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.
So Beautiful
Nichole Alden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't glance behind
I've got nothing but a future in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
Loose you pride
Let us live inside each other's eyes,
So beautiful...
So beautiful
I'm looking out, the sky's wide
I'm looking out
You're not here
And I'm not fine
I am holding on, she holding out sometimes
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
Let us live inside each other's eyes...
So beautiful
So beautiful
Looking out, the sky's wide
I'm looking out
I am not looking back
I won't glance behind
I've got nothing but a future in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
You're in my mind
The opening lines of the song, "I am not looking back, I won't glance behind" suggest that the singer is moving forward with conviction and refuses to dwell on the past. This is further emphasized by the reiterated line "I've got nothing but a future in my mind." However, there is an underlying feeling of longing and a desire for connection with someone special, as seen in the repeated line "You're in my mind," suggesting that the person she is thinking of occupies a significant space in her thoughts. It is clear that the singer prioritizes time and connection over material possessions, stating that she never wanted anything but the person's time.
The idea of letting their guards down and fully living inside each other's eyes is presented as a beautiful and desirable experience. The repeated refrain of "So beautiful" emphasizes this point. However, there is also a hint of sadness in the words "You're not here and I'm not fine" suggesting that the singer may be going through a tough time or feeling a sense of longing for this person's presence. Despite this, the singer seems resolute in holding on to this connection, saying "I am holding on, she holding out sometimes."
Overall, the song conveys a sense of longing and desire for a deep connection with someone special, combined with a determination to move forward in life with positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
I am not looking back
I am focused on moving forward and not dwelling on the past
I won't glance behind
I am determined not to give in to the temptation of looking back
I've got nothing but a future in my mind
I am thinking only of the possibilities that lie ahead and not holding onto anything from the past
You're in my mind
You are always on my thoughts
I never wanted anything but your time
All I ever wanted was to spend time with you
Loose you pride
Let go of your ego
Let us live inside each other's eyes
Let us be fully present with each other and experience life together
So beautiful...
Life is so beautiful when we are truly present with each other
I'm looking out, the sky's wide
I am gazing at the vastness of the sky, feeling small but free
You're not here
I am missing your presence
And I'm not fine
I am struggling without you
I am holding on, she holding out sometimes
I am trying to keep things together, but sometimes it feels like we are growing apart
Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.