Interview - Jodie Nicholson

I’ll start by asking who would you say your biggest influences are? Lucy Rose, Daughter, Laura Marling, Pink Floyd and Tori Amos.

How would you describe your live shows to anyone who may not have seen you perform yet? I would say my live shows are pretty raw and honest - there’s no hiding when it’s just you and your guitar/keyboard! My music comes from a very personal place, so I’d most likely pull at your heartstrings and make you feel something. I’m not great at speaking between songs, so I just let the music speak for itself and hope people connect with or feel something from it.

The majority of the time I play solo, but every once in a while my two wonderful friends, Tom Thorne and Caitlin Morrow-Derbyshire, sing with me and add the most glorious harmonies to my songs. I adore their voices and harmonies in general, so it really is magical experience whenever all three of us are on stage.

You released your first album “Golden Hour” last year to a very positive response. How do you feel the response to the album has been? I could not have asked for a better response, it still amazes me in all honesty. I released the album thinking ‘that’s the end of that chapter, time to go back to normal life’, and somehow the album took on a life of it’s own. Looking back, it was really just the beginning.

Within the first six months of ‘Golden Hour’ being out in the big wide world, I’ve received airplay from Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2, Amazing Radio, BBC Tees Introducing and played live in-session for Rianne Thompson. My first ever music video was included on the BT TV Music Playlist alongside amazing artists like Freya Ridings and Dua Lipa. There have been some really lovely responses too from blogs, press and live shows. I’m super grateful people are listening to and loving my music.

You’ve played gigs and festivals all over the North East in the past year. What have been some of your favorites? I think my favorites are all support slots, apart from my album launch where I had a whole band behind me for the first time ever! There’s less pressure with doing a shorter set than if you’re headlining and playing to a room of people who, for the most part, haven’t heard your music before. It also means that once you’ve played, you can sit back and enjoy the rest of the night!

A really memorable gig for me is when I supported Baskery at The Waiting Room in Eaglescliffe. If you’ve not been before, it’s a restaurant that hosts events in a quirky room at the back. I remember it so well, because whilst I was playing the last chorus of ‘The Rain’, the heavens opened and it was just the most perfect, glorious, hilarious moment – you’d think it was on a backing track or something! Baskery were phenomenal too, one of the best live bands I’ve seen for a long time.

A few months ago, myself, Tom and Caitlin did Sofar Sounds Middlesbrough together in the bar area of The Georgian Theatre. My music is well-suited to intimate gig settings, so we knew before playing that it was going to special. You could hear a pin drop in the room and for the last song, ‘Losing Track’, I split the audience in half and had everyone singing with us in the choruses. We had ‘Crossroads’ videoed too, which is available to watch on YouTube.

Speaking of The Georgian Theatre, it’s hands-down my favorite venue to play in Teesside. I’ve supported Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra there, as well as She Drew the Gun for Independent Venue Week. Somehow, stepping onto that stage gives me a confidence boost and I feel more at ease when I’m playing (which might have something to do with not being able to see people’s faces!), it has a great atmosphere and the sound is always spot-on.

How have you been keeping your self busy creatively during the current lockdown? And do you have any plans for when it’s over? I’m playing guitar almost every day, not always writing or working on new music, but keeping my hand in there. I don’t know whether it’s classed as creative or not, but I’ve baked a lot of cake during lockdown so far, including a pineapple upside-down cake that was so, so good. Cooking or baking in the kitchen is my favorite time to listen to music, because I know I’ll be there for a good hour, so I like to stick on an album recommendation from a friend or a playlist I’m loving and soak in the tunes.

In terms of future plans, I have some exciting live dates later in the year which are yet to be announced. Everyone’s timeline’s have been pretty shaken, but I really want to co-write with other musicians and at some point release new music. Non-musical plans involve hugging my family and friends, going to the pub, and taking a trip to IKEA. Yes, I’m one of those people who loves IKEA.

If you could recommend five other local acts who would they be? Nadedja, Harri Endersby, Joe Ramsey, Tom Joshua and Martha Hill.

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Promo Photos - Rebecca Flynn