Nikki Thorburn

To the place reveals a beautiful paradox of human nature – the nostalgia we keep for the place’s we’ve not yet visited, the the ones so often on our mind. In almost out of body experience, Nikki came to know this phenomenon first hand as she travelled overseas last year,

“The night I wrote it [To the Place], I had these images of me in these streets and a room, just somewhere – I didn’t even know where it was… last year I was living in London and I used to busk and I was selling demos, and someone got a hold of the demo from London and he knew a music producer in Paris… 

So I ended up meeting this music producer who was really cool and he helped me out, introduced me to a video guy – so I recorded this footage for To the Place in Paris. It was me in the streets of Paris this beautiful room in his apartment– I look back on the footage and think this is what I imagined when I wrote the song.”

To the Place is a title that resonates with the feel of the record, there's a little longing, some pure bliss...

“I named it To the Place because, especially when I wrote that song, it was just a time when I didn’t feel like I was where I wanted to be – I wanted to be somewhere else… I’m quite restless in that way, I’m always wanting to be somewhere else, somewhere more.”

The songs flow from one another, following Nikki’s inner musings. At first Walking in Circles, our purpose unknown, until the images come to mind of that place we’d rather be, that Sunshine Freeway.

“It’s a real summer song.”

There’s the wash of the ocean and the trickle of keys down the piano. Then later, my favourite line, where the suburbs become countries, sugar canes and river gum trees, side stall markets at the turn offs to the town.

“ I think a lot of it too, is that I’m someone who loves being on the road, when I’m touring I love going on the next place and travelling – I’m inspired when I’m moving and meeting new people.”

Just as Nikki has a way with words, so too does she with image – along with her music, she finds her creative expression within film. Walking in Circles is countryside manor with a twist, swirls of paint and ribbon and Eyes Closed was an ethereal shoot with wreaths and miniature ponies.

“It was so much fun, but then again I always have these crazy ideas, like the film guy when I first told him the idea and he was like “Really? You want horses and kids – that’s going to be a nightmare to film!”… I don’t know how it worked, but it did!” (Eyes Closed will be released later this year).

Though it’s not always about what you know, but who you know. There’s definitely a sense to that about the Australian music industry, as Nikki told me, “I know people in the industry who can help me along, because otherwise you wouldn’t have a clue.”

After being impressed by her music, Nikki was lucky enough to have Ollie McGill ( keyboardist of the Cat Empire) to produce her debut EP, To the Place. 

“I was expecting a ‘heads up, really good work – keep going!’ But instead he was like ‘come to Melbourne, I’ll produce you.’ It was cool because when I took my songs to this crazy jazz pianist, there’s a another level to the songs…“

Too often the mix of an EP falls flat, lacking the energy of a live performance - in contrast To the Place maintains the perfect balance between loose and tight. A captivating sound that could be described as ‘jazz tinged, ethereal, folk-pop feel,’ as Nikki laughs.

With shows later in the year supporting Mark Wilkinson, Tinpan Orange and a follow up EP Eyes Closed it seems that Nikki’s finally getting there, to where she wants to be, that something more.

“For me, I always put my music before anything else.”

Here's one of Nikki's recent videos for Brave Like a Lion from her forthcoming EP 'Eyes Closed' and beneath I've cheekily posted my favourite track from To the Place, 'Sunshine Freeway.' 

To the Place is available on Itunes, and soon - Eyes Closed!