Diandra Reviews It All- Interviews Jodie Nicholson: On The "Move"

Jodie Nicholson is well aware that for however long she has loved music and been on her path as a professional artist, she is still young. This means that life carries many more experiences for her to grow as a person and this as an artist. In our interview, we discuss what it is to be patient and pushing of yourself to explore new styles without boundaries. With the love of her dad and Netflix, she feels everyday more like herself.

Diandra: What inspired your new track “Move” and what do you feel it says about you?

Jodie: ‘Move’ was inspired by the first drone-like synth in the track. When I started writing it, it actually felt like a very impersonal song to me and I had almost no emotional attachment to it’s lyrics, unlike other songs I’ve written. Still, loved the warm sound and decided to just have fun experimenting in a more electro-pop soundscape. As the track evolved, it really became a strong symbol for just taking a feeling and running with it, having no fear and trusting yourself.

I think it demonstrates that there’s more to me than being a sad singer-songwriter, which my debut album ‘Golden Hour’ has pinned me to so far. ‘Move’ brings people closer to what I enjoy listening to, as opposed to music that just expresses how I’m feeling. It demonstrates more contemporary influences of mine surfacing, such as The Japanese House, Bombay Bicycle Club and HAIM, artists which I listen to often. More personally though, I see ‘Move’ as the first song to really show me for my age, and demonstrates the young, bubbly and creative Jodie that people might not have heard or seen before through my music.
Jodie Nicholson – Move

Diandra: You have called the track a symbol of taking a feeling and running with it. What are the feelings you wish you run with more versus the ones you don’t run from enough?

Jodie: I should believe in myself more. I have lots of ideas and don’t often know whether any of them are worth pursuing; if I’m capable of doing something justice or if, at the end of it, I will be proud I took the leap and followed my ambitions. I’m not often a risk-taker and stay in my comfort zone a lot. Without trying to toot my own trumpet too much, I know if I’m capable of making music that people can relate to, as all my work to-date is testament to that, but I think it’s more that I shouldn’t settle with what I know I can do and actually start to push the boundaries a bit more. ‘Move’ feels like the beginning of that journey’ where I’m breaking away slightly from what people may know and love from me as a musician. I want to continue the journey, as I’m still discovering who I am as an artist, and finding my place. I don’t know if that fully answers the question, but I’m hoping it does a little!

Diandra: Creating and releasing music during a pandemic, how do you foresee music will be changed forever?

Jodie: From a creative standpoint, I think the new-found ability to work remotely with others has opened up a huge array of possibilities of who you can work with: whether that’s collaborating to write a track, working with a producer, creating a music video for example. That level of choice means we can find the right fit – who understands your sound, your art? Who do you feel most comfortable expressing your ideas with? Who will progress your career as an artist? Who is open to discussing your ideas and keeping your creative control intact?

I feel the pandemic has given artists the space to really understand their place in music, and what messages they want to convey or stories they want to tell their audience. It’s given people time to really think about what matters to them most and I feel that alone makes artists’ future releases so much stronger than what they might have shared previously. For all, the pandemic has been awful worldwide to experience, it’s enabled some to tap into their creativity more and do something they otherwise would not have given themselves the opportunity to do. Also, I think it’s made both artists and audiences, alike, realise just how impactful live music is, as it’s been taken away to a certain extent as a result of the pandemic. So I’m hoping the future of music brings us artists closer to those who love what we do and make those future experiences really special.
Jodie Nicholson – Move

Diandra: Unafraid of experimentation, what are some styles and genres you would like to try and which artist doo you admire for their experimental style?

Jodie: I’d love to try writing something funky or jazz-based. Bombay Bicycle Club is my favourite band and they experiment with their sound from album to album, it’s really inspirational. Their frontman, Jack Steadman, released a solo project called Mr Jukes a few years ago and I’d love to write something in a similar, contemporary jazz style. One of my dreams would be to write a song inspired by neo-soul like, Hiatus Kyote. I love their glistening, complex, colourful and uplifting sound, whenever I listen it takes me to another place.

Diandra: What is your favorite childhood memory with music?

Jodie: Watching DVDs with my dad of some of his favourite musicians live in concert: the most-played being Roger Waters and Rick Wakeman. Every time we put Rick Wakeman on, I’d pretty much beg my dad to skip to “Jane Seymore.” I’s such a dramatic song and I used to be really baffled at how Rick plays the keys so fast. My favourite though was definitely Roger Waters’ In the Flesh, especially, “Amused to Death,” such a lush song.

Diandra: Who is a family member you most admire and what life advice did they give you?

Jodie: My dad has been a rock for me since I started this journey and believed in me before I believed in myself. He first took me to an open mic night when I was 15 and the journey started there. My dad’s always busy chipping away at a huge project, and, when he finishes that huge project, he’ll start a new one that’s equally as huge. He’s ambitious and driven with a great taste in music. You can’t not admire him for what he achieves and how humble he is about everything. The most common things he tells me are ‘don’t stress’ (I’m such a worry-bot and get stressed easily by almost everything) and ‘just get on with it’, which is quite contradictory from ‘don’t stress’, but I sit and faff a lot so he’s definitely right on both accounts.

Diandra: What is a movie or book you would transfer into a concept album? What would it focus on?

Jodie: About Time – a film where a guy and all his male blood-relatives had the ability to travel back in time to different moments in their life, then back forward to the present day. It’s a very sweet and at times heart-breaking story, following themes of love, loss, and learning to appreciate the little things in everyday life. You get attached to the characters very quickly and feel as though you’re experiencing all their emotions just by watching. It would be a very moving concept album, where each song feels warm, relatable and comforting.
Jodie Nicholson – Run | Sofar Leeds

Diandra: If you could move throughout time and space, where would you go and why?

Jodie: I definitely wouldn’t go anywhere in my lifetime. Probably the 1920s, somewhere Great Gatsby-esque, at least. It’s a period I loved learning about in school and aesthetically it’d be really cool to experience, in the flesh, and I would loooove to try swing dancing.

Diandra: What are 3 personality traits of yours people will find in your sound?

Jodie: Emotional, warm, creative.

Diandra: What are 4 random facts about you?

Jodie: I used to freelance for a trend forecasting agency. I’m super interested in the way design and consumerism is impacted by changes in the world around us.

I LOVE marmite and peanut butter on toast.

When I was 13 ,I got cast as Gabrielle when my school put on a play of High School Musical. After a week I dropped out because I was too nervous and embarrassed to kiss ‘Troy’ (a guy in the year above) on-stage.

Shrek is one of my favourite films and can practically recite it word-for-word – yep, I’m a big kid.

Diandra: What 3 things you would like to learn?

Jodie: How to successfully and effortlessly make beautiful things with a potter’s wheel.

German. I’ve wanted to learn for years.

Vocal exercises. I don’t do any and I really, really should.

Diandra: When you dream of a perfect song coming from you. What do you feel would be its ultimate message?

Jodie: Allow yourself to feel, whatever emotion/s you’re feeling.

Diandra: What are you Netflix Recommendations?

Jodie: Missing Link, Black Mirror, New Girl, Sex Education, The OA, Salt Fat Acid Heat, End of the F***ing World, Misfits

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