The Pulse of Entertainment: Billboard Chart-Topping Nicki Kris Releases ‘Unleashed' Album, Featuring Nik
Hughes, Zev Shalev, Kevin Murphy, Tye Cristo
by Dr. Eunice Moseley
(January 3, 2025) - "I love performing," said Billboard Chart-Topping Nicki
Kris when I interviewed her about the release of her new album "Unleashed" (N.K.M.
Records). "I just go out and perform...love it! It comes naturally. I never ger nervous."
The Rock project has Nicki
collaborating with producer Kevin McNoldy (Dave Matthews, Howie D of the Backstreet Boys) and Grammy winning producer Kitt
Wakeley. For this project the powerful storyteller enlisted help from drummer Nik Hughes, guitarist Zev Shalev, drummer Kevin
Murphy and singer/songwriter Tye Cristo.
"The title ("Unleashed") came from Natalie Jean ("My Body"),"
Kris said about the title of the album when I asked. "It's the first song on the album. I don't say the word (unleash)
until the end of the song. I didn't plan it that way."
I asked Nicki which came first the title of the album or the song "Unleashed."
"The title came before the song," she replied. "(Natalie Jean) She came
up with the title based on songs I have done."
She explained that World Music Award winner Natalie Jean told the singer/songwriter
to unleash the talent within. You see, aside from being a Rock artist she is also a Pop and Blues artist. The North Carolina
native did just that on the "Unleashed" project.
"I first performed at six years-old in elementary school in a Christmas
pageant," Nicki told me as we talked about her humble beginnings in music. "Fun stuff all through school. But life
got in the way, and I put music on hold. I got back into music in 2011. I recorded a Christmas song. Then started working
on an album."
,
Nicki Kris has been a singer/songwriter so many years you can consider her a
veteran. Her songs can be heard on TV shows, such as "Dance Moms" on Lifetime. One song featured on the Lifetime
show is titled "Beautiful" off-of her "Big Dream" album. The album also garnered the song "We Go
On" which is also featured on the "Dance Mom" series.
"I was performing out and about last year...because
I had a band. We occasionally performed locally," Kris pointed out when I asked about her awesome band. "The band
broke up... so I focused on the album."
In 2013 Nicki debuted with the "I
Come Alive" album, in 2014 she followed up with "Dream Big." In 2019 she released the "Heartbeat"
project. She followed that up releasing singles, such as "Is This Love" in 2020, "Undone" in 2021, and
re-released "I Come Alive" in honor of her 10th anniversary in 2023.
"Creation comes from all places,"
she said when I asked about her songwriting style.
In partnership with Natalie Jean, Nicki Kris also operates a not-for-profit
"Sisters in Music" organization.
"We held a gala during Grammy week,"
Nicki added when I asked about the things the organization is doing. "(Natalie Jean) We are close friends." www.NickiKris.com
SYNDICATED
COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The
Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations and Business Management Strategist and Consultant at
Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII),
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April 20, 2024, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los
Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 9 2024. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference
offering a Professional Industry Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National
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