Author Topic: Nikki Grier Interview (Album/Dre/Aftermath) (Read 197 times)

TRG · « **on:** January 26, 2011, 07:58:41 PM »

http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/255081-nikki-grier-the-interview

The Wrap Up: You don’t sound quite like anybody else we have out right now. Are you classically trained or is this natural for you?

Nikki Grier: No, this is church trained! My dad is a minister, so I grew up singing in church. So that’s where it comes from.

TWU: So what, you have Mahalia Jackson influences? You tell me who your influences are...

Nikki Grier: Oh gosh! They range from a lot of gospel acts. As I was growing up, up until I was probably about 13, I wasn’t really allowed to listen to a lot of secular music. I mean, I would obviously sneak and listen to it anyway. So a lot of my influences growing up are like The Clark Sisters, The Winans and Albertina Walker. I grew up listening to that. But then, my dad loves Motown, so I was able to listen to Gladys Knight. Basically anything Motown. Then I also grew up listening to Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker and Sade. Those are my influences.

TWU: Wow! Naming The Clark Sisters then on to Sade, I would say that’s a wide range. It’s interesting, because we don’t hear a lot of people name Sade as vocal influence…

Nikki Grier: I love Sade! When I listen to music, I'm listening for different things. When I want to hear that raw emotion I’ll listen to some Mary J, or some Aretha, or even some Gladys. When I want to hear that quiet intensity, I listen to Karen Carpenter or Sade. Someone that gets the point across without pounding it in your head. They have intensity there, but it’s a quiet intensity. That’s what I love about Sade, she is just so sensual. Her tones reach you without her over-exerting anything.

TWU: Your favourite Sade song?

Nikki Grier: My favourite Sade song would have to be, ‘Love Is Stronger Than Pride’. I can relate so much to the words.

Nikki Grier starts to recite lyrics: “I still really, really love you. Love is stronger than pride. I won’t pretend that I intend to stop living. I won’t pretend I’m good at forgiving. But I can’t hate you, although I’ve tried. I still really, really love you. Love is stronger than pride…”

TWU: Wow! I didn’t want you to stop. I’m impressed. Now, on to your vocal style. Not only do you have an old school feel, but I also understand that the church had a big influence on you, so describe your vocal style…

Nikki Grier: The (vocal) style is soul with a hip-hop edge to it. I don’t think I picked it. I think it picked me. I think it’s who I am. Because I grew up in the church and it was all about, ‘You’re gon’ sing until people come down to the alter.’ So you have to go in (laughs). You have to evoke some emotion in people. Growing up, my mother always said, ‘If you’re going to sing, I better feel it. If you don’t feel it, then you might as well stop.’ That’s my approach with every record. If I can’t make you feel it, then we need to move to the next record. The hip-hop aspect of it just came along because I grew up on the West Coast. I grew up on Dre and Snoop and all that. I just love that sound. Then when I started working with Dre, all the beats he would give me to write to would be really hard. But he wanted me to sing the way I sing. So the style just came about that way.

TWU: Your physical style. Tell us what it is and why it reflects you...

Nikki Grier: My exterior is more like 50s pin-up girl. It’s very pin-uppy! That is just because I’m in love with the women of the 40s and 50s. I love that voluptuousness. The classic lady that is sexy, but not overtly. I think in my songs, some of them can be very sexual or very forward in nature, so I wanted to take a softer side, a softer approach in terms of imaging. I can’t say that AND be all crazy with it outwardly.

TWU: Like your song ‘Downtown’ with Busta Rhymes? You and Busta Rhymes were getting it in for a minute there…

Nikki Grier: (Laughs) Yes! And it’s funny. Whenever I meet people they say the same thing over and over. They don’t believe that it’s me. They’re like, ‘OK, the voice yes, but is that really you?’ I used to have to sing for people on the spot for them to believe me. They don’t get the image and the sound. It’s kind of crazy for them.

TWU: You have a new album, or is ‘Broke My Heart’ a single?

Nikki Grier: ‘Broke My Heart’ is a single, produced by Dready. He did the production for Lloyd Banks’ ‘Any Girl’. It’s kind of the record we are promoting right now. We shot a video for it and it’s gonna be on the forthcoming album, ‘Soulgasm Vol. 6’. We’re probably going to release it on iTunes.

TWU: Talk us through your plans for the album.

Nikki Grier: ‘Soulgasm Vol. 6’ is actually the new album. Its nine songs long, four of which are already floating around out there. But we are going put it together the right way and release it. I’m working on some new stuff. I’m working with Busta Rhymes. I’m a part of his click called The Conglomerate, so there are plans there to do a project through his label. I’m gonna continue to work and put out my music independently until the right situation comes along.

TWU: International radio exposure is always a great thing. Do you think some of the more explicit lyrical content is hurting your chances of getting played on radio? Like ‘Downtown’, for example…

Nikki Grier: I don’t think that makes it hard. If they can put Lil Wayne’s ‘Every Girl’ on, then I don’t think that’s an issue. I think at first, it may be hard to digest a woman talking like that, but believe it or not, a lot of women hit me saying, ‘Thank you for saying that. I feel like that, but I can’t say it.’ I get a lot of emails like that. I say a lot of things that women are thinking, but out of fear of not being ladylike enough, they keep it to themselves.

TWU: Your background vocalist experience is incredible. Michael Jackson? Tell us about that experience.

Nikki Grier: Yes. I sang on Michael Jackson’s ‘History’ album as a kid. I think I was about 12, I was in a gospel group called All Of God’s Children. We were put together by Lou Adler. He put together the Mamas and Papas. He put us together and we had an album out, then we started singing background for different people and doing a lot of shows. There was a call from one of the producers, they needed 10 girls to come and sing for Michael Jackson. When I got the call, I was so excited. It was at the same time as one of the trials was happening. One of the young boys had come out with an allegation, the whole child molestation thing. So he was leery about being around children at that time. So unfortunately, I didn’t’ get the chance to meet him. He was there at the studio, but he didn’t come in and meet us. He would send little notes through his producers telling us we were doing a good job, but yeah, we didn’t get a chance to meet him. It was amazing that I had the opportunity to be on that project. Years later I was able to visit Neverland. I was able to go with 15 other people and sing and see Neverland. I didn’t get on any rides. I was in such awe when I got there, I couldn’t believe it. You know? You see it on TV, but you have no idea how massive that place is! So, I was in the movie theatre and he had his own movie theatre. There’s somebody behind the counter like a regular movie theatre and you just get all the candy and all the stuff you want for free. I was at the zoo, he has a zoo there. I was just in awe. Then I was performing.

TWU: What’s next for Nikki Grier?

Nikki Grier: The thing I have on the table right now. We’re going to be releasing ‘Soulgasm Vol. 6’ and I’m currently working with Busta Rhymes on his new albums too. I’ve also been working with Dr. Dre on ‘Detox’…

TWU: In what capacity did you work on that album? Background vocals? Song-writing credits? Lead vocals?

Nikki Grier: I’m writing and I’m singing. So I’ve written some hooks for the album and I’ve written and sung a bunch of stuff for the album too. I was actually just there last week. I cut another record and a hook. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that these songs actually make it, but as I said, he is very much the perfectionist and wants to make sure that if this is his last album, it’s gonna be the thing to really be remembered by. I can completely understand that.

TWU: How was it working with Dr. Dre on such a historical album? What’s the studio vibe like?

Nikki Grier: It’s fun! Don’t get me wrong, there are intense moments where you better have what you’re supposed to be doing. But for the most part, whatever kind of song we’re trying to create then, that’s the atmosphere that Dre creates. So if it’s a party record, then it’s a party going on. You know? He creates that atmosphere so that we are able to instantly go into that atmosphere. Every now and then we might just be on some hard s**t trying to figure it out. It really depends. But obviously, he’s a person that’s going to pull your best out of it. I can honestly say that when I joined Aftermath, I was good, but he raised the bar so high for me. He pushes you. He pushes you to your limit. There have been days where I’m like, ‘I know this is hot.’ Then I give it to him. He’s like, ‘Mmm. It’s alright.’ So it’s the fire he lights in you. He’s constantly making you raise your bar, so I’m very appreciative of that.

TWU: ‘Detox’ is like the Loch Ness Monster. Purely urban legend at this point...

Nikki Grier: (Laughs) Well, you know Dre is a perfectionist; he is not going to put it out until its right. I can’t even tell you how many records he’s done for that album. We are all still walking on eggshells hoping our song makes it. We’re not really sure; I’m not sure which of my records is going to make it.

TWU: Lastly, tell the fans where they can find you online.

Nikki Grier: www.NikkiGrier.com. I’m on Facebook and Twitter under Nikki Grier. You can find my songs on websites like www.ThisIs50.com, www.AftermathMusic.com, www.Soultrain.com and more.

Stay up to date with Nikki Grier on Twitter – www.twitter.com/NikkiGrier