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10 Questions with ... Nikki Whitehead
October 31, 2016
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1. What have been some of the highlights for the band this year?
The past year has gone by so quickly that it has honestly felt a little surreal. We have been so lucky with our opportunities and we're all so excited for what the future will bring. The main highlights would either be the Love Train Tour with CeeLo Green, or playing the Victoria's Secret Super Bowl Party. Both were insane experiences that really helped us grow as a band.
2. Growing up, did you all always want to be musicians?
I think that we've all always been drawn towards music and playing. Nate Baylo used to sing as a little kid for his family, Dylan Lauzonon started playing guitar at a young age, and I started singing when I was about five. So we've all always had music in our lives.
3. How did Nikki's Wives first come together? How did you come up with your band name?
I was still doing a solo project at the time and Dylan was playing guitar in my band. We needed a drummer for this one gig so Dylan called up Nate and asked if he could do it. The show just went so well that we all decided we needed to be a band. And we've been "married" ever since. The name is an inside joke between the three of us. We all agreed that this band is the closest any of us will get to being married, so the name just reflects how close we are.
4. What it has been like being in a group as opposed to your solo career?
Being in a band is honestly the coolest thing ever. It's like having a family that you got to handpick. Making the change from being a solo act to being in a band was the best decision I've made.
5. You recently released your new EP, For E*V*E*R. Tell us about that?
For E*V*E*R was our first attempt at being a band and writing together. The song "Fantasize" was the first song the three of us had ever written together. So the entire EP is all about us finding our sound as who we are as a band. We recently recorded another six songs that better reflect where we wanna go.
6. What was the inspiration for the EP's first two singles, "Ghost" and "Lonely Being Cool"?
Both the songs are dancing around the theme of loneliness. "Lonely Being Cool" is about having it all but still feeling lonely and sad. While "Ghost" is reflecting on a relationship that has ended but still haunts you. While both are very different sounding, the two songs capture who we are as a band.
7. What was it like touring with CeeLo Green?
It was honestly the coolest experience ever. CeeLo and his whole crew treated us like family, and went above and beyond to make us comfortable on tour. We learned so much from CeeLo about what it takes to really make it in this business. He almost became our mentor by the end of the tour.
8. Who are some of your favorite artists and what bands continue to inspire you and your music? Who would you still love to work with in the future?
We took a lot of influence from Peter Gabriel while writing our EP. We were listening to a lot of '80s pop and rock at the time, which comes across in tracks like "Another Lie" and "Lonely Being Cool." We take inspiration from the vibe and attitude of musicians like Drake, A$AP Rocky, and Kendrick Lamar. We try and take inspo from how badass they are.
9. When you aren't performing or working in the studio, what do you like to do for fun?
We don't ever really take a break from it! (Laughter) It seems like the past year we've spent every minute together. But we all like just relaxing and decompressing after being on tour or recording.
10. At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music?
We want to inspire people to be strong and to not take shit from anyone. Basically the goal is for everyone to be a bad bitch after listening to our EP.
Interview by Leah Adams
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