QUEEN OF THE HILL -NIECIE

Words: Colin Campbell Pics: Anna Henderson

Born in Detroit, Niecie has travelled far and wide in her career, having lived and played in Chicago, Las Vegas, Boston, and Nashville. The powerhouse vocalist and songwriter talked with Blues Matters during a break at her home in Detroit via the wonders of technology.

A confident independent artist, we discuss her musical career, her newest release, Queen Of The Hill, and more in this light-hearted chat.

“It goes back to my mom being an influence. She was a concert pianist. Music filled the house; she jammed on the keys at family gatherings. My father liked the big band jazz sound, he liked ZZ Top also, so I had a lot of influences. At a young age I got into musical theatre, that gave me that theatre voice that people say I have! At sixteen I was in some bands doing rock, we would call classic rock now, Journey, Styx that type of sound. When I was in Boston that’s when I got serious and started at Berklee college Of Music doing the affiliate programme. That’s when I took on the stage name Niecie back in the 90s, I was thirty then (Despite everything, she will not reveal her full name.) First band was a blues rock one. This gave me my rock edge to my musical style. Coming from Detroit, I got heavy R&B and soul influences. The Detroit music scene is having a revival, there’s a good feel about playing venues, hell I’ve been in this business since I was sixteen. I love festivals and being outdoors. Intimate settings like listening rooms are cool to connect with your fans that’s cool too!”

“When living in Boston I was on the road with a rock band. We were in Lincoln Nebraska at a Club on the University strip. That’s where the famous Zoo Bar is. I was on a break; this gentleman came up to me - it was Magic Slim! He had heard me sing and he said, ‘You need to play the blues, come on up and sit in with us.’ We were ready to go onstage, I had to tell the band to play instrumentals, I went away to play with him! The blues took over my soul then. Magic Slim told me to be true to yourself and your sound. He was old-school blues, no fabrication! As well as Magic Slim, Koko Taylor was an influence.

She was a mentor; we did a concert including Detroit women and Chicago women in Detroit. I always use her quote about me, ‘Watch out for Niecie, she reminds me of me in my younger years.’ Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Bonnie Raitt are also influences. Everybody is an influence on me, we all start out at zero.”

Niecie still sees the music business as a male dominated genre, as she explains:

“We must work twenty times harder than the men to even get noticed sometimes. It’s across working life in general. Whatever genre of music, blues, rock, females were five percent. It’s better because of the digital age but we’re still the underdogs. At festivals there will be one or two women. I don’t know why because a lot of music fans want variety in the line ups. It’s still tough, because all the women are competing for a place in the line-up.”

With that latter thought in place, her advice to newcomers is straightforward:

“Get ready for the bumps and bruises! It’s not an easy business. Don’t fear rejection. There will be people who love you and those who do not. You must gravitate to those who like your music. Persevere, get ready for not sleeping for days! I work all day and night at this, whether publicity, writing, interacting with my fans, it’s non-stop! My mentors told me to be your authentic self! I’m me! In the band I’m the personality manager, we’re all artistes, sometimes you need to reel some members in!”

“I’d love to win a Grammy, I’ve been nominated. But for an independent musician this is so hard. Hitting the Billboard charts because that’s about sales! In life just doing what I do is success to me. The fans motivate me to keep on doing the music. It’s all about sharing! I build a force field around me, but what keeps me happy is gratitude. We all have regrets we complain about, but it perpetuates. I say Hi to people and some folk feel this is a threat! I’ll pick up the phone before texting somebody. There’s too much technology some good, some bad. Society in general

are on the defensive these days especially on social media. As artists, sometimes it is good to use these platforms to get a message out, but I don’t post much regarding music. I use it because I’m an advocate for Cancer Research and ASPCA for the animals. Even though I appear outgoing, I’m a very private person.”

“Been singing since I was eight, not telling you my age now! I belonged to the choir. I was a backing singer sometimes lead singer. That gave me a taste of doing both jobs. I learned my stagecraft then. A lot of people say I’m a comedian, but I don’t know it! I give a lot of my back story when playing live. A lot of people can connect to that. I just interact with the crowd, call, and response. You’ve got to have fun, especially with blues music. Some songs I write are quirky, the fans love that. Goofy lyrics are good! Songs come from anywhere I can be in my car and use a microphone and store ideas. Sometimes we have a songwriting circle and throw ideas around in a group. Waiting For The Shoe To Drop from my Trouble With A Capital T album was written when sitting around a bonfire, so they can be written anywhere! Analog is the way to go, love the tone! Our music has lots of grooves, it’s raw and soulful. I have a variety of styles that blend in, contemporary blues tones, so to speak! Emotion, catchy lyrics, and groove all go into making a good song. In the blues genre people like a physical copy of your material, it’s hard to autograph a thumb drive in this digital age! I still love playing live that’s where the connection is. My songs have more modern grooves, I have a lot of younger fans. I went to a birthday party the sixteen-year-olds were playing my music from my first album, I love the connection, it’s all good. I did a lot of musicals, Cabaret, Anything Goes. I was a professional dancer for twenty years which is originally why I went to college for. Life took another path. With musical theatre the singing, acting, and dancing all came into play. I had a lot of fun! I’m a late blues bloomer!”

“I was doing a benefit gig for the veterans of war. There were a few acts, so we had time to rest. I went to the buffet and had meatballs. One got stuck in my throat. I couldn’t

breathe I went to the rest room. God had a nurse in the next stall, she helped me get it out, but I was still having problems breathing, then I got called to the stage. I sang Love Me Like a Man and there’s a section when I do this big power note. When I did this, the rest of the meatball came out and hit one of the people then it landed on the floor! That was the meatball gig.”

I ask about the new album and its genesis: “We had a lot of time to make the album due to Covid. It was a couple of years in the making due to other things. It was a lot of fun, I brought Ger Hoffman into co-write and play bass guitar on a lot of the tunes. He came up with some quirky lyrics, we have the same background. It was produced by Allmans Brothers keyboard player Johnny Neel, he’s a genius. We have different grooves and styles on this one.”

Looking ahead, Niecie confirms: “I’ve been up in Detroit, but my team is in Nashville, going there this weekend to write some songs. I want to put a single out to submit for the Grammy Awards. I’m hoping for a new release to come out next spring if things go well. I’ve signed with a new book ing agent for USA and Canada, still looking at Europe and UK, but there are Brexit issues. Performing in Netherlands at an award ceremony. A lot of venues are charg ing more but our expenses are high also. I’m happy with having less things on the books but more quality gigs, that’s where the money lies!! I’d love to play the North Atlantic Blues Festival. When I do public ity, I try to target the younger generation, some people because of what music they grew up with or what their friends listened to, then they hear the blues and go, wow. A lot of the old school classic rock guys have been doing the blues, you have to get it to the right ears!”

For further information see website: https://niecie.net/