Nicole Witt Featured in Nashville Voyager
Nicole Witt was recently featured in Nashville Voyager. Read the full article here.
Today, we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Witt.
Hi Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Music is in my blood. My grandparents were “grassers” from Missouri. They had a traveling family bluegrass band for years. I never got to meet them, but I play my grandfather’s 101-year-old violin every night. My dad is a part of country music history as his “Tadpoles” square dancing group was a part of the famed Ozark Jubilee Show.
At three years old, my parents took me to the Grand Ole Opry, and I apparently danced in the aisles. It’s been game on ever since. Music moved me to Music City, and I have never looked back or ever considered doing anything different.
Country music’s Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, the Chicks, Shania, and faith-based artist Amy Grant are the artists who inspired me and the reason why I moved to Nashville. NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) was the vehicle that got me here.
I have written for three publishing companies: EMI Music Publishing, Curb Records, and Capitol CMG. I have been signed as a part of an all-female group to Keith Stegall’s Dreamlined Entertainment label. I have been mentoring artists and songwriters for 10 + years, and I love the magic of giving back to this creative community that has given so much to me.
My latest endeavor might be my favorite, the Six One Five Collective. This group of solo artists formed in mid-2021 to “go out and have fun playing together.” That initial spark has grown into a full-blown recording & touring band, ala Fleetwood Mac and Little Big Town. We have a song called Brothers of the Highway, which is currently building steam on country radio.
Our tour schedule keeps growing by the week. I believe there are big things ahead for this group. I hope playing the Grand Ole Opry is one of them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been all sorts of struggles ranging from learning how to write a decent song, to learning how to engage and perform on stage, to dealing with people that don’t have your best interest at heart, and finally learning how to get out of my own way.
The last one is the zinger. The creative community is not an easy one. Growing tough skin doesn’t even begin to start. Learning how to navigate the 22 hours off the stage is the thing.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is built around three aspects of the industry. Writing songs for other artists, mentoring and developing new songwriters and artists, and touring and writing for myself and my band, the Six One Five Collective.
I am most excited about the Six One-Five Collective. Michael Logen, Aaron Goodvin, Sarah Darling, and I kicked off our 2024 Six One-Five Good Vibes tour in Florida. Drummer Jeremy Spray and singer-songwriters Emily Shackelton, Ryan Kinder, and Cheyenne Medders also sometimes join us out on the road. We have dates all over the country through the end of November this year, and that tour is growing every day.
This band is very special to me. Not only are these folks massively talented in their own right, but they are amazing human beings. This is the GOLD. We are having the time of our lives touring and making music together. “The life I love is making music with my friends, and I can’t wait to get on the road again.” – Willie Nelson.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
If you don’t HAVE to do this as a profession, you’re not in the right spot.
The only artists and songwriters who make a career out of this industry are the folks who can’t choose anything else. For me, music is like the air I breathe. It’s an extension of me and who I am, and it’s my love letter to God. READ MORE
