Laura Nickel Releases Debut Single "Screen"

Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell, Editor-in-Chief

Laura Nickel makes her debut as a singer/songwriter with her first single "Screen." The single uses a dream-like soundscape to describe feeling "suck-in-the middle," inspired by scenarios in her real life. "Screen" is the first single off Nickel’s upcoming four track EP 'Blue Skies' to be released October 22nd. Get to know the rising artist:

Where did your love of music come from?

My love of music has accompanied me throughout my life. I grew up listening to music with my mother, who shared her love for music with me. My mom is a music teacher and introduced me to the joy of singing as well as many different types of music. Growing up, we listened to a lot of classical pieces and musical theater albums together and would sing along with the melodies. I have many fond memories of singing with her in the car on road trips.

As I grew older, I began exploring more genres and musical styles on my own. I began to find artists and songwriters that inspired me and began growing this seedling of a dream to become a songwriter. These artists include Taylor Swift, Sara Bareilles, and Ella Fitzgerald. The more I learned about the music I was listening to, the more I loved it! I also think some of my love for music can be attributed to learning how to play guitar and piano. My mom taught me how to play piano at a young age, and I continued learning and playing as I grew up.

I found that learning to play the songs I loved added a more personal, deeper meaning to the music. These piano skills ultimately led me to start writing my own music at the age of sixteen. I found it was a good way for me to process emotional experiences and release these emotions into a form of art. I haven't stopped since.

You have said that while you write from personal experience, you have also been known to write songs from the perspective of different television shows and movies. How do you get in the headspace to write from that perspective, and are there songs on 'Blue Skies' that feature songwriting from that perspective?

I think that writing from other people's perspectives is much more difficult than writing from my own. However, I find that sometimes I am able to identify with certain movie or TV show characters or aspects of their stories, which helps me create a more detailed storyline to write a song about. Although there are no songs on this EP that directly stem from a specific television character, I have two tracks that contain fictionalized elements in their storytelling. The opening track "Debris" is written about a love story gone wrong, and the song "Dangerous" is about being unable to move on from someone who you know was bad for you. My debut single, "Screen," is ironically not based on a character's perspective, as the title may suggest, but rather the feeling of being used as a plot point in other people's lives. I also wrote "Screen" about using the storylines of movies and characters to escape from my own reality and live within another scenario in my head for at least a little while.

You have lived in many different cities across the U.S., including Lancaster, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, Missouri, and Buffalo, New York. Do you think this has contributed to your songwriting process?

Yes, I think that living in many different parts of the U.S. has influenced my songwriting process. Since I've moved around a fair amount, I've been able to see and experience a lot of different places. I really think that the local music scene and culture from these cities have subconsciously influenced my writing style while also teaching me to be more flexible with my creative process. Additionally, moving around has allowed me to meet so many wonderful and unique people who taught me a lot about life. In general, I am now a lot more comfortable with the idea of change in my own life and have come to realize that even though nothing in life is permanent, we should enjoy the life we are living in the moment.

Your debut single, "Screen," shares with us the relief you find consuming movies and television. I'd imagine you have some epic streaming suggestions. What are some of your favorite movies and shows to escape to?

I love to stream shows & movies that are lighthearted and feel-good watches, especially if they have some kind of adventure to them that keeps me rooting for the main character against all odds. Some of my favorites movies lately include 'Back to the Future,' 'Legally Blonde,' and 'Dirty Dancing.' As far as TV shows, some of my go-to shows are 'New Girl,' 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' and 'The Umbrella Academy.'

When and where can readers hear "Screen" and your upcoming four-track EP 'Blue Skies?'

My first single "Screen" is out now on all major streaming platforms and can be purchased on my Bandcamp page. The entire 'Blue Skies' EP will be out on October 22nd. I am so excited to share all four tracks with everyone. You can also follow me on social media to stay updated on what's happening with my music. My Instagram is @L_Nickel, and my TikTok is @WhosThatLaura.