Late musical genius and icon Prince said this about superstar bass player and recording artist Nik West: “Great stage presence. She inspires me in the same way that Sheila E and Rosie did.”
An electrifying, showstopping live performer, West is unquestionably one of the best entertainers alive today. With an ability to erupt a packed stadium of thousands and bring an intimate audience to tears, her music is delivered in such a way that it excites the ears and captivates the soul.
A vibrant songwriter, musician, producer, and singer, West’s albums Just In The Nik of Time, Say Somethin, and Moody are all stellar works of art. Her brightest attribute, though, may be how sincere and welcoming she is.
Nik West took time out her busy schedule to answer our “2020 Twenty Questions” questionnaire! We hope THIS INTERVIEW entertains and inspires you.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you to be alive?
10! For sure! Hi, Joe!
As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
A chemical engineer. I loved math and I was extremely gifted at it so that was my path.
What was your favorite cartoon?
Garfield … mischievous like me.
Tell us your favorite song as a kid, as a teenager, and now as an adult.
My dad used to play a lot of Andrae Crouch and Mighty Clouds of Joy when I was a kid and I loved it.
As a teenager I loved India Arie and Lauren Hill. They could do no wrong.
As an adult, I don’t really have favorite songs. I listen to everything. But I love anything Prince.
What’s an album that means more to you now than it did when you first heard it?
YOOOO! “Papa Was A Rollin Stone”! My mom used to play this song and I would dance to it like it was a happy song. I grew up and realized what they were singing about!
What are your 3 favorite movies?
The Lion King, the original. All of The Marvel movies; standing in long lines to get in to see them first. Hitch.
What’s the last film that made you cry or almost cry, and what scene did it?
Logan, when Wolverine died and his daughter took his place.
What’s your all-time favorite TV show?
Martin. My mom used to watch this all the time when we were kids, and now I watch it and know why she was always dying with laughter.
Which character on that show do you identify with most?
Definitely Martin. He’s goofy, he likes to play different characters, he is unpredictable, he clowns his friends, and, somehow, they all still love him.
That’s me. I love to clown people. HA!
What makes you laugh out loud or smile uncontrollably every time you see it or hear it?
My mama! My siblings and I all talk super proper and like to enunciate every word and our mom is completely opposite. She puts an R in Chicago, “Chicargo”, and many other things like that. But we all die laughing at just who she is!
Who in your family served you the most delicious, unforgettable dish you’ve ever eaten?
My mama as well. She’s a chef – a real one. I don’t know how I’m not fat at this point.
She set the bar so high that if I cook at her house, I get nervous if she gets a plate.
Tell us the most nutritious thing you’ve fed your mind.
Words, books, music. The arts.
When did you start to understand your value?
I always knew. I’ve always been super confident, and I’ve always tried to negotiate everything as a kid! It hasn’t changed.
Who is the G.O.A.T. of your profession?
That’s not a fair question because there are too many.
But I will keep it simple and say Prince. Because he played every instrument. He did the splits on stage and he made you feel something special. He was tiny… but such a giant.
Do you aspire to be like them or more like someone you have a stronger personal connection to?
I def inspire to be like him mixed with my own self, of course. But he is the blueprint!
Recall for us the first time you failed. What lesson did you learn from that?
The first time I failed… Hmmm…
See, failing for me was getting a B on a project at school. I cried for days. I wanted all A’s all the time. Now I am much more forgiving of myself for not getting a perfect score on something. I never cared what people thought of me, it was more about how I scored on a test, how I ranked against my peers.
But a simpler answer would be the first time I failed I was fired from a job at 18. I don’t even remember why, but my dad went and bought me a book – “I Got Fired And It Was The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me”.
The lesson I learned was sometimes you’re not always a perfect fit for something. Your door is your door.
In what way have you evolved over the last 12 months?
Well, most of the year has been spent in quarantine, so my evolving came with staying put for once. Consistency for me. I worked on my body, my health, my peace. Normally I am just moving so fast I don’t have time to think about what I’d like to do with my time.
When was a time that someone you didn’t know did something nice for you? What did they do?
N/A
How would you explain to someone the importance of valuing their time?
Time is money. The same way you value money as a means of survival is the same way you should value your time. It’s something you never get back.
For me, every day is a chance to be that dream you dreamt.
What’s been the biggest blessing of your life?
Life. My parents. My dad made sure we knew who we were before a history book told us who we were. So, I have always had this sense of awe about who we are as a people. That alone really helped me excel at school and it was a domino effect for my entire life. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker and Alex aka Grand Kai]
(Editor’s Note: Hi, Nik!)
