Backstage

Niki 'Rymple

August 2008 | Smooth Jazz

Are you still dreaming of that specific island with its white sandy beaches and its turquoise sea? Well, before you book your tickets, have a listen to We7's brand new artist, Niki 'Rymple. Discovered in Tobago by the musician Andy Cole, Niki has just launched her first album in the UK, "Waiting to be Real". Take a smooth voice, add some gospel energy and a bit of R&B and you get what Niki's music is all about. Don't miss it, it will brighten your day!

The interview

Hi Niki, how are you today?

Hi… I am doing great.

Your first album has just been released, how would you describe it?

I would say that the album is a reflection of the matters of the heart, whether it is love, loss, hurt, pain and even the wild side in some of us that we try to suppress from time to time.

When did you start singing?

I began singing around the age of 7 with my school choir, Scarborough Methodist Alumni. We performed at cultural competitions, hotels and at various functions throughout our island, as well as in the Caribbean and some European countries. As I got older I became one of the lead singers in the choir and later started singing solo.

What are your personal and musical influences?

Musically the work of artists such as Lauryn Hill, Yolanda Adams, Whitney Houston, Usher and Bob Marley have left a great impression in my mind. These are just the major artists.

Personally, I guess I'd say my family and life itself.

How do you go about writing a song? Where do you get your inspiration from?

Haha…if you're referring to the songs on the album, I didn't write them, they were written by Andy Cole. However, I do write…well I've made attempts to write and when I do my inspiration often comes from my life experiences, and the experiences of the people around me. For me, music acts as a voice saying the things people need to hear as well as the things they simply appreciate because they too have experienced it.

How do I go about writing? Well, sometimes a melody comes or a few lines come to me, I write it down or record it on my phone and build from that, otherwise I take what some people call "quiet time" and just write from the heart. Even if I don’t get a song then, I’ll get something.

What was your best moment since you launched "Waiting to be Real"?

I would have to say, hearing and seeing the reactions and responses of those who have actually heard the album and even those who have simply heard about me having an album.

What are your plans for the next few months?

Although I have an album, I'm still in University and school begins in September, but until then I'm going to just relax, and enjoy some quality time with my family.

Any message to our users?

In everything you do, always have an open mind and heart. Life is much more than the tangible things you see before you. Often it's the simplest things, particularly the intangible that has the greatest value. Therefore, live, love and appreciate every aspect of life.