Artist Glimpse - Kristin Nicholls
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In conversation with Hamilton-based artist Kristin Nicholls—a seasoned performer and frontman of the Kristin Nicholls Band. From sharing stages across Canada to crafting songs that blend country, rock, and heartfelt storytelling, Kristin continues to make his mark with emotionally honest music. I'm excited to dig into the heart behind the music.
Rob Aguiar: Having transitioned from leading worship music to performing country rock, how has your musical evolution influenced your songwriting themes and style?
KN - Great question. It’s true, I grew up playing in church in my younger years & writing worshipful, gospel type songs in the band I was in back then. Throughout my musical & life journey I’ve come back to playing in church, which I still love to do even these days. Transitioning to country music has allowed me the opportunity to write about all the different aspects of my life. I often joke and say, “Now I can sing about whiskey, women & faith.” Three things I know very well, for better or worse.
RA - Having watched you perform live, your songs carry an emotional weight that feels deeply personal. How important is vulnerability in your songwriting, and what has it taught you about connecting with listeners on a more human level?
KN - Performing live has always been so important to me. I work on telling my stories in a way that is relatable to the listener. When I’m on stage, I want the audience to feel something when I sing. I want the listener to feel the pain & joy, the love & loss, the hope & the heartbreak with every note. I want to bring passion & authenticity every time I step onto the stage.
RA - One of your recent music videos for "You Make Me Feel" features your son. There’s a line in the song—“You make me feel like I can win the war tonight”—that hits especially hard in the context of a parent-child relationship. What led you to include your son in that visual story, and what did that mean to you as both a father and a songwriter? Would you mind performing the song for us?
KN - Originally I wrote that song about my struggles with drugs and alcohol, and people who suffer through addictions tend to have a harder time at night for some reason. I wrote that line kind of crying out and going to God to help me at night when I felt weak. When we got around to making the video, I used my son in the video to give people another point of reference. My son, Phoenix, was also a source of inspiration for me to get well and get sober. So I wanted people to connect with the idea that they have a “why”, whatever gets them through tough times.
RA - Your latest video for "One More Round," was just released on May 30th. Can you share the inspiration behind this song?
KN - Luke and myself co-wrote that song with our Producer Jordan Honsinger in Nashville in the summer of 2023. I just really wanted to write a fun party song. Something people could dance to. Which, if I’m being totally honest is different for me as a songwriter. It’s funny to me now looking back that I’m releasing this song after a year & a half of being sober. After a stint in rehab, I reconnected with my faith, did the hard work of kicking my addictions & losing 70 lbs in the process through crossfit 6x a week and therapy. Now, I’ve brought that energy to ‘One More Round’ - a track that’s equal parts party and purpose.
“We’ve been embraced by a new community that we’re still getting to know, and we love it.”
RA - I’m someone who really connects with lyrics—sometimes a single line can hit at just the right moment. Is there a lyric from one of your songs or from another artist that holds particular meaning for you?
KN - When I write a song, I wrestle with the lyrics to try and make them the best they can be. To paint a picture or convey a message in just the right way. On our first country single ‘Free Again’ I was showing my own real & raw vulnerability with the lyric “Addictions in my blood, I fight, I told my boy I would. But it ain’t easy, keep breathing, believe me”.
An artist I’ve really been into recently is Stephen Wilson Jr. There is something about his music that moves me in ways I haven’t felt in years. His lyrics are very nostalgic for me. He has a line in his song ‘Year To Be Young 1994’ that says “Hiding in my headphones, laying on the bedroom floor - It takes me back to the days when a song was so much more… 1994”. When you’re a kid music is the lifeblood running through your veins. I picture myself on my bedroom floor with my yellow Sony discman cranked in my ears. Lyrics & melodies inspiring me to change the world, or comforting my broken heart. His lyric, the whole song really, speaks to me.
RA - Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the Kristin Nicholls Band, and how do you envision your music evolving in the coming years?
“My hope is that we continue to grow as writers & artists. That we continue to release quality singles & videos to be compiled into a full length country record in the near future.”
KN - Shifting into country music has been such a blessing for us. In the past 2 years we’ve had 4 radio singles, and Sirius XM singles. We’ve been embraced by a new community that we’re still getting to know, and we love it. We’ve added some new instruments to the band, pedal steel guitar and banjo. We’ve released videos and played some big festivals, and recorded multiple times in Nashville. My hope is that we continue to grow as writers & artists. That we continue to release quality singles & videos to be compiled into a full length country record in the near future. That we continue to play our shows to as many as will listen & we inspire them & give them an experience that they’ll remember long into the future!
RA - Kristin, thank you for sharing your time, your stories, and the heart behind your artistry with us today. I can’t wait to hear what’s next for you and the band.
KN - Thank you for having us Rob! We appreciate being able to share a little more about who we are with your audience! Stay tuned for more singles coming soon!
Connect with Kristin on Instagram.
