Nicole Vaughn

"...mark our words she's the area's next big thing if she plays her cards right. Her self-released album Walk into the Night was one of the surprise under-the-radar albums of 2009 and her audience is building with every show." -
www.la-underground.net - LA Underground

Nicole Vaughn has the kind of stage presence that transcends the roar of late-night bar chatter. Her voice—mighty and sincere at the same time—quiets down the buzz in local venues and surprises audience members into listening intently. The petite blonde is in her early twenties and recently added a full band to her act; it has boosted her from the realm of coffee-shop singer/songwriter to a folk force to be reckoned with. This year, the Laguna Niguel resident released her second album, Say It, produced by Kelly Winrich (Delta Spirit), and received a Best Folk nomination from OC Music Awards.


Matt Morgan
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La Cave
1695 Irvine Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Category: Restaurant > American Region: Costa Mesa Photos
Details
Nicole Vaughn with Charles Mansion at La Cave, www.lacaverestaurant.com. Tues., 10 p.m. Free. 21+. For more information about Vaughn, visit nicolevaughn.com.

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Nicole VaughnLaguna NiguelKelly WinrichOC Music AwardsArts, Entertainment, and Media


OC Weekly: What's it like singing hyper-personal songs onstage?

Nicole Vaughn: Definitely frightening. Especially when I play "Everything We've Built"—that's the most personal. It's about my family. I hope I don't hurt other people when I sing these songs. I'm a quiet person, and I don't share my personal life in conversation, so putting it out in a song is, like, the same thing. It's scary, but I wouldn't play it onstage if I weren't ready to.



Why is it scary?

It makes me vulnerable to have a song that someone can pick apart when it's your soul that's put into it. If you were ever to get negative feedback, that would be pretty hard to hear.



Why was "Say It" the title track?

For this album, there were so many sensitive songs that I was afraid to put out there, and I was like, "Whatever. Fuck it. I'm just going to put it out there, and if people don't like it, that is what it is. I'm just gonna say it."



Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?

It could be from my own story, relationships , family, or books. For "Soldier," I was reading Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, and for "Too Young," I was reading Lolita.



Where did the idea for your album cover come from?

Camilla Behroozian did this album, Say It, and the Walk Into the Night cover also. This album was inspired by an art nouveau piece [Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen's Clinique Cheron]. It's a veterinary advertisement. I incorporated my dogs and my animals and guitar into it. I really love art nouveau, and it seemed to fit with the vibe.



Is there anything that has changed in your career over the past year?

Putting the band together. I've always wanted to play in a band; I never wanted to be the acoustic singer/songwriter. That's very limiting. I wanted to make a louder sound and be a little more rocking.



What's your goal in playing music?

I would love to be on a label and tour with bands I admire. If I could live off playing music, that would be amazing. Pretty simple. I don't want to be like Taylor Swift and play on a big stage; that kind of fame freaks me out. I just want to be able to create and write good music.
- OC Weekly

Beneath the warm lights that heat McClain’s Coffeehouse in Downtown Fullerton stands a beach-blonde young woman. Her hair curls into her face while she looks down to blow into the harmonica mounted before her, and while her stature is thin, she strums her expensive-looking guitar that’s one size too large like a professional.
Unscathed by the males who she competes with on the local music circuit, Nicole Vaughn is not a little girl in the swamp of overpowering local musicians. As a nominee for “Best Folk Artist,� at the Orange County Music Awards as well as a respected touring musician, Vaughn is a young artist on the rise.
This past Thursday, Vaughn made a long-awaited return to McClain’s Coffeehouse to perform at the Black Sheep Show — a weekly songwriter showcase hosted by veteran local musician Mike Vitale. The room was silenced as Vaughn made eye contact with audience members while singing about heartbreak in a contemporary folk fashion. And while at the ripe age of 22, Vaughn stands her ground as one of the youngest notable musicians in Orange County.
“I often find that I build quite the fortress when it comes to accepting a songwriter’s efforts as art,� Vitale said. “Nicole’s impeccable songwriting and uniquely eloquent voice reminds me of a Trojan Horse: Once you realize that she has breached your defenses and senses, it’s already too late.�
With influences like Mason Jennings, Neko Case, Gillian Wesh and Wilco, it’s hard to believe that such an artist has emerged from Orange County rather than the artistically gloomy skies of Seattle or Portland.
“I started writing crappy poetry when I was 11 years old, and I listened to Jewel, which is the embarrassing truth,� Vaughn said. “Then I heard Mason Jennings, and he inspired me beyond belief. I started playing the guitar and writing when I was 13.�
Like many musicians who sprout out of Orange County, Vaughn got her start at the Artist’s District in Santa Ana. At the Gypsy Den restaurant, Vaughn played her very first open mic in 2008.
“I went and didn’t know what to expect. I had to wait in a long line, and by chance I got on the list,� Vaughn said. “I was shaky and freaking out.�
In the past two years Vaughn has come a long way, making strides that age-old local musicians have yet to conquer. She has traveled the country promoting an independent documentary, and she has released two albums with another in the works.
Due out in February, Vaughn plans to release her third album showcasing even more heart-felt lyrics and folk-styled arrangements.
“Besides talent and looks, she’s an honest songwriter,� said Jesse MacLeod, 26, a local musician. “The honesty and purity in her demeanor is what draws people to Nicole Vaughn.�
What’s most shocking about Vaughn is that she’s humbled by the musicians who have befriended her, as well as the opportunities that have fallen into her lap.
“The OC Music Awards were a shock,� Vaughn said. “It’s amazing to be grouped with such awesome musicians who get a lot of press. It’s really shocking that I’m categorized with any of them.�
To find Nicole Vaughn’s music, shows and album updates, go to NicoleVaughn.com. - Daily Titan

Beneath the warm lights that heat McClain’s Coffeehouse in Downtown Fullerton stands a beach-blonde young woman. Her hair curls into her face while she looks down to blow into the harmonica mounted before her, and while her stature is thin, she strums her expensive-looking guitar that’s one size too large like a professional.
Unscathed by the males who she competes with on the local music circuit, Nicole Vaughn is not a little girl in the swamp of overpowering local musicians. As a nominee for “Best Folk Artist,� at the Orange County Music Awards as well as a respected touring musician, Vaughn is a young artist on the rise.
This past Thursday, Vaughn made a long-awaited return to McClain’s Coffeehouse to perform at the Black Sheep Show — a weekly songwriter showcase hosted by veteran local musician Mike Vitale. The room was silenced as Vaughn made eye contact with audience members while singing about heartbreak in a contemporary folk fashion. And while at the ripe age of 22, Vaughn stands her ground as one of the youngest notable musicians in Orange County.
“I often find that I build quite the fortress when it comes to accepting a songwriter’s efforts as art,� Vitale said. “Nicole’s impeccable songwriting and uniquely eloquent voice reminds me of a Trojan Horse: Once you realize that she has breached your defenses and senses, it’s already too late.�
With influences like Mason Jennings, Neko Case, Gillian Wesh and Wilco, it’s hard to believe that such an artist has emerged from Orange County rather than the artistically gloomy skies of Seattle or Portland.
“I started writing crappy poetry when I was 11 years old, and I listened to Jewel, which is the embarrassing truth,� Vaughn said. “Then I heard Mason Jennings, and he inspired me beyond belief. I started playing the guitar and writing when I was 13.�
Like many musicians who sprout out of Orange County, Vaughn got her start at the Artist’s District in Santa Ana. At the Gypsy Den restaurant, Vaughn played her very first open mic in 2008.
“I went and didn’t know what to expect. I had to wait in a long line, and by chance I got on the list,� Vaughn said. “I was shaky and freaking out.�
In the past two years Vaughn has come a long way, making strides that age-old local musicians have yet to conquer. She has traveled the country promoting an independent documentary, and she has released two albums with another in the works.
Due out in February, Vaughn plans to release her third album showcasing even more heart-felt lyrics and folk-styled arrangements.
“Besides talent and looks, she’s an honest songwriter,� said Jesse MacLeod, 26, a local musician. “The honesty and purity in her demeanor is what draws people to Nicole Vaughn.�
What’s most shocking about Vaughn is that she’s humbled by the musicians who have befriended her, as well as the opportunities that have fallen into her lap.
“The OC Music Awards were a shock,� Vaughn said. “It’s amazing to be grouped with such awesome musicians who get a lot of press. It’s really shocking that I’m categorized with any of them.�
To find Nicole Vaughn’s music, shows and album updates, go to NicoleVaughn.com. - Daily Titan

Nicole Vaughn has all of the elements that make for a great folk act: introspective lyrics that explore the trials of the heart and societal ills; songs that can be done acoustically, with catchy riffs or upbeat and rock-steady; and, of course, with her petite stature, tousled blond hair and infectious smile, she's just adorable. The recent addition of a backup band and a solid new album have breathed new life into her career; Say It is a totally relatable set of songs that speaks of heartbreak without being shallow or commonplace. In 2010, her songs were prominently featured in the documentary Finding Kind, which screened as part of this year's Newport Beach Film Festival, among others. And she's constantly playing all over Southern California, which is truly a treat for those in the crowd who enjoy her energetic and touching performances - OC Weekly