Eyes Closed

So, today, we worked on the album artwork for my single. We had to release it as a single so that we could get some more radio play before the full album drops. I co-wrote a song called "Eyes Closed"..this song came about because someone came and sat in on a rehearsal I was having and I guess I occasionally close my eyes for a GOOD while when I am playing. This person noticed and told me that when I close my eyes I seem to play even better. Humm? Subconsciously I do it!! The only way I can explain the reasoning is because when my eyes are open, I look for the right thing to play or interpret, but when my eyes are closed I depend SOLELY on my ears and feel. The hook to this song says "When my eyes are closed, my fingertips are all I need to show you what I see when my eyes are closed, and nothing feels more naturally, than to lose control, when my eyes are closed."

I just find it interesting and funny that most people think I am talking about something else in this song LOL! But, there you have it. From the horses mouth! (My sisters used to call me a horse when I was younger because I had high calves and could run really fast) LOL!

Anyway, above is the cover artwork for the single, "Eyes Closed"...let me know what you think. Also, don't forget to take a listen to the sample of this song if you haven't already.

What do you do when your eyes are closed? (Besides sleep)

Cheers!

-Nik

(Eyes Closed was Co-Written by D. Scott, and music produced by Travis Williams and Nik West.)

Dream Maker to Dream crusher.

I have had many many many victories in life. Holding the record in Phoenix for multiple track and field events to receiving scholar-athlete scholarships. Modeling around the world on multiple runways to building a successful career in print as Nordstrom's regular jeans model. I was on a plane probably 4 times a week doing this. Made some great money doing that, all while living in Seattle, Washington.

...and I was DOING FINE...until one day someone calls me and says "Hey you should make a career out of playing bass, I watched you a few years ago when you were 17 playing the "BUMP" at church!" then he says, " I had to come closer and let my eyes believe that is was a GIRL PLAYING THAT GOOD!" (he also plays bass exceptionally well, so he knows a groove) He told me to pull my bass out, change my strings, get the right amp, get on it, and get seen. So stupidly, what did I do, I did just that.

Now my sister Nichelle once told me, "FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANNA DO, you are so good at so many things that it stops you from MASTERING one thing...." She also told me that if "someone told me that I SCRAPE DIRT well, then I would be scraping dirt"

Now that really made me mad! How could she look at me and talk to me like that? It made me feel like I was a bum in a weird kind of way. So I took some time figuring out what I wanted to do. Then, I moved to Phoenix, my hometown.

ANYWAY, back to my music guy. This guy was there to help me find the resources I needed to find in order to make it where I wanted to make it to. I fell in love with him, because, well, I had always thought he was cute, but then I was attracted to our conversation and to TOP IT OFF, HE WANTED TO HELP ME BUILD MY DREAM! Which is very important to me...and it helps that he already was attracted to me when he met me =)

Long story short, he ended up moving to Phoenix where I was, and from there we started something great! I had already started taking off as a KNOWN bassplayer...I got a few endorsements, played some cool shows, and started singing more with my bass. He said "Let's do an album, I will produce it." I said, well, I am not trying to be a FAMOUS artist or anything, I just want to PLAY bass! He convinced me that I should finish an album, and that he would produce it for me. So here I am making an album. It seemed as if I was doing more singing than I wanted, I WANTED TO JUST PLAY BASS! He told me it has to be more commercial than "musical" if I wanted it to do well.

I got a little upset but I did the singing thing. I always considered myself a BASSIST THAT SINGS not A SINGER THAT PLAYS BASS. But whatever! Later, I did find out that I liked singing a lot more than I thought. So I did it.

As "NIK WEST" created more and more of a buzz, we worked even harder

We worked many months and long days and hours on this album and we put our hard work, money, sweat, tears into it.

As we get close to finishing and I mean one song left to record. I get a phone call from my bassplaying, producing, talented, dream maker of a boyfriend, and he tells me...in these words "I used to know you as Nicole, and now everyone knows you as "NIK WEST" and you are this Nik West, bassplayer, singer, etc, you are beautiful and alot of guys like you and I see your future." Your future is going to be full of doing shows, leaving town, and meeting alot of people, and WHAT I NEED is stability in my life, because I want to get married to you sooner than later (he already has a little boy, that I LOVE!!!) and I want to take care of my son, I want him with me again, and I need you to stay here and be the stable force at home...and I don't think you are ready for that Nicole" At first, you were just a girl that I thought was just enthusiastic about playing your bass and now (even though I helped) you are ......NIK WEST....

Hummmm....now I figure, at 23 years old, there should be no rush right???? WRONG, for him, he wanted what he wanted and couldn't see it any other way, no matter how many times I tried to compromise and say that I can do everything he requires as long as I know that HE would hold down the fort and could support a family. I couldn't get him to see it any other way, but the way he wanted his life to be.

Now I am generally not a crier, I am more of a tomboy and don't let much bother me....but, after all of that conversation, I said, with tears streaming down " YOU DID THIS TO ME, you sold me a dream, pushed me hard to accomplish this thing, and now you (in reality) want me to choose? YOU SOLD ME SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDNT BELIEVE WOULD GET THIS FAR? I really thought that if anyone could understand me, it would be him. BUT it's like he sold me a PIPE DREAM...that I could have a successful career and have him too. Doesn't seem this way...so what do I choose???....I could always just go back to college...I could be a succesful Calculus teacher with no problem. :-)... It just hurts to know that the one person I truly love could be a DREAM MAKER AND A DREAM CRUSHER to me.

So my question to you out there in blogland is....What would you choose?? And why? Share some of you experiences with me!

-Nik

SO?

SO....you walk into a studio to get your album recorded and you find out the man wants to get in your "goodies" which, for me, is definitely not something that is negotiable. What do you do? Well, for me, I move on! If you are talented enough all by yaself, then a man that is about BUSINESS will find you, work with you, and keep it business. I have found that, alot of the businessmen that have really built something great wouldn't want to sacrifice all of their hard work for a .....LAWSUIT! So ladies, keep it BUSINESS with these people and keep the "pleasure" part out of the music world. Unless, of course, your man is your producer LOL! (wink wink)

Malina Moye

So....I talked to Malina Moye today www.malinamoye.com she is an awesome, funky guitar player, that is also a superwoman business woman. I read her story in an article and thought that she went through a great struggle to get where she is. We are working on some projects and collaborations with lots of big names. (can't tell you everything now). So check back every now and then so you can see what happens as it all comes to life! If you haven't heard of Malina, you should check her out. She is among the sweetest people I know. When I make it to the mainstream circuit, I will make sure to continue to help supertalented artists make it where they want to make it to. Just like I have been helped along the way.

My True Life Diary: Album stumbling block.

My True Life Diary: Album stumbling block.: "So just as I get ready to finish my album, there is always some stumbling block to try and stop the process. I thought I was finished just t..."

Album stumbling block.

So just as I get ready to finish my album, there is always some stumbling block to try and stop the process. I thought I was finished just to find out that I have to record one more song, due to a producer disappearing on me, WITH ONE OF THE SONGS!. He will remain nameless. So how do I solve this problem? I use one of the songs that I have written for my second album, only, those songs don't make sense for this album. So I will write another this week, specifically for this album. Any ideas anyone?

Anyway problem solved right? Now, I have to take the time to RECORD the song. Luckily I can knock it all out very quickly in the studio. Hummm...what a day!