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.
Where Is The Exit?
Nichole Alden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've left a pool of you swimming inside
Leave us to find
I've made a fool of you for wasting my time
Where is the exit?
Is there a way out of here?
Show me the exit when does the real disappear?
Gave up your hide and
I can't get skin for you
--not that I've tried since you don't mind
I've taken things from you that you'll never find
Where is the exit?
Is there a way out of here?
Show me the exit when does the real disappear?
It's what you wanted
The first verse of Nichole Alden's "Where is the Exit?" depicts a scene of power dynamics. The singer, in high heels, crushes and slides over someone, leaving them swimming in a pool of their own mess. The victim is made a fool of for wasting the singer's time. The language used in the verse suggests that there is a sense of urgency, and the singer seems to be using aggression to take back control. The power dynamic shifts in favor of the singer, who now has the upper hand.
The chorus of "Where is the Exit?" speaks to a desire to escape. The singer is looking for a way out, a way to disappear from the situation. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes that the desire to escape is strong and an immediate need. The line "when does the real disappear?" suggests a longing for a different reality, for a way to escape the present situation that may be causing distress or disappointment.
The second verse speaks to the singer taking advantage of the victim. The use of the phrase "gave up your hide" suggests vulnerability, and the singer has taken something from them that they will never find. The singer seems to be using the power dynamic created in the first verse to control the victim further. The use of the phrase "not that I've tried since you don't mind" suggests that the singer believes that the victim deserves what they are getting.
Overall, "Where is the Exit?" speaks to themes of power, control, and escape. The singer is looking for a way out, away from a situation where they feel powerless. The song speaks to the emotions that come with feeling the need to escape and the consequences that may come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Heels crush you slide
I have walked all over you and watched you suffer in pain.
I've left a pool of you swimming inside
I have hurt you so deeply that you are drowning in your own emotions and feelings.
Leave us to find
I am ending this relationship so that we can both find better things for ourselves.
I've made a fool of you for wasting my time
You have wasted my time and I have taken revenge by making you feel foolish.
Where is the exit?
I am looking for a way out of this toxic relationship.
Is there a way out of here?
I am questioning if there is a way to escape this hurtful environment.
Show me the exit when does the real disappear?
I am pleading for a way to move on from this relationship and forget the pain.
Gave up your hide and
You have sacrificed your own wellbeing and identity for me.
I can't get skin for you
I am unable to return the favor of skin and sacrifice.
--not that I've tried since you don't mind
I have not attempted to reciprocate since you don't seem to care.
I've taken things from you that you'll never find
I have taken advantage of you and there are things you will never be able to recover.
It's what you wanted all along
You have always desired to hurt and take advantage of me.
But now that you've got it, it all feels wrong
You have gotten what you wanted but feel remorseful.
I gave you my hand and you took my arm
I trusted you and you betrayed me.
But now I see you only meant harm
I realize that you never truly cared and only wanted to cause pain.
Hollow and cold, you're all alone
You are now lonely and empty because of your harmful actions.
And I'm the one who let you go
I am the one who ended the toxic relationship and removed myself from the harm.
You had your chance, now it's time to pay
You had the opportunity to treat me well and now you must face the consequences of your actions.
I'm moving on without you, find your own way
I am leaving you behind and finding my own path without you.
Contributed by Sophia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.