NikoOnline.com

SheUnlimited.com / Daily Confection recently had the chance to talk with Niko:


Q. Hi Niko. It is an honor to speak with you. Tell us a little about the beginning, when the soul of Niko started to take flight.

It was when I was 18. I fell madly in love, my first girlfriend. Suddenly, the lover in me was awakened and unleashed! I began discovering many things in myself such as my gift for writing, photography, a deeper part of my musical gift, an artistic side I had never expressed, a romantic side... I wrote poetry, beautiful (mostly melancholic) love songs, starting thinking for myself and moving toward the path of being true to who I was.

At the age of 22, while alone at my apartment one evening, I had a spiritual experience that changed me forever. I realized my destiny was to touch the world! And that it would occur through my artistic expressions. From that moment, I have never been the same.

I am driven, determined and relentless in the pursuit of my dream. I have been on a search for truth and on a journey of self discovery that has taken me around the world. I am a warrior on a mission with every intention of fulfilling my purpose for being here - to bring a message of hope and love to mankind. At all costs. And the fact that I am having this interview is proof that it is coming to pass. Not nearly as soon as I might have thought, but it is happening. Blood sweat and tears, concurred fears, the changing of my site, countless sleepless nights. I do stand before you now, I take a humble bow, I give my all in hopes to see, that we will all rise up and simply BE!


Q. How do you think your music can change the world?

Very simply, through its sprit and message. My music speaks for itself. It is spreading across the world at an exponential rate not because I am personally spreading it, it is alive. I am both honored and humbled by this. But it is EXACTLY what I saw would happen that evening in my apartment. Here are two invaluable things I learned from one of my greatest mentors: "Say what you see and you will see what you have said." "You will be what you see."


Q. The heartfelt, passionate strains of your songs are inspiring and soothing; more like poetry. What comes first, the words or the melody?

My lyrics are often inspired by the sound of a musical progression, I’ll do something on the piano or guitar and within myself I will hear words or a certain phrase. This is the most common way that I write all of my songs.

Now this leads me to share with you what it is that actually inspires me to play a progression in the first place...I would summarize this answer by saying "Life!" It might be the laughter of a child, a friend in need, pleasant or painful memories, dreams, happiness, frustrations. Nature. I write little songs for our animals here at "Freetown" (the property where most of the team lives). Traveling and being in other places far away stirs things up in me - the sights, the smells, the sounds of another culture and land. Sound inspires me. I will hear something like a car engine cranking up or the horn of a train or the wind blowing through the trees and it will actually inspire a melody or lyric or chord progression in me. Also, just sitting down at my piano inspires me. Most every time I sit to play, something fresh and new comes out. Sometimes it’s a song while other times it’s an idea or a melody that later becomes a song. And the hope of my music touching the world, that inspires me deeply. It is important that we always have hope in our hearts for through hope we find inspiration to fulfill our dreams. The content of my lyrics tend to focus on positive things, I like knowing that my songs are helping people and helping to bring light into this world. If I can do this, then when I breathe my last breath I will have peace in knowing I fulfilled my purpose on this earth.


Q. I would include your music in a meditation routine; would that surprise you?

Not at all. As a matter of fact, some of the songs on the Journey Within album were used on a CD that accompanied a book on meditation written by a guy in Maui. Many people write to tell me that my music is peaceful and relaxing. I am glad my music brings a calm energy to a not so calm world. Knowing that people are in their cars and in living rooms unwinding to “Nikoâ€