We recently connected with Nicolle Swims and have shared our conversation below.
Nicolle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I started playing saxophone at the time / no idea how I picked that up. I wanted to play guitar even before then. I was 12. I finally had the courage to tell my mom that was actually the instrument I wanted to play and she put me in lessons right away- she’s always been so supportive. After my first lesson I knew then and there that this was going to be my entire life and my eternal love. The speed in which I learned was just fine, I just wish I knew that the term “skill” means something different to everyone and just because I couldn’t shred didn’t mean I was doing anything wrong. The most essential thing I learned was to always play what I feel – Glenn Branca once said that there are no wrong notes on the guitar. It’s true. Everything is a feeling and if some notes sound wrong that’s just an opinion.
Nicolle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am Nicolle. I play in a band called Black Ends. I don’t think or care about the industry. I just try and release and write good music and live my life as well as I can. Make good music and do what feels right always – that’s always what matters. Anything else feels contrived. Gunk Pop is about freedom – be messy and catchy and repetitive and annoying and intricate and delicate and lovely. Make what you need to make in the moment of the feeling. Be yourself and let the music flow. Just breathe.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Fire next time by James Baldwin
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being a musician is not caring at all about what anyone thinks. You like your music and you put it out and the right people listen. They will hear you soon enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: Gunkpop.com
- Instagram: @black.ends
- Facebook: Black Ends
- Twitter: @EndsBlack
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blackends7198
Image Credits
First photo Anya Kochis Red photo don farwell Live Photos Sophia barkalakis