Diandra Interviews Nicole Chambers: The Truth About True Feelings
Nicole Chambers’ music is quickly climbing in popularity because of a word often tossed around but only felt: authenticity. She has a way of displaying her sound and style as if it was born from common-ground and, in that, it becomes an elevated perform. She describes the insecure bonds between love and self-love in a way that will make you say, “I feel that.” Thus, naturally, our interview became a nose-dive into feelings and, frankly, I LOVED IT!
Diandra: How has the transition been for you, as an artist, going from concert life to a virtual one?
Nicole: Great Question! Virtual life has been interesting for me. It is something we are all adapting to. I like that I can look cute on top but be in my pjs in the bottom. I got a lot more writing and sleeping done, especially in the beginning of the pandemic. It was nice to have some alone time, rest, and get things done, which I don’t know if I could have done in 2019.
Callin Me Out
Diandra: For me, it went from, “Huh, I didn’t know how tired I was!” to “Wow, I am tired of being tired!”
Nicole: Yeah, now I am extra-homebody! I want to go outside (she laughs). A little joke between me and my friends is, “I will see you in 2022!” You have to be hopeful, but you have to be realistic with yourself. It would be great to say, “2021! It is over! No more masks! Let’s go back to how everything was!” but, at this rate, we know it is not going to be quick. It’s like, “No, sweetie! I might not going to be better!”
Diandra: Yeah, she could definitely be like, “No, hon! I am not cutting you slack either!”
Nicole (laughing): I love that you said “she” because it is super sexist but it also works.
Diandra (laughing): It does! There is just something super scornful about 2020 that makes me think it is Mother Nature screwing with men for screwing with her. It is like, “Hell hath no fury like a woman because no one has suffered hell’s fury quite like her!”
Nicole: Yeah! I totally agree. Mother Nature is just tired of our BS. She is like you guys have to stay indoors because you have totally ruined the earth. The Earth has had enough of us, and I don’t blame her. It has been such a long fight.
Nicole Chambers – Committed Fool (Official Video)
Diandra: What is a love song you would dedicate to how you love yourself?
Nicole: Lianne La Havas and Nao “Woman.” When I heard it, it just puts you in a trance with really positive vibes. It is about connecting with your inner goddess. That for me was just inspiring.
I’ve been really trying to get into gods and goddesses. It fascinates me, but I don’t know too much about it. There are some afro-goddesses that I really want to learn.
Diandra: Releasing Voice of A Virgo now, during a pandemic, can feel so insecure. As artists, there is already so much insecurity. Did you have a feeling like, “This might not be the best idea.”
Nicole: Totally! There were times when I was like, “Nicole, this is so stupid!” I went through the whole downward spiral, and my uncle was really helpful to get through that. He was like, “Stop it! You artists are so hard on yourselves, but people need music right now. So create!’” It is so healing and I love how it turned out.
I’m Fine
Diandra: What is a Virgo to you?
Nicole: Me being a Virgo, I am very stubborn, hard-working, detail-oriented, super-caring, loving, and giving, and, at times, too much s. Those are the qualities for me, and we are also known for being very grounded, and that was the prerogative for me in this album. I wanted to stay grounded to my true self in the sound and verses.
Diandra: What does it mean to be true and grounded?
Nicole: I think for me staying grounded and being true to yourself is not listening to your inner voice and letting it sabotage you. It is also looking at past, toxic situations and seeing patterns, and trying to see why you let yourself into certain relationships. It was about finding my confidence and helping myself help myself. It was looking at the negative people I hang out with or have been with and saying, “I don’t need to put up with this.”
Warm Body
Diandra: I think it is so necessary, especially for this industry, the ability to say, “No!” to others and “Yes!’ to yourself with confidence.
Nicole: I think that is exactly how most of us are living our lives. We are trying to learn how to be confident, even if we don’t know what is happening or what we are doing. I think that is what being an artist means.
Diandra: So what do you know about what you’re doing?
Nicole: I feel like growth: a lot of growth. The confidence comes by getting through the songs. Some of these songs were 3 years old, and, at the time, I just didn’t have enough experience or confidence to finish them. So I feel like the ability to finish them now is growth and proof I know more about what I am doing.
Diandra: It feels like a requirement, as an artist, to be sensitive and know how to grow.
Nicole: I feel like, especially for artists, right now, you need to have your own time to flush out everything from your day because it is like you are always observing and reflecting. It is why I do journaling and recommend meditating. You just need to have a moment to calm down, vent, and see how you are doing or growing.
Diandra: What is a love story you would love to turn into a concept album?
Nicole: Great Question! If I had to pick one: The Notebook. It was the first, sappy movie that made me breakdown and really cry. I don’t really watch romantic movies. I have never seen the Titanic, and I try to avoid it at all costs. It just feels too much for me. (she laughs) I needed a “girl-cry,” and, when I saw The Notebook, I needed to know I can cry and feel all my emotions. I am very guarded, and, sometimes, you just have to take the wall down and be vulnerable.
Diandra: Why did you feel hesitant to cry or embrace feelings?
Nicole: I have had this conversation a lot amongst my black friends, and it is really unfortunate that we, in the music community, don’t really try to express our emotions. We have been through a lot but we don’t, necessarily, feel like we can or have the outlet to express our feelings. Yet, it is because we feel this way we should be able to talk about it.
Down
Diandra: Do you think that inability to feel safe in expressing your feelings fuels the diversity issues?
Nicole: Definitely! It is like when we want to express our anxiety, we hear, “Nope! Too Dark!” That is what “I’m Fine” meant to me, and it is super personal to me. I love that people love it because this is what it was meant t express: the ability to be able to express our anxieties and be okay.