Get to know: Nicola Gaea

Nicola Gaea is an independent singer/songwriter from North London who has already received a seal of approval from the likes of UK tastemakers such as BBC Radio 1’s Victoria Jane and BBC Introducing London Jess Iszatt.

New Wave got the chance to speak to Nicola about the meaning behind her latest record 'Blue Skies' as well as the opportunity to learn more about the silky smooth songstresses, her relationship with music and the sacrifices she’s made for her career.

Always having a deep love for music it was first inspired by the music played at home, Nicola explains “I know it sounds clique but I’ve sung for as long as I can remember."

Growing up she was inspired by the likes of reggae, music from the 80s, old-school R&B and Hip-Hop. Stating “I fell in love with music” Nicola seems like a genuine music lover.

“I always associated it with like my mum cooking in the kitchen, making food music was always on. My brother was in his room rapping. I associate it with happy and good memories."

She first began singing in school but always loved to perform. Nicola found a place in the school choir and music showcases in school. Performing ‘Killing Me Softly’ by the Fugees in front of her peers to the applause was all the motivation she needed.

Not too long after at 15, she began to experiment with producers at Chocolate Factory Studios, mainly creating dance tracks.

‘Blue Skies’, registers the highs and lows of life, whilst also acting as an honest self-check-in with herself on her mental state. Originally developed from a poem that Nicola wrote that was inspired on a walk with her dogs and mum early last year. Going through a tough time due to her mum’s health issues, the song looks at the overwhelmingness of the situation.

Nicola says, “I was in a state where I was kind of just trying to appreciate the low that was happening in my life because I feel that there is a lot you can learn from certain situations like that.”

“It was weird because I had a period a few months before where I was really coming into my own, understanding my direction with the music. I was really going for it. And then I just took a hit in the sense that I’ve just been pulled away from that creative space and isolation that I was enjoying.”

“Coming back into my mum’s house did feel like a juxtaposition. A low from a high. So when I was going on that walk with my mum I was actually feeling quite grateful at that moment even though under the circumstances, I couldn’t really remember the last time I’d been on a walk with my mum and really deeped her company and appreciate her.”

Now, reflecting on the year so far, Nicola says “This year I feel that everything is starting to make a lot more sense and I feel that I got a bit more direction.

Going back to the previous year when she made her debut by releasing the female-empowering ‘Soul Sisters’ followed by 'Fly' and the gospel-influenced 'Sunday Prayer', respectably.“ Last year I was defiantly more in my writing stages”, she admits.

“From about the end of 2021 to the beginning of 2022 I wrote a lot of music during that period. It felt like a period of isolation. I was just in my flat by myself most evenings just writing and just understanding what I wanted to say as an artist, who I wanted to be and the type of music I wanted to make.”

“Sadly”, Nicola begins “I feel that in the music and creative industry in general, you kind of have to be quite far on in your career and to have done a lot of things in that space to get to the point that it starts generating money.”

“Before that, it’s a bit of a struggle. I feel that for a lot of independent artists, a 9 to 5 is just necessary and crucial. But I wanted to find a 9-5 that still filled my creative side. This year I’m doing that with my 9-5 focusing more on my creative direction.

Explaining further how a side job can benefit your music career, Nicola says “I’ve found a place where they’re all in balance, I’m working on it and I think that I’ll always need to readjust where in at in different stages but I’m at the point where I’m learning more about producing and creative direction.”

As her latest single ‘Blue Skies’ is building on the momentum gained, we can look forward to an end-of-summer EP that the Londoner is currently working on.

Also looking further along past the project dropping Nicola hopes to do a fully curated show at the end of the year that heavily focuses on the immersive experience with the aim to “really connect with the people there and introduce herself as an artist with different types of experience.”

After enjoying our conversation, one thing that remains clear is how much love and appreciation that the Londoner has for music. We cannot wait to experience what else the talented and intuitive Nicola Gaea has in store.

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