Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffani Nicholle.
Tiffani, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I stumbled into songwriting about four years ago. I used to host my own online radio show, Misfit Radio, which was about independent artist and entrepreneurship. Misfit Radio lead me to my path of music. Honestly, music has always been a part of my life. Growing up, I sang on the youth choir with my siblings at my grandmother’s church where my mother was the choir director. I never really considered myself a talented singer because my voice was deeper than all of the other girls I knew. It wasn’t until I was grown that I realized this was the very thing that makes me unique. We weren’t allowed to listen to secular music growing up because of religious beliefs, so I had never heard of Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Phyllis Hyman, and all the other dope low range female singers.
As a kid, writing poetry was my outlet. It helped me get through a lot of hard times and traumatizing experiences. By the time I turned 16, I had decided to enter into my first poetry contest and ended up winning. My poem was published in “The Anthropology of Poetry.” To me, I didn’t consider writing poetry a gift, it was just my way of letting out pain and sharing my perspective of the world. Who knew that’d grow into songwriting.
While hosting Misfit Radio one day, my co-host, Rahj who was an artist himself, suggested I give songwriting a try. That same night, I did with my best friend. Trying to help her get over a breakup I suggested we write a song about it and since then I haven’t put the pen down. Then, I reached out to my older brother, who is part of the hip-hop duo Tii215, and him and his partner, Always Blue, mentored me on how to go about perfecting my craft and the importance of treating it as a business and not a hobby.
My passion has always been to inspire people by using my own story and experiences to help others through their hard times. Music has been a great way for me to do so. Not only am I authentic in my music, but I also have an email series called “Journey Series” where I share personal stories and words of encouragement through various forms of art.
The idea was to take my musical journey and share the lessons I’ve been learning about what it means to truly live an authentic life. The “Journey Series” has grown so much and is now a very important piece to my music because it goes deeper than just songs. It’s a space where we can all be vulnerable enough to admit our flaws, help push each other to keep growing while learning to live our truth through artistic expression. Since starting “Journey Series” a year ago, I’ve received so many messages from people saying they were inspired by my story. The truth is, those same people are the very ones who inspire me.
Great, 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?
I don’t think anything is ever a “smooth road” and I’ve learned to be okay with that. I’m from Philadelphia so I know quite a bit about struggle. This isn’t to say that Philly is a bad place, but we do have some very rough neighborhoods and Philly is the type of city that teaches you how to overcome obstacles and be resilient.
Most people tend to think that I grew up in nice neighborhoods and had a nice upbringing because of the way I carry myself. However, I think we as a collective should learn to not assume because you never really know what a person has been through or where they came from.
I grew up all over Philly. I lived in the projects, North Philly, West Philly, Northeast, and Uptown. It’s funny cause sometimes I really just have moments where I think back to how we used to jump on the floor when we heard gunshots right outside our window, or how I used to be afraid walking home from school because there were always a bunch of drug dealers clustered on the corner of our block, or seeing junkies slumped all over the streets and the bus cause they were too high to move.
We also moved around a lot. We lived in three different states and would move about every two years. So early on I developed some detachment issues. I had a hard time getting close or opening up to people because I was so used to having to leave. In my mind not getting close made it easier for me when I had to go. Opening up in my music was what taught me how to be vulnerable and learn how to let people in.
Overall, my biggest struggle has been unlearning all the things that didn’t serve me. I didn’t see any examples around me of the woman I was trying to become so I had to open up my eyes to see beyond my environment. I had to lose myself to learn myself and elevate my mind.
I moved to Atlanta almost three years ago. It was something that came to me during meditation one day and a year later I took that leap which changed my life. It may sound cool and brave to some people, but it was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done because I didn’t know anyone or have any family here.
Right before I moved, I had lost my apartment and didn’t have anywhere to go. I spent that year sleeping on my best friends living room floor of her one-bedroom apartment along with my younger sister and my daughter. That hardwood floor was cold as hell in the winter, but I was thankful to have a place to stay. I worked HARD to save up and move. I was bartending at the time and to get to work I would catch three trains, a bus and walk 15-minutes. At the time, I was working 12-13-hour shifts and would go straight to the studio when I got off work. Finally, I saved up enough to move and get a car. I purchased my car two months before moving to ATL and a week later I got into a four-car accident. My car was smashed, to say the least. I was so discouraged but I couldn’t let it deter me. That next week, I booked a session at True Infinity Studios and put all that pain in the music. I was able to get my car fixed a month later and I packed that bad boy up with whatever could fit and drove to Atlanta.
I feel like I know struggle on a first name basis. From financial, to self-esteem, to family, and etc, but the one thing that I’ve learned is struggles are always followed by elevation. It has taught me to love, trust and believe in myself and to embrace every part of the journey and I strive to reflect that in my music. Atlanta has become a second home for me. There is so much culture here and a lot of opportunities. Moving here has changed my life and I have met so many great people along the way.
Please tell us about your work.
I am a singer/songwriter, entrepreneur, and freelance copywriter. Music is the thing that exposed me to so many other opportunities and pursuing my dreams has taught me to have courage and faith in my abilities.
Around this time last year, I was bartending for a very well known establishment here in Atlanta. Long story short the owner was doing some crooked things which were affecting employees and I was almost arrested for a crime I didn’t commit. I quit after things were cleared up and vowed to never work for anyone again. I have been self-employed ever since.
I am a college dropout, but over the years I have done many internships to learn as much as I can. I’ve interned for i.d.e.a.l. Magazine, Beyond The Steps, and Patrick Collins Agency. Those experiences have taught me so much from the powerful women who run those companies and has prepared me for the path I am on now.
I run a business that provides care and service to the elderly and young children, I do freelance copywriting work to generate extra income & barter things like studio time and production, and am working on some very special things for the Journey Series that will be releasing soon, as well as new music!
Not really considering myself an artist, I am a creative that uses creativity to manifest the life I want. What I’m most proud of is being able to overcome every obstacle life has thrown my way and still end up standing. I’m proud that I get to show my daughter that you can achieve anything you put your mind to and that I get to be the example to her that I didn’t have growing up. I’m proud that I get to share my journey with friends and family and that I get to show others the way.
What sets me apart is what sets us all apart, my unique experiences that shape my perspective. As long as experiences are unlimited, then possibilities will keep unfolding. Always seek to learn and use every experience (good, bad or indifferent) as an opportunity to grow.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up our house would always be filled with kids. All of our cousins loved coming to our house because my mom was a lot of fun and it was always a good time. For me, those were my favorite childhood memories. Times when the family would get together and just enjoy each others company.
My mother is really great with children and her selfless heart is what taught me to spread light into the world and gave me the desire to want to make a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: TiffaniNicholle.com
- Email: NicholleTiffani@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/TiffaniNicholle
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/user-69262733/couldve-been-cover-ft-sam-watson
Image Credit:
iRoQphotography, Zakiya Olivier-Thomas, Just J.A.S.
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