NICOLA

So I'm sitting at the end of the bar at the C-Note waiting for the next band to start their set, drinking a Manhattan, heavy on the cherries, when a friend of mine sits next to me.... we strike up a conversation. I get so lost in the conversation that I neglect the fact that I should have my pen in hand getting ready to review the band I was sent to review.... when out of nowhere I hear a voice coming out of the PA that makes me stop mid sentence, turn my head and lock in on the stage.

It's NICOLA. And she is a head turner for sure. With a confidence that's almost cocky, this woman took the "C-Note" by surprise and never let go. With a spiritually rockin' voice, Nicola laid down her songs like it was a piece of cake. But every inch of her body and soul was laid out before us with a passion I haven't seen on an Indie Female Artist since the days of Joan Osborne at the old Nightengales on 2nd Avenue.

With her own special blend of wit, charm and a bit of sex to boot, Nicola asks the crowd to feel free to groove their "thang" as she and an amazing rhythm section break into mode. And let me tell you that my groove "thang" went off on it's own as well as the rest of the booty at the bar. This band is tight and knows how to dish out good original music.

The highlight of the set most definitely was when Nicola got on the floor, back down, and played a fierce solo on her guitar. Needless to say the crowd went beserk! I think I even hooted a little bit myself for this truly exceptional performer. When the set was over, Nicola was overcome with praise, CD purchases and autograph requests. A stellar set and a great time was had by me, the crowd and Nicola.

I'll say it loud and clear folks..... CATCH THIS ACT! - Janis Tate

Nicola rocks.

I should know; I’ve had her perform live for my radio program. I sat there riveted.

She isn't just smart, talented, and sexy. Nicola also has a powerful voice, is a quality lyricist and guitarist and is fronted by a tremendous band that does her fiery music justice.

Her every note oozes passion; it seems criminal that she isn’t a major star.

Her latest release, Don’t Take It Personally, is an impressive showcase for this multi-talented performer. There’s not a clinker on the eleven cut CD. And in an industry where performers over the age of twenty-five are often shunned, I only hope the general public will somehow discover her and give Don’t Take It Personally the support it so deserves. - Evan Ginzburg (WBAI)

Walking into the Munchaba Lounge with pen and notebook in hand, I sat at the first available oversized chair. In spite of the pouring cold rain and all around crumby weather, Munchaba has a nice-sized crowd who have braved the elements for tonight's show.

It's 10pm, the lights are dim and cigarette smoke fills the air as Nicola, a three-piece from New York City takes the stage. The crowd's murmur is nearly silenced as singer/guitarist Nicola belts out the first measures of their opening song a cappella, a feat I'd bet not one Top-40 rock/pop princess would dare. Without a drop of hesitance, Nicola's voice plows over the crowd with the power of Melissa Etheridge with the soul turned up a notch and an inhibition some don't even have singing in the shower.


Conversations cease and all eyes focus on the band who are seemingly unphased by the intimate atomosphere. The band joins in full force with bassist Julio Rosaly's smooth lines and Rob Williams' powerfully-tight drumming. Heads in the crowd approve with a collective nod from the intoxicating rhythm. As Nicola rips through their short but stunning thirty-minute set of power pop-folk and soul songs from their latest album “Real”, I feel pleasantly surprised and utterly refreshed.


In a genre fueled by bubble-gum synthetic-pop princesses like Michelle Branch – with the same overproduced, undertalented, rehashed-hook, teen angst, dated pop that radio and television can't seem to get enough of – it was refreshing and almost God-sent to see and hear a female-fronted rock group that actually...rocks. With a sound of maturity, Nicola's introspective lyricism is a rock tossed in the utterly still pond of teen boy/girl break-up tunes. A charismatic, passionate and playful performance; Nicola kept the crowd entertained as well as entwined with an energy and honesty lacking in much live music these days.
- Brian Davis

I highly rated Nicola´s last album ´What´s the Point´ and I doubt she could have bettered that album. However this talented lady has gone on to prove me wrong! That is of no surprise as Nicola is one of the most talented musicians I have heard in years and what more she has an incredible vocal range which I expect is the envy of many female vocalists out there. It also helps having a backing band who know how to play and these guys do. They have all gelled to create something I´m going to be playing forever.

There´s eleven tracks on here and I thought it would be cool to give you a brief run down on all the songs that are on this album.

My Name Ain´t Mary: This is a highly energetic rock song which if given extensive radio play would win Nicola a new audience. An excellent choice for an opening number.

Almost: This ones another rock/Pop number. The music isn´t as heavy as ´My Name Aint Mary´ but this is one of the tracks that really compliments Nicola´s voice.

Don´t Take It Personally: This is the track that captures Nicola´s voice at her best on this album. That voice is definetly hot.

Limited Knowledge: I really like this hard edge pop number. It´s 2´56 minutes of bliss.

Lighthouse: There´s a slower edge to most of this song but don´t let that put you off. This song explodes with passion coming out of Nicola´s mouth backed with some tremendous guitar music.

Crazy: This is definetly a song that is radio friendly and if put out by the likes of Chrissy Hynde, Belinda Carlisle or Tori Amos would be a hit for sure!

Leavin´ You Behind: This one has a Latino crossed with some wicked pop guitaring. This is another number that captures Nicola´s voice at her best.

In Your Own Backyard: I really love this number both musically and vocally. I really like the Hip Hop part in this song.

(5,6,7,8)Hot Date: When I hear songs like this I really do believe there is no justice in the music business. Why Nicola isn´t famous is sheer criminal.

One Life: I love this number. It´s got everything a great song should have. Nothing more to add.

Combustible: This is the closing number to this album. A slow but passionate song leaving you just wanting to hear more.

So there you go a kick ass album that you really need to check out. Not only that but the production is well wicked on here and adds to the albums charm. All comes neatly packaged with one of the worlds most beautiful women on the cover. Yes you got it a well good photo of Nicola captured in all her beauty.

My final words are support this lady as she is one genuine artist with real passion. - Steve D.

Rock quartet Nicola, a recent Billboard Underground headliner, could make Evanescence bow in reverence, given the grit and grimace of lead singer and band namesake Nicola. Despite fist-waving bravado, she offers a distinguished brag sheet. After graduating from New York's Fiorello LaGuardia School of Performing Artists, Nicola worked in Nashville and Argentina as frontwoman, guitarist-for-hire and Broadway performer. "Lighthouse" trades between a canvas of inky melodic goth featuring the impetuous clamor of high-octane guitars, against passages of plucky acoustic strumming, as she vocally segues from vocal roar to refined rustle. It's an all-in-one track offering unadulterated pop/rock mastery, alongside the hearty intelligence of 11-track, radio-ready "Don't Take It Personally." Visit nicolanicola.com for more on this adroit new presence. —Chuck Taylor - Chuck Taylor - April 2007

Her performance and stage presence were so on point, comical and fiery and the music is so emotional and soulful. She can take the whole environment around her and just pump positive energy into it and that's a gift. Her soulful vocals penetrate deep and seep into your bones...I find it amazing that she can take an atmosphere and inject so much positive and creative energy into it where it becomes her rhythm, her words, her guitar, and nothing else. - Live Campus Show Review - December 2009

Excuse me, but this woman RAWKS! I had to play the first track twice to see if what I'd heard was real. A voice like a bullwhip dipped in honey and a band with bigger chops than Millard Fillmore all add up to Nicola owning her rock 'n' roll badness.

What's the Point has Nicola leaving the last decade of so-called women's rock (are you listening Pink?) in the dirt and building an iron bridge back to the headier days of L7, Lita Ford, Ms. Benatar, Heart (in the Barracuda heyday) and Bikini Kill. There's nothing derivative in the music -- it's completely butch in the strong-yet-still femmy face of Nicola's singing.

If you're going to name a song "Bitch," as Nicola does here, you better have the attitude to back it up, and all I'll tell you is that when she sings out the title in an ever so slighty country-fried style, you most certainly would NOT want to be the girl she's aiming the epithet at. Hers is a brass knuckle voice wrapped in more metal, courtesy of her excellent band.

In case you might think Nicola is a one-trick pony, with only straight-up American rock in her repertoire, she kicks your butt south of the border with "Senorita," a Latin rock number that is muy caliente.

The penultimate track, "How," and the last track "Ay Ay Ay" are probably the most commercial, timid tunes on the record, and in my opinion the least successful because of it. Too much Whitney Houston-esque vocal scale-riding creates too much of a departure from the rest of the record. I want Nicola to say thanks for listening and then kick my butt out the the door.

Even allowing for this minor fault, her voice is stunning on every track. Nicola asks us "what's the point?" but then goes on to answer herself -- the point is full-on rock, and she keeps it sharp as a needle. She is a rock goddess and I would bet dollars to doughnuts that she shreds live. Bow down before your new rock queen, readers -- Nicola is ready to blow the roof off the joint. - Todd Beemis

It was one year ago that rock quartet Nicola floored Billboard's NYC Underground series with climactic, gritty goth-rock focal point "Lighthouse." With the April release of full-length "Don't Take It Personally," the band's lead (and namesake) ups the ante, as rollicking melodic anthem "Anybody Out There" offers universal perspective on isolation: "Leave another message on the phone just to hear your own voice/Does anybody out there love anyone at all?" Cool back story: Nicola was performing the song acoustically on the streets of New York and an onlooker offered $50 to hear it again. Easy enough to buy—one listen turns Nicola into a vital iPod presence. Hey, radio, yo, major labels: You can cash in, too. More at nicolanicola.com or myspace.com/nicola. —Chuck Taylor - Chuck Taylor - April 2008

I walked into the Bitter End a couple of nights ago for Nicola’s album release party. On time!!!!! I know. What’s happening to me. I was sitting a little closer than I am accustomed to, however. I mean…I was practically sitting ON the stage. I usually prefer to hang back and observe music with my array of cocktails from a distance in some dark corner, but this was just fine. Actually, I was a little afraid of sitting all the way in the front, because, I was thinking to myself, “Holy shit. This is going to be loud. And if it’s bad…..I’m fucked.” But it wasn’t loud, it wasn’t bad, and I wasn’t fucked. Actually, to my pleasant surprise, it was just the opposite. The sound was beautifully balanced, the performers were loads of fun, and I didn’t even mind the occasional threat of getting my teeth knocked out by Nicola’s knees. (Yes, I was THAT close).

On stage, Nicola is hilarious. She’s got this contagious, vibrant energy that radiates into the audience and makes it hard not to enjoy oneself. The band is incredibly talented, and seems to share her sense of humor and energy, as well. And, I’m sorry. How could you not love a band who’s Drummer has a pink drum set? Okay, so anyway. As we all know, music is not an easy thing to write about in words. So I’m going to do two things. Provide you with a chance to hear clips of her songs AND THEN I’ll bullshit for a while, until I can come up with words that can describe their sound. Go to www.nicolanicola.com and select music.

I would say that Nicola is a mixture of alternative rock, folk and jazz peppered with Latin and African beats. Mm Hm. I know. Hey shut up, this is the annoying part that brings me mad cash and allows me to make payments on my Jag, okay. Um, now be quiet, I’m trying to concentrate. If I were to compare Nicola to someone, I would probably say she’s kind of a female Dave Matthews…on speed. The music has that same soulful energy, with a robust sound. Oh, and if I were to compare Nicola to a food, I think I would call it a Seafood Paella. Each bite (or song) is a wonderfully unique sensation, with just the right amount of spice.

Thanks Nicola, for a great performance!
- Diedre Kilgore

It seems like no matter where I go, I find that one place where things I like keep showing up. In Charlotte that place is NoDa's The Evening Muse, and this time the thing I like happens to be Nicola. Yes, Nicola. One name, kind of like Madonna…if Madonna actually had a vocal range, wrote her own songs and wasn't burdened by that whole blonde ambition thing. Ok, so now that I think about it she's nothing at all like Madonna.

Nicola rolled into Charlotte, and The Evening Muse, to promote the release of her new album Don't Take It Personally. Even though she only played a short acoustic set, accompanied by her longtime musical collaborator Jules Rosaly on bass, all of the energy and vocal prowess of this visiting diva-in-waiting shone through.

Did I mention that Nicola could sing? The Evening Muse is a small, intimate venue and she filled it. Truth be told, she probably could have filled it if the PA suddenly lost power and all the microphones burst into flame. Encompassed in this raven haired New Yorker is a powerfully trained, theatrical voice, which to me seems as if it could be just as at home on a Broadway stage as the Muse's smaller one.

As Nicola progressed through her set of stripped down original songs and the occasional cover, it also became clear that she could more than hold her own on guitar as well. The combination of voice, acoustic guitar and accompanying bass easily filled out the sonic landscape of those same stripped down songs…and they were even helped by a passing siren that had the amazing fortune of being in the right key and at a perfect place in her last song.

Musically, Nicola has her sights set on Pop, but not the bubblegum Brittney pop that currently saturates what passes for radio these days. She takes the classic foundation of a pop song and weaves in elements of jazz and rock along with just a touch of influence from warmer climates further south to make her own music more than just your average run of the mill pop song.

Nicola and Jules are back in New York for gigs around the City culminating in the last stop on her Don't Take It Personally CD release mini-tour at Pianos on May 2nd, where she will take all of the tunes from her Charlotte appearance and flesh them out with her full band. Hopefully after that she can find her way back down to the Queen City again with her full band and treat us all to the full Nicola experience.
- Joe Mieczkowski

It seems like no matter where I go, I find that one place where things I like keep showing up. In Charlotte that place is NoDa's The Evening Muse, and this time the thing I like happens to be Nicola. Yes, Nicola. One name, kind of like Madonna…if Madonna actually had a vocal range, wrote her own songs and wasn't burdened by that whole blonde ambition thing. Ok, so now that I think about it she's nothing at all like Madonna.

Nicola rolled into Charlotte, and The Evening Muse, to promote the release of her new album Don't Take It Personally. Even though she only played a short acoustic set, accompanied by her longtime musical collaborator Jules Rosaly on bass, all of the energy and vocal prowess of this visiting diva-in-waiting shone through.

Did I mention that Nicola could sing? The Evening Muse is a small, intimate venue and she filled it. Truth be told, she probably could have filled it if the PA suddenly lost power and all the microphones burst into flame. Encompassed in this raven haired New Yorker is a powerfully trained, theatrical voice, which to me seems as if it could be just as at home on a Broadway stage as the Muse's smaller one.

As Nicola progressed through her set of stripped down original songs and the occasional cover, it also became clear that she could more than hold her own on guitar as well. The combination of voice, acoustic guitar and accompanying bass easily filled out the sonic landscape of those same stripped down songs…and they were even helped by a passing siren that had the amazing fortune of being in the right key and at a perfect place in her last song.

Musically, Nicola has her sights set on Pop, but not the bubblegum Brittney pop that currently saturates what passes for radio these days. She takes the classic foundation of a pop song and weaves in elements of jazz and rock along with just a touch of influence from warmer climates further south to make her own music more than just your average run of the mill pop song.

Nicola and Jules are back in New York for gigs around the City culminating in the last stop on her Don't Take It Personally CD release mini-tour at Pianos on May 2nd, where she will take all of the tunes from her Charlotte appearance and flesh them out with her full band. Hopefully after that she can find her way back down to the Queen City again with her full band and treat us all to the full Nicola experience.
- Joe Mieczkowski