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Nikki Smith

Nikki grew up in an imitation German town in Georgia by the name of Helen. It wasn’t until middle school that she started to get interested in the arts: painting, music, and writing. She wrote in her diary, sketched in art class and listened to regretful music. By high school, her tastes became a little more refined. She found Fiona Apple, Lou Reed and Giant Drag, and they remain her favorites in college. She was accepted to the University of Georgia in 2012 and is currently majoring in English. Upon moving to Athens from a town with more trees than people, Nikki was a bit overwhelmed. However, there is certainly no lack of inspiration in Athens, and she appreciates its love for the arts and its service as a platform.

James Supercave: “The Right Thing”

Posted on February 19, 2014February 18, 2014 by Nikki Smith

James Supercave of LA are to release their most recent EP in late March. “The Right Thing” is their newest single. James Supercave utilizes various styles in this single and creates an epic poetry of sorts. The single starts with synthesizer sounds combined with twangy vocals (but not too much as to sound similar to…

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Fanfarlo: ‘Let’s Go Extinct’

Posted on February 6, 2014February 6, 2014 by Nikki Smith

Fanfarlo’s 3rd album, Let’s Go Extinct took me through time and never let up the energy. The London-based band started in 2006. Their first album, Reservoir (2009) seems more solemn with a less technological sound, while their most recent album, Rooms Filled With Light (2012) has a similar experimental sounds as its follow-up,  Let’s Go Extinct…

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Bayside: ‘Cult’

Posted on February 5, 2014February 3, 2014 by Nikki Smith

Bayside reminds me of my “sk8r grl” phase (refer to bio), although their first album, Sirens and Condolences, came out in 2004; I was in the 4th grade. However, if I had known of them in my teenage years, I’m sure they would’ve ranked right up there with My Chemical Romance and Good Charlotte (refer…

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Be Forest: ‘Earthbeat’

Posted on January 31, 2014January 31, 2014 by Nikki Smith

Balance is key in Be Forest’s sophomore album, Earthbeat. The members, the sounds, and the technique all share some element of balance. Similar to nature, the pieces come together to create an elegant whole. Whether or not that’s what Be Forest was going for is unknown, but the listener, no doubt, feels wholesome and fulfilled….

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Avid Dancer: “Stop Playing With My Heart” double sided single

Posted on January 24, 2014January 24, 2014 by Nikki Smith

I think most have been in a state of unknowing and indecisiveness when it comes to the beginning stages of a relationship. Although this is the most exciting part, the game becomes strenuous. Jacob Summers debuts his single “Stop Playing With My Heart” under the name  Avid Dancer. The single is played in two versions,…

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Xiu Xiu: Angel Guts: Red Classroom

Posted on January 13, 2014January 13, 2014 by Nikki Smith

There’s a picture of Death Valley on Xiu Xiu’s website. It is here, in this vast landscape, that I imagine the first track of Xiu Xiu’s most recent album reached its inspiration, or some place like it. What sounds like a steady breeze opens the album, Angel Guts: Red Classroom, along with a few ominous…

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Crushed Stars: Farewell Young Lovers

Posted on January 13, 2014January 13, 2014 by Nikki Smith

Farewell Young Lovers is the most current album of Todd Gautreau and Jeff Ryan, out January 21st. The euphoric album opens with the upbeat “Flowerbomb,” for which they just released a video. Crushed Stars has kept their dream-like style since their earlier albums such as in In The Bright Rain and even their cover of…

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Midnight Reruns: Midnight Reruns

Posted on November 8, 2013December 2, 2013 by Nikki Smith

With a 90’s garage-band punk sound, Midnight Reruns opens with energy in “Going Nowhere”, in which Graham Hunt sings, “I’m here for you and no one else…I ain’t going nowhere without you.” It’s as if Hunt exclaims his longing and promise to his restored project from 2010. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, Graham Hunt retired his position…

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Blanche Blanche Blanche: Breaking Mirrors

Posted on November 1, 2013November 4, 2013 by Nikki Smith

It was an interesting experience making homemade cookies to Blanche Blanche Blanche’s most recent album, Breaking Mirrors. I felt mad and impatient, ready to throw my no-bake cookies against the wall. That’s an exaggeration, of course, but the essence is very real. Blanche Blanche Blanche even warns on Facebook, “Don’t come to our shows if…

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Visc: The Original Rebels

Posted on September 18, 2013October 8, 2013 by Nikki Smith

Original Rebels is the fifth and most current product of Dylan Fellows’ solo project, Visc. This particular album is composed of songs themed for his childhood fears: werewolves, villains, and “Chupey”. At such an innocent age, the absurdity of our imaginations dominates our perception of reality, and even Goosebumps seems plausible. In retrospect, we see…

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