Whenever NRT Music artist Niki Lou Savich felt deeply about something, she would write poetry to express her feelings. To her surprise, she sat down to write a poem one day, but song lyrics flowed out instead. When this kept happening, she decided to search online for a songwriting workshop and came across Nashville Christian Songwriters. Niki attended their workshop in late 2019, where she met John Chisum, the founder and president of NCS.
At the event, Niki fell in love with songwriting and began online sessions with John, who coached her on songwriting. Her craft continued to grow until she finished her last session with him in January 2021. But it wasn't until she reconnected in the late summer of 2022 that John encouraged her to record the new songs she had been writing since their last session. Songs that flowed from a broken heart. I got to catch up with Niki to discuss her new music, musical inspirations, and the journey to NRT Music.
Could you tell us about your latest music? What's the story and inspiration behind your new music? What is the overall theme?
Just a few months after I'd finished my coaching sessions with John in 2021, I experienced the unexpected loss of both of my parents, only six weeks apart. Then, in December of that same year, I lost two of my closest friends as well. Little did I know that my first album, Million Tears, would be born as I began to pour out my heart and tears by writing songs. That's when John and I reconnected. That's when he listened to these songs of loss and grief and encouraged me to start recording them. The entire album consists of 12 hope-filled laments, all written in the style of American Roots music.
What scripture inspired your new music?
I can't pick just one scripture since many truths from God's Word permeate these songs of lament. That's where the hope comes in. I love that we can lament to God, knowing His Word has the hope we need. The last song on this album, “With Me,” is my favorite and is inspired by Psalm 139: 7-12.
Could you tell us about your journey to work with NRT Music?
Last summer, John had already begun walking me through the NCS Artist Development program when he introduced me to Kevin McNeese at NRT Music. Kevin had put together an excellent course called ChristianArtist.Pro Master Class, or CAP for short, to help independent artists learn how to navigate the business side of their music. As part of my artistic development, I was so blessed to be mentored by Kevin through this online course. Then, just a year after I had gone through CAP, Kevin told me that NRT was signing a deal with Syntax Distribution to represent and connect independent artists like me to a major music distributor. I'm so grateful that Kevin invited me in as one of the artists he thought would be a good fit for this venture.
What other projects are you currently working on?
Even though I am in the full promotion phase for Million Tears (releasing singles, shooting music videos, posting on social media, and so on), I am simultaneously in the full production phase for album #2. I’m thrilled that Gordon Mote, the producer and arranger for Million Tears, is also producing and arranging this new project.
Who are some of your musical inspirations? Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Looking back, I realize that I had been inspired by all the music I've ever heard and enjoyed, from "Rose Garden" and "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" in the '60s to the soundtracks of movies such as The Hunger Games and Songcatcher. And I realized something else, too. A long time ago, I learned that if I let God lead me to the people, places, and things that He has already planned for me, nothing could ever be better for me than that.
How can we be praying for you?
Bless you, that you will pray for me. If you come across anything and everything that applies to God's Word, please pray it for me. Thank you so very much.
Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
Yes, God loves us more deeply and passionately than all of us put together could ever comprehend. There are a lot of songs in that one statement alone, and He is worthy of all of them. Shalom.
Paul E. Phillips is a Canadian journalist with 20 years of experience writing and editing digital and print content. He specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, and travel. He loves music, movies, and, of course, living for Jesus.
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