Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.
In this series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.
Here are their love letters to records that forever changed their lives.
Nicole Millar – Spice Girls’ Spice
Dear Spice Girls – Spice
Growing up I was such a shy child, I legit would spend my times sitting in the library by myself, not speak up for myself, and always look at the floor. I have these memories growing up in Grays Point in Sydney of locking myself in my room & listening to my cassette player. I finally got a boombox as a present and it was then I needed to start my CD collection. The first album I ever bought was Spice by the Spice Girls.
My room was my sacred place. I had my favourite artists on posters on the wall. Four green walls and a pink bed. Listening to Spice made me feel so confident. I would play all the songs so loudly and dance and sing around my room. I used to jump on the bed and be scared that my mum would walk in and catch me singing. I couldn’t figure out what Spice Girl I wanted to be. They were all so amazing in their own ways and soooo confident. Something I never was.
‘Wannabe’ spoke to me and made me feel like I could stand up to my crushes when growing up. I was so frightened of boys. ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ was another song that made me feel confident and I could stand up to my bullies at school. I’m sure I’m not the only one who can say the Spice Girls helped shaped their childhood.
They inspired me to wear bright colours and wear high ponies and be myself.
I was an emotional kid. My parents went through a divorce when I was in Primary School and it was very messy. The down-tempo songs like ‘Say You’ll Be There’ and ‘2 Become 1’ made me feel not alone and comforted me through this time.
I danced when I was younger. I did competitions in ballet, hip-hop and jazz. I was always the really little girl in the class that wasn’t as good as the others but ‘If U Can’t Dance’ was an anthem for me to, again, feel confident enough to shine on stage and not be scared of the audience.
I want to say thank you to the album Spice by the Spice Girls for helping me get through some less confident times in my life and shaping my childhood to help me become the more confident girl/performer I am today!
Thanks Spice!
Nicole
xx
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Nicole Millar’s new album ‘Excuse Me’ is out now. Catch her live headlining dates around the country right now and supporting Bastille at their Australian shows this September. Dates below.
Bastille 2018 Australian Tour Dates
Supported by Nicole Millar
Tickets on sale now
Saturday, 1st September
Forum Theatre, Melbourne (18+)
Tickets: Frontier Touring
Sunday, 2nd September
Big Top, Luna Park, Sydney (All Ages)
Tickets: Frontier Touring
