Nikki Hill - Vocals, Guitar
Matt Hill - Guitar, Vocals
Ed Strohsal – Bass, Vocals
Joe Meyer - Drums, Vocals
Produced by Felix Reyes and Nikki Hill
Recorded at The House of Tone in Chicago, IL.
Mixed by Matt Hill, Nikki Hill, Joe Meyer and Felix Reyes
Mastered by John Mailloux at Bongo Beach Produktions
Photos: Angela Vincent and Jim Zielinski
Design: Julia Edwards
PRESSING INFORMATION
+ BLACK 12" VINYL
When you listen to Nikki Hill’s debut album, there are a whole lot of references that literally jump to your face and ears. The names of Ike & Tina Turner, LaVern Baker, Etta James, Ruth Brown, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins come to mind. But Nikki Hill is more than the sum of their influences. Nikki has all the swagger of ‘50s and ‘60s R&B soul artists, and every bit of the power and punch of the male blues shouters of the same era. One club advertisement will call Nikki "The Southern Fireball", "the new soul sensation", "amazing R&B shouter", and even "the new Queen of Rock and Roll".
Now "Here’s Nikki Hil" is available on vinyl for the very first time. Originally independently self-released on CD in 2013, "Here's Nikki Hill" features the classic line-up with Matt Hill on guitar, as well as Ed Strohsahl on bass and Joe Meyer on drums. "Her Destination" capitalize on Nikki’s bluesy, coaxing, sinister croon, and she brings spiky, punk-rock urgency to the jazzy "I’ve Got a Man". The song displays just how much power this girl has, and although the band is blasting out the swamp rocker, it’s still Nikki at the center of it. She is a knockout on rockers like "Right on the Brink". Her inspiration behind the song: I just know that it’s something that everyone goes through. When you’re sick and tired of… whatever it might be. Of course, the song reflects me being tired of a particular person, but it can be taken not so literally either and applied to a lot of experiences. The feel I was going for was a really rocking number to reflect the intensity of the feeling. Matt’s guitar keeps in congress with Nikki’s vocals and only accentuates the soulfulness of songs like "Don’t Cry Anymore". An interesting cut is the Jim Glaser-penned cover of the Texas Tornados country hit "Who Were You Thinking Of", showing Nikki and company taking a rocksteady-ska-style approach.
Combining contemporary elements with the galloping pulse of 1950s rebellious rock, Hill and company respect the intent of the oldies without tying themselves to traditional arrangements or instrumentation. The band brings a crackling, contemporary immediacy to roots rock‘n’soul. Nikki and her band deliver a high energy album and take all the flavours of American roots music to deliver a sound that reminds us all why we love rock‘n’roll.
Release Date: 20 May 2022
