Nikki Vukovic's sprite attitude has seen her move on with relative ease in our local scene. She has also been quite prolific in her fairly short career, having released five singles that have garnered a considerable amount of airplay. A recent Bay Music Award nominee, Nikki threads a fine line between pop and rock, and her assertive ways have also helped her to distinguish herself in her own right. Having taken piano lessons ever since she was three, Nikki eventually continued taking up music and singing till late in her teens. Her relationship with Forsaken guitarist Sean Vukovic, whom she eventually married, was a turning point in her career.
"I always followed Sean's live gigs and studio recordings with the bands helped me captivate a lot of musical moments and experiences that in turn made me discover my musical side as well as understand what it takes to become a musician. It was when Sean asked me to sing to a song that he was working on that I discovered my singing potential. It was my big wish to sing and perform in front of an audience but what I lacked was the confidence. I never believed I could make it! The song Sean was working on was actually my first single released on radio, called Open Your Eyes.
"In fact this song is very special to me - it was literally an eye opener! From that point on I did not look back. I took up singing lessons and made up my mind to give it all," she said when I interviewed her, on the eve of her performance at St James Cavalier.
This event, which is taking place tonight, features a backing band that comprises Nikki's husband and Kevin Vella on acoustic guitars, Jonathan Galea on bass, Michael Briguglio on drums, and Andre Schembri on piano and keyboards. It shall also continue to affirm Nikki's rapid progress as a singer. Ever since releasing her first single, this young lady hasn't looked back and one can also notice a good deal of maturity as she continued to deliver subsequent releases. "Sometimes I find it difficult to express myself and communicate to others what I really feel. However, through singing I feel I can really let go and let out my feelings as well as convey the message of the song to my audience."
Up to now, it is Sean, and not Nikki who has written the songs. "He was inspired when he used to hear me sing alone and together with other songs I like to listen to. He decided to start writing a song that fit really well with my voice, style and character which would make a complete product. This eventually evolved into my debut single, Open Your Eyes. After that we continued working on other songs together while I was working on my vocal techniques. We recorded nine original songs so far. At the moment, besides being my husband, Sean is my musical tutor and I am currently working on learning guitar and improving on my piano playing (that I learnt when I was young) and giving my input in the new songs that we will be recording in the near future."
One would think that the fact that her husband comes from a different line of music may not work out things fine. In fact, one can say that they balance each other out. Nikki adds that "Sean and I are both into all styles of music and we can appreciate the capability of writing or playing in all styles. It is important to match the artist's character, voice and musical preferences with the right song. I think that listening to, playing and appreciating all types of music can only make you a better musician."
Nikki, and of course, Sean also maintain that it is only through having a level-headed, versatile attitude that one can move on in a market that has already become quite crowded with so many different, new acts and different styles and moods.
"We have been focusing more on the heavier style in the likes of If I Could. However, the softer pop songs released are doing well too," added Nikki, who contends that although most of her songs are quite happy tunes, they all have a dark element in both music and lyrics. Their songs exude various influences, and lean towards the new generation of songwriters. She is particularly fond of Pink.
"I love her powerful songs and I feel she really expresses what she feels in her songs. I can appreciate the songs of James Blunt; however, they don't really impress me. I like a few songs of his but I think a whole album would bore me. On the other hand, Nikki admires Alanis Morrissette, largely for her great vocal abilities and her great musicianship, even though she is not one of Nikki's most favourite artistes.
When she performs tonight, Nikki will be involved in an unplugged affair, with a mellower feel. However, she also feels that it will also give her and the band scope to discover different slants to her new and not so new songs. Besides, she will also be delivering a few covers from Dido's, Natalie Imbruglia's and The Red Hot Chilli Pepper's repertoire.
Does Nikki harbour ambitions about playing abroad as her husband did (with Forsaken) after all? "Yes of course. I am definitely ambitious and would like to play abroad. I will be working on finalising my album, together with Sean, in the coming months with the aim of releasing in Malta and will do our best to promote abroad. We will also be working on a number of other songs - in the heavier style - so that we will broaden our chances of getting some deal with a foreign company. You shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket," added Nikki, who believes a lot in equal opportunities. "However, I also believe that men and women are different. I am not all out for all feminist issues. I just expect to be respected and given equal opportunities," said Nikki, whose songs do reflect this attitude in self-confidence and self-respect as well as working for what one really believes.
She also has reasons to believe that our burgeoning local scene is growing and becoming more competitive than ever before. Nikki's viewpoints here are quite emphatic. "In a way, it is also helping to improve standards. However, it is important for one not to get lost in the competition but to focus more on becoming a better artiste, and be appreciated for that musical ability and not just for the sake of being famous. It should be done for the love of the music. Perhaps we need to have a better musical community and more unity between musicians."
"I always followed Sean's live gigs and studio recordings with the bands helped me captivate a lot of musical moments and experiences that in turn made me discover my musical side as well as understand what it takes to become a musician. It was when Sean asked me to sing to a song that he was working on that I discovered my singing potential. It was my big wish to sing and perform in front of an audience but what I lacked was the confidence. I never believed I could make it! The song Sean was working on was actually my first single released on radio, called Open Your Eyes.
"In fact this song is very special to me - it was literally an eye opener! From that point on I did not look back. I took up singing lessons and made up my mind to give it all," she said when I interviewed her, on the eve of her performance at St James Cavalier.
This event, which is taking place tonight, features a backing band that comprises Nikki's husband and Kevin Vella on acoustic guitars, Jonathan Galea on bass, Michael Briguglio on drums, and Andre Schembri on piano and keyboards. It shall also continue to affirm Nikki's rapid progress as a singer. Ever since releasing her first single, this young lady hasn't looked back and one can also notice a good deal of maturity as she continued to deliver subsequent releases. "Sometimes I find it difficult to express myself and communicate to others what I really feel. However, through singing I feel I can really let go and let out my feelings as well as convey the message of the song to my audience."
Up to now, it is Sean, and not Nikki who has written the songs. "He was inspired when he used to hear me sing alone and together with other songs I like to listen to. He decided to start writing a song that fit really well with my voice, style and character which would make a complete product. This eventually evolved into my debut single, Open Your Eyes. After that we continued working on other songs together while I was working on my vocal techniques. We recorded nine original songs so far. At the moment, besides being my husband, Sean is my musical tutor and I am currently working on learning guitar and improving on my piano playing (that I learnt when I was young) and giving my input in the new songs that we will be recording in the near future."
One would think that the fact that her husband comes from a different line of music may not work out things fine. In fact, one can say that they balance each other out. Nikki adds that "Sean and I are both into all styles of music and we can appreciate the capability of writing or playing in all styles. It is important to match the artist's character, voice and musical preferences with the right song. I think that listening to, playing and appreciating all types of music can only make you a better musician."
Nikki, and of course, Sean also maintain that it is only through having a level-headed, versatile attitude that one can move on in a market that has already become quite crowded with so many different, new acts and different styles and moods.
"We have been focusing more on the heavier style in the likes of If I Could. However, the softer pop songs released are doing well too," added Nikki, who contends that although most of her songs are quite happy tunes, they all have a dark element in both music and lyrics. Their songs exude various influences, and lean towards the new generation of songwriters. She is particularly fond of Pink.
"I love her powerful songs and I feel she really expresses what she feels in her songs. I can appreciate the songs of James Blunt; however, they don't really impress me. I like a few songs of his but I think a whole album would bore me. On the other hand, Nikki admires Alanis Morrissette, largely for her great vocal abilities and her great musicianship, even though she is not one of Nikki's most favourite artistes.
When she performs tonight, Nikki will be involved in an unplugged affair, with a mellower feel. However, she also feels that it will also give her and the band scope to discover different slants to her new and not so new songs. Besides, she will also be delivering a few covers from Dido's, Natalie Imbruglia's and The Red Hot Chilli Pepper's repertoire.
Does Nikki harbour ambitions about playing abroad as her husband did (with Forsaken) after all? "Yes of course. I am definitely ambitious and would like to play abroad. I will be working on finalising my album, together with Sean, in the coming months with the aim of releasing in Malta and will do our best to promote abroad. We will also be working on a number of other songs - in the heavier style - so that we will broaden our chances of getting some deal with a foreign company. You shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket," added Nikki, who believes a lot in equal opportunities. "However, I also believe that men and women are different. I am not all out for all feminist issues. I just expect to be respected and given equal opportunities," said Nikki, whose songs do reflect this attitude in self-confidence and self-respect as well as working for what one really believes.
She also has reasons to believe that our burgeoning local scene is growing and becoming more competitive than ever before. Nikki's viewpoints here are quite emphatic. "In a way, it is also helping to improve standards. However, it is important for one not to get lost in the competition but to focus more on becoming a better artiste, and be appreciated for that musical ability and not just for the sake of being famous. It should be done for the love of the music. Perhaps we need to have a better musical community and more unity between musicians."