2606B Raeford Road
Fayetteville, NC 28304
Tel: 910-677-0055
ON STAGE
Autumn Nicholas
Autumn on Fayetteville NC Music Scene
Autumn on MySpace
Autumn Nicholas
Fayetteville, North Carolina
On Stage at Paddy's Every Thursday Night 10PM-11PM
The Mysterious Autumn Nicholas
The Fayetteville Feed
By James Johnson
20-year-old singer songwriter Autumn Nicholas came onto the Fayetteville music scene three years ago, gaining instant attention, not just because she was a girl with a guitar (a rare sight in any town, but particularly in the male dominated Fayetteville music venues), but for her powerful vocals.
Nicholas began to quickly move from open mic regular, to paid gigs around town and even performing on the Rock Shop stage for this year’s Dogwood Festival. Shortly after the festival however, Nicholas had mysteriously vanished, leaving those who had been following her music to wonder if she’d given up on the adventure entirely. Not quite.
Nicholas had left for the state of Florida to audition for next season’s American Idol – and that’s about all she is willing to, or legally allowed to say on the matter – but that doesn’t stop us from trying.
Fayetteville Feed: So … What happened?
Autumn Nicholas: … I went out and auditioned … I can’t really comment on it.
Fayetteville Feed: Uh huh … But you can say something, right? The fact that you can’t comment on it must imply something. If you had just been rejected, you’d be able to say something, right?
Autumn Nicholas: …
Fayetteville Feed: You’re kind of a rock chick, why audition for a show which is known for producing such talents as Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken?
Autumn Nicholas: It was a door, so I walked through. Just for the experience. It was fun – just tiring.
Fayetteville Feed: Okay, we’re probably not going to get anywhere with this line of questioning. How did you get started in music?
Autumn Nicholas: I started playing guitar when I was like 12. I started singing when I was like six. I knew that I had to get the music out and that it had to go somewhere. I started playing at the Coffee Scene a few years ago. It was surprisingly positive – not what I expected.
Fayetteville Feed: Did you not think you’d do well, really? Have you heard you? You sound pretty good – just so you know.
Autumn Nicholas: Well yeah, I have heard me, but I haven’t heard me outside of me. It was the first time outside of my mom telling me. Everyone is afraid of being judged I guess.
Fayetteville Feed: What are your future plans? Recording a CD?
Autumn Nicholas: … I can’t do that right now. I’m not allowed to record … I’m kinda hoping that something else takes me somewhere else, but I’ll always be here, ’cause this is where my roots are.
Fayetteville Feed: Not allowed to record? Really? Hm … Interesting.
Autumn Nicholas: …
Fayetteville Feed: Okay then – who are some of the artists who have influenced you?
Autumn Nicholas: Eric Clapton, Aerosmith … yo momma… The Jonas Brothers.
Fayetteville Feed: The Jonas Brothers? They don’t seem your style.
Autumn Nicholas: The Jonas Brothers, yeah. They are very, very talented kids.
(Editor’s note: at this point we started to suspect Miss Nicholas was messing with us.)
Fayetteville Feed: Would you want their audience?
Autumn Nicholas: Any audience is the best audience.
Fayetteville Feed: What are the kinds of things that inspire your songwriting?
Autumn Nicholas: My music can be about anything – from writing about a cat, to writing about a person – to going fishing … I just started fishing two years ago and I love it. I caught my first fish and I was ecstatic.
Fayetteville Feed: Moving back over to the subject of American Idol – the show is decided in the end by voters, are you worried that your Mohawk and tattoos will turn off the middle-American?
Autumn Nicholas: I’d say yeah, but everybody is afraid of not being liked. But anyone can be transformed. That is not what I want to be, but to get to where I want to be, if that is what it takes.
Fayetteville Feed: So if suddenly they want to put a bow in your hair, you’re okay with that?
Autumn Nicholas: It is a business, you have to do what you have to do. Put on a smile.