- Carry On Nicki Wells 4:21
Following on from the reassuring sentiment of ‘You’re Alright Kid’, singer, songwriter, composer and producer Nicki Wells releases her second single ‘Carry On’ from her forthcoming debut album.
Embedded within the rich tradition of British songwriters like Nick Drake and John Martyn, Nicki Wells draws further upon her childhood experiences growing up in India, at the foothills of the Himalayas, in Dharamshala. As such, Wells stands out as a unique vocal talent who is in tune with nature and the interconnectedness of our world. Written during the lockdown as a process of self-reassurance, ‘Carry On’ holds such a message of calm with its layers of soothing melodies and warm analog production.
At the center you’ll find the “heartbeat of the record,” as Wells herself communicates, which is a time-worn and muted toned piano from the artist’s familial home; the first piano that she ever played. The other distinct element of this single is the singer’s expansive voice which she uses as an instrument likened to a string section, layering swells of harmonies and inspired by Indian Classical vocal styles. Beneath the surface, the artist’s appreciation for the origins of music goes further, with the simmering presence of Bulgarian folk heard in her track I Have Longed to Be Here.
‘Carry On’ is one of a stunning collection of self-produced songs from her home studio during the pandemic, which were very much inspired by classic songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Jeff Buckley, Randy Newman and Nick Drake. This organic composition is a testament to Nicki Wells’ self-sufficiency as the sole creator behind this single, while the entire project is a feminist endeavor.
With ‘Carry On’, the artist seeks to inspire others to express themselves without restraint, to walk a path of fearlessness and to put their own wellbeing first. The song’s message is about healing via the means of symbolic ritual and friendship, using the elements as a facilitator for letting go of what no longer serves us emotionally, mentally or spiritually.
This single will feature on the upcoming Ellipsis LP set for release in early 2023.
About Nicki Wells
Singer, songwriter and composer Nicki Wells followed her 1st class honours degree in Music touring as a featured vocalist in Nitin Sawhney’s band. She has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious venues from London’s Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House to Glastonbury’s main Pyramid Stage. Her voice has contributed to a number of films including Andy Serkis’s Mowgli, Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children, Renny Harlin’s The Legend of Hercules and was a major part of the scores of BBC Documentaries such as The Human Planet series. Her first solo album Ocean was released in 2018 under the pseudonym TURYA (Listen to TURYA on Spotify.)
As a Composer in her own right, Nicki scored for Tanika Gupta’s theatrical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Howard Brenton’s play Drawing the Line, receiving critical acclaim. She co-composed the score to Khyentse Norbu’s feature film Vara – A Blessing and has also composed
five of contemporary dancer Aakash Odedra’s shows, which have featured in venues like Sadlers Wells, Royal Opera House and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, (winning the Amnesty International Award for the politically conscious show #JeSuis).
Nicki also composed the score to documentary filmmaker Koen Suidgeest’s Girl Connected and then joined forces with renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar to compose the score for upcoming documentary film about the Dalai Lama An Officer and His Holiness.
Nicki collaborated once again with dancer Aakash Odedra and Chinese dancer, Hu Shenyuan, composing the score and performing in the new epic production of Samsara which premiered in the Melbourne Arts Centre in 2020. Nicki also composed the music for legendary Kathak dancer Aditi Mangaldas’ show Forbidden, due to premiere in Mumbai, India in 2022.
During the pandemic, Nicki created a multitude of new material, including her much anticipated first solo studio album.
LINKS:
https://www.nickiwells.com
https://www.instagram.com/nickiwells
https://www.facebook.com/nickiwellsmusic
https://twitter.com/nickiwellsmusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0z6TVKyjgXLDIY0FSIIDUv?si=oG4sWS8zQzK65cTbC-4TkA&nd=1
https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/nicki-wells/438434986
