Nicola Williams

It was when she was teaching English in China in 1999 that Welsh-born Nicola Williams discovered the beauty of her singing voice. “It took being on the other side of the world where no-one knew me, to begin to find out the possibilities for my life”. Soon after, the poetry she wrote turned into songs and she learned to play guitar to perform in Galway.

Nicola’s interest in being a performing artist grew as she studied for her Masters Degree in Community Development at NUI, Galway. She worked in the field of Community Development as a researcher for a while, but realised her greatest potential was to be found in a full-time musical career, which she embarked upon in 2006, with the recording of her debut album “Beautiful Arrangement”, launched at Roisin Dub in Galway.

Nicola’s songs are a unique and melodic celebration of what she calls “…the beautiful arrangement that is this universe”. Some of her songs are tender and rich, with poignant, wise and honest lyrics, whilst others are a little more gritty, with hints of a darker element. “The songs are an expression of my spirit, heart and body. That makes them many different things”

Nicola’s main influences include Bjork, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Madonna, Portishead and Massive Attack, but she also acknowledges influences from wider sources. “I feel that all music I hear influences my writing in some way…it’s all interwoven and springs from the same fountain for us all”

Nicola’s belief in her debut album and career as a singer-songwriter is inspiring to witness and carries a sense of limitlessness that makes you want to keep watching and listening. “I know I can create anything I want in this life that I want and my music is just my bliss…when I’m singing my mind gets out of the way and I experience a sense of freedom and beauty that’s indescribable…this is how I am going to keep living my life”