Carmen Nickerson – Room to Grow
Carmen Nickerson has a new album co-produced with Willy Porter, Room to Grow. The album was recorded and mixed at The Exchange Recording Complex in Milwaukee and mastered at Mystery Room Mastering in Madison, Wisconsin.
Room to Grow starts out with “Emily,” a poppy ode to a close, now departed friend who struggled with mental challenges. Empathetically, the lyrics suggest a bit of what may be going on in Emily’s mind, which she is unable to fully express.
The title song, “Room to Grow,” is a testament to Nickerson’s upbringing. With a definite energetic country music vibe, the song describes life on a rural farm, from “a pony named Chico from Jimmy Boom Boom,” to the freedom to explore she enjoyed in her youth. Nickerson clearly attributes her upbringing to giving her the strength and will to develop on her own.
The pace changes up with the self-reflective “Wrecking Ball.” A song highlighting the inner turmoil and self-doubts and the hope and desire to find true love.
Beginning with a mandolin solo and taking on almost mystical airs, “Spiritual Playboy” pokes at the narcissism of a potential relationship and the good fortune of avoiding a bad situation. Nickerson starts with soft lilting notes, but brings an intensity and edge heading into the chorus.
“In Comparison” is the bookend track to “Room to Grow” in describing the day-to-day life of growing up in rural America. Nickerson’s voice takes on a gentle, wistful tone as she relays enjoying simple pleasures and not worrying about material things. The song is about the joys of life, all too easily taken for granted until you realize “you grew up too soon.”
Nickerson’s fundamental humility and sense of decency come to the fore on “I’ll Never Forget.” Based on her experience with a failed relationship, despite a long litany of grievances, she still holds the ability in her heart to forgive. But, in the ‘once burned’ category, it’s clear she’ll never let those transgressions go by. And one wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of her ire.
The song starts with a low and slow bass beat and drum, with Nickerson coming in with her sultry tones. The song’s tempo heats up, perhaps a reflection that those betrayals still spark angry thoughts.
“I’ll Never Forget” includes wonderful guitar and keyboard backing tracks that contribute to the incredibly intimate feel of the song.
Carmen Nickerson has an amazing voice—at times low and sultry and modulating like that of a cabaret singer and at others rising with emotion and intensity. Her ability to lull one through a ballad also comes through sweetly in her cover of Cat Steven’s “Wild World.”
The album concludes with “Ascension,” a song taking on spiritual and aspirational tones perhaps reflecting the underlying faith Nickerson maintains from her upbringing. The song asks fundamental questions about life in an almost mystical way.
The artists appearing on Room to Grow truly help to bring the lyrics and tunes to life. Most prominent is the keyboard accompaniment of Kostia Efimov. Kostia’s singular notes and chords bring almost a celestial feel to the songs—especially notable on “Ascension.”
Carmen Nickerson’s Room to Grow is quite the gem and amply demonstrates not only the talents of this singer-songwriter but also her great potential. We look forward to future offerings from this immensely talented artist.
In addition to Willy Porter on acoustic and electric guitars, the songs include John Calarco and Michael Jones on drums and bodhran, John Wheeler on bass, Dave Adler on the B3, Randy Sabien on violin, Stas Venglevski on accordion, Mai Bloomfield on cello, and Lev Ferlants on duduk.
Find more details and information here: https://carmennickerson.com
