Nikki Degraff

Some might call her aspiring songwriting career somewhat of a "late bloomer", others might recognize divine timing. Either way, Nikki feels she is right where she needs to be in life even though, at 34 she’s only been writing songs for 2 1/2 years. She’s excited about the direction her songwriting is taking her since she recorded her first professional single, The Princess Song. She is currently penning songs, that are jazzy, acoustic, quirky songs reminiscient of a bygone era. Much like her Papa Jim, she derives great pleasure from hearing and singing bluegrass, american roots, and euro-cafe folk songs. Her grandfather, called Papa, was like the pied piper of her family get togethers. She’d sit at his feet singing along to songs like the Big Rock Candy Mountain, School Days and a Friend named Campbell.
"He had the sweetest, soulful yodel he’d often sing in each of his songs. He was a simple hard working man who felt the freedom to open up and play just for the sweet pleasure and to put a smile on everyone’s face. That’s how I want to be. No pretenses, confident in the simplicity and getting caught up in the moment and having fun with my music --even though there are a million others more skilled and who take it more seriously than I do. It’s what I was born to do. If you would’ve asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, even when I was 6 years old, I would’ve told you, "a singer and an actress". Eventually the actress part got left off (well, okay I still dream of my Oscar acceptance speech!!)