Nimat

DC-based singer/songwriter Nimat has plucked 14 songs from the list of over
200 she's penned since she began composing in earnest as a pre-teen for her
self-titled, self-produced debut. She lays them out in soulful grooves
accented by a folky edge - Tracy Chapman's a useful stylistic comparison,
though Nimat's presentation is personally distinctive.

The songs themselves are distinctive, as well, showing a skill with melodic
variation that holds interest from track to track, without the kind of
jarring eclecticism that would disguise Nimat's artistic identity. As a
vocalist, she has an appealing sincerity, although she often pushes to (and
occassionaly beyond) her natural range. When she does so, though, it's
generally in service of taking a lyric to a deeper place emotionally, and
in the end the passions relayed through her music are paramount to any
particulars of performance.

It's as a songwriter that she really shines here, though. There's not a
disappointing note, really, and there are some genuine standouts. Tracks
like "All I Need," "Crazy 4 U" and "That Kinda Love" (the latter a
brilliant girl-group throwback) merit programming for continuous play. One
of the best things about this entire album, in fact, is pondering the
notion that there are over 180 more songs from the same talented composer
already on paper. And she's young! Who knows what's to come.

My predictive powers aren't all they might be, but I know what I'm wishing
for. That would be a continuing series of Nimat songs coming out on her
own releases and in the voices of others, as well. She's got plenty to
say, and it should be said in many ways.

- Shaun Dale
ReviewYou.com
- Shaun Dale

By Denny Carter

As singer and songwriter Nimat sat in a dimly lit room at the University of Maryland's radio station, having swung her long pearl necklace around to avoid interference with her guitar, she appeared confident as she awaited her cue to play during Sunday's live broadcast.

"All radio is good radio," said the soft-spoken Nimat shortly before her performance for WMUC in College Park. "Radio is definitely more effective than fliers or word of mouth--it's probably the most effective medium."

Nimat, an Arabic word for "blessing," was born and raised as Nimat Sadat in Camp Springs, where she began writing songs at age 12. She dropped her last name years ago and now lives in District Heights.

After working behind the scenes in the local music industry, she recently ventured out on her own, exploring the potential of her musical abilities.

At WMUC, Nimat performed songs from her debut album, "I Still Need You," which was released in May. So far, the artist is pleased with her record sales.

"It was a grueling process," she said. "It was exciting once I was able to do it, but the process took years."

Nimat, who went to engineering school before cultivating her music career, said her connections with people in the music business made the production of "I Still Need You" possible.

"I realized the cost of hiring producers ... was outrageous," she said. "I did a lot of hanging around the Guitar Center [in Rockville], talking to people who do what I do."

She said her music appeals to a wide variety of enthusiasts.

"I would say it's life music--music that people of any age can listen to," said Nimat, 27. "It's about life situations that everyone goes through. That's why I think anyone of any age, even children, can enjoy it."

Her producer, Mychael Pollard, agrees.

"[Nimat's music] is driving, it's relaxing and it really takes you somewhere," said Pollard, a resident of the District who produced several tracks on Nimat's debut CD. "As far as different creeds of people, they can relate to it and understand it."

As her audience grows, Nimat hopes she can counter the negative imagery of popular music today with her own positive spin on life.

"There needs to be more clean music in the mix nowadays with all the messages that are being sent through music," she said.

Pollard appreciates Nimat's perspective on her music.

"As the children of tomorrow, we've got to focus on the right things," he said, "so when we get older, the world won't be such a messy place."

During her radio performance, employees at WMUC said Nimat's mellow sound was a welcome break from the alternative bands usually played by the station.

"It's a nice change from indie bands," said Raven Baker, a Hyattsville resident and a deejay at the station. "It sounds good and soulful."

Standing in the deejay booth at WMUC, station operations manager Nestor Diaz said Nimat is one of many local artists who have taken advantage of the station's Sunday night live performances.

"We're here to give them more exposure to different kinds of audiences," he said of area musicians. "A lot [of musicians] haven't had the opportunity to play their music for a large audience."

Nimat's agent, Dawn Jackson, said she has seen her client progress as a person and an artist over the last few years.

"I think she has grown more and more every day," said Jackson, founder of Nudawn Marketing Group. "She has become very grounded in who she is, and she won't let anyone sway her--and that impresses people."

With Nimat's calm demeanor and ferocious work ethic, those close to her believe she will one day turn heads in a national audience.

"She's definitely someone the world is going to know about," Jackson said. "She is one who is going to make it."

- Special to The Gazette Newspaper