CIVIL SCOPE: NICOLE BUS
by Staff Editor
KarenCivil.com staff caught up with one of Roc Nation’s newest signees, Nicole Bus. Ms.
–I read your bio and I saw that growing up, you listened to artists like Sade, and Bob Marley. Would you consider those artist as influences or are there other artists that you consider an influence?
Well I think, the two artists that you just named are of very big influences of my music choice and flavors, Lauryn Hill as well. But I’ve definitely believed that the gospel music that was played back at home together with Sade, and Bob Marley has been the two fundamentals of what I’m doing right now.
– While we’re talking about international things when it comes to fame and in climbing the charts, and making certain accomplishments, was it ever a goal of yours to become, an international celebrity or an American celebrity or have you seen that reaching fame for artists in America has really become a big thing?
Oh yes, definitely. I feel like here in The Netherlands and maybe even in other places of Europe, I think, the United States and especially the music has influenced the music
-Would you say that the Netherlands or just Europe in general, or your hometown, because I know you are from a small village outside of Amsterdam have any impact on your particular sound?
No, No. Maybe the directness sometimes that which I can come off with, which is definitely within our culture, we’re cultural. So I definitely think that directly I can use and lyrics, definitely comes from the culture. But
– I did read that you have accomplished so much in a short amount of time. Many of your accomplishments take artists a very long time. You recently were nominated for Soul Train’s, Best New Artist Award, congratulations on that! Keeping our fingers crossed, and of course Forbes regarding you as an “out-of-this-world vocalist.” You’re also making tremendous jumps on the Billboards Adult R&B chart, and then
Well, I always dreamed it. I always had hope and I feel like hope is the seed for our faith.. But I feel like if you have a seed of faith and a seed of hope, you can reach anything you want. So even if it’s not feasible yet, but that doesn’t leave out that when the manifestation is there, you’re just bamboozled I don’t know if that’s the right word, you know? Yes. You’re, you’re totally blown away by, Oh my God. If I have, if I would have known this secret, I would have practiced it even earlier on in my life, so, yeah.
-Working with producers like Needlz and, co-producing your debut album. And you also write, produce, and of course you sing. Do you have any plans to produce for other artists or just anything else along that nature?
Oh, I would love to. I, I think you know, especially because I’ve played different types of instruments and I produce, I’ll feel like I, I can definitely sit with other artists and listen to their vision and create something beautiful together with them. So I’m most definitely open to it.
-Is there a different process for Nicole who produces as there is for Nicole who writes and sings? Or is it all kind of similar?
I think there’s a similar wave flow. I think that the moment you are creative, the first thing that’s really important is the atmosphere in the room, and the atmosphere leads me, and sometimes it starts with a conversation, sometimes it starts with the music piece, uh, or a song of someone else. And from that starting point, you know, it can go any type of way. Enough love
-What can fans expect from you in 2020 since the year is winding down?
Ooh.
-How do you personally describe your sound? If you can pick three words, any three words, what would those three be?
Yeah. It’s always easier if someone else tells you what they feel here. Um,
-So why sign to Roc Nation? Was there anything that stood out about their brand, their mission statement or just anything in particular about them?
I love the fact I started music business, so I love the fact of this structure whereby they are an indie label. Um, but they figure and they move, with the power of a major label. And I feel, I do see that it’s a slightly changing, um, a little bit each year. But I feel still that when you are dealing with an indie label creatively they approach the process differently and because I used to work with, majors back home I feel the difference between the major and Indie is that you get a little bit more freedom. The starter (founder) of the label is Jay-Z, and if you see how he creatively approached every project and all, every business move he made, it’s very inspiring. I think every artist definitely looked at the way he did business and he evolved from, you know, working with a label to owning one. I think that’s beautiful. So that definitely was an inspiration as well.
–If you could listen to one classic R&B album from anytime, what would that album be and why?
I have to go with the feeling that I have now I would definitely choose Writings On The Wall of Destiny’s Child and the reason why it reminds me of my childhood. Like of a very fun time in my childhood without care and me discovering Destiny’s Child through my cousins in America through a cassette player. And I was just replaying “Bills, Bills,
-Do you have any, uh, dream collaboration’s as far as artists and producers?
Ooh. Um, most definitely. The ones that I want to give away for now definitely, I would love to do something with Gregory Porter, which is a jazz singer. Um, I think signed by Capitol, if I’m correct. He’s an amazing singer. I think even one of the biggest singers of our time,
-What is some of the responses you have been been receiving from fans about your debut album, KAIROS
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