Nilla Nielsen had a rough start when she came into the world with the umbilical cord wrapped several times around the neck. She was adopted soon by the family’s black wildcat who moved in and maybe it was where her loving relationship with animals and nature was founded. After many adventures traveling the world and nine lives already spent, she says jokingly that perhaps she inherited a little extra survivability.
Nilla Nielsen was born and raised in Helsingborg, but spent much of her childhood in Göinge forests where her mother has her roots. Love and respect for nature, animals and the lifestyle that is not wasting the earth’s resources were obvious. Nilla family was musical, grandfather played mandolin, harmonica, guitar and her grandmother played zither and pedal organ. Nilla´s father was a musician in a big band, mother sang and it was always singing and music at home.
His first rock band she started to play keyboards in when she was thirteen. Before that it was electric organ in force and some years later, she got her first guitar. Her first song lyrics Nilla wrote when she was eight and already back then it was about empathy and the belief to change the world.
When Nilla was eight years old her father moved back to Denmark and their relationship took a difficult turn. The feeling of being unwanted is reflected in moving “Blood Money” and “The Girl You Used To Know” from Nilla first album “Redemption Sky”. To write strong songs and storytelling is Nilla´s signum and she writes from the heart about things that matter. Nilla environment and community engagement is something that penetrates her artistry, and she puts words on many people’s longing, hope, and dreams.
Nilla started her record label Gecko Music in 2004 and released at the end of the year the album “Redemption Sky”. 2008 Nilla finally released her second full length album “SHELLSHOCKED” which she also produced. “I do not think that I alone can save the world with my music but if I can touch a listener in any way, get someone to be inspired, lifted, then I have succeeded. Music is universal and everything we do makes rings on the water. ” Nilla says with a smile.
Three relatively quiet years has passed since her debut album and it has a dramatic explanation. Shortly thereafter she went to Thailand to gather force in her favorite element among sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures and then got seriously injured in the tsunami on Phi Phi Islands. She was on the beach when the tsunami came got and badly injured and was sick from infections a long time after (more than one year) and planned promotion and gigs had to be canceled.
The experience has obviously also been reflected in her creative work. The suggestive song “Black Water” with its mantra-like chorus fills the listener like a beautiful prayer dedicated to all missing.
Following the tsunami Nilla also wrote the song “Heaven must be missing it´s angel” downloaded over 5000 times and Nilla has performed it on several memory ceremonies.
In January 2010 released her third album, ambient Shadows. In June 2010, Nilla Nielsen released her fourth album, Higher Ground, which she wrote, produced and in which she plays most instruments herself.
Nilla Nielsen has also worked with and written lyrics for other artists, such as Niels Erikson and Roger Pontare. During 2009-11, Nilla Nielsen has been touring with Dan Hylander & Orchestra - and is also involved in his album Den Försenade Mannen (2011).
A fantastic family musicians who become Nilla fixed point and followers of gigs has helped with impressive musical efforts and you should not miss the chance to experience Nilla Nielsen live. She is back stronger and more hungry than ever and in her new repertoir mix raw rebel movements with the soft intimate influences from the likes of U2, Hendrix, Alanis Morissette, Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman.
Nilla is a natural rock star who after four fantastic full album clearly demonstrated that she possesses an ocean of treasures, she is willing to share with others.
As she writes in the cover to her self-produced album “Shellshocked”: “Welcome to my heart, I hope you will like it here”.
Discography:
2004 Redemption Sky
2008 Shellshocked
2010 Shadows
2010 Higher Ground