Her voice is poignant with a strong and powerful message that speaks to the times we’re currently in. I listened to this song so many times. It’s gorgeous. She channels Sara Vaughn and Erykah Badu can you hear it? She also equally enjoys Ari Lennox and Victoria Monet and Lil’ Wayne. She reaches in from a VERY different angle that not everyone can hear at first listen. I first saw her at The Hustle a late evening showcasing that ran at the Drake Underground for a little while a few years ago.
We met on the West-end before the COVID lockdown of 2020 started and had no idea whether to wear masks or not-but it was like we’d continued where we had left off that night.I met plenty of new folks that night and some old Toronto faves in the crowd that I recognized and with all the folks I saw, I just knew it was gonna be a dope night!
For the record, all the performers that night were amazing and it made me proud to see locals at a series that was so fresh at the time. It was such a proud moment as 20 years prior, I had always wanted to see stuff like this all over the city!
Take Flight slid right into my Spotify Discover Weeklies sometime in February and I wanna add: I really love both my automated music finds as well as the stuff I’ll always pick first…there’s a specific sound and style I like. I’ve been introduced to some really dope artists (through Spotify) and I take more interest in Canadian ones as I love to hear what they’re working with. ‘Take Flight’ is beautiful. The sweetness in her voice makes the message hopeful, full of wonder and discovery.
Ms.Chambers: Writer,Vocalist,Bramptonian,sometimes performing in Toronto,writes her ass off. As always I asked about the process and it’s quite unique.She went from journal entries and reflections with eventually evolving into songs and later feelings…it was never really about writing poetry.For someone like me who notices words-her lyrics sound pretty poetic…
About her latest track Take Flight: How would you (yes reader,you) best describe meeting your true soulmate? Do you know? Are you sure? It feels the way this song sounds. In a world filled with co-dependent lyrics how would you best pick up on lyrics that describe that knowing, that feeling? The elation,the wonder,the peace and the innocence. Listen to this song a few times-once you hear it-if you know, then you’ll know and you’ll appreciate the once in a lifetime experience through this song.
What would you tell artists who are breaking into the scene? In this case brand new like yourself? I’m new right now…..so I’d say keep putting out music. You don’t need to show everyone what you’re doing but it’s great to have a small circle or group of friends that you can present some of your ideas to make sure they’re real ones who’ll give you honest feedback y’know-A small connected circle,start with that. Sign up for different shows in your city. For example I didn’t know about Brampton’s Very Own was being run by Black Women and I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities from taking part in local stuff.
What’s 2020 been like for you so far? It’s harder to find stuff at the moment since things have slowed down and I added in ‘especially with the Coronavirus’…….and she added ‘since local is the focus we can’t go NOWHERE,yup.’
I saw the Hustle Academy-what I really liked is that she sang covers and later her own stuff…..How do you feel about doing covers? Erykah Badu is my favourite,I love Neo Soul covers and TLC especially. WE might have shows again…I’ve got the same guitar player so we’ll definitely do something again….She recalls that night very clearly, she sang something by Summer Walker, she also did one of her own pieces Committed Fool and TLC’s decades old classic No Scrubs. She likes a little bit of a mix of old and new sounds……
Is the vibe different out there? Nicole proudly states ‘I was born and raised in Brampton….and as a brand new artist yes, I feel the big difference. When I do shows in Toronto I’m often asked where I live and new fans and supporters are often shocked….and we laughed hard at this……cuz I’ve lived out there for some time…….’there’s ALOT of talent in Brampton and sometimes we forget how many people have lived at one time or are from Brampton and please give it props….she starts listing them (artists) off Roy Woods,Alessia Cara,Jessie Reyez and also Tory Lanez…….
Around that time I had attended a FACTOR event Women and Inspire Toronto Serial Entrepreneur & Sandbox Studio Owner/Creator Kiana ‘Rookz’ Easmond spoke about her experiences in the industry-she talks about very specific topics women face-from image development to being questioned for their talent and building a viable and memorable career. Rookz talked about one of the issues she felt Toronto had which folks not sticking around long enough to watch artists grow. I turned the question over to Nicole.
TRUE or no? Is that a thing Nicole? Not sticking around to grow? There are so many new people dropping material every month and yes nowadays Toronto is a bit of a hit factory. It can be overwhelming for both the artists and fans….it’s important to have female artists all existing together so that vocalists and writers can all somehow collaborate alongside each other-it’s as if she knew Meg and Cardi B were about to drop something almost 6 months later…!
I was so excited to talk about Take Flight-For those who know, the feature rap artist ‘Stretch’ is from Scarborough his tone, his flow and his writing is stellar. She loved working with him and she announced that they’ll continue working together in the future. And about the message she didn’t think many people would make the connect at first and at the moment this meet up was right after Valentine’s Day she’s so sweet too when she says ‘I’m really into love right now…. and I wrote this song for the person I hope to meet .I haven’t met him but I wrote it as if I had met him already’ (the power of manifestation at work there.)
For someone who doesn’t write poetically….she sounds like poetic justice. Listen to the song a few times…..If you’re on any kind of a soul mate journey-you’ll really get this…I’ve noticed that her voice has gotten stronger over the years since HCIF How Could I Forget (look up this song) She’s been doing intense vocal warm ups before shows and daily (as her body is her temple) and it has made a HUGE difference with her vocals. We talked about Reiki healing and it’s helped her voice.
About your future: Where do you wanna take this? I want to travel-Europe, the states, anywhere my music will take me. As for collabs-more local collabs…Stretch is on the list Mole, Zensoul, Junia T (who was nominated for Polaris Prize Shortlist in 2020) She notes that they are amazing people and excellent artists. She’s working on an album and is due this September..she’s aiming for an RnB album/jazz flavour with a Hip Hop flavour – she really loves a wikked drum pattern. Expect something a little experimental…it’ll be fun! I write all my music but I want to have some poetry in it finally so working with MCs will bring that extra piece to my next album…
If you’d like more nuggets of treasure-check out her beautiful and growing discography.
From I <3 NY to TORONTO and Everything In Between..... 
Will definitely check her music!!
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