Nadjah Nicole

Wilmington

Established
Music: Contemporary Performance

By: Gail Obenreder

“I no longer write for a specific genre or trend; I write from my journey . . . free to feel out where a song is leading me and just enjoy the ride.”

A musical professional since the age of twelve, singer and songwriter Nadjah Nicole has been singing for her entire lifetime. Writing and singing about “what moves my soul,” Nicole “takes pieces of my life and the lives of others,” matching them with words and music and inviting her listeners “to feel safe in joining the moment with me.”

The oldest of three girls, the soulful Delaware native was born on the Dover Airforce Base and raised by her parents in New Castle. She spent several years in Philadelphia for college, but Nicole returned to her home state after the birth of her oldest daughter and has lived in the First State ever since.

Early on, Nicole was introduced to singing by her music-loving parents – her mother in the R&B and soul genres and her father in the gospel realm – but she also found inspiration in musicians like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and Anita Baker. Today, she follows people like Lisa Fischer, Jazzmeia Horn, and Esperanza Spalding for contemporary inspiration.

A frequent headliner in concerts throughout the region, Nicole has been featured at prestigious events like Wilmington’s Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and the Ladybug Festival, and she’s performed at a score of venues, including The Queen, Winterthur, Delaware Art Museum, and OperaDelaware’s A Divine Night in Delaware.

These varied appearances have allowed her to work with musicians who have differing backgrounds, affording her the confidence and freedom as a writer “to break traditional songwriting structures . . . so that words and melodies guide the songs with more honesty.” Now with a “newfound appreciation” for her inner strength and vision, and freeing herself from “negative chatter,” Nicole is working on a new album that is “entirely conceptualized, written, and constructed by my own thoughts and ideas” that is scheduled for release in 2025.

“Empty Room,” 2024
Length of full work: 3 minutes 48 seconds
Instrument or voice part in the sample: vocals

“Foolishly in Love,” 2023
Length of full work: 3 minutes 51 seconds
Instrument or voice part in the sample: vocals

Despite her thriving career and continual accolades, Nicole finds herself still challenged by “my own overthinking” and continues to strive for authenticity rather than following any trends. And it’s an ongoing challenge to find creative time. With three children, “I don’t have the energy I [formerly] had, so I have to choose wisely.” She greatly values the connections with the audience who have heard and applauded her songs, saying that “it blesses me” when her work makes them “safe enough to feel something.”

Nicole is also passionate about the natural world – animals and gardening and “being outside in the sun.” It’s her long-range plan to one day own a farm, “a few acres and some animals,” where she can “teach kids about gardening and make music in my barn!”

The Established Fellow has worked hard since the COVID epidemic to “be a better person and artist, focusing on my mental health and my artistry.” The Division’s Fellowship has validated that she is on the way to achieving those goals, and it also will allow her the financial freedom to “focus solely on what comes from my heart.” The Award has also reminded her that, as an artist, “the only thing holding me back is me. It’s never too late to start over.”

 

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