Meet Nikki Holland
CanvasRebel.com
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nikki Holland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nikki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My mom was big on “The Golden Rule” of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” My mom is a lot like a mix between Mary Poppins and Yoda, and she always has encouraged me to uplift those around me. It’s not always easy to take the high road. Still, the enduring encouragement led me to a nerdy moment a few years ago wherein I considered the passionately debated topic of equality. I paused and asked myself why I would want to be equal with anyone ignorant, racist, agist, etc. My mom always taught me to take the high road. Do for others what you would want to be done for you. Born from this has been what has become a locally well-known motto, “Until We Are Equal, Be Greater Than.”
This motto has opened doors for many conversations, created bonds, and is proudly worn on shirts sold even now internationally. The wonderful gifts of perspective and endurance are two of the gifts my mom gave me that I hope to share.
***Read the full article at https://canvasrebel.com/meet-nikki-holland/?fbclid=IwAR1C_z-ehYTDFy0nt8YRTTM7R363vcU1KeFJHCRhlfn06mVQ9Y_-lNLxyv4
CanvasRebel.com
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nikki Holland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nikki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My mom was big on “The Golden Rule” of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” My mom is a lot like a mix between Mary Poppins and Yoda, and she always has encouraged me to uplift those around me. It’s not always easy to take the high road. Still, the enduring encouragement led me to a nerdy moment a few years ago wherein I considered the passionately debated topic of equality. I paused and asked myself why I would want to be equal with anyone ignorant, racist, agist, etc. My mom always taught me to take the high road. Do for others what you would want to be done for you. Born from this has been what has become a locally well-known motto, “Until We Are Equal, Be Greater Than.”
This motto has opened doors for many conversations, created bonds, and is proudly worn on shirts sold even now internationally. The wonderful gifts of perspective and endurance are two of the gifts my mom gave me that I hope to share.
***Read the full article at https://canvasrebel.com/meet-nikki-holland/?fbclid=IwAR1C_z-ehYTDFy0nt8YRTTM7R363vcU1KeFJHCRhlfn06mVQ9Y_-lNLxyv4
A Night Out on the Town with Nikki Holland and Camila Ballario
SeMiBluegrass.com
"...The night's headline act was Detroit folk-rocker Nikki Holland and the Dirty Elizabeths. Perhaps no band leader I have met better exemplifies what it takes to find success in the Southeast Michigan Music scene. She is personable and outgoing, taking the time to work the crowd and talk to everyone. She has amazing stage presence and remembers to thank the bar, the band, and the staff as well as the audience--and it takes all of these to have a great evening. The band pays attention to the sound mix, and you can hear each part clearly throughout the room--and they play at a volume that is loud enough to carry, but quiet enough to comfortably hold down a conversation, even near the front of the stage...
She literally has "something for everyone". On stage, she mixed outstanding original folk-rock songs with just the right number of memorable and easily recognizable cover tunes to keep the crowd on their feet and on the dance floor. It is impossible NOT to have a good time at a Nikki Holland show.
... Nikki is a master showman on stage--as comfortable belting out high-energy vocals as she is interacting with the crowd between songs (and always with a genuinely warm smile on her face). And what a band this singer-songwriter brings with her. My old friend Andy holds down the guitar duties and is as comfortable playing electric blues, southern slide and even acoustic guitar depending on the mood of the song...
Holding court on the kit was Brian "BC" Cox, a true master of percussion dynamics. I love that he plays a fairly simple kit and can resist the rock-drummer impulse that ruins so many live shows. He's also added a killer cowbell rhythm to a couple of songs that was perfect for the glass-and-brick walls of the venue. A highlight of the evening was the closing number where each member of the band took a short solo...until BC's turn came. Moving effortlessly from snare to toms to cowbell to cymbals, BC rose to his feet and kept the rhythm going as he played his way across the stage, up the mic stands, down the dance floor and onto the beer bottles and table tops in the crowd. It was a real show-stopper and the crowd loved it. I hope he keeps "playing the bar" in his repertoire for upcoming shows."
***Read the full review at http://semibluegrass.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-night-out-on-town-with-nikki-holland.html
SeMiBluegrass.com
"...The night's headline act was Detroit folk-rocker Nikki Holland and the Dirty Elizabeths. Perhaps no band leader I have met better exemplifies what it takes to find success in the Southeast Michigan Music scene. She is personable and outgoing, taking the time to work the crowd and talk to everyone. She has amazing stage presence and remembers to thank the bar, the band, and the staff as well as the audience--and it takes all of these to have a great evening. The band pays attention to the sound mix, and you can hear each part clearly throughout the room--and they play at a volume that is loud enough to carry, but quiet enough to comfortably hold down a conversation, even near the front of the stage...
She literally has "something for everyone". On stage, she mixed outstanding original folk-rock songs with just the right number of memorable and easily recognizable cover tunes to keep the crowd on their feet and on the dance floor. It is impossible NOT to have a good time at a Nikki Holland show.
... Nikki is a master showman on stage--as comfortable belting out high-energy vocals as she is interacting with the crowd between songs (and always with a genuinely warm smile on her face). And what a band this singer-songwriter brings with her. My old friend Andy holds down the guitar duties and is as comfortable playing electric blues, southern slide and even acoustic guitar depending on the mood of the song...
Holding court on the kit was Brian "BC" Cox, a true master of percussion dynamics. I love that he plays a fairly simple kit and can resist the rock-drummer impulse that ruins so many live shows. He's also added a killer cowbell rhythm to a couple of songs that was perfect for the glass-and-brick walls of the venue. A highlight of the evening was the closing number where each member of the band took a short solo...until BC's turn came. Moving effortlessly from snare to toms to cowbell to cymbals, BC rose to his feet and kept the rhythm going as he played his way across the stage, up the mic stands, down the dance floor and onto the beer bottles and table tops in the crowd. It was a real show-stopper and the crowd loved it. I hope he keeps "playing the bar" in his repertoire for upcoming shows."
***Read the full review at http://semibluegrass.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-night-out-on-town-with-nikki-holland.html
June 05, 2013,
Nikki Holland Shows Diversity with "Hold On"
Examiner.com
"Hold On" demonstrates an eclectic catalog of music genres that are clearly designed to shoulder the meaning and emotions of their respective tracks. Further, it is atypical from debut CD's that forever lock a new artist into a particular genre, thus, hindering them from ever demonstrating future musical variance.
The journey through the styles presented begins with the song, "The Only Words", that reflects the desire to seek resolution to relationship struggles before the proverbial "too little, too late" result occurs. What is unique in this colloquial rendering is the construction of the music behind the cycle of emotions that occur throughout the song. This music support is common throughout the CD.
Now, the diversity does not end at the incorporation of differing genres. The subject matter and perspectives, thereof, tug at not only frustration to emotional pain but also serve the sultry side of desire as heard in "Secret". This little gem will make even the most sexual boaster in your circle of friends blush while looking for a pole to brush up against.
There's even something for the crowd who loves the hard and aggressive sounds of the female voice in "Miss Understood". Just when they thought the CD wasn't going to have a full section of feedback guitars, the listener becomes pleased with a song having some hard distortion and, wouldn't you know it, a grungy guitar solo to finish it off!
While this reviewer would have rather heard a more representative song like "At All" as the first song to get him in an excited state as preparation for a great journey, this artist is certainly one to watch climb the charts to stardom.
I highly suggest picking up a copy of "Hold On" from any of the major online music retailers as Nikki is now in the studio recording her second CD. Now would be a good time to start obtaining her catalog.
Nikki Holland Shows Diversity with "Hold On"
Examiner.com
"Hold On" demonstrates an eclectic catalog of music genres that are clearly designed to shoulder the meaning and emotions of their respective tracks. Further, it is atypical from debut CD's that forever lock a new artist into a particular genre, thus, hindering them from ever demonstrating future musical variance.
The journey through the styles presented begins with the song, "The Only Words", that reflects the desire to seek resolution to relationship struggles before the proverbial "too little, too late" result occurs. What is unique in this colloquial rendering is the construction of the music behind the cycle of emotions that occur throughout the song. This music support is common throughout the CD.
Now, the diversity does not end at the incorporation of differing genres. The subject matter and perspectives, thereof, tug at not only frustration to emotional pain but also serve the sultry side of desire as heard in "Secret". This little gem will make even the most sexual boaster in your circle of friends blush while looking for a pole to brush up against.
There's even something for the crowd who loves the hard and aggressive sounds of the female voice in "Miss Understood". Just when they thought the CD wasn't going to have a full section of feedback guitars, the listener becomes pleased with a song having some hard distortion and, wouldn't you know it, a grungy guitar solo to finish it off!
While this reviewer would have rather heard a more representative song like "At All" as the first song to get him in an excited state as preparation for a great journey, this artist is certainly one to watch climb the charts to stardom.
I highly suggest picking up a copy of "Hold On" from any of the major online music retailers as Nikki is now in the studio recording her second CD. Now would be a good time to start obtaining her catalog.