Nichole’s musical style has developed over time from headbanging rock with her first band INSANE to folky acoustics with her first album Under the Skin (2001), while her most recent albums Lost Into Experience (2009) and You Are Not Alone (2010) glimpse an evolution into a darker electronic lounge vibe. Along the way, she’s collaborated with dance and pop producers on a number of projects ranging from house anthem “Live So Free” with Swiss American Federation to ridiculous pop songs like “Teaser” with Mark Okoh. Whatever the genre, Nichole has consistently captivated audiences with her intoxicating voice, presence and lyrics.
The lucky product of a quick union: Nichole's straight-A-student mother dropped out her last semester of private college to run off with the long-haired drummer of a rock band she met in Deland, Florida. Hoping to make a positive impression on his new family, Nichole’s father quit his band, shaved his head, and joined the army. The couple married and was stationed in Augsburg, Germany where Nichole was born just a year later. The marriage ended soon after, and as an infant, Nichole was brought back to Florida where her mother worked to support the family and finish her studies. It was in her early years as a latch key kid that Nichole's passion for songwriting emerged.
Nichole began writing songs in grade school, where she tried out a number of instruments including violin, stand up bass, and keyboard. In middle school, she got her first electric guitar and began performing in Central Florida nightclubs with heavy rock band INSANE at age 14. During the summers, she studied music, songwriting, and performance at National Guitar Workshop in Connecticut, where she learned from guitar heros such as Andy Timmons and Nuno Bettencourt. By high school graduation, Nichole had written, recorded, and produced more than twenty original songs and played dozens of live shows.
Determined to transcend the common trajectory for many kids growing up in non-ideal households, Nichole sought balance between her artistic aspirations and academic endeavors, pursuing formal studies in Economics and Education while steadily building her song catalog. She moved to Los Angeles in 1999 with little more than her guitar and a suitcase; something like the scene out of Poison's Fallen Angel video. Like many musicians trying to break into the industry, she started out working a number of day jobs, from managing the marketing department at West L.A. Music to offering tech support for Disney's Consumer Products division. Along the way, she also brought her passion into the classroom, teaching at elementary schools in the challenging areas of South Central and East Los Angeles and elite Pacific Palisades.
Currently, ALDEN creates custom music for film and television, while working on her fourth studio album in the Silicon Beach community of Santa Monica, California.
Free
Nichole Alden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything I've wished to be
Every last confession
Out there for the world to see
Won't matter if you caution
Offer advice or backup plans
This ship is in the ocean
Halfway to its destination
What if I can't be honestly
What am I?
What am I if I can't be free?
There was no invitation
To make it clear
I dug my own channel
Through filth and fear
In the dark I found sight
Through my imagination
What if I can't be honestly
What am I?
What am I if I can't be free?
What if I can't be honestly
What am I?
What am I if I can't be free?
Be free
Free
Free
Be free
What if I can't be, honestly?
What am I if I can't be free?
The lyrics to Nichole Alden's song "Free" explore the theme of authenticity and freedom. Alden expresses her intention to be her true and honest self, embracing her flaws and making them public for the world to see. She realizes that despite the caution, advice or backup plans of others, she is committed to being true to herself and fulfilling her goals. The ship metaphorically represents the journey of self-discovery, and although she may be halfway to the destination, Alden is determined to keep going, even if it means going against the tide.
The second verse delves deeper into the idea of self-discovery and the challenges that come with it. Alden acknowledges that she was not invited on this journey, but instead carved her own path through "filth and fear." Despite these obstacles, she found sight in the darkness through her imagination, a symbol of the power of the mind to overcome adversity.
The chorus reiterates the importance of honesty and freedom in the journey of self-discovery. Alden questions what she would be if she couldn't be herself, if she couldn't be free. The repetition of the word "free" highlights the central idea of the song, that being free to be oneself is essential to living an authentic life.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my intention
I am determined to express myself
Everything I've wished to be
I want to show the world who I truly am
Every last confession
I have no secrets, everything is out in the open
Out there for the world to see
I am not afraid of anyone's judgment
Won't matter if you caution
Your warnings won't stop me from being myself
Offer advice or backup plans
I do not need your help to find my way
This ship is in the ocean
I am already on my journey
Halfway to its destination
I am making progress on my path
There was no invitation
I did not ask anyone to follow me
To make it clear
I am doing this for myself, not for anyone else
I dug my own channel
I created my own path, despite obstacles
Through filth and fear
I faced challenges and kept going
In the dark I found sight
My imagination helped me find my way
Be free
I encourage everyone to be themselves
Free
It is important to break free from society's expectations
Free
Being true to oneself is the ultimate freedom
Be free
Live without fear or shame
What if I can't be, honestly?
What if I cannot be my true self?
What am I if I can't be free?
How can I live without being true to myself?
Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.