Nikkie
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2019 | INDIE
Music
Press
By Patricia Roy
Nicole (Nikkie) Gallant has been singing for as long as she can remember.
She began writing songs when she was in Grade 5 and began playing guitar at 14.
Gallant, who's now 26, says her first public show was at Generation XX in Summerside to welcome the year 1999.
Since then, she has performed at numerous venues from PEI to Calgary, Alta.
Gallant is nominated for the 2005 P.E.I. Music awards in the Pop Recording of the Year category for her latest 12-track album of her own compositions, called When You Find It.
The awards are being held this weekend, Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday Nov. 12, at the Harbourfront Jubillee Theatre in Summerside.
Gallant describes her musical genre as folksy-pop with a rock-style edge.
Information from her website states that she grew up listening to such diverse musical artists as Ani DiFranco, Tom T. Hall and Led Zeppelin.
In 2000, she released her first album, Blue Roses, which has 9 origibnal songs written by the songstress.
Juno award-winner James Carrier did the engineering for this album. John Cartwright produced the album with assistance from Jacques Arsenault. Troy MacArthur and Jacques Arsenault played guitar and Dave Gould performed the percussion.
One of her greatest honours was being asked to perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Performing under their Young Performers Program, she had the opportunity to work with and garner advice and mentorship from such seasoned performers as Stephen Fearing and Fred Penner.
Also playing the festival that year were Sarah Harmer, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and Blue Rodeo.
"Having audiences enjoy my music is such a big thrill, it's so exciting to meet so many great people. I have the best job in the world." continues the information from her website.
After a few years in Calgary where she also met a number of islanders including Scott Parsons, who was in town for a performance, she is back on the Island and living in Charlottetown. "It's so exciting to be nominated for this year's awards. I can't wait for the weekend." she says.
The awards being held in her home town of Summerside makes the nomination even more special, she says.
- The Journal-Pioneer
Discography
When You Find It... - 2005
Blue Roses - 2000
Photos
Bio
Nikkie loves the idea of being home because it means working and living on PEI. Most of all, it meant performing and being able to record her second album, When You Find It, right here in this magical place she calls home. The album is the long awaited follow up to her first album released in 2000 called Blue Roses.
She has spent time working and performing in Calgary. She has also performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. She has performed as part of the Island Stars Songwriters Circle hosted by Lennie Gallant as part of the PEI Music Awards weekend. She was also nominated in the Pop category for the new album, When You Find It. She has also showcased at Contact East a major showcase event in the region as well as the ECMAs.
Her current album When You Find It was recorded over the year prior to its release at Reg Ballaghs studio under the creative direction of James Carrier. Nikkie had some of the Islands best musicians playing on the album. They included Reg Ballagh on drums, Wayne Dunsford on bass, Chris Gauthier on guitars and keyboards legend from Halifax NS, Johnny Theodore. Im so excited about this album! she says. This CD turned out to be so much fun to work on. All the people who were involved helped in so many ways to make the project a memorable experience for me. I really appreciated that!
Her music is a diverse blend of folk, pop and rock. For the past year she has been playing around the local music scene with her band The Players. She is also busy with her current project as a duo with The Players guitarist Nic Gauthier. They have just completed a regional tour and are looking forward to a slate of fall dates.
Having audiences enjoy my music is such a big thrill for me. Its so exciting to meet new people and share my music with them. This is the best job in the whole world! If watching Nikkie perform her infectious brand of music is not enough to convince you, her enthusiasm on stage for what she does will win you over and make you a fan.
The Island will remain her base for the foreseeable future. Nikkies music comes from here and she expects to build her career from this place she calls home. The album is called, When You Find It for a reason.
She is a unique voice and demonstrates a real presence that transcends her music. Nikkie takes you into her world to experience her music, her enthusiasm for what she does and to just have fun!! She has found it with this CD and now she just wants to share it with me and you and the rest of the planet if she can. Thats a worthy goal from where I sit.
Lloyd Doyle
Sandbar Music Group Inc.
Visit Nikkie on line at www.nikkie.ca and www.sandbarmusic.com . For more information, contact Lloyd at (902) 566-1182 or e mail lloyd@sandbarmusic.com.
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