Currently eight months pregnant with her second child, Nikki Briar shows no signs of slowing down as she balances motherhood with her rising music career. Hailing from New Jersey, Briar attended Seton Hall University where she did musical theatre and chorus graduating with a degree in Special Education and a minor in music. While she held various teaching positions over the years, Briar always felt the pull of music - even performing all the while she was teaching. When the school she was teaching at closed to merge with another, Briar decided the time was right to pursue music full-time. “Like any career, if you are going to do it, you have to be able to give 100%. It’s been six years now and things are going well.”
Briar grew up in New Jersey where her father was a drummer who would often fill in and play with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. “He had the opportunity to go to college, but he turned it down so he could pursue music which he did until later in life when he did bookings and real estate. My Mom played piano and my uncle taught guitar, so me being involved with music was almost inevitable.” While her father leaned to Motown and jazz, her uncle, who taught her guitar, introduced her to country. “I was an extreme music lover from Whitney and New Kids on the Block to Shania, LeeAnn Rimes and Garth. I never categorized anything, I just liked what I liked. When taking a guitar lesson with my uncle, I mentioned that I liked LeeAnn Rimes’ version of “How Do I Live” and from there, he educated me on country music. The music and how the lyrics tell a story just engaged me and from there I became a huge country music fan.”
“Fast Forward a couple years when I was 19-20-years-old and I met my husband. With him being in the Army, I was asked to sing the National Anthem at events, which I loved doing. One time a soldier came up to me after and told me I sing the anthem ‘with a country twist’ which surprised me because I’m from New Jersey (laughing). He told me he had a songwriter friend in Nashville who he wanted to connect me with, but at the time I was in college and I wanted to get my degree and get a teaching job. I also was aware that pursuing music was a struggling lifestyle that was really not in my deck of cards. Later when my husband was preparing to be deployed, I finally decided to take the soldier up on his offer when I had the summer off from teaching. I went to Nashville, met his friend, and recorded four songs. The first one released, and picked up by Nashville radio, was “A Soldier’s Princess” which was written about my military relationship. Since then I have been writing, recording, and touring – all because a soldier connected me with his friend.”
In 2013, Briar released her first full-length, Dancin’ In The Headlights, and followed that up with numerous singles including her latest “I Know Where I’m Going Now.” Pitched to her by another songwriter, Briar said she heard the song and knew she had to record it. “I love the fact the song has a religious base to it because I am religious. It talks about going to church and doing our Christian duties yet asking God when he is going to let me know where my life is headed…..then into the church walks the love of my life and boom there’s my future. It’s so different from my single, “Country Thang” which is like something Gretchen Wilson, whom I love and have opened for, would sing. This one has this modern folky-country sound and was recorded all acoustic on instruments including fiddle, mandolin, cajon, and upright bass. I love way it came out.” While many of Briar’s previous singles are up tempo country rockers, she says this one has quickly grown to being one she loves to perform. “It’s one of my favorite songs to perform. I did the other styles for so long, and it's nice to change it up for yourself and for the fans.” As for the next single, Briar says it will be called “Thank You.” That song says thank you to Jesus for whiskey, beer, good times and good friends. It’s a song that’s grateful to God because we know we couldn’t do any of this without him, but it has a Kenny Chesney–Billy Currington-beachy feel that’s perfect for summer." With the new singles, Briar says will there be an EP in the future. “I realized I can get music out faster, and keep people engaged longer, if I release singles [her singles have been featured on iTunes Hot Country Tracks page]. Eventually, though, we will do an EP because there still are people who come up after shows and ask for a physical copy and a full album.” Being busy with music is time consuming, so how does Briar manage motherhood, pregnancy, and music? “My husband, mother and mother in law all often travel with us, which helps. But I really have been lucky with both pregnancies to feel well enough to continue do everything and perform right up until the 8th month.. My last show will be May 6th and my first show back after the baby comes will be July 4th, so I gave myself a little time to rest." Website/Facebook/Twitter/Purchase
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