Nico Woodruff

Artist Information

Biography

Nicole Cooley Woodruff, known by the nickname of Nico (pronounced NEE-ko) performs a variety of music accompanying herself with rhythm guitar and playing traditional and original folk songs. Called a "soothing addition to cozy acoustic venues." Nico has also worked in larger ensembles and is always looking for new environments to create and play music including recording opportunities and performance opportunities.

Nico is local to southern Virginia but also travels the Eastern Seaboard to North Carolina, South Carolina, as far north as Pennsylvania, and as far south as Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

Nico's independent CD release is titled "Postcards From Floyd." Currently in 2012, she is creating a new CD of purely original and traditional music for her new project "Creative Oasis." Nico also currently sings every year in the Stone People's Chorus at Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary. For more information go to: www.4QF.org

Nico says, "The inspiration for my collection of songs can be traced throughout my life."

Born in South Alabama she grew up with a musical family surrounded by traditional songs and great album collections. As a child, she loved music and was always singing and trying different instruments at home and in school band.

Also around 15 years of age, Nico began to learn to play rhythm guitar as an accompaniment. She says, "I taught myself Beatles and Joni Mitchell songs... and traditional songs. My lifelong affinity for Scottish and Celtic music might be guessed by looking at my red hair."

In New Orleans in the late 1980s Nico played music in the New Orleans French Quarter both as a busker and in cafés. She was sometimes called "Joni Junior" due to her frequent renditions of Joni Mitchell songs.

Life led her to Maryland, where she performed with several bands including the Washington (DC) Area Music (Wammie) Award nominated group KIVA where she was a strong presence on many of their albums. At that time Nico began to perform at a myriad of venues including festivals, coffee shops, and wedding receptions.

In 1997 Nico passed a vocal audition to sing for "The Washington (DC) Revels" a great accomplishment even though she wasn't able to accept the position due to other creative obligations.

In summer of 2004 Nico was drawn to the music and art culture of Floyd, VA. She's been enjoying playing local venues there, and meeting and collaborating with other musicians in the Shenandoah Valley area and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Nico was voted "Best of Floyd County Virginia! The Floyd Press readers' choice 2006 category Music/Entertainment." Nico is listed on FloydMusic.com along with quite a few other local artists and has a song on "The Music of Floyd" (FMS World) Compilation CD.

Nico is also listed in the April 3, 2008 "New River Voice" magazine as one of the "10 Musical Acts You Should Know." For more information go to: http://newrivervoice.com/archives/1097

Nico performed with KIVA on Saturday, August 8, 2009 which was be KIVA's 20th Anniversary Reunion Concert. KIVA has also featured Nico's original song Sea Called on their new album. You can visit Kiva's website mentioned at the end of the discography below for audio clips of older material from when Nico was in KIVA - credited as Nicole Cooley.

Instrumentation

Nico is a vocalist singing lead/backup/harmony vocals and she also plays rhythm guitar and incidental percussion instruments such as chimes and shakers. She also plays C flute and an unusual instrument the bowed psaltery (related to the dulcimer.)

Discography

Postcards From Floyd
(Nico Woodruff) with Atticus Stoval - lead guitar. 2006

The Music of Floyd Compilation
(Nico Woodruff) with Connie Kolb - native flute. 2006

Folk Remedies
(Nico Woodruff) 2005

KIVA, Live At the Forest Inn
(Nicole Cooley) 1997

KIVA, Finding the Balance Within
(Nicole Cooley) 1994

KIVA, Mother Wisdom
(Nicole Cooley) 1994

KIVA, Alchemy
(Nicole Cooley) 1993

Tribe of Spirit, Voice of the Drum
(Nicole Cooley) 1993

KIVA, Renewal
(Nicole Cooley) 1991

www.KIVAsong.com (For audio clips of recordings Nico participated in with KIVA. You'll hear Nico singing high harmonies and co lead vocals as well as playing rhythm guitar and C flute. Check Nico's sonicbids press tab to see what parts she played on which KIVA albums.

Audio

• Om Song MP3
  Listen  
• Cycle of the Seasons MP3
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• The Listening Room
  

  http://www.wvru.org/listening.html

• Voter's Choice Award
  

  "Best of Floyd County Virginia! The Floyd Press readers' choice 2006 Music/Entertainment."

• Web Review of Kiva's [+ Show ]
  

  "This is the best KIVA CD I've ever heard. All of the songs are wonderful, especially the new versio..."This is the best KIVA CD I've ever heard. All of the songs are wonderful, especially the new version of the Shaman song 'Green Man' and the brand new song 'Go Now'. The CD really captures the energy of a live KIVA concert -- don't miss this gem." -- Web Music Reviews
  
  (Nicole sang co lead vocals and vocal harmonies while playing rhythm guitar and vocally starts the Kiva version of 'Green Man' mentioned in the review. Nicole was also was a strong presence on other songs on the "Live at the Forest Inn" album including her own arrangement of the traditional Scottish song "Twa Corbies."
  
  "Live at the Forest Inn" was nominated for a Washington Area Music (Wammie) Award for 1998 as "Best New Age Album". )

• Magazine Review for Kiva's "Finding the Balance Within" (featuring Nicole Cooley.) [+ Show ]
  

  "'Finding the Balance Within' is the kind of CD you fall in love with on the first listen! Without a..."'Finding the Balance Within' is the kind of CD you fall in love with on the first listen! Without a doubt, KIVA is a major musical voice!" -- RFD Magazine, CaConrad
  
  (Nicole recorded no fewer than three of her own original songs on this album as well as sang co lead and played rhythm guitar on the Kathleen Hannan song "Maria." Nicole also sang harmonies/played rhythm guitar on the Persephone song "Star of the Sea." Nicole sang harmonies/played rhythm guitar on the tradionally influenced song "Devi Puja" as well.)

• Retailer Review of Kiva's "Alchemy" album (with Nicole Cooley.) [+ Show ]
  

  "This is some of the most sophisticated, exciting and satisfying 'women's music' I've heard, and is ..."This is some of the most sophisticated, exciting and satisfying 'women's music' I've heard, and is highly recommended by New Age music buyers." -- P.J. Biroski, New Age Retailer
  
  (Nicole sang background harmonies on the songs "Aphrodite's Daughters" and "Grandmother Spider Woman.")
  

• Buyer Review of Kiva's "Alchemy" album (with Nicole Cooley.) [+ Show ]
  

  "Alchemy is one of my all-time favorite recordings!! The reason I am looking for another copy of it ..."Alchemy is one of my all-time favorite recordings!! The reason I am looking for another copy of it is that I played it so much the tape is shredding from being listened to so much!! There is something here for everyone!! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the Best in New Age music!!" -- beadmonster, from Amazon.com
  
  (Nicole sang background harmonies on the songs "Aphrodite's Daughters" and "Grandmother Spider Woman"

• Magazine Review of Kiva's album "Mother Wisdom" (with Nicole Cooley.) [+ Show ]
  

  "The CDs sound is rich, clear and well produced... the 12 member chorus of powerful women sounds as ..."The CDs sound is rich, clear and well produced... the 12 member chorus of powerful women sounds as if it's been singing as a group for years." Kay Gardner, review from Goddessing magazine
  
  (Nicole was one member of the 12 member vocal chorus on "Mother Wisdom".)

• Buyer Review of Kiva's album "Mother Wisdom" (with Nicole Cooley.) [+ Show ]
  

  "KIVA's music is simultaneously very simple and complex, and the multiple voices blend together seam..."KIVA's music is simultaneously very simple and complex, and the multiple voices blend together seamlessly. The strong vocal harmonizes combine with diverse instrumentation. The result is a collection of songs that are difficult to describe effectively." -- stalkingghostbear, from Amazon.com
  
  (Nicole was one member of the 12 member vocal chorus on "Mother Wisdom.")

• Magazine Review of Kiva's album "Renewal" (with Nicole Cooley.) [+ Show ]
  

  "A high energy collective effort... powerful, spirited vocals." -- Heartsong Review (Nicole sang..."A high energy collective effort... powerful, spirited vocals." -- Heartsong Review
  
  (Nicole sang high vocal harmonies notably on the songs "Garlands and Lightning" and "Lament for Liadon" and also was in the chorus of the chant "The Earth is Our Mother." Nicole also played the C flute on the song "Dance in the Moonlight.")

• Other Reviews from Nicole's Kiva days. [+ Show ]
  

  (Nicole was a part of the group from 1990 to 2000.) KIVA, in one configuration or another, has be...(Nicole was a part of the group from 1990 to 2000.)
  
  KIVA, in one configuration or another, has been performing live since 1990.
  
  "Blending very strong vocal harmonies with rather diverse instrumentation, KIVA performs both traditional pieces and originals. This group takes what inspires them from different religions -- spiritual disciplines as well as a vast amount of musical styles -- and blends them in a huge melting pot of creativity. The result is a collection of discs which are really very difficult to describe effectively. You will find mythology and traces of ancient cultures blending with natural imagery, to create a tapestry of the world's history and preserving it for future generations." -- Naomi de Bruyn(Green Man Review)
  
  
  "While performing, KIVA invites group participation such as singing along with the chants, connection with others in the audience and dancing. A tangible energy is raised in the room and one is likely to laugh and cry, to feel At-One-ment with everyone in the room. At a recent concert most of the people in the room were dancing by the end of the performance. Most of these people were not in the habit of 'dancing in the streets', but it was hard to resist the enchantment of the music." -- P.W.S.A. magazine
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Setlist

Cycle of the Seasons - Original

She Moved Through The Fair - Traditional

The Mountain Sprite - Words by Thomas Moore, original melody

East Virginia - Traditional

Shadows Dreaming - Original

The King of the Faeries - Traditional

Shue Agra - Traditional

Twa Corbies - Traditional

To Drive the Cold Winter Away - Traditional

Om Song - Traditional influenced original

Greensleeves, Traditional

In the Pines - Traditional

The Wayfaring Stranger - Traditional

Creole Girl - Traditional

Henry Martin - Traditional

Sea Called - Original

The Star of the County Down - Traditional

I Climb the Mountain - Traditional

Tom of Bedlam - Traditional

Brentzel Gay - Claude Gervaise (a 16th Century composer)

La Rotta - Traditional Italian 14th Century estample

The Earle Of Salisbury - William Byrd (a 16th Century English composer)

Samanthra - Traditional

Basic Requirements

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