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World is Waiting 4:020:00/4:02
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A Place at the Table 3:090:00/3:09
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0:00/3:28
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0:00/4:08
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0:00/3:20
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0:00/3:52
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0:00/3:38
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When Do I Tell Him 3:010:00/3:01
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I Will Cross Over 3:480:00/3:48
NEWS
After a fabulous time playing in Nashville during AmericanaFest week and at Chicago Live!, fall is on its way to Chicago. I’ll be writing songs for the next album, teaching two classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and on 10/21 I’ll be playing at The Swedish-American Museum and their concert series.
I’m so excited to be playing at the 2022 AmericanaFest in Nashville! Also have more shows in Chicago, including Chicago LIVE! at Navy Pier.
I unveiled a new song at Jenny Bienemann’s haiku milieu — a popular singer-songwriter show in Chicago — on 7/28. Looking forward to recording it this year. It feels great to be writing again after the move from LA to Chicago!
First show with my Chicago band is at Midsommarfest in Andersonville on June 12 at 1:00 PM! See the shows page for more dates.
My interview with Courtney Barnett is the cover story for Guitar Player Magazine! Check out the Feb 2022 issue.
My Chicago-based band is coming together, and hopefully the pandemic will be under control, so that we can be performing in 2022.
My new home town of Chicago is treating me kindly. I got my first writing gig for the Chicago Tribune, covering the Pitchfork Music Festival, and I'm teaching two workshops again at the Old Town School of Folk Music on October 9! Here are the links:
Short and Sweet Solos Made Easy
I had the great honor of writing an eight-page story on Teenie Hodges in Guitar Player Magazine's August, 2021 issue. Teenie played on Al Green's and Ann Peebles' classic albums, and he also co-wrote "Love and Happiness," "Take Me to the River," and many more of Green's classic songs. He has always been one of my guitar heroes, so this means a lot to me.
The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago is legendary, and I’m thrilled to be teaching two workshops there on Saturday, July 10. Here are the links:
Intro to Rock and Americana-style Fills & Solos
Classic Pop & Rock Songwriting Tricks
Very excited about and thankful for all the European radio stations, including Folkal Point (Scotland); Hillbilly Rockhouse, Country Jukebox, N.B.T. Music Radio and Eine kleine Weltmusik (Germany); Blues Jean and Country and Co (France); Highway 61 and Mystery Train (Italy); the Jane Weber Show (Slovenia), the Paul Van Gelder show, Late Night Tracks, Blueprint, Country File, Gonzo's Return, Happy Family Show, and Muziek En Toch (The Netherlands), and Morning Country Music (Denmark) — they are playing every track from World is Waiting!
Late for the Sky in Italy and reviewer Paolo Baiotti gives a stellar review of World is Waiting: "Nikki demonstrates a remarkable sense of melody..."
Hifi & Musik in Sweden and reviewer Bengt Eriksson enjoys World is Waiting: "This is really good. Tough and soft all in one; melodic even those it's bluesy and rockin'. She also has a voice that can handle the tougher genres."
Planet Country in Italy also gives a very positive review of World is Waiting: "...an album that is not long, but always lucid and straightforward, immediate and catchy, from the opening of "That's How You Lose Her" to "Take Back What I Said" which leaves the listener with the awareness of being in front of a name that deserves attention and consideration."
Country Jukebox in Germany gives a glowing review of World is Waiting: “You rarely find such a delightful, musical gem as NIKKI O’NEILL’s new album...”
Germany's Musik An Sich reviews the album too: “The ballad "A Place At The Table" fits very well… the band also presents it very well.”
Popgeni in Sweden has reviewed World is Waiting: “On her second solo album... she understands the art of songwriting and how to deliver, and she demonstrates this with class and style.”
Rootsville in Belgium reviews the album as well: “Nikki O’Neill has a timbre that you never get tired of.”
A music reviewer for the Swedish arts & culture blog Blaskan writes about the album: “I’m listening to an excellent songwriter and musician... One of the finest albums out there right now.”
Six months into my new life in Chicago, I've been playing and teaching a lot of guitar, doing live stream shows, and even started writing a family memoir during the Covid lockdown. But now I'm excited to announce my first live show this year on May 22!
I’ll be swapping songs and talking about favorite books with Arielle Silver on her livestream show, Tomes & Tunes, Thur 3/11 at 2 pm PT/5 pm ET!
Mike Meiers and I talk about finding "your thing" as a guitarist, surprising opportunities, and how to stay creative on his podcast Songwriting for Guitar.
Tune in to Austin Music TV on Thur 2/25 at 9pm Eastern, as they’ll be showing my music video for “World is Waiting”!
In honor of Black History Month, I transcribed Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s great guitar solo on “Up Above My Head.” Watch the video here.
Ireland’s Lonesome Highway reviews my album.
Willie Nelson, Rhiannon Giddens, Mary Chapin Carpenter... and “World is Waiting.” On Rootsy Music’s and reviewer Magnus Eriksson’s list of the Best Albums of 2020!!
Tuesday 12/8, I was interviewed on the Country Du Monde radio show on Gimme Country with host Jimi Palacios!
Lira Musikmagasin — Sweden’s quarterly roots/world music journal — exclusively premieres my new video for “All I Wanna Be is Yours,” calling it “joyful Americana meets road movie.”
Sweden's Rootsy Music and Lira Musikmagasin review my album.
UK magazine Blues from the South reviews my album.
Ditty TV - The Curve airs my music video for “You’re the Only One Who Gets Me” on The Curve Wed Oct 21 at 10 PM Central and Thur Oct 22 at 10 AM.
Americana Highways interviews me about the power of music and my new album.
Take Effect reviews my album, giving it an 8 out of 10 rating.
Americana Highways reviews my album: “Nikki O’Neill gives us one of the brightest and most pleasant listening experiences of the year...”
Guitar Girl Magazine reviews my album. They also interviewed me about it.
My album receives positive reviews in the Netherlands and Belgium! Here are the reviews by Real Roots Cafe, Slim Chance is Back, Keys and Chords, and Rootstime (the last one is in Dutch).
Glide Magazine reviews my album.
American Songwriter exclusively premieres my second video, “World is Waiting,” reviews the album with 4 out of 5 stars, and interviews me! Check it out here!
Vents Magazine exclusively premieres my song, "A Man for All Seasons."
I got added to the “Local Music Spotlight” on KCSN 88.5 FM SoCal on Sept 28 and also on Oct 12!
A truly great weekend for me, having my songs played on Roots Music & Beyond (KPFK 90.7 FM) on Saturday, and also Americana Matinee (88.5 FM) in Los Angeles on Sept 26-27.
A big thank you to NoLA County (WHIV 102.3 FM), Rock Therapy (WPKN 89.5 FM) and the great radio shows in the UK and Germany that have played songs from my album.
Imperfect Fifth has premiered the video for my song, "You’re the Only One Who Gets Me".
Americana Highways is premiering my song, "That's How You Lose Her"!
And Making a Scene is featuring two more songs from "World is Waiting" on their podcast, LIVE from the Midnight Circus. Pre-save the album now.
I'm so happy, grateful and honored to join the artist roster at Blackbird Record Label! My new album, "World is Waiting," is out October 16, 2020.
What role has risk played in YOUR life? In this interview with ShoutoutLA, I share what it's done in mine. I also talk about how I'd give friends a tour of Los Angeles; "Around the World in LA" (Rich's and my culinary & culture project), and my upcoming album...
I want to thank everybody who supported my Kickstarter campaign for my next album, "World is Waiting," which successfully met its goal.
I was very honored to be in the November 2019 issue of Guitar Player Magazine, interviewed by the great blues artist Sue Foley.
In October, 2019, I launched my new guitar lesson channel on TrueFire.com: "Nikki O'Neill's Twang, Soul & Rock 'n' Roll."
We had a great time performing at the 2019 Americanafest as part of the California Country showcases. We also opened for Southern Avenue at Hotel Cafe, which was great fun!
Voyage LA Magazine interviewed me about my multicultural upbringing; how I got into music and when I was a writer in NYC, interviewing Robert Plant and Neil Young.
And Tribe LA Magazine interviewed me about my creative process; style; favorite places in LA and my audition for Courtney Love...
A very special THANK YOU to “The Big Fat Wide Americana Hour” radio show, who listed “When Do I Tell Him” as one of the Best Songs of 2018, and the 100 Americana/Blues stations who played my songs last year, including “The Governor’s Mansion” (New Orleans); “Blues Corner” (UK); “At the Crossroads” (Canada) and many more.
Due to COVID-19, nobody’s performing in the traditional sense now, but you can check out my shows page for live streamed concerts, which I'll be doing more of in 2020-21...
Nikki
MUSIC
You can get my music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Bandcamp, and here below.
"World is Waiting" (2020 album, Blackbird Record Label.)
"When Do I Tell Him" (2018 single, self-released.)
"Love Will Lead You Home" (2017 EP, self-released.)