Dubbed a "soul songstress" by Phillyburbs.com, Nicky Egan is an accomplished songwriter and keyboardist who commands the stage with captivating energy.
Originally from Philadelphia, Egan grew up in a home where the sounds of Richie Havens, Bob Marley, Bonnie Raitt, and The Rolling Stones were frequently buzzing on the stereo. Upon receiving a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, Egan moved to Boston in 2006. She graduated with a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production, worked with various visiting producers, showcasing many original pieces of work, and directed the Entrepreneur Action Team while attending the school.
Egan spent two years touring with funk band, Turkuaz post college and released her first album, Good People, in 2011 when she moved to Brooklyn, NY. Radio Boston described Egan as having "a voice that sounds more soulful and world weary than her 23 years might suggest."
With the release of her debut album, and a bittersweet departure from Turkuaz to focus on her band, Egan's career has begun a steady rise. She's shared the stage with other soul acts like Boston's Eli "Paperboy" Reed, and New Orleans' Charles Neville, continuously leaving audiences in awe.
Enveloped in New York's exploding music scene, Egan's band has formed a fresh incarnation, performing frequently around the boroughs. She's just completed her sophomore release, an EP entitled, 'The 45 Homestead Project', which was released April 1 2014 through Ropeadope Records.
This EP marks Egan's first venture as a newly signed Ropeadope artist. It's been received graciously, with the EP debuting on both iTunes and Bandcamp's homepages under the 'new and noteworthy' sections.
Describe your sound in one ramble on sentence
What inspires you to make music?
What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?There have been so many great albums put out in the last couple of years, and they aren't necessarily 'conventional' which is exciting. I feel like anything goes right now as long as you're putting out honest material!
Sometimes I try to tell stories, sometimes I just want to get down with the rest of em... always striving to connect with listeners and emanate an honest sound.
What inspires you to make music?
Inspiration comes from all different places, but I suppose just life experiences, and wanting to contribute something to society as well as express myself, music having always been the inevitable outlet.
What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?I'd really love to reach more people and just continue to get my music out there, which can sometimes be an uphill marathon, and I suppose discouraging at times. That said, I'm really lucky to be able to do something I love and am passionate about.
Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?Sarah Vaughn never fails.
What's one of your all-time favorite recordings?
Shulie a Bop - Sarah Vaughn
Name three people who have influenced your music, and tell us why- Living or dead.
Name three people who have influenced your music, and tell us why- Living or dead.
Family's been a huge support system and inspiration..
-My Grandpa, who was a jazz musician in the army and who first introduced me to a lot of jazz and blues singers.
-My Mom, who is a painter and has an amazing work ethic, and sort of keeps me in check as for working on material.
-My Aunt Margot, who is an artist of many mediums and has always been very purposeful in her work.
Do you have any recent or upcoming projects you'd like to share with us? Tell us about it.I have an EP I released through Ropeadope Records in 2014, which is my most recent release. I recently wrote the theme song for a movie, Thirsty, that should be coming out soon, which I'm really proud of and excited about!
What do you like the most about Radio Airplay?
It's a wonderful platform for people to discover new music!
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