The
funky groove coming from the North!!!
Their last single “If It Ain’t Love(Don’t Know What
Is)” has
been nominated “best song of the year2005” by Giles Peterson from
the BBC, placed in 4th position of the best Finnish sales and head of the playlist
of Mr Srcuff from Ninja Tunes Records.
Originating from Brooklin, Nicole Willis grew up in a “hippy Afro-american” family, to use her own words.
At the age of 19, the young singer, far from her actual style, tries Jazz and Bossa tainted with drum-machines and electro. Later on in 1989 she joins the band that will make her famous: The Repercussions.
At the begining of the 90’s, the band signs with Warner and releases two albums (“Promise Me Nothing” and “Earth and Heaven” in 1995) and another one in Japan (“Charmed Life”). The story lasts until 1997.
A privileged moment in this short-lived adventure, Nicole Willis’ band plays on an album dedicated to Curtis Mayfield. “ We chose the track “Let’s Do It Again”, an extract from an original soundtrack that he composed. It was a duo. I didn’t record with him. Each did his part separately, but I had the chance to see him at the beginning of the shooting of the music video.”
Curtis
Mayfield, Madrill, Rotary Connection: as many familiar names for the
young singer raised in a world of Soul, Jazz and Folk music. Nicole
Willis starts her solo carreer in 2000 after her arrival in Europe
with a first
album “Soul Makeover” produced by her husband Jimi Tenor. A second
album “Be
It” is released in 2004.
“Keep Reachin’ Up”, the last opus of Nicole Willis accompagnied by her northern friends, take in her steps a young audience that doesn’t know the bands of this period and who doesn’t care if the singers of the JBs still active or other great voices are more legitimate and more prepared to be the true sopkespersons of this legacy.
Nicole Willis claims herself ready to carry on in this direction as long as pleasure will guide her..
Excerpt from an article of Romain Grosman published in Vibrations, March 2007
Discography
Médias / Vidéos
Contacts / Bookings / Pro Area / Links
2006 Keep Reachin'Up (Differ-ant / Differ-ant) |
Médias / Vidéos
| Nicole
WILLIS " Feeling Free" ( Keep Reachin'up) |
Nicole
WILLIS " Invisible Man" ( Keep Reachin'up) |
Contacts / Bookings / Pro Area / Links
Contact
Booking : Fred Lachaize [email protected] Pro Area you can download biographies, pictures, riders and artists musical samples in here. (Pro area accessible ONLY with a password ) Password available on request: send us your name, your company name and your address by email to [email protected] Careful: the riders available online aren't comprehensive. Only the riders that come with the contracts are in their full version and should be respected Links www.nicolewillis.com www.myspace.com/nicolewillisandthesoulinvestigators www.myspace.com/musicaction |