Nicole Marie Leonti was born on August 20, 1981 in Corona, California. Her father Greg Leonti was a pastor at the Calvary Southern Baptist church. She began singing at age five, as a church soloist in the Nondenominational Christianity church in Corona. At 13, she made her first recording on a small local label.
In 1998, Leonti recorded her debut full-length album, Shelter Me, which reached No. 179 on the Billboard 200, and No. 7 on the Contemporary Christian chart. Her second album, Nikki Leonti was released in 2001. Both were produced by brothers Dino and John Elefante, and issued on the independent Christian label, Pamplin. Shortly after her 18th birthday, Leonti got pregnant out of wedlock and was shunned by the CCM community with many Christian music stations pulling off broadcasting of her records. She retired from the Christian music industry not long after.
In 2006, Leonti was hired as a backup singer for Carrie Underwood, performing on tour and on various television shows. After three years with Carrie Underwood, Leonti began working with Rich Velonskis, forming the R&B group, Nikki & Rich, retro neo-soul duo. Velonskis, also known as Rich Skillz, producer of various artists, including Ludacris, Lil' Kim, and Robin Thicke. Nikki & Rich released their debut album, entitled Greatest Hits, on September 27, 2011, issued on the Reprise Records/Born Rich label. The duo has performed live on Ellen and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Together, they were named as one of the New York Post's "10 New Artists to Watch in 2010" and "10 Artists to Know in 2011". Nikki & Rich confirmed their split in January 2015.
Nikki lent her vocals to over 100 songs during 4 seasons of the Fox hit show, Glee. She has written songs for artists, including Robin Thicke, Jessie J, Candice Glover, Rebecca Ferguson and Ivy Quainoo.
In early 2015, Nikki announced that she had founded a band called Edgar with her husband Ryan Edgar, whom she married in November 2014. On June 7, 2016, she appeared alongside her husband and daughter Jaslyn as a trio on America's Got Talent, auditioning on episode 2 of season 11. They performed "I'll Stand by You" by The Pretenders. The group progressed through the preliminary rounds and took one of 36 live performance show spots.
In 2018, she performed alongside Crystal Lewis, Stacie Orrico and Rachael Lampa for a special event called REUNITE CCM.
Letting Go
Nikki Leonti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My face to the ground
Crying for a voice to be heard
Are you gonna make a way?
Do I really hear you saying to me
Come lay it all down?
[Chorus]
Giving it back to you
I'm placing my life in your hands
The day that you took over
Was the day my life began
I'm starting over again
Surely heaven knows
The beauty of your plan
How you saved the human soul from despair
How you make the sun to rise
Even after all these nights
Your love was still there
[Chorus]
And I don't even know
Where I would be without your love
'Cause only love could bring
Me here to you
So take this life I've known
And make it yours alone
I'm letting go, letting go
[Chorus]
Nikki Leonti's song Letting Go is a deep and emotional ballad about surrendering oneself to a higher power. The song begins with the singer feeling overwhelmed and helpless, surrounded by fire and crying out for a voice to be heard. In this moment of distress, the singer hears a voice telling them to lay it all down and trust in a power greater than themselves.
The chorus of the song highlights the central theme of surrender and letting go. The singer speaks of giving everything back to this higher power and placing their life in its hands. They describe the day that this power took over as the day their life began and express a desire to start over again. This is a powerful and transformative moment in the song, as the singer is relinquishing control and putting faith in something greater than themselves.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the beauty of this power's plan and its ability to save humanity from despair. The singer comments on the power's ability to make the sun rise even after the darkest of nights and points to the enduring nature of its love. The song concludes with the singer expressing gratitude for this power, acknowledging that without its love they would be lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire all around
Feeling overwhelmed by chaotic circumstances
My face to the ground
Showing complete submission and humility
Crying for a voice to be heard
Seeking guidance, help, or support
Are you gonna make a way?
Questioning if there is a solution to the problem
Do I really hear you saying to me, Come lay it all down?
Hearing the voice of God telling you to surrender and trust Him
Now I'm letting go, Giving it back to you, I'm placing my life in your hands
Deciding to surrender control to God and trust Him with your life
The day that you took over, Was the day my life began, I'm starting over again
Experiencing a spiritual rebirth and finding hope and purpose in God
Surely heaven knows, The beauty of your plan, How you saved the human soul from despair
Recognizing the greatness of God's plan and how He redeems people from hopelessness and despair
How you make the sun to rise, Even after all these nights, Your love was still there
Being amazed by God's faithfulness and how He brings hope after long periods of darkness
And I don't even know, Where I would be without your love, 'Cause only love could bring, Me here to you
Realizing that without God's unconditional love, life would lack purpose and meaning
So take this life I've known, And make it yours alone, I'm letting go, letting go
Committing to follow God's plan and surrendering your life completely to Him
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@evakucej2943
Great singer!!!
@lacasadecasas7329
Loves her