Nicola Gaea - Rise (EP)
Picture Credit: Karis Beaumont
North-London artist Nicola Gaea has unveiled her debut EP ‘Rise’ in full, including the featured new single ‘Seasons’.
A free-thinking creative whose music is rooted in earthiness, Nicola Gaea (pronounced Guy-uh) shares an introduction to her world, mind and reality on ‘Rise’. Over six tracks that blend her influences across soul, jazz, UK garage and beyond, this transformative project finds Gaea stepping into the light as she takes listeners on a voyage of self-acceptance.
Connecting the mind, body and soul, Nicola Gaea shares the inspiration behind the EP: “Rise - the EP, is my arrival as an artist and the project that breaks down the barriers of my artistic insecurity. The EP explores the complex feelings of being alive, but simultaneously acknowledges the responsibility to feel, to love, to heal, to rise for yourself and for others. The belief that we have the power to create anything we want. To trust yourself and to trust the process. I’ve taken inspiration from the wins, challenges and experiences we live through in everyday life.”
Opening with a powerful spoken-word intro named ‘Heal’, the EP immediately conveys Gaea’s expansive mindset as she shares a rallying cry for listeners to “love ourselves with ease” and rise up against life’s trials and tribulations. Soothing electric guitar chords and soft percussion provide a therapeutic soundscape for her soft, chant-like vocals to break through, creating the perfect foundations for this visceral listening experience.
Previously released single ‘Distractions’ follows, favouring an electronic influenced production to portray Gaea’s feelings about the unnecessary noise in day to day life and a desire to disconnect. The independent artist’s ethereal vocal transforms her angst-filled lyrics into peace, before ‘Pain & Pleasure’ confronts these two simultaneous feelings with a jazz-infused pep-talk that features a gorgeous guitar solo.
New featured single ‘Seasons’ follows, focusing on the cycles we experience in life and the flow of time. Gaea’s subtle comparisons between nature and life run through the ‘Rise’ EP, with its holistic qualities oozing through next track ‘Blue Skies’ which was released in 2023. A moment of tranquillity that originated as a poem, ‘Blue Skies’ is about reflection and reconnection, and is accompanied by a meditative visualiser that finds Gaea immersed in nature and full of colour. The ‘Rise’ EP then comes to a close with ‘Home’, a timely self-care reminder with warm gospel influences that was written whilst Gaea was in Cyprus, where her mother is from. It’s a fitting end to this explorative debut project, one that uses a diverse range of vocal textures, harmonies and layered instrumentation to create a powerful feeling that mirrors the EP’s deeper messaging.
Showing immense promise on her debut EP, Nicola Gaea is a refreshing new talent spreading a message of authenticity, vulnerability and peace. Leaning into the traditions and teachings of all walks of life, her music is influenced by her Mediterranean and West-Indian heritage and an innate curiosity to explore her emotions on a deeper, spiritual level. For the ‘Rise’ EP, Gaea has worked with Michael Njuguna (Loyle Carner‘s sound engineer) who has mixed the entire project, plus producer Jason Robinson among others. In the lead up to its release, Gaea’s music has gained support from Jess Iszatt on BBC Introducing London and Victoria Jane on BBC Radio 1, with early press coverage coming from New Wave Magazine and WE ARE SOUL. With all the makings of a breakthrough artist, Nicola Gaea is an inspiring singer songwriter who should be on your radar for 2024.