4 minute read
LAURA NICKEL: LAURA NICKEL: "I WANT MY "I WA NT MY MUSIC TO INSPIRE MUSIC TO INSPIRE LISTENERS TO LISTENERS TO APPRECIATE THE APPRECIATE THE MOMENTS THEY MOMENTS THEY ARE LIVING IN ARE LIVING IN EACH DAY." EACH DAY."
Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell, Editor-in-Chief
Laura Nickel is a 22-year-old indie singersongwriter based in Nashville, TN who uses her music to delve into the nuances of emotion and mental health. Her heartfelt lyrics give her audience a window into her personal experiences and those of her peers. In October 2021, Laura released her first EP, Blue Skies, and is now preparing to release her debut album, Dusty Houses, this spring. With her music, Laura hopes to inspire her listeners to embrace self-reflection and cultivate loving kindness towards themselves and others. Laura shares about her latest single "That July" and about her music-making process:
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What inspired you to write "That July"?
I initially wrote "That July" on a cold, snowy January afternoon during the pandemic lockdown. I grew restless due to cabin fever and desperately wished for summer to return quickly. I wanted to relive my favorite summer memories from when I was younger. Many of those moments spent with friends felt carefree, easy, and exciting. I wrote "That July," reminiscing those days, snippets of which are featured in this song. Partly why I am so happy to release "That July" in January is because it reflects the same time of year as when I first wrote it.
How did you use storytelling techniques in your songwriting?
"That July" consists of many little snapshots from various memories scattered throughout the verses and pre-choruses. I used hyperspecific details from each story to immerse the listener in the song. Some specific moments I drew from while writing this song included pranking a friend's boyfriend's car, ding dong ditching each other's houses, and scaring each other after telling ghost stories.
One of my favorite songwriting techniques is called sense writing. I selected descriptive words that encourage the listener to experience the five senses while listening to the song. For example, instead of telling the listener, "It was a hot July day," I wrote my pre-chorus, "When the sun hits the car like it's been baking for six weeks, and the sizzle on your skin reminds us where we used to be..." It places you into the song on a more individualistic level. I wanted to immerse the listener into the story.
What do you want listeners to take away from your music?
I want my music to inspire listeners to appreciate the moments they are living in each day. It's fun to relive memories and replay the past, but reminiscing often ends on a melancholy note—when the storytelling ends. That is until you start a new story. I'd like to encourage my listeners to live as if each moment is part of their story. Every day contains its own snapshot of joy. Some aspects can be fun and exciting even though parts of each day can turn dreary. I'd love for my listeners to look for those snapshots and appreciate them daily.
What was the most challenging part of producing your own music?
Knowing when a song is complete! It is incredibly easy to want to keep adding more and more layers to a song's production. Sometimes too, the longer I work on a piece, the more ideas I get. Although it can be difficult, I try to find a good stopping point and save some of my ideas for the next song I produce.
What has been the most rewarding part of your musical journey?
I find sharing my music with new people very rewarding. For a long time, I believed that recording and sharing my music was a dream that would stay simply a dream. Now, I have released an EP, and I am finalizing a new album, Dusty Houses, which is set to release in March. I am incredibly blessed to record and share what I create, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone who listens. Your support means everything. Thank you!
