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You may have seen Nicky's name at the bottom of a song you have sung at church. She is a Sydney based singer/songwriter who also writes music for churches. Her most recent solo album is called "The Secret of the World" and has just been released. So let's hear her story as she chats with LISA SMITH.
LS: Tell us what kind of music you sing Nicky: I have 2 distinct parts to my musical life really. I write songs for churches to sing and in this regard I am involved with a small record company called EMU. EMU has as its core business making and distributing great, biblical songs that are cool to sing. We want to help people respond to the truth with depth and joy. But I also do solo /acoustic concerts and the songs I sing at these are very different. My solo stuff is a folk/jazz/blues/pop / (anything you can think of) / fusion, but with just me and a guitar. I love doing it! It is where I really get to dig deep and deliver. The gigs are arranged by churches who then do up the venue to look like a cafe with candles etc, very warm and atmospheric! I sing mainly original stuff.
LS: Tell us about your new album "The Secret of the World" Nicky: I haven't done a solo album for about 7 years. I have been writing songs that are just about life and funny everyday things like watching too much T.V., my street, the downside of being a musician etc..as well as some more directly Christian material. The "SECRET OF THE WORLD"; the title track, is a song about how I feel like I'm an outsider most of the time. I was in town one day at a pedestrian crossing. Every one else was in suits and had great shoes and knew where they were going and why. The idea that they all had a secret I was not privy to seemed a great idea for a song. I start my gigs with this song so people get to know me and know all my insecurities right off the bat. They know they will not be patronized after they hear this song!
LS: Who comes to your gigs and what are they like? Nicky: People from the churches invite their friends (especially friends who are not particularly involved in church) and I give them a show of 2 x 35 minute halves. So there is usually a good mix of people there. I sing and tell stories about life, and gradually tell my faith story. It's casual and kind of intimate. I explain that I don't come from a particularly religious family and that I came to Christianity as a teenager. I then introduce some compelling Jesus stories, mainly from Luke's gospel. I encourage people to pursue God and not just guess about him. I also suggest that they could ask the people that brought them why they are Christians. It is done with good taste and a lot of humor. It is challenging and pretty intense at times but not manipulative.
LS: So what is your faith story? Nicky: Ever since I was tiny I asked the hard questions about life and death..What is life for? What happens after you die? What's the point if you are going to die anyway. I don't come from a particularly religious family. I always longed to know more about God. My kind mother took me to church for a while then a few years later I went on a weekend away with the Christian group from my school. I went to a prayer meeting and I saw that these people talked to God with respect and awe, but like He loved them..and they loved Him. I was overwhelmed by God's love at that moment I knew I wanted "in". God graciously has accepted me into His family. The next 28 years have been about learning who this Jesus really is , and getting involved with God's people . I have been so blessed by the great, profound, challenging and intelligent Bible teaching I have had for 20 years at the church I go to.
LS: Is it hard to be in the Music Industry as a Christian? Nicky: I have not had any experiences as a musician where it's hard to be a Christian. Other musicians in different circumstances may face harder struggles. I think these days that most people in the arts are kind of "spiritual" and my faith has been nothing but respected by those I've worked with who think differently. In fact it's almost kind of trendy at the moment, which is interesting. Some of the most well respected musicians in the country and in the world are deeply committed Christians. Maybe if I tried to crack the pop market I'd be told to "shed a few pounds" and get my wrinkles seen to! I'd have a huge clash of values then! But that's a women's issue not just a faith issue!
LS: What advice would you give young musicians? Nicky: The value of music is in its beauty and emotional impact. Whether that is for one person or thousands. So use your energy to go for quality. As you strive for quality remember that making lots of money from your music and getting lots of rap for it is not what makes you a good musician or what makes the activity valuable! I have had the opportunity to sing for large gatherings. But for me these were not the most memorable gigs. Singing for a small group who really got into it, singing for a bunch of people who I can see are really moved, singing around a campfire with my family, singing in my lounge room to myself and God, they are the best gigs I've done! I saw a great musician on a DVD encourage people by saying " just play music because you can't bear not to" . That resonated with me pretty much!
LS: You mentioned family. Is it hard to juggle family life with working etc? Nicky: It's not too bad. I am pretty old fashioned about being around for the boys after school etc. Our boys are 13 and 11. Most of the music work I do is at night after Graeme is home and he is very keen on what I do and supports this ministry 100%. So they have boys nights when I am out singing. By the way, I also support his ministry 100%. He has a ministry to students at Sydney University which he has been involved with for many years. We are both pretty passionate about student work and it's a special place to be working. Last year I went back to work as a school counsellor at a school in the Southern suburbs of Sydney. I work 2 days a week in a job share situation. It is very challenging and a great privilege to be involved in this kind of work. I get the school holidays at home and I can often get home not too late. So I feel like I don't have to "juggle" all the time. I don't cope well with rushing around. I get grumpy and unpleasant. So I have 3 days a week at home to do music stuff and to have space for other important things (like listening to Sting!) The last song on my album is kind of about this. It's called "What We Sow Now". We have a certain amount of time energy and resources given to us in this life and we invest it. Whether we carefully plan that investment or just drift along not thinking about how we spend it . Either way, we will reap what we sow. If you don't invest time and effort in your relationships with God and people they won't be healthy and it will come back to bite you one day! In fact the whole of this new album is about whether we will be sucked in by illusion and hype, or if we will go for real things that really matter. If the album helps people think about that it will have been worth every hour of work! You can buy Nicky's album by ringing 0432 215 540, or email . See ALBUMS link for more info. |
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