Nicole C. Mullen

Everyday People

Word Records

“Everyday People” is the first studio album from Nicole in 3yrs and ‘it's all good'. The album shows a development of Nicole's already amazing talents. There is more of an emphasis on the funk, and a spice of traditional tribal rhythms that make the album wonderful. The lyrical content is both fun and serious, and at the same time always meaningful. Inspiration is credited to the fans that Nicole has interacted with over the years. On the serious side, Nicole brings attention to a horrible situation in Ghana regarding a modern day slave trade (Gon' Be Free). Nicole's involvement goes beyond the song and into an involvement with the International Needs Network – Ghana http://www.inter-nationalneeds.com/ . Through her songs Nicole shares her pains, joys, and dreams. She genuinely represents everyday people.

Interview:

Ken - How long have you been at all of this? I mean all the way back to the beginning?

Nicole - With my singing?

Ken - Yeah, and you were doing choreography too?

Nicole - The choreography I just sort of fell into just goofing off, just dancing around. Let's back up, I've been singing since I was two with my family and churches. Then maybe ten years ago I came here to Nashville . I met David my husband, and we we're just hanging out with some buddies and he hired me to do back ground with him. Then I met Chris Rodrequez who was the guitar player at the time, and Chris had asked me to show him how to do a dance move. Before I knew it I was the choreographer on Amy Grants tour! I was not as interested in that [part] and even now I have someone else choreographing for me.

Ken - How is the Baby Girls Club going?

Nicole - It's going good. As a matter of fact we start up again tomorrow - we've been out for the summer. We have probably forty to fifty girls that come at each session; over a hundred girls are on the roster. We get together, we dance, sing, have talent shows, sometimes watch movies, we eat, talk, and do all kinds of stuff. Girls stuff. At the end of the day our whole aim is to make sure that we draw these girls closer to God, and give them hope.

Ken - How much of an influence does the Girls club have on your album?

Nicole - I think probably a lot in different ways. Not necessarily in the subject matters, but underling matters. Making sure that it's something they will like to listen to. At the same time, something that if I'm in conversation with them I can tell them and quote a lyric to them. I traveled to Africa this past year too. So that definitely has had a huge factor in making sure I made this album to where people of different cultures are like this is their album that they thought they were in some kind of story on there.

Ken - Was "Every Nation" recorded somewhere when you were on your trip?

Nicole - I had recorded it and my manager wound up hearing it for the first time while we were in Africa . I had recorded some of it before I got there and some afterwards. The piece that's in front of "Every Nation" was recorded there. These little kids got up and they were singing [for a Compassion International presentation] and I turned on my little tape recorder thinking I got to catch some of this. [I wanted to] display it and let people here some other everyday people, people that will share the Kingdom of God with us eventually in heaven.

Ken - I've noticed a couple of times going through the Cd that there was more hip-hop and Rap than before.

Nicole - A lot more R&B and funk, it really represents me, it's who I am. I think each album is a musical journey.

Ken - Thinking about "Bye Bye Brianna," being as open as you are, is it hard to be on the road? Being very personal with people, and meeting a lot of people, how do you maintain your strength?

Nicole - I live in the country on purpose. It reminds me of how Jesus would withdraw at times in order to go out and still be among the people. My favorite part is not necessarily being on stage, but meeting people after I've been on stage. I enjoy it tremendously, but in order to stay refueled I have to drive out to the country.

I try to be the same person on and off stage and all the time. We are everyday people, all of us. When you take away the titles and job descriptions, bank accounts, we're all regular people. We all bleed the same, and have similar emotions.

Ken - So what's going to be the first single?

Nicole - The first single that is out, is "Everyday People", the title cut. "Everyday People" is kind of tongue and cheek way of saying that we're all alike. Really when it comes down to it I'm everyday people, you're everyday people, and we're all the same. It kind of sets the stage for that right there and hopefully we can build on that.

Ken - Is there anything you want to share with our readers?

Nicole - I think my whole heart, even in this album, is to make sure that I put out the fact that the God I serve, in the form that he came to earth, came from ordinary regular everyday people and He loves everyday people, He's merciful towards everyday people. What ever your need might be He is there for you.