fun!!! I can’t tell too much, but it’s going to be a moving experience. My band from Atlanta is coming up and they played on every single song on my album. You may catch the Holy Ghost and there will be lots of cocktails (laughs).
RD: What is some of the best advice you have gotten thus far?
KN: I have two individuals in my life. I call them my fairy god-parents. Their names are Ashford and Simpson. I remember Nick Ashford telling me, “You know Kimberly you have to remember to have your moment during your shows. When you are on that stage it is your stage. Don’t let anyone take your moment from you.”
RD: If you could describe Kimberly Nichole in one word what would that be?
KN: Fierce!!!
RD: When people hear your music what do you want it to do to them?
KN: I want people to be moved by it whether they are moved to dance, celebrate or become a singer or teacher. There is a purpose behind my music because I have a purpose in life. My music isn’t just for people to hear something and then be done with it. It’s for them to be moved.
RD: What do you do to give back?
KN: I am working on getting a mentee in Harlem where I live. I want to mentor a high school girl leading up to college. I strongly believe in giving back to the community. To whom much is given much is required.
RD: When I say the title of one of your songs, tell me what comes to mind.
“Wishes in the dark”
KN: Dreams of love. Wishing, waiting and wanting it.
“Johnny come lately”
KN: Procrastinating in life
“Little girl new”
KN: Realizing your destiny and pursuing it
“Jumping the gun”
KN: Anxious for love
“Peace of mind”
KN: The love that I have for God and my relationship with God
“For the looking one”
KN: Searching for what you know is yours in life
“Carnival”
KN: The ups and downs in relationships
“Disconnected”
KN: Alienating yourself for love, then love leaves and you are by yourself
“The Yellow Brick Journey”
KN: It’s the song that tells the story. That song is incomplete to me because my journey is incomplete. It is my overall close out song for this part of the journey.
Kimberly will be performing on MAY 1st and 2nd at the Marriot in Newark, New Jersey for the Today’s Black Woman magazine 16th anniversary.
Make sure to check her out on June 18th at Joe’s Pub for YBJ Reloaded. It is sure to be an experience you won’t forget. Go here to purchase your tickets now http://www.joespub.com/component/option,com_shows/task,view/Itemid,40/id,5143
To see more of Kimberly Nichole in action check out her Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/KimberlyNichole1
