We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.
Hi Nicole, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
My purpose is closely related to my spiritual grounding. I’ve always been Christian and grew up in a household that affirmed my identity and unique gifts. The first time I wrote a song, it literally came from nowhere and within about an hour I crafted a complete song. I shared it with my grandmom who reminded me that not everyone can create music and that this ability was God-given. It seemed that once I heard that first song, the next several flowed out of me with ease. My grandmom was right! God blessed me with the gift of songwriting and I believe I have the gift for a reason. My music always has a positive message. And when I write for myself you can be sure that the sound is pleasant and peaceful. The world needs more light and love. That’s what I’m here to give. If you come to know me through my music, you’ll know how much my faith inspires me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a songwriter who loves writing contemporary worship and gospel. I also sneak lullabies and holiday songs into the rotation. (It’s important to continue to write what you love even when you write for others!) The best thing about being a songwriter is that you get to birth something into the world that wasn’t there previously. And if the song is good, it’ll be sung for years to come. I love writing songs that resonate with others.
This year I am focused on improving my skills and expanding my network of co-writers. I’ve written more in the first three months of this year than I did in all 2024! I scheduled a lot of co-writing sessions and this has led to more songs in development. Between the songs I’m writing on my own and the ones I’m writing with others, it’s going to be a very productive year.
I’m excited about a new gospel song that I wrote for my friend Jeremy T. Butler called “It’s Coming to Pass.” He’s releasing it April and he knocked it out the park! It’s churchy in the best possible way! I am also a co-writer on a new song being released by Steph Andrews later this year. It’s a contemporary Christian piece that we started at a worship writing conference last year. I also plan to release a single or two of my own.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three most impactful things in my songwriting journey include being an avid music listener, having a good attitude, and being determined. The last two are probably most important. When it comes to the music industry, I have come to learn that it’s not about having the most talent. If people don’t like to work with you or if you give up easily, you’ll never get anywhere, even if you’re the most talented person in the room. Persistence beats talent in my book. Now that’s not to say you can persistently write bad songs and eventually come out on top. You do have to have some level of skill. But skill alone doesn’t cut it.
I think the best things a new songwriter can do is critically listen to music, constantly work to improve your skills, and keep an open heart. Don’t box yourself into a genre right away. I have a heart for Christian music but when a friend was working on her synth pop single and needed a little help with the melody, I jumped at the opportunity. The reason I was able to help is because I listen to all types of genres including a lot of pop. Being open to the opportunities that are in front of you will help keep you moving along your journey.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents exposed me to a lot of different types of music. My mom believed all her kids should play an instrument and so I chose the flute. They paid for music lessons for many years. My band played a lot of American standards like America the Beautiful. These traditional songs gave me a great foundation. When I went to college, I chose a historically black college and university (HBCU) and had a band scholarship. We played the exact opposite of all the traditional music I had been playing. I was exposed to Earth Wind and Fire and lots of other popular black soul and funk music.
My dad exposed to me to all the music he grew up on: Motown, James Taylor, and Chicago, to name a few. But he also loved classical and musicals. We would listen to the radio a lot and Oldies 104.3 was his favorite. As a result, all those songs rubbed off on me.
Finally, because my parents are devout Christians, I grew up in church. Gospel music was in constant rotation and I participated in a few choirs.
The only things we didn’t listen to in my house was jazz and rap. I had to expose myself to these. Now my love for music includes a wide range of genres. I have my parents to thank for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.seenicwrite.com
- Instagram: @seenicwrite
- Youtube: @nicolethomas_writes
- Other: TikTok @seenicwrite
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