Featuring eleven songs written by O’Neill, the album is co-produced by her and Rich Lackowski, and it was recorded mostly live with her 5-piece band by John Abbey at Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago. The album’s making was largely supported by the Illinois Arts Council, who chose O’Neill as one of their Creative Catalyst Grant recipients for 2025.
Deeply in love with classic soul, rhythm & blues and gospel from an early age, O’Neill counts Pops Staples, Prince, and Teenie Hodges as her guitar heroes, but it’s songwriting that she sees as her main love. Music journalists have called her “an expressive, nuanced singer and excellent guitarist” who makes albums with songs that demonstrate “a remarkable sense of melody.”
Written in 2023-2024, three years after relocating to Chicago from Los Angeles, some of the songs on Stories I Only Tell My Friends revolve around exclusion, uprooting and her personal experiences with migration, while others describe the struggles of staying creative and maintaining a quiet sense of wonder in a fast-paced information-driven society. There are also songs that are pure celebrations of love. “The album seems to move from musically-driven to more lyrically-driven storytelling songs, which wasn’t premeditated”, Nikki says.
| Musicians: Nikki O’Neill: lead vocals, harmony vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, solos (tracks 4, 5, 10), glockenspiel (track 2) Rich Lackowski: drums, percussion, harmony vocals Chris Corsale: lead guitar, solos (tracks 2, 4, 7), harmony vocals Teddy Myers: organ, piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes John Abbey: bass (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10) Chris Stanford: bass (tracks 2, Tracklisting
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The soul-inspired Americana sound that permeates Stories I Only Tell My Friends is very much a joint creation between Nikki and her band: Rich Lackowski (drums, percussion, harmony vocals), Chris Corsale (most lead guitars, harmony vocals) and Teddy Myers (organ, piano, Wurlitzer and Rhodes), along with John Abbey and Chris Stanford on bass. Nikki played rhythm guitar, all acoustic guitars, the solos on ‘Square One’ and ‘I Wish the Sun Could Shine on Me’, plus the twin guitar solo on ‘I Just Knew’ (together with Corsale).
Stories I Only Tell My Friends features three upcoming singles: the upbeat and soul-twangy opener ‘Drive’ on January 17, the well-wishing breakup ballad ‘Live Like You’ve Just Begun’ on February 7 (with wah guitar hooks and glockenspiel to pull at your heartstrings), and O’Neill’s migration story as told in the final track, the acoustic ‘Newcomer Blues’ on February 28 (what you’re hearing is her first take.)
Praise For World Is Waiting (2020)
“The tight backing band, lots of stimulating guitar riffs and acoustic strings, and Nikki's soulful timbre are a constant for many songs. Rock, Americana, country and some blues are the main constituents on this record.” Keys and Chords
““World Is Waiting” flows with extreme naturalness and simplicity, leaving a sweet and slightly nostalgic taste, often referring to the sixties and seventies to which Miss O'Neill looks with passion and respect.” Planet Country
“Nikki O'Neill specializes in the kind of rootsy music that owes as much to classic soul as to country rock…Her clear and powerful voice evokes memories of singers like Bobbie Gentry and, a little more recently, Shelby Lynne.” Slim Chance is Back
“A very poetic and hook filled affair, O’Neill knows her way around a thoughtful song you won’t forget anytime soon, and anyone with an ear for Americana would be wise to spend some quality time with World Is Waiting.” Take Effect
G Promo PR | Geraint or Deb Jones | Email: gpromo@btinternet.com | Web: www.gpromopr.com
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