Darling Nicky Q&A with Soca Artist Nnika Francis (Grenada)
Re: Interview with Nnika Francis
For: Darling Nicky darlingnicky.ca | darlingnicky999.com and Dancehallsoca.com
Date: Jan. 8th, 2011
On January 15th, 2011, Toronto’s #1 Soca DJ, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince begins Season 2 of the largely successful charity fete series called BFF – Best Fete Forever. This intimate concert and fete rolled into one usually features one to two popular Soca artistes with proceeds of the canned goods included in the admission fee supporting Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank. One of the featured artistes this Saturday will be Grenadian Soca artiste Nnika Francis. I got a chance to ask some in depth questions ahead of her arrival, to give all her fans a more intimate look into her life and her music.
Nicky: Toronto is so excited to have you! Nothing beats a trip to Canada in the dead of winter. Is this your first time to the Great White North?
Nnika: No its not, but it’s my first time in the “dead of winter”
Nicky: Your Toronto fans know that you are going to be performing at BFF – Best Fete Forever, a Soca fete and concert that benefits The Daily Bread Food Bank. How did that come about for you?
Nnika: Well I got an email from Dr. Jay asking if I was booked for January the 15th and I wasn’t, so we just took it from there.
Nicky: The music industry isn’t always an easy career choice? Did you always know you wanted to be a Soca artist?
Nnika: No I didn’t always know. I actually wanted to be a lawyer before I became interested in music.
Nicky: What was the tipping point for you, what made you decide that recording and performing Soca music was your life’s calling?
Nnika: Well, I always liked singing, I used to listen to Whitney Houston and mimic her ever since I was small, but and as time progressed, I grew to like music even more, (I was a B.E.T addict).. I even played the Trumpet and Alto Sax, and was a part of my country’s National School Orchestra. Anyway, when I was about 15, a friend of mine begged me to audition for a B.E.T. talent search that they were having in Grenada, which I did, and I placed 3rd. Anyway to make a long story short, my dad who just happened to be listening to the competition on the radio, called me up the next day, and said he was going to take me to a studio, and he did. I recorded my first Soca, and it dropped on radio not too long after, and I absolutely loved the response, everyone was calling me “Grenada’s Destra” and it was a feeling I absolutely loved! I guess that was it.
Nicky: Who or what have been your musical inspirations?
Nnika: My Dad, first of all, He was a member of The Grenada’s Calypso Association for many years, and he also Started the Groovy Soca Monarch in Grenada, He also is a writer, has written many songs for artistes in Grenada (not me) lol . Whitney Houston, and of course, Destra Garcia, (I absolutely love her)
Nicky: What upcoming projects do you have in the works?
Nnika: Well for now, it’s just studio work, and a lot of writing.
Nicky: Your song “Don’t Let Me Go” from 2007 was a huge turning point in your career. How did your career change after that?
Nnika: Well, it got me a lot of recognition. People were now getting to know who “The Girl from Grenada” was. I got nominated for an award at the ISA up against, Allison Hinds, Destra Garcia, Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson and Sanelle Dempster for best female vocalist of the year (which I won) and it also opened a lot of doors for me as I started traveling more and performing more.
Nicky: Who have been your favourite producers to work with?
Nnika: I have enjoyed working with every producer I have ever worked with, they all have different techniques, and do things differently, but my favourite to date was Shel Shok.
Nicky: It is that time of year when plenty new Soca has been released. Which songs are you listening to in heavy rotation right now?
Nnika: Well, to be honest, I can’t say that there is a particular song or songs that are in rotation, cause if I did, I will have to call out just about every song that is released. But in General all of the music that has been released for Carnival 2k11 has been great, and every song receives its fair share of airplay.
Nicky: If you could collaborate on a record with anyone in the world, in any category of music, with who would it be?
Nnika: Destra Garcia! Actually, I have plans to get Destra on a track with me for Grenada Carnival 2011. It’s not been put out there yet, but it’s something I have definitely been thinking about.
Nicky: We’ve know that you are Grenadian, what are some of your fondest memories growing up in Grenada?
Nnika: Growing up in Grenada on the whole was an experience and a half, which I enjoyed every minute of. I will give you two of my favourites:
1) I remember my first J’ouvert experience, with my mom and my sister, it was absolutely scary! I remember being absolutely terrified of the live snakes that the men in the “Jab Jab” band used to have around their necks, it was even more terrifying for me because everyone was painted in black and the men were attempting to scare my sister and me, and my mom was laughing hysterically!
2) My second favourite is my school days, I enjoyed every second of them! And what made them more special to me was the fact that I shared them with my sister. She was always three years ahead of me, but I could never get enough of liming with her and her older friends….lol. We went to the same primary school as well as secondary school. And even after she graduated secondary school, and was in college, I still would go and lime with them after school.
Nicky: When not in the studio or traveling to perform, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Nnika: I enjoy watching movies, spending time with my family, I also like the beach, hiking, I also love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, (trying out new recipes).
Nicky: Where can people find your music if they want to hear more of you?
Nnika: Youtube and on Myspace.com/nnikamusic
Nicky: I really want to thank you for taking the time to let us get a deeper look at you as an artist. Best of luck this year and we look forward to your performance at BFF – Best Fete Forever on Saturday, Jan. 15th at Continental Soiree.
Nnika: Thank you and I’m definitely looking forward to it too!
BFF – Best Fete Forever takes place Saturday, January 15th, 2011 at Continental Soiree – 1159 Kennedy Road, Scarborough, ON. Admission is just $10.00 with 5+ canned goods before 11:30 p.m. All food items will be donated to The Daily Bread Food Bank. To keep up-to-date with future BFF events, please visit www.drjayonline.com or www.dancehallsoca.com
Interview performed by Darling Nicky for darlingnicky.ca | darlingnicky999.com and Dancehallsoca.com, a division of Caribbean Lifestyle Media, LLC.
© 2011 Darling Nicky Writing and Publicity Services. All rights reserved.
