D I S C O V E R
Nicol River is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator and director. Born in Camden (London, UK), River has spent her life up til now on a personal musical endeavour, led and inspired by countless genres and musicians. Her music is eclectic and somewhat miscellaneous, combining influences from jazz, contemporary sounds and folk themes from around the world (including Balkan, Nordic and Indian). Having started off as a jazz-blues singer, River started to develop her own sound at 22 years of age, and pushed her compositional boundaries: working progressive bass lines, contemporary piano embellished with traditional melodies, and extending her vocal palette as a contralto, uncompromising as she "disregards formal technique". River's music dives into philosophical depths, exploring her experiences of joy, grief, hope and nostalgia.
T I M E L I N E
1997 - Born 3rd December in Camden, London
2004 - Passes her school church, hearing the organ for the first time and becomes musically consumed
2004 - Asks for a piano for her birthday, starts learning classical piano
2006 - Starts learning the acoustic guitar
2011 - Starts singing. Performs at her first concert, singing 'All Along The Watchtower' by Jimi Hendrix
2014 - 31st October, receives her first bass guitar and finds a deep connection with this instrument
2016 - Starts studying Philosophy at Kings’ College London for a brief period
2017 - Leaves the UK to tour Europe
2018 - Returns to the UK and starts studying Singing at ACM London, but attends more of the Bass Guitar lectures instead
2019 - Back to touring Europe
2020 - Back in the UK for studies, and opens River Music School London. Connects more confidently with the piano beyond classical music
2021 - Feels that she has finally found her own sound, and begins composing her own material
2022 - Graduates with First Class Honours
2023 - Best friend, Elliot Boertje, dies aged 25, cause of death unknown. Time spent composing increases
2024 - Band starts rehearsal in January, and recording and filming starts on 8th June
2025 - River's first single 'River In The Rain' is released on 28th January
2025 - 'Can You Hear Me?' is released on 3rd June
2025 - 'Human Being' is released on 19th November
2026 - The dual release, 'Going... Somewhere' , is released on 24th June
M E D I A
"Rather than chasing convention, "Human Being" unfolds with patience and intention. A melodic bass line anchors the song as subtle touches of Indian classical music, including the rhythmic pulse of the tabla and expressive guitar phrasing inspired by the sitar, give the arrangement an organic sense of movement. The result is a composition that feels expansive without becoming overwhelming, allowing every musical choice to serve the song's emotional core."
"Not all artists are equal. Some find themselves attracted by vaporous, popular trends, or ruthlessly striving for popularity. Others are instead more focused on the musical product, breathing and living art every day in its purest form. Nicol River belongs to the latter category; a committed multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer, the talented London-based creative has recently unveiled her debut effort ‘River In The Rain’."
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