Album: A Girl Like Me / Artist: Nikkole / 16 tracks / On The Street Now / SE Entertainment Records
For singers who are at the beginning of their music careers, and looking for a mentor, they need look no further than Los Angeles based independent recording artist Nikkole. Her urban, R&B and soul inflected music, combined with a good 
dose of business savvy, has made it possible for the singer to build a successful career that has made serious inroads into the commercial radio market, while attracting endorsements from major sponsors. Recently she was selected in three categories for the preliminary nominations of the Grammy Awards, no small achievement for an independent artist.
Nikkole’s sixteen tracks CD “A Girl Like Me,” and her EP “It’s Too Late,” clearly demonstrate why fans and music industry professionals are attracted to her music. She is an artist who is not afraid to take risks. The EP has five different cuts of the same song, “It’s Too Late,” a club mix, album mix, reggae rendition, instrumental track and an A capella offering. Her album “A Girl Like Me,” produced in collaboration with her brother Wallace Hall, with whom she formed SE Entertainment Records, often blurs the lines between, urban, R&B and soul, occasionally mixing in elements of rap.
The CD A Girl Like Me opens with a decidedly urban flavoured RSVP, featuring MC Melle Mel, and like so many of the tracks on this album, the music invites you to the dance floor.
The songs, “It’s Too Late,” and “I Wish,” clearly put Nikkole in the class of legendary artists such as Patti Austin and Anita Baker. In a recent interview, Nikkole, who sang on Norman Brown’s blockbuster hit, “Stay With Me,” admitted to being both thrilled and grateful to have The Emotions sing backup on “It’s Too Late.” Nikkole’s experience working with artists such as Babyface and The Commodores shines through on a CD that is produced well, mixed splendidly and in many ways is far better than some of the discs being turned out by labels these days.
Nikkole can be teasingly seductive with tracks such as “Lollipop,” and slide smoothly into a groove with danceable original tunes such as “Gon’ Bounce.” Her connection with her music is strong and that should not be surprising as she penned all the songs on this album.
Skeptics may take a look at the CD cover and dismiss Nikkole as just another pretty face, without listening to her music. That would be a mistake! For both women and men it certainly does not hurt to have the looks to go with the talent, in the entertainment industry, this lady has cracked the commercial radio market, and is in heavy demand for gigs because she is a very gifted singer.
Nikkole’s previously mentioned 2007 maxi single Breathe, her 2006 EP Gon’ Bounce which features six versions of the title track, and her 2007 Christmas EP featuring the songs, “It’s Christmas,” and “Wrap Me Up (Special Delivery),” are all available through Nikkole’s website by clicking here, or can be purchased through iTunes.
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Reviewed November 2007
