Nikki O’Neill Band

Description

I'm an Americana singer-songwriter and guitar player, who's really into soul music, rhythm & blues, and gospel. I was born in Los Angeles, grew up in Sweden with my Polish mother, and I'm based in Chicago now.
My Chicago band features Chris Corsale (lead/rhythm guitar, backing vocals); Teddy Myers (keyboards); Chris Stanford (bass, backing vocals), and Rich Lackowski (drums, backing vocals).
I play lead as well as rhythm guitar. I was incredibly honored to be featured in the November 2019 issue of Guitar Player Magazine.
As a guitarist, I'm into soul pickers like Pops Staples and Teenie Hodges, and Carlos Santana was an early inspiration. Singing-wise, I love Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, and Dinah Washington, but I always aim to sound like myself. My songwriting has always been inspired by soul, gospel, and classic rock, with colorful harmony and great melodies.
I wrote a rock guitar instruction book called "Women's Road to Rock Guitar" (Alfred Music). I have a guitar lesson channel on TrueFire.com called "Twang, Soul & Rock 'n' Roll," and I also teach workshops and classes in guitar and songwriting at The Old Town School of Folk Music... it's important for me to encourage and give back. 

Work Sample

A video made during the Covid lockdown for my single, "That's How You Lose Her" + also our submission for NPR's Tiny Desk contest. The music is us playing live, while the lead and backing vocals were overdubbed from the single. 3:30 minutes

The three samples show two of my original songs, one of my cover songs, my love for soul music, my guitar playing (Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Sue Foley are two inspirations), what my band and I sound like on stage and on record, and also the way I blend soul, blues, Americana and country to create my own expression as an artist.

History

NIKKI O'NEILL is an Americana singer-songwriter who plays lead and rhythm guitar. Deeply in love with soul music from an early age, she counts Pops Staples and Teenie Hodges as her guitar heroes.
Nikki's second solo album, "World is Waiting," is out on Blackbird Record Label. American Songwriter gives it 4 out of 5 stars in their review: "A solid mix of blues, soul, spunk and sass." Jefferson Blues Magazine in Sweden writes: "She has an expressive voice rich with nuances, and is also an excellent guitarist."
Nikki has been featured in Guitar Player Magazine. In 2022, she performed at a showcase in Nashville during AmericanaFest, and she has opened for Stax artists Southern Avenue in Los Angeles.  She is now based in Chicago with her 5-piece band.
Nikki's recordings are played on Blues/Americana/Roots stations in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, and they receive positive music press reviews in the U.S. and Europe. 
Her music is available on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Bandcamp, and more. 

Artistic Vision

A singer, songwriter, lead/rhythm guitarist and band leader who views soul music, gospel and rhythm & blues as a part of Americana music, and shows audiences the joy and excitement of live music played by a band with great chemistry.

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

I teach guitar classes and songwriting workshops at the Old Town School of Folk Music and wrote a guitar instruction book for Alfred Music; the other guitarist has taught there too, and the drummer has taught clinics and written award-winning drum books, so we can do guitar, drum and songwriting workshops in addition to shows.