Canadian artist, actor, playwright and director Nicky Lawrence has released her debut album, Ugly Black Woman. We asked her the BIG questions. . .
Released to coincide with Black History Month in October, it is the soundtrack of Nicky's play of the same name, which was staged in Canada in 2022.
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"Ugly Black Woman is a window into my soul," she says. "As black women we are consistently accused of being angry yet this album is a beautiful cacophony of sorts conjured up through the dissonance I feel with such a powerful stereotype.
"It is the depths of my emotional degradation, pain, sorrow, fears and joy. It's also a way for me to share so closely and relate with other black women, the suffering and the commonalities of hurt which we share without even necessarily knowing each other personally. This album has become a way of relating to all women no matter race or class."
Nicky recently made her directorial debut with the film release of My Name Is Jackie, a tribute to Toronto R&B pioneer Jackie Shane.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I try to learn a new word every day and then incorporate it into any conversation I’m having later… it’s kind of an addiction;) I would bet that you’ve seen me on one of your favourite TV shows in the last 10 years and had no idea it was me! It’s amazing what a wig and some makeup can do! Massive respect to every crew I’ve ever worked with! All four generations of women in my family have the exact same birthmark in the exact same place. No, I will not tell you where! Very PG though!
How would you describe your music?
A genre fluid mix of soul, pop, R&B and electronica that makes a guest at a dinner party sit up straight and say to the host "sorry what was that you just said again? The record you’re playing is fire… who is that singing?"
Who are your musical inspirations?
Sade, Jill Scott, Anita Baker, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Beyoncé, The Eurythmics, Mavis Staples Etta James, Sam Cooke, Patti LaBelle, SWV, Mary J Blige, Missy Elliott, the list goes on and on and quite frankly will never stop until the day that I close my eyes and take my last breath. Music is an elixir and the development of my soul. I’m so thankful it chose me.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
New Kids On The Block! Honestly, I can still remember them looking like tiny little stick men because I was up in the nosebleeds since that was all my parents could afford. After that, it was Miss Nasty herself, Janet Jackson! I was 13 years old in the SkyDome in Toronto dancing the night away, thinking to myself "I’m going to do that one day!" I can still see all the costumes, the choreography and feel it in my solar plexus, the excitement and fulfilment to this day.
What was the first record you ever bought?
That’s a hard one because my dad is an avid record collector, and so I used to go through his all the time when I was a little girl. The first record I remember holding in my hands and thinking "I want to buy this with my own money one day" was The Message by Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five. I can still vividly see the beautiful primary colours of the words Sugar Hill in cursive writing with the skyline of New York at the bottom. I practically woke up to that tune every Saturday... what a lovely memory, thanks, DAD!
What’s your favourite song right now?
Greatest Gift featuring Lila Iké by Jorja Smith. Killer tune, get it, sis!
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Oh freedom, oh Freedom, Oh Freedom over me and before I’d be a slave I’ll be buried in my grave and go home to my Lord and be free" - It’s from an old Negro spiritual called Oh Freedom that I absolutely adore because of the simplicity behind such a stunning lyric.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sade - Love Is Stronger Than Pride. It’s difficult to articulate the feeling exposed within my soul when I’ve played that song after immense, inconsolable heartbreak. Unfortunately, I’ve experienced the aforementioned enough to know that song will comfort me eternally.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My debut record, Ugly Black Woman, is available on all streaming platforms and you can find me on Instagram.
Alan Corr
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