When I was asked to be on Rob Elba’s That Record Got Me High Podcast and pick one album to discuss, I was overjoyed. I have loved Al Green’s records since I was five. Hope you enjoy our enthusiastic nerd-out discussion of Let’s Stay Together… I had so much fun doing this!
Photo: Justina Lee Photography
Three Visual Artists + a Songwriter with a Crazy Vision and a Pair of Nail Scissors
I love the artwork of Joni Mitchell’s album, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, and knew that I wanted my next album to feature some kind of art and not just a photo of me.
It started with one of a gazillion photos of the Chicago skyline that Rich and I took one summer day, when we rode our bikes along Lake Shore Drive. But there was also this amazing, vibrantly colorful mural in Skokie created by the artist PERU143 where I had done an earlier photoshoot with Justina.
Suddenly I got this crazy idea: what if the album cover featured the Chicago skyline, but it was filled in with the mural? To give the graphic designer Renee Castro a clearer idea, I printed out a photo with the skyline, grabbed a pair of nail scissors… and slowly and methodically started to cut out the buildings. It must’ve taken me an hour — a true Zen exercise for my impatient self.
Renee totally got my idea. When I later on asked if I could superimpose a picture of me in a different outfit (the denim jumpsuit), she made it happen. And that’s how you get this album cover, where the great talents of a mural artist, photographer, graphic designer come together with the vision of a songwriter and her nail scissors.
I’ll tell you more about Justina soon!
On the Americana Charts + Album Listening Party + Release Show
Two weeks ago, I heard that my upcoming album entered the Americana Music Association's Top 100 chart in my first week of going for radio airplay! After a week, it's climbed up another ten notches, and it's also #5 on their Bubblin Up chart for albums on the rise.
The first single, “Drive,” is out now. The second one, “Live Like You've Just Begun,” is coming February 7. Right now, the album's songs are being played on radio stations in the U.S. and England, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, and Sweden!
Will you be in Chicago on March 14? Please come and celebrate the album release with me and my band at Val's halla Records! We'll be throwing a listening party, but also play a few of the songs acoustically, show the music video for one of the songs, and since it's the day of the album release, we'll be signing and selling our album on vinyl and CD!
If you're in town on April 1, you're very welcome to our album release show at the Colvin House. It's free to RSVP, and all the details are here.
New Year, New Album and Release Show - Jan 2025
Happy New Year! Regardless of what's happening in the world at large, I hope that 2025 will bring you blessings, happy adventures and glorious dreams coming true.
Five years, a pandemic, a cross-country move during lockdown, and a whole new life in Chicago with a whole new band have unfolded since my last record. How did these changes influence me as a songwriter, singer, guitar player and human being? You're about to find out: my third solo album, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, is coming out on March 14 on Blackbird Record Label, and the first single, “Drive” is out now!
You can pre-add/pre-save the album from the streaming places here or pre-order a digital copy of the album on my Bandcamp page.
Two more singles and one very personal music video will be coming in February. Unlike my previous shorter albums, where I often collaborated on the lyrics with other writers, this album has eleven songs and I wrote all the music and lyrics. I'll reveal the song names and the album art very soon (can't do it quite yet), but I'd like to invite you to mine and my band's album release show in Chicago on April 1!
It's free to RSVP, but make sure you do it now… the Colvin House is a historic Prairie architectural landmark with stained glass windows, crystal chandeliers, ornate moldings and fireplaces. There will be food and drinks, but it's a small intimate space that will fill up fast, so RSVP today.
Stories I Only Tell My Friends was recorded mostly live with my band. Here's a brand new photo of us by Justina Lee Photography, so let me introduce you to the guys! Clockwise from left: Teddy Myers (keys), Chris Corsale (guitar, vocals), yours truly (guitar, lead vocals), Rich Lackowski (drums, vocals) and our new member Andy Mirsberger (bass, vocals).
I can't wait to share this new album with you!
Cheers,
Nikki
My upcoming album, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, is now off to mastering at Carl Saff's studio here in Chicago, and the album artwork is almost completed! In a way, I'll admit, it's a bit sad to leave the creative stage of writing, bringing the tunes to the band, arranging them and recording them in the studio, but that's how it is to send a creative “baby” into the world, and I can't wait for you to hear what we created. My band is NOT some hired guns phoning it in, and we recorded as much as possible of it live, together in one room… the way this type of music should be recorded.
Stories I Only Tell My Friends will be out on Blackbird Record Label on vinyl, CD and digital format. I just did a photo shoot with solo shots, and in December we'll do a photo shoot with the band. Last but not least, I've got a U.S. publicist, European publicist and a radio promoter in the U.S. on board, and I'm working on the album release party show in Chicago, but also some cool events leading up to it that will be on-site and virtual!
Until then, we do have a few shows in Nov-Dec with many of our new songs and great covers by Aretha, Rufus, Ike & Tina Turner, Irma Thomas, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and The O'Jays, so check those dates out here.
Wishing you a great, cozy fall, lighting up the darkness. Light will always win.
Nikki
Woohoo!! 🙌🏻 I’m very excited to tell you that my album, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, will be funded by the Illinois Arts Council. Rich and I recently learned that I’m their Creative Catalyst Grant 2025 recipient! This is the first grant I’ve ever received.
I want to give a very special thank you to those who helped me pull a budget together and shared their experiences with writing grant applications… you know who you are. ❤️🙏❤️
All the 11 songs — which I’ve written all the music and lyrics for this time — are now tracked (there’s one tiny backing vocal left).
The album is recorded by the great John Abbey (who also played bass on 7 tracks) at Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago.
Stories I Only Tell My Friends will be released by Blackbird Record Label on March 14, 2025. Pencil the date in your calendars — there will be a release party!
Also: My band has a new bass player! Andy Mirsberger comes to Chicago from Austin, where he was a pro bassist for the last ten years. We’re super excited to have him onboard.
And if you’re in Nashville for AmericanaFest next week, don’t forget to check out The California Country Show and its sister show The Buzz at Acme Feed and Seed on Sept 18 and 19!
I’ll be playing my set at The Buzz on the 19th at 11:30 am - noon at Acme’s rooftop overlooking the river. And I’ll be joined by some killer players from Chicago, LA and Nashville: Rich Lackowski (drums/vocals), Ted Russell Kamp (bass), Jeffrey Howell (keys) and Mason Keck (guitar).
My third album will be out on Blackbird Record Label and we've got a release date: March 14, 2025! It will feature 11 songs, and this time I've written all the music and lyrics. Nine of the songs feature my Chicago band, which includes Rich Lackowski on drums, Teddy Myers on keys and Chris Corsale on lead guitar (I play solos on three tracks). Other musicians include John Abbey and Chris Stanford on bass. Two songs are stripped down, acoustic songs that are a musical tribute to some of my Chicago gospel/soul guitar heroes. We're tracking the album right now at Kingsize Sound Lab in Chicago, with John Abbey engineering.
Since we're in full album recording mode, we've got one upcoming show in Chicago for you: 9/24 at Gallagher Way outside Wrigley Field.
ALSO: I'll be playing at the 2024 AmericanaFest in Nashville on Thursday 9/19! I'll play at “The Buzz” showcase at the rooftop bar of Acme Feed and Seed, joined by my friends and fellow artists at Blackbird Record Label plus some great California-based Country/Americana artists. More details will come soon!
I got my first radio play in Chicago on WLUW.org 88.7 FM in May! Tom Jackson, who's the host for Somebody Else's Troubles on Saturdays at 11 AM, played “Candy Apple Morning.”
We also have a show at Midsommarfest in Andersonville on Sunday, June 9 at 12:30 PM at the Swedish Stage. We'll also be at Kingsize Sound Lab finishing up the recordings for my next album, and playing shows throughout the summer.
Tonight (Wed April 17), I’m playing my first show at SPACE in Chicago, where my band and I will open for the great Sue Foley.
I also want to thank Wildfire Music + News for premiering “Candy Apple Morning” today! This is the first single off of my next album, which will be released by Blackbird Record Label in October.
After making a cross-country move from LA to Chicago during the height of the pandemic lockdown, it took a while to settle into and get to know my new hometown….I can’t believe it’s been four years. ‘Candy Apple Morning’ is about my favorite time to create, and so I’m glad I didn’t lose that ability. This is what my Chicago band and I sound like, and what you’re hearing is almost completely live. It’s a celebrational feel-good song about small things. Hope you like it!
The first single from my upcoming album is called “Candy Apple Morning” and it'll be released through Blackbird Record Label on April 19! I wrote the music and lyrics, my band plays on it, it was recorded at Kingsize Sound Lab in Chicago with John Abbey as the engineer. Ethan Allen mixed it, Gavin Lurssen did the mastering, and Taylor Hungerford created the awesome artwork.
If you're in Chicago in April, you can get a sneak preview of the tune if you come to our show at Fitzgerald's on April 6, or our show with Sue Foley at Space on April 17!
The first two songs from my upcoming album are currently being mixed. Both are mixed by Ethan Allen (Mavis Staples, Ben Harper), who mixed my World is Waiting album.
Since I'm focused on writing more for the album and being in the studio with my band, the two shows we have in March are local to Chicago: a fun St Patrick's Day festival on 3/17 at Grandpa's Place in Glenview where we're headlining, and one intimate show at the beautiful Colvin House in Uptown.
Don't forget our first single from the album will be out with the spring flowers in early April! :) Come celebrate with us at our shows at Fitzgerald's on 4/6 and at Space on 4/17, where we'll be opening for Sue Foley. Actually the Space show is nearly sold out, there's standing room only!
The webzine Bold Journey asked me to share my thoughts on endurance, and how I keep on keepin’ on. Here’s the interview.
It’s February and this week I start recording my follow up album to “World is Waiting” at Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago! The first single from it will be out early April.
Saturday, Feb 17 I’m teaching a rock and blues guitar workshop at the Old Town School of Folk Music! Riffs, power chords and blues licks — try it out if you’re in Chicago. Acoustic guitarists are welcome.
It’s at 3:00-4:30 PM and it’ll give you a taste of my 8-week rock & blues class (which starts March 4). https://www.oldtownschool.org/teachers/Nikki-Oneill/
Sunday 2/25 at 4:00-6:00, Rich and I will play a duo show at one of Chicago’s coziest breweries — Sketchbook Brewing Company. Food trucks, non-alcoholic drink options, family-friendly and no cover! 4901 Main Street, Skokie
Happy 2024!
The year is off to a great start for us, as me and my band will head into the studio at Kingsize in early February with engineer/musician John Abbey to record two singles that I wrote.
In the early spring, we'll play our first show at Fitzgerald’s Sidebar on Saturday, April 6 at 9:00-11:00 PM.
On Wednesday, April 17 we are opening for the great blues guitarist/singer Sue Foley at SPACE in Evanston, and that will be our first show there. By then, one of my singles will be released.
Wishing you a year filled with bright moments,
Nikki
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Fall is in full swing, and my band and I are working on new songs for my next album and booking shows for 2024. Check out our new live show sampler video with moments from Chicago Ribfest, Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series and the Petty Auditorium/Skokie Library!
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After playing at Ribfest Chicago in August, it is now September. My band and I are for the most part focusing on new songs for my next album, but we have some great shows coming up in Chicago this fall.
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Me and my band got selected by the Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Presenters Network to be a part of the Illinois Arts Tour Roster!
June 2023 is all about writing for my next album, refreshing my live set and getting a first photo shoot with the band done. We also played at Midsommarfest.
Check out my Shows page for shows this summer, including smaller intimate venues and city festivals like Rib Fest and Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series!
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My story on the great Pops Staples is in the May 2023 issue of Guitar Player!
I just came back from two incredible weeks in Brazil with Rich. We visited Rio de Janeiro, the Iguazu Falls and Porto Alegre. It’s great to get out and see the world.
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April ended with a string of fun shows and many new fans who bought CD:s (thank you!). I have some May shows with the band, but I’m mostly focused on writing for my next album.
April will involve the adventure of a lifetime (will tell more later!), but I have three Chicago shows: first a duo gig with drummer Rich Lackowski at the very cozy Sketchbook Brewery in Skokie on Sunday, April 23. My first show with the band at the beautiful Colvin House, a historic lakeside mansion in Edgewater, will be on Tuesday, April 25. We'll also play David Bash's International Pop Overthrow Festival at Montrose Saloon on Friday, April 28. Then I'm in for a two-month period of songwriting for my next album.
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The month of March ended with me teaching workshops in Burt Bacharch's songs for guitar and an intro to R&B/Jazz chords at the Old Town School of Folk Music. My story about Pops Staples came out in the May 2023 issue of Guitar Player, with Ben Harper, Rick Holmstrom and Son Little sharing great perspectives on the man who not only invented a genre, but possibly also creator of the quintessential Americana guitar tone. In spite of a crazy midwestern tornado and rainstorms, the clouds seemed to part for me and my band as we closed out the month with our first show at The Outtaspace, sharing the stage with the excellent Belle Rangers.
**** 2023!
The winter/spring of 2023 brought my first show at a record store (Rattleback Records in Chicago) and the launch of a series of ethnic food stories that I write for the Chicago Tribune. I also covered Aretha, Janis, Bonnie and Rosetta at a tribute show on International Women’s Day, and wrote a story for Guitar Player Magazine on “How to Play Guitar Forever” in collaboration with Dr Lou Jacobs, a chiropractor/acupuncturist who’s worked with Steve Vai, Trey Anastasio, and The Pixies.
On 3/14, I’ll be playing at the Songwriter Night at Fitzgerald’s Sidebar with David Scott Crawford and host Ron Lazzeretti. I also will teach two guitar workshops at the Old Town School of Folk Music on 3/25: Burt Bacharach songs for guitar, and an intro to R&B and jazz chords. Finally, look out for a story I wrote for the upcoming May 2023 issue of Guitar Player — it’s about an artist who happens to mean a lot to me, and three heavy-weight artists offer great insights on this musical visionary.
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My last show for 2022 will be Sat, Dec 17 at the Wrigley building in downtown Chicago! Rich Lackowski and I will play an acoustic set at Nordic House — an event space for Scandinavian culture in the Wrigley.
I’m writing songs for my next album, excited to have a kickass 5-piece band, and we’ve started to book shows for 2023. I’m also working on a story for Guitar Player about a guitarist/songwriter who means a lot to me.
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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:
Pop & Rock Songwriting Tricks
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.