These
are pretty heady days for Los Angeles based, urban / R&B singer / songwriter
Nikkole, as she just learned, that she has been accepted in eight different
categories for Grammy Award nomination consideration (the nominations occur in
two stages) and she also learned that she has been selected as one of ten
semi-finalists for Cosmopolitan Magazine’s StarLaunch, which is being
cosponsored by Nikon, CoverGirl, Pantene and bebe. The three finalists will be
announced on November 10th and then flown to New York City, where
on December 5th they will compete in a gala event at Terminal 5, as
they open for Natasha Bedingfield and special guest Solange Knowles. If those
accomplishments are not enough to make you swoon, then consider that in late
July her companion video for the heat seeking missive, “EXOTIC,” occupied the
top spot on Blastro, an online video site that allows music fans to see their
stars in action. Nikkole out dueled the likes of Rihanna, dance queen Samantha
James and the Black Eyed Peas, to capture the top spot.
Last year, was the first time that Nikkole received consideration in the Grammy Award nomination process, as she was acknowledged in three categories, and she found that process to be validating. “To be a contender as an independent artist, I was just overwhelmed, and I couldn’t believe that I was on the same list as your mainstream artists like Jill Scott, Alicia Keyes, Mary J. Blige, and whomever. I was floored, shocked and happy. I felt that I was getting some recognition from my peers, for my craft, my art and what I am doing. It means more people in the industry are finding out about me. When I didn’t make the final nomination list, I was still so happy and so wow, (considering that) I am an independent artist, and it was for my second album, A Girl Like Me. People will now take another look at me and say, ‘Wait a minute, are we missing something here?’ When people found out (about her receiving consideration for three Grammy nominations), they took a second or third listen to what I had to offer,” says Nikkole.
Becoming one of the ten semi-finalists in Cosmopolitan’s StarLaunch is also a major accomplishment. "When we started this search, we knew we would discover some amazing talent, but as submissions poured in, we were blown away by the high caliber of undiscovered female musicians out there who were just searching for an entrée into the music industry,” said Donna Kalajian Lagani, Senior Vice President and Publishing Director, Cosmopolitan.
The ten semi-finalists were selected by music industry hit makers, while the three finalists are being selected through online voting which concludes on November 2nd. The winner will be selected through the combined voting of a panel of music industry executives including, Sylvia Rhone (President / EVP, Universal Motown), David Novik (SVP of A&R, Decca / Universal) and Mike Mangini (Grammy Award winning producer and musician), as well as the in-house audience and online voting.
Two songs in particular caught our ear from Nikkole’s current album Creolepatra, the soulful, “I Really Need You,” and the passionate, “Love Was Made In Heaven,” which redefines both the art of seduction and romance. Both are being considered for Grammy Award nominations.
“With, “Love Was Made In Heaven,” I wanted to do something that was heartfelt and that I could relate to. I felt that when people heard the song, it would evoke emotion, or it would take them to a moment in time when they met that special someone, a time when they felt that they were getting closer to someone, or they were reminiscing,” says Nikkole.
Still talking about, “Love Was Made In Heaven,” Nikkole says, “I wrote from my own personal experiences, concerning the things that are most important to me, about the person with whom you share your life and your time, and the person with whom you want to be. That is how, “Love Is Made In Heaven,” came together. I poured my whole body, soul and mindset into it.”
