The First Take: Nicole Alexis Discusses Stepping into Her Most Authentic Sound

"It's almost like writing in a diary... but normally you wouldn't release the pages."

Before Nicole Alexis' music became everyone else's comfort, it was her own outlet. Every song began as a way to untangle overwhelming thoughts, process change, or say goodbye to a past version of herself. What she didn't expect was that once those pages were shared, other people would begin finding pieces of themselves in them.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist has built her career by doing nearly everything herself. She writes, records, produces, mixes, and masters her own music: skills she taught herself through countless hours of YouTube tutorials, trial and error, and familial training. 

When asked what she enjoys doing outside of music, her answer came almost instantly. "Music." It's exactly the response you would expect from someone whose life revolves around creating it.

Originally from New Orleans before growing up in Atlanta, Alexis describes herself as a "pure Southerner," with music surrounding her for as long as she can remember. Her grandmother and uncle both played guitar, her sister now lives in Nashville and works in the industry, and nearly everyone in her family is involved in music in some way. Even growing up in New Orleans left its mark, where childhood trips to Bourbon Street meant watching street performers turn sidewalks into stages. Those performances became some of her earliest musical inspirations, making live performance feel like home long before she ever stepped onto a stage herself.

Today, that inspiration shows up in her own unique way. Despite growing up watching street musicians perform for anyone passing by, Alexis often films her own content in secluded places late at night. The decision is partly aesthetic, with dimly lit parking lots and empty midnight streets matching the emotional weight of her music, but it's also authentic. "When I'm in those places, I can be in the music and the moment instead of worrying about people driving by or walking past." Alexis often drives around searching for the right location before filming, chasing both the atmosphere and the privacy that allows her to fully immerse herself into the performance. Still, she hopes one day to come full circle, becoming comfortable enough to simply pull out her guitar and play anywhere, much like the street performers who first inspired her.

Released in April, her latest four-song project wasn't written with the intention of becoming an EP. Instead, it was a collection of songs written over the previous year and a half that naturally fit together. "I just felt like they all fit a cohesive story when I listened to them together."

That story begins with "Don't Tell Me to Breathe," which arrived in January after being born entirely out of frustration. "I hate when people tell me to calm down when I'm worked up."

"I didn't realize how many people related to the topic of being overwhelmed, especially talking about ADHD," Alexis explains. The feeling of constantly having too many thoughts racing through your head became something listeners immediately connected with. That momentum only continued as the second release, "Just a Friend" found its audience, and despite what listeners may assume, Alexis states her songs aren't actually about romantic relationships at all. "A lot of times, if I'm writing and it sounds like it's about a relationship, it's not about a relationship. It's about a past version of myself or an inner monologue."

One of the clearest examples is "Goodbye," a song she describes as saying goodbye to an older version of herself rather than another person. Without realizing it, self-reflection became a theme connecting nearly every song she was writing. "I love being in isolation by myself because I truly enjoy writing and producing. The more I locked into the writing, the more it became a common theme." At first, that level of honesty made releasing the songs feel intimidating, almost too personal to share. But once they were out in the world, Alexis realized they no longer belonged solely to her. "The more I shared them, the more I realized the songs weren't for me anymore. They were for someone else to see themselves in their story."

That shift in perspective also changed the way she approaches the creative process itself. "I have so much music. Before, I was worried about getting the mix right and the production right. Now it's more like release more music and stop being so precious about perfection." Sometimes that even means keeping the very first vocal take. "The demo vocals should be the final vocals because it's the most raw when you first write it." That philosophy carries over into her production process as well, Alexis shares: "I try to produce the track first because I know when I write over it, it'll change so much."

Although Alexis handles nearly every creative aspect herself, she's quick to credit the songwriting rooms she's been part of for helping sharpen her skills as both a producer and mixing engineer. She also studied marketing in school, a body of knowledge she believes is just as valuable for independent artists today. "If you know how to market and promote yourself as a brand, [that's the key]."

Now, she's entering the next chapter of her career with a growing team behind her. Recently signing with Hardworking Record Company while partnering with Nettwerk for distribution, Alexis is excited to spend less time worrying about logistics and more time focusing on the one thing that's always been at the center of everything she does: making music.

With four or five more songs expected before the end of the year, including the release she's perhaps most excited for, "Goodbye," there's plenty ahead. But no matter how much new music arrives, the focus remains the same. "My ultimate goal is to make music and play live shows."

Photos and Interview by Bek Allegretti