Album Notes

NICOLE BAGUER SUMMER SHOW ANNOUNCED

THURSDAY JULY 26th
SHOWTIME: 10PM

ARLENE's GROCERY
95 STANTON STREET (b/w Ludlow and Orchard)
NYC
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Nicole Baguer may not be your girl but she is certainly every woman. The soul of a diva, the power of a classically trained vocalist and the raw sensuality of a true rocker chick. Not Your Girl, Nicole’s debut album embodies these characteristics and showcases her range as a songwriter and performer. From the irresistibly addictive "Ghost of You" to the impassioned "Misled" to the scintillating “#33”, Not Your Girl offers up a slice of rock n’ roll with a dash of soul.

Nicole’s musical journey began as a young child. Reared on a strict diet of Placido Domingo, Pavrotti and Puccini, Nicole learned form, power and timing from the original masters of music. Nicole’s father, a gifted singer in his own right, always filled the household with music. “Whether he was belting out one of his favorite arias or blasting Mozart on a long car ride, I learned about the true beauty of music very early on”. This appreciation of classical music was tempered by a strong helping of rock, soul and international music. Opera reigned but it was always followed closely behind by The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Motown and famed international artists such as Joan Manuel Serrat.

Nicole attributes her universal understanding and appreciation of music not only to her father’s teachings but to her mother’s tastes as well. “My mother has always held a certain reverence for the classic female artists of her youth – Barbra Streisand, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt. Growing up, their memorable songs were ingrained into me”. Armed with an arsenal of musical knowledge, it was time for Nicole to launch an exploration of her own. Growing up in the era that would give birth to hip-hop and dance rock, Nicole’s musical appreciation continued to broaden. From Blondie to the Notorious B.I.G., Nicole soon branched out into the musical vibe being generated by the new era that was unfolding around her.

As a performer, Nicole quickly found a home in the theatre, a place where she could express her budding talent. From the age of 5, she began to find starring roles in top productions with various theater groups culminating in a nomination for New Jersey’s Rising Stars Awards. As she grew, she participated in classical, jazz and contemporary ensembles while finding time to perform the anthem at such places as Camden Yards for the Baltimore Orioles as well as stints with rock bands and dance groups. As a student at Johns Hopkins University, Nicole studied classical technique at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD and was also chosen as Hopkins’ featured vocalist for all athletic events. As president of Johns Hopkins' oldest a cappella group, Nicole toured throughout the states, released 2 cds and was awarded 'best arrangement' at the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella.

Upon graduation, Nicole returned North to New York. She soon began to perform at NYC’s top rock clubs including The Knitting Factory and The Bitter End as a part of Michelangelo. During this time, Nicole began drafting the lyrics and melodies that would ultimately make their way onto Not Your Girl, while expanding her knowledge of the ‘business side’ of the industry by working at famed magazines such as Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. Teaming up with heralded songwriter Michelangelo and veteran producer, Tony Woodroffe, 10 songs soon came to life and Not Your Girl was born. Not Your Girl, an inspiring array of compositions written by Nicole and Michelangelo flawlessly unites the artist's skills, influences and interests, and takes the listener through an exploration of emotion, pain, confusion and ultimate resolution and triumph.

Although Nicole looks at Not Your Girl as “but a first step” - there is no doubt that this is the first step in a career that already demonstrates endless promise. Whether it is her diverse training, her old-school sensibility, her reverence for the classics or her direct relationship with today’s modern music, Nicole Baguer is an ever-evolving talent that (to quote a classic Carpenters lyric), has “only just begun”.