We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ella Nicole a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ella thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Since I was a child I have known that music was a path I wanted to pursue professionally, not only because its in my blood but because it just feels right for my soul. Music has always been a staple in my household, when I was a kid my mom would let me mess around with her equipment to make songs and my dad would blast my favorite song in the morning so I’d be in a good mood (I was not a morning person lol)! Music has always surrounded me in different ways and I’ve always loved the way music made me feel so naturally I began to want to share my music whenever I could. Once I got to college (#Aggie Pride!) I met so many people that expressed themselves through different creative outlets that it inspired me to take my talent with music a bit more seriously. I started recording music with my college friends and we’d use my apartment closet as a vocal booth and a mixer my mom gave me (thanks Mommy! lol) …it was so much fun! One year I just woke up and decided it was time to pursue music professionally because hey…I was never going to know if it was for me until I gave it a really good try! I decided to sign up for an open mic at Bohemian Taverns in DC, I was super nervous because it was the first time I’d be singing my songs in front of strangers – but I did it! Out of that open mic I met a young lady by the name of Samonee (Argo Vibes) and the rest is history!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi there! I am Ella Nicole and I am a singer & songwriter from the DMV area. One reason I got in the music industry is because writing, singing & performing help me to reach my higher purpose which is to share love and light with the world. I strive to inspire people to Live in their Light and also help them push through unsettling times. I am inspired by the musical styles of Bill Withers, Erykah Badu, Ray Charles and Alicia Keys and hope to inspire my fans with every song I sing and/or write.
Currently what I am most proud of is my up and coming brand – Live In Your Light (website: liveinyourlightco.com IG: liveinyourlightco). I’ve wanted to launch this brand for years now and I am finally getting up the courage to take the leap of faith!
Live in Your Light is a lifestyle brand that inspires and empowers individuals to live their most authentic lives. Our brand believes in the power of self-expression, living freely and walking confidently in one’s own unique path. We strive to create a community where everyone is encouraged to embrace their true selves, no matter what shape or form it takes.
We offer a variety of fashion and lifestyle products that are designed to help our customers feel empowered and confident in their individuality. Whether you’re looking for trendy and chic apparel or accessories, we have something to match every style preference. Our products are made with high-quality materials and are crafted with attention to detail, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality.
At Live In Your Light, we are committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience. We believe in fostering a deep sense of community and inclusivity, which is why we strive to create products that resonate with our diverse audience. Our hope is to make a positive impact on people’s lives by championing authenticity, positivity, and self-love at every opportunity.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
“It can’t be that easy” – is the idea/lesson that I had to unlearn. At some point in life, I picked up the idea that struggle begets happiness/success and vice versa and that in order for something to be good for you there must be a struggle with it. This idea would cripple my growth because subconsciously I’d be fearful of what bad could happen if I achieved something so, I wouldn’t try my best or I would think something was too good to be true so there was no way it could be successful. Now, I’m not saying that success doesn’t come with struggle, what I am saying is that your life doesn’t need to be difficult to feel that you are doing what it takes to have something good come out of it. I had to realize that sometimes good stuff just happens. Sometimes things can be “that easy” and don’t have to come with difficulty all the time. I realized that sometimes you’ve already done the work that it takes for something to come easy to you and that is okay.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Woowee…Social Media! It has been a struggle for me! I will say there was a time when I was determined to get my followers up, so I began to do research on best practices and what it takes to build your audience. What I found, out of experience with it, is that consistency is what wins at the end of the day. When I was consistent with posting content and being active on social media, I gained the majority of my followers. I’m not saying I posted every single day, but I would post maybe 3 times a week at the same time to make sure I stayed engaged. Once I stopped being consistent and active I have gained minimal followers.
Look, life interferes with business all the time I’ve found, so what I am trying to focus on now is posting in real time and not trying to wait until the “perfect time”. Even if I schedule it to post for another day, at least it will get me back into being consistent. Wish me luck!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ellanicolemusic.com
- Instagram: @_ellanicole
- Youtube: @EllaNicoleMusic
Image Credits
Duboisxrene