A veteran of the eventing circuit, having performed at pre-game shows for the Dallas Cowboys in front of 60,000, or for the Dallas based NHL and NBA teams at the American Airlines stadium, we introduce to you all born and bred Texan Jennifer Nickerson – a singer-songwriter who’s found her home in country music. Nearly 5 years since her last release, Jennifer is back with her latest EP ‘Summer Wind’.
Jennifer is very much the archetypal all American Girl, singing at church from an early age, and with her father having a military background, she very much embodies the traditional Southern American values of Christianity, family solidarity and pride in those that defend the red, white and blue.The title track ‘Summer Wind’, shows her experience from the off. Similar in style to the Jordyn Stoddard track ‘like Me Til You Love Me’, it’s set against the slower paced electric guitar strumming. Transforming you onto a beach on a warm summers evening, “You don’t need Money, ain’t no ticket that you can buy….feel that breeze underneath the stars.” Those couple of lines pretty much sum up the whole track. Vocally she is controlled and relaxed without really stretching herself, with the standard guitar solo coming at the latter end of the single.
‘My List’ is a heart-warming love song about finding that perfect guy. Again Nickerson’s traditional values very much come to the fore, ‘Every girl has her list…someone to treat her right through thick and thin’. I have to admit ‘My List’ is a bit of a change to what we’ve been hearing recently, with the exception of the Likes of Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and Tim Mcgraw, many love songs tend to focus on the whole meeting in a club, getting drunk, its a quarter after one, and no prizes for guessing what happens next. However Jennifer Nickerson takes a different approach, in that finding someone you love is hard, and you just want someone who respects you and all that. In that sense ‘My List’ is an easy song to relate to, especially to the female demographic. The only criticism is the overlapping backing vocals sounded a little overproduced and perhaps unnecessary, it could have done with a softer tone, which faded into the background more.
‘Never Give Up’ embodies the independent spirit that Nickerson exudes. Again this song reflects on Nickerson’s grounded personality and perhaps how she wants to be seen herself. ‘Always knew she would, always knew she could, she didn’t need any luck, she didn’t back down…if one thing is said about me when I’m done she didn’t give up’ Vocally Jennifer Nickerson turns it up a notch, but I feel as though there was a bit more to give.
‘Stay’ is probably the best track on the EP, both in terms of the song writing and vocals. Jennifer Nickerson shows what she is capable of, hitting the higher notes and really pouring some emotion into it. Perhaps hinting at some past experience in her life, although its hard to tell. The most emotionally touching line ‘Another phone call made, I know it’s late, pouring out my heart to you but I don’t even know what to say’. Again, the peaks and troughs of trying to keep a relationship going.
‘My Destination’ the final track on the album, is a nice duet. Although as hard as I have tried I don’t know who sings it with her, mainly because of its absence in the credits. Reasonably short and punchy, the mystery dude’s raw, deep vocals complement Nickerson’s quite nicely. The sweetest line in the song ‘I don’t need a map I don’t need directions… every turn leads to you.’ The direction/sign-based analogy was a nice touch.
Overall ‘Summer Wind’ is a catchy EP and nicely reflects the personality of Jennifer Nickerson. She encapsulates her traditional values, which as I said earlier was a nice twist. This is will be a good listen for acoustic led, pop country fans. With all the songs written by herself, she very much puts her own unique stamp on the EP. The only issue I really have is that ‘Summer Wind’ is a couple of notches away from being exceptional, and having listened to each one a few times over, none of the tracks make me think, ‘shit I have just listened to the next big hit on country radio’. Jennifer Nickerson is a decent, honest singer songwriter and is clearly not shy of hard work, but unfortunately her big break that many artists look for is not going to happen. A bit like tuna and pasta, it’s nice, but its not steak.
