OUR DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE AS SLOW & LOW RIDES SHOTGUN WITH “HIGHWAY QUEEN” NIKKI LANE AND TALKS COUNTRY MUSIC, VINTAGE THREADS, MOTO, AND GOOD “OLD-FASHIONED” WHISKEY!
NIKKI, LET US GUSH. WE ARE HUGE FANS!
YOU JUST RELEASED THE FIRST SINGLE, FIRST HIGH, OFF OF YOUR NEW ALBUM DENIM & DIAMONDS. TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE RECORDING PROCESS AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE ALBUM?
I WAS EXCITED TO MAKE THIS NEW RECORD WITH JOSH HOMME OF QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE. BECAUSE OF MY ACCENT, I CONSIDER MYSELF A COUNTRY SINGER FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT MUSICALLY, I HAVE VERY DIVERSE INTERESTS. I LOVED THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO CHANNEL A MORE ROCK AND ROLL CHARACTER BECAUSE I THINK IT'S TRUE TO ME. BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH NOT ONLY A BIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSICIAN AND GREAT PRODUCER, THEN ALLOWING ME TO BRING IN MY PEDAL STEEL PLAYER, I THINK IT GAVE ME A REALLY FRESH PERSPECTIVE. I FEEL LIKE I FOUND MY SOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. IT FEELS VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TRUE NIKKI LANE AND I'M EXCITED FOR FANS TO EMBRACE IT. THAT, OR SAY IT'S TOO ROCK & ROLL. I DON'T CARE BECAUSE IT'S ME.
YES! YOU’VE OFTEN BEEN CALLED AN OUTLAW COUNTRY ARTIST AND BY DEFINITION THAT MEANS SOMEONE WHO IS MAKING UNEXPECTED CHOICES, LIKE WORKING WITH JOSH HOMME.
EXACTLY. NOT THAT I COULD CHOOSE TO BE A POP COUNTRY LEADER. YOU DON'T GET TO PICK THAT KIND OF SUCCESS. I'VE STEERED CLEAR OF THAT DIRECTION BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAINTAIN ARTISTIC CONTROL, AND THE ABILITY TO SHIFT AS I SEE FIT. IF YOU LOOK AT MY TOURING HISTORY, I'M ALWAYS WORKING WITH WHOEVER I WANT, WHOEVER WILL LET US GO OUT.. I MET JOSH THROUGH MY PREVIOUS MANAGER, WHO IS A BIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC FAN. I DIDN'T HAVE A MANAGER FOR A YEAR, WHICH YOU DON'T DO IN THIS JOB, BUT I WAS EXPLORING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO I WAS AND HOW I WANTED TO WORK. I STARTED ASKING MYSELF, “WHO DO I LIKE?” “WHO DO I RESPECT?” THERE WERE A LOT OF NAMES, AND JOSH WAS VERY HIGH ON THE LIST. THEN I THOUGHT “THAT GUY MAY BE TOO BAD ASS TO TALK TO ME.” SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS ONE PHONE CALL AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, THIS PERSON HAS A SIMILAR BRAIN. HE HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD MY MUSIC. HE ONLY LISTENED TO THE ONE SONG THAT I SENT HIM BECAUSE HIS OBJECTIVE IS NOT TO JUDGE ME OR FORM AN OPINION, BUT TO SEE WHAT I BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE MADE THESE SONGS AS THEY WERE INTENDED. I LIKED THAT HE HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT I HAD DONE BEFORE THAT MAY HAVE INFLUENCED HOW I “NEEDED” TO SOUND. WE JUST MADE THESE SONGS SOUND LIKE THEMSELVES AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.
IN THIS TIME BETWEEN RECORDS, YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN BUSY HOSTING NIKKI LANE’S STAGE STOP MARKETPLACE AT STAGECOACH, CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT IT.
MOST PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT “NIKKI LANE,” KNOW THAT I WORKED IN RETAIL FOR 15 YEARS BEFORE I BECAME A MUSICIAN. WHEN I MOVED TO CALIFORNIA AND THEN NEW YORK, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY MY OWN BILLS WITHOUT BOTHERING ANYBODY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A SAFETY NET. A “CREATIVE” POSITION WAS NEVER IN MY MIND. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M MAKING MUSIC AND THINGS STARTED TO TRANSPIRE. I COULDN’T AFFORD TO SUSTAIN THAT, SO I DABBLED AND I STARTED A STORE. HIGH CLASS HILLBILLY IS MY VINTAGE STORE. IT REPRESENTS WHAT I IDENTIFY AS. IT’S A PERFECT REPRESENTATION OF MY BRAND AND WHO I AM AT THE TIME. IT’S ALSO A WAY TO EAT.
FOR YEARS, I THINK PEOPLE WERE CURIOUS, DO I HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO DO BOTH? SHOULD I BE DOING BOTH? AS AN ARTIST, TO PUT ALL THAT VULNERABILITY OUT THERE, IF YOU DIDN’T LIKE MY MUSIC IT USED TO AFFECT ME. BUT IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE MY SHIRT, YOU'RE WRONG! BECAUSE OF THE WAY I WAS RAISED, I HAD SUCH A SENSE OF STYLE, I DIDN'T QUESTION THAT, I ONLY QUESTIONED THE ART.
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO SET UP THE MARKET AT THE FIRST STAGECOACH THAT I PLAYED, IT WAS A NORMAL THING FOR US TO DO, TO BRING A MARKET TO A SHOW, TO PAY THE BILLS IN THE EARLY DAYS. THIS YEAR WE WERE IN THE SAHARA TENT FROM COACHELLA AND 68 THOUSAND SQ FT. I PULLED IN ALL THE VENDORS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE MY STAGE. I CURATED 21 BANDS FOR THE WEEKEND, AND WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY SHOW POP COUNTRY WHAT THE OTHER GUYS LIKE US LOOK LIKE. IT SHINES A LIGHT ON US IN A WAY THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITHOUT THE STAGECOACH PARTNERSHIP. IT ALSO SHOWS ME THAT HARVESTING AND GROWING BOTH THINGS THAT ARE NATURAL AND FUN FOR ME WAS WORTH IT. IT WAS A BIG YEAR FOR ME TO SEE THAT I CAN DO IT ALL. I AM TIRED AS SHIT, BUT REALLY GLAD I DID IT!
HIGH CLASS HILLBILLY IS YOUR PERMANENT VINTAGE STORE IN NASHVILLE, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE EXPECT WHEN THEY VISIT?
ONE OF THE JOYS OF TOURING IS BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL AROUND AND EXPERIENCE SO MANY PLACES. BECAUSE I WAS RAISED IN A KIND OF PICKERS WORLD WHERE SOUVENIRS AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE COUNTRY WERE IMPORTANT TO ME, I STARTED COLLECTING THEM. I SAY THAT HIGH CLASS HILLBILLY IS MY WAY OF SHARING WITH YOU, SOUVENIRS OF MY TRAVELS. I'M NOT VERY KITSCHY, I ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE COTTON AND WEARABLE ITEMS THAT YOU CAN JUST WALK RIGHT OUT THE DOOR IN. YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE VINTAGE WORLD, A LOT OF WHAT IS SEEN ON THE RUNWAY COMES FROM VINTAGE INSPIRATION. IT IS MY JOY TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY SUPPLY DESIGNERS WITH INSPIRATION, BUT TO GET TO DRESS GUYS LIKE MIDLAND OR YELLAWOLF, OR WHOEVER, THAT ARE FRIENDS, THAT COME INTO TOWN AND COME INTO THE STORE IN NASHVILLE AND PICK UP STUFF THAT I MAY HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF A BARN. YOU CAN FIND THIS STUFF, IF YOU LOOK AT AMERICAN PICKERS, IN THE WILDEST OF PLACES. TO CLEAN THEM AND REPAIR THEM AND BRING THEM BACK TO LIFE THEN TO SEE THEM ON A BIG STAGE, IT'S JUST COOL TO ME.
AND IT'S A GOOD WAY TO SUPPORT ME. IN THE ERA OF STREAMING, THERE'S NOT MANY WAYS TO SUPPORT ARTISTS WITH MONEY THAT GOES RIGHT INTO THEIR POCKETS.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE KNOW ABOUT YOU IS THAT YOU LIKE TO RIDE MOTORCYCLES. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING?
MY DAD WAS A PROFESSIONAL MOTOCROSS RACER. HE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA JUST BEFORE MY PARENTS GOT PREGNANT WITH ME AND RACED IN THE PRO CIRCUIT OUT HERE. NOT ONLY WAS I GIFTED AND GIVEN FOUR WHEELERS AND DIRT BIKES AS A SMALL CHILD, IT WAS ALSO INGRAINED IN ME THAT I WASN'T ALLOWED TO DATE ANYONE WITH A VAN OR A MOTORCYCLE. THUS, I HAVE ONLY EVER DATED GUYS WITH VANS AND MOTORCYCLES.. I'M NOT THE KIND OF GIRL THAT WANTS TO RIDE ON THE BACK OF A GUY'S BIKE. I JUST WANT TO BE IN CONTROL OF MY OWN NARRATIVE, SO I STARTED WITH A CD 554. I STILL REGRET SELLING IT BECAUSE THAT THING RODE LIKE A CADILLAC. NOW I HAVE AN IRONHEAD SPORTSTER, WHICH IS REALLY MY AESTHETIC BUT, I LOVE LOOKING INTO THE COMING YEARS AND KNOWING I’LL WANT A NEW SPORTSTER. THE SECOND SUMMER HITS, I LIKE TO RECREATIONALLY RIDE WITH MY FRIENDS. I DON'T PUSH MYSELF TOO MUCH. I DON'T NEED TO PROVE TO ANYBODY THAT I DO IT. I CAN’T MEDITATE. MY BRAIN JUST WON'T DO IT, BUT I CAN FISH, I CAN ANTIQUE, AND I CAN RIDE A MOTORCYCLE TO GET TO THAT CLEAR HEAD SPACE.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO DRINK SLOW & LOW?
I CALL IT MY “WOO-HOO” COCKTAIL. I PUT SLOW & LOW AND YOO-HOO TOGETHER AND MAKE A “WOO-HOO” WHICH IS REALLY OUTRAGEOUS. FOR ME, SPIRITS IN GENERAL, IS SUCH A COMMUNAL THING. I HAVE OTHER VICES SOMETIMES, RIGHT? BUT TO SHARE A GLASS AT THE END OF THE NIGHT WITH PEERS IS THE REASON I DRINK. IT'S NORMALLY NEAT FOR ME. IT'S A SIPPER, A SOCIAL INTERACTION THAT ALLOWS ME TO CELEBRATE WHAT WE DID THAT DAY. I DEFINITELY USE A BOTTLE OF SLOW & LOW OLD-FASHIONED AS A WAY TO BE COMMUNAL FOR A MINUTE AND THEN DRIFT OFF TO SLEEP.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WHISKEY DRINKING SONG?
THERE IS A FLAMIN’ GROOVIES SONG THAT IS THE MOST PLAYED SONG ON MY PLAYLIST CALLED “WHISKEY WOMAN.” THE FLAMIN’ GROOVIES ARE AN OLD 70’S ROCK BAND THAT I AM OBSESSED WITH. THEY'RE GRUNGY BUT A LITTLE BIT STONES INFLUENCED. THEY HAVE A SONG THAT I CAN'T MAKE OUT ALL THE LYRICS TOO, IT GOES LIKE “WHISKEY WOMAN, I NEED YOU…” I DON'T KNOW THE REST. I MAKE THEM UP, WHICH IS KIND OF EMBARRASSING, BUT I'VE ASKED TO SING IT ON STAGE WITH THEM AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CLARIFY WHAT THE HECK THEY'RE SAYING. THAT’S EASILY MY FAVORITE WHISKEY SONG.
IN A PERFECT WORLD, WHO IS YOUR PERFECT MUSIC DUO PARTNER?
HONESTLY, I THINK I FOUND IT IN LANA DEL REY. IT'S ANOTHER THING WHERE WE JUST BECAME FRIENDS SOCIALLY, AND SHE'S THE GIRL.
WHO IS YOUR PERFECT DESIGN COLLABORATION WITH?
SOMETHING LIKE GUCCI WOULD BE FUN SO I COULD GO FULL MAXIMALISM. THOUGH I WOULDN’T WANT TO BE IN THAT PRICE POINT. I WANT TO BE THE DESIGNER AND I WANT TO FIND A COLLABORATOR LIKE BOOT BARN OR TARGET THAT ALLOWS ME TO PROVIDE THE STUFF THAT'S IN MY MIND TO ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE AT A DECENT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A SLOW & LOW OLD-FASHIONED WITH?
NEIL YOUNG. I JUST WANT TO HANG OUT WITH NEIL YOUNG.
IN 3 SONGS, WHAT IS THE PERFECT NIKKI LANE PLAYLIST FOR DRINKING WHISKEY?
OBVIOUSLY, “RIGHT TIME” BECAUSE I WANT TO GET YOU UP FIRST. I’D LIKE TO END WITH “FIRST HIGH.” IN THE MIDDLE, YOU NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE A LITTLE WEIRD, SO I THINK I'D PROBABLY GO, “WILD ONE.”
LASTLY, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, YOUR INSTAGRAM READS “THE MANY MOODS OF NIKKI LANE” IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA TELL US ABOUT YOU?
I'D SAY THAT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A FIERY COUNTRY ARTIST, AND YOU DON'T LIKE COUNTRY AT ALL, I'M PROBABLY YOUR GIRL. THE MOODS ARE DICTATED BY THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN LIFE. I ALWAYS JOKE THAT I'M NOT PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE. I'M EXTREMELY PASSIVE AND I'M EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE. I'M A MIRROR TO ALL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND ME + ABOUT 30% MORE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE NEW LISTENERS TO DO IS JUST TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN AND THEN YOU DEFINE WHAT I AM. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL ME. I CALL MYSELF AN OUTLAW, BUT YOU CAN CALL ME WHATEVER YOU WANT, AS LONG AS YOU GIVE IT A LISTEN BEFORE YOU SAY SHIT!
