She just graduated from Granite Hills High School and turned 18, but singer-song writer Raelee Nikole is well beyond her years in her drive and passion for music. And it shows in her singing, lyrics and hunger to entertain.
She just graduated from Granite Hills High School and turned 18, but singer-song writer Raelee Nikole is well beyond her years in her drive and passion for music. And it shows in her singing, lyrics and hunger to entertain.
Performing at Lestat’s West on Adams Avenue last Wednesday, her clear, smooth, natural tone rang through the venue like a breath of fresh air as the master storyteller sang her way into the hearts of a crowded house. This live venue gave the audience the raw, unplugged Nikole, and there was no disappointment, just amazement in her youthful delivery, mixed with maturity that is well beyond her age.
Her voice is signature and her mix of pop, blues and a bit of country twang in her guitar playing, gives her music the probabilities of crossing genres and reaching a wide range of audience. And like her lyrics, mused by real life, are relevant to music lovers of all ages.
Touring Open Mics for a couple of years now, Nikole picked up the best tidbits of talent of the many ages and genres of artists she played with, incorporating them into her own stylistic version of herself. There are no comparisons to other artist, as she stands on solid ground alone as a performer, songwriter and singer.
Breaking out a new song without a name on Wednesday that she had just finished writing the day before, Nikole gave the audience an insight to her drive to succeed. Deciding to take a year off before starting college to write music, perform and finish tracking her first album, the song was a declaration of her determination to follow her dreams and as clear as her timbre, sent a message that she is a “B-E-L-I-E-V-ER” of her future in the music industry.
“Pouring Down” tells the story of young love exposed and the vulnerability she shows while singing it brings the song to life and it is ready for the pop and country charts.
She describes herself as awkward in between songs as she interacts with the audience, telling them how she felt or what she was going through as she wrote the next original coming up. But, there is nothing awkward in her talent and her interaction with the crowd is honest, soothing and un-jaded. There is purity in her personality that is in perfect pitch with her voice.
Keep an eye out for one of East County’s jewels, because the road she is travelling is taking her well beyond the borders of home. Hers is a performance not to miss, so catch her while you can in the quaint venues of San Diego County where she performs.
To listen to some of her tracks, see videos of live performances and to find out where she is playing next go to www.reverbnation.com/raeleenikole.
