We were lucky to catch up with Nicki White recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents have always been supportive of my passion for music. They both have a great passion for music by listening and playing their instruments. My father actually wanted to name me Presley after Elvis but my mother decided it was too manly for a girl. It was the 90’s.

My mother was always first chair in band playing the flute. She was even awarded a full-ride scholarship to UMKC but didn’t finish her term there. She played flute in our churches band every Sunday and gave lessons from time to time. She played an array of artists around the house on tapes and CD’s such as Earth Wind & Fire, Prince, Shania Twain, The Chicks, Alanis Morisette and so on.

My Father had Uncle’s who played guitar around him as a kid and that’s where his love of guitars came from. I remember being between 4 or 6 and him blaring his electric guitars through his massive amps. Around age 11 I started picking up his guitars and hiding with them strumming them and pretending I knew what I was doing. My mom wanted me to be in band in the sixth grade and I pursued it. But, my only good friend who was in the class with me was not staying in band for 7th grade and I stubbornly begged my mom to get me guitar lessons instead of being in middle school band and she finally caved! I regret not staying in band. She tried! But she did drive me to guitar lessons and voice lessons from ages 13-16 once a week. I’d go from guitar lessons at the Tune Shop in Prairie Village and then directly to Riva Capelerri’s house for vocal lessons. In those years my songwriting really took off.
I got signed to an independent label at 18. My dad moved to Muscle Shoals, AL around that same time. He told me to come visit him there and check out the amazing musicians he had made friends with in this historically musical town. So I did and decided that was the place for me to attend school.
All in all, my parents did everything right by playing various artists around the house and just showing me how to be the best musician I can be! My mom’s greatest advice to me in reference to how nervous I would get prior to performing was “just play like you’re in your bedroom.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Nicki White. I am a solo, singer/songwriter/guitarist from Kansas City, MO. I have been performing since the age of 15. I absolutely love my job! I have no clue what I would do without singing, writing and performing music.

My mind kind of scrambles when I get asked to describe the sound of my music because it varies. It’s genre-blending but the roots are soulful-bluesy. Depending on the mood I am in or what I am going through at the time, I may write music that ranges from old-school country to meditative soundscapes to R&B and sectors in between. This may set me apart from other artists because I am simply not capable of choosing one genre and sticking with it. I wish I was that cool! You will get a whole plethora of sounds and feelings from my shows. The most pride I have for myself as an artist is the fact that I haven’t given up. Even though I have had moments where I really have thought to myself “maybe I should pursue something else…”, or “nobody gives a s***t about my music, why bother?” or when I found out I was pregnant and questioned “How can I be a mom and still pursue my dreams?” I never have given in to those doubts or fears and have kept getting back up. I’ve learned that the Universe will always somehow provide me answers when I need them the most.

I want the listener to feel something from my music. Whether that be at peace, excited, connected, accepted, healed, inspired etc. It would be nice for my music to make an impact on others because that means I’m doing something right at my job! It has definitley impacted me so why not share it? I know that I am not for everyone and that is totally fine! My love of music will always be apart of me no matter where life takes me and I believe that is the most important thing to remember. And to just have fun with it! To make everyone feel included and brought together, that’s what it’s all about!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the joy I feel on a daily basis knowing that I get to do what I love and hopefully inspire others to do the same!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think that if society could keep an open mind and give all artists a chance it would make-for a more thriving creative ecosystem. For example, don’t base your opinions on an artist you’re hearing for the first time from what you’ve heard on pop radio. It’s a good thing to be different! Instead of gossiping, share a favorite artist’s creation with a friend.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nickiwhite.com
• Instagram: mama_nickiwhite
• Facebook: nickiwhitemusic
• Youtube: nickiwhite

Image Credits
Kristin Caroline, Alec Nicholas, Kimberly DeVries