Tonya Nicole brings FOUR WOMEN to Music Hall

Tonya Nicole is an acclaimed Lowcountry performer known for high-energy musical productions, and the one she’s presenting Friday, May 3 at Charleston Music Hall is no exception. The show is dubbed FOUR WOMEN because, according to Nicole, it pays homage to four extremely influential women in her life: Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill.

Nicole told the Charleston City Paper that these important female figures provided sections of the road map she used for her own journey. Her long and winding road of self-discovery began in Holly Hill, S.C., where Nicole would sing at her grandmother’s church. She majored in theater and honed her sensational stage presence at the College of Charleston.

After graduation, Nicole sensed that it was in her best interest to stick around town and immerse herself in Charleston’s vibrant arts community. “I’m really impressed with how the music scene has flourished in the last 5 to 6 years,” she said. “There is definitely enough to go around. All you have to do is find your niche and grow it.”

Although she took a slight detour to start a family with her husband, Nicole has indeed identified her area of expertise as a vocalist and has remained a prominent part of Charleston’s nightlife ever since.

“I started producing my own shows a couple of years ago,” Nicole said. “And this one is very special to me. It’s my favorite so far.” The concert showcases Nicole’s passion for Jazz and neo-soul.

Taking inspiration

It turns out that “Four Women” is actually the title of a Nina Simone song that Nicole loves to perform. As Nicole recalled, “One time it left me thinking, ‘Who are my four?’ And I immediately arrived at Billie, Erykah, Nina and Lauryn.” From there, Nicole picked up on some apparent common threads and began to weave something new derived from the way these powerful performers tell their stories, their style on stage and even their personal lives.

Although each lady has been enormously impactful, Nicole admitted that there was a slight hierarchy that unfolded in her mind when she plotted out this production.

“My No. 1 is Billie Holiday. She’s breathtaking. Her voice is indescribable. It displays a beautiful pain in most songs,” Nicole said. “My No. 2 is Erykah Badu. I like to think of her as a reincarnated Billie Holiday. I remember hearing her, then seeing her first music video, ‘On & On.,’ As a teenager, I immediately thought, ‘Oh my goodness. She’s like Billie Holiday.’ The difference between these two, in my opinion, is simply the emotion behind their voices. I described Billie’s as a beautiful pain. Erykah’s is more of a beautiful pride and joy.”

Even while placing her third, Nicole said that Nina Simone was on another level altogether. “Her way of composing songs and articulating the exact feeling of the times is unmatched. She’s so unique. I like to think of her as a genre ambiguous artist. She creates everything from blues, folk, jazz, classical, pop, etc. You name it, she’s done it.”

“Last but certainly not least is the incomparable, Ms. Lauryn Hill,” Nicole revealed. “She is the Nina Simone of our time. She’s an artist that is beyond intentional and not afraid to just be or say whatever needs to be said. Her tone is also beautiful, deep, rich and raspy. It’s perfect.”
In the end, Nicole said that she loves all of them tremendously, and she hopes that her respect and admiration comes across loud and clear at the FOUR WOMEN tribute.

“What I admire most about all of the women featured in this set is their unapologetic nature about who they are at the core. Their willingness to use their platforms to speak, and create songs about whatever they are passionate about is commendable. They’re real pioneer women in this music industry. Like them, I’m also an intentional artist whose only goal is to make my audiences feel and to have people leave my shows feeling inspired and full of joy.”

Catch the show at 8 p.m. May 3. Tickets are $20 at charlestonmusichall.com.