Hispanic singer-songwriter, Nicole, has been making waves with her recent project Forgetmyname. The bilingual artist debuted with the singles “Complex” and “High” earlier this year and is now getting ready to share another song titled “Crazy.” We’ve had the pleasure to chatter with this young talent who explains why she chose the moniker “Forgetmyname” and how proud she is to be representing the Hispanic community.
- Congratulations on your project Forgetmyname and the release of the singles “Complex” and “High”! Tell us about your musical journey so far! How did it all begin? Have you always wanted to be a musician or was there a specific moment in life when you realized this was your calling?
Thank you!! It’s been exciting to finally have music out and to know that people want to listen to it is crazy to me, just really grateful. I knew I wanted to be a musician at a really young age. My family was always recording me sing and dance and passion only grew from there. I don’t think there was a specific moment per se, it’s just always been my form of therapy.
- How did you come up with the moniker “Forgetmyname”? It’s quite literal, but does it have a special meaning to you? Perhaps forgetting a previous “self” or who you were before you started this project?
YES! I originally got it from a name of a song I liked when I was younger and when I started going into the studio knowing that I will be releasing and wanted to use it as a name it had a completely different meaning to me. It’s making an impact through the music itself and in order for me to create it I had to let go of all these preconceptions of myself and it took me really losing myself to find that and what I wanted Forgetmyname to represent.
- Let’s talk about the back to back singles “Complex”and “High”! How long were you working on them before they were released? Was there a specific goal you wanted to achieve with the songs? How did you perceive the public’s reaction?
Both of them were recorded within a month or 2 of each other back in late 2019. I had written a couple songs in-between but Complex I knew from the moment I first started writing it that I would make this my first single, I felt so many of my influences being represented while making it my own for the first time really. With “High” I had lots of fun creating it, as sad as some of the lyrics are in comparison to “Complex” it’s almost masked with this happy instrumental. I would play it on repeat and I wanted to use it to show more of a spectrum to what I wanted Forgetmyname to be. I’m mind blown every time I see that people are playing these songs, very grateful. <3
- We’ve heard there’s a new song coming out before the end of the month! Will it be accompanied with a music video? Can you share details about the single? What is it about? What inspired you to create it?
YES! “Crazy” will be released on my birthday, October 27th and the video will follow shortly after. Really excited for this one, so many great friends have been a part of this so to know they support it and wanted to be a part of it from production to directing the video has been really great. I wanted to step into another sound while still sticking to a structure of the previous singles with the synths but make it more dance/club feel. The song is really about getting used to being alone, living alone, finding my own routine and detaching from my old habits. We finished it fairly quickly earlier on in the year and it was my first time working with Isaac and from there we have built such great chemistry working together and have been making lots of new music!
- You come from a multicultural background, how have you incorporated that diversity into your music? Do you plan on releasing Spanish songs in the future? Or perhaps a bilingual one? Do you feel a certain responsibility to represent the Hispanic community? What does your family think about your art?
With a Spanish background the lyrics always spoke to me. My dad used to break down songs and make me really listen to the meaning and the way they described things and with English it was more of the sonic influences. I definitely want to release a Spanish song in the future, hopefully some time next year. I’m very proud to be able to represent the Hispanic community. I don’t necessarily feel I have a responsibility to represent as it’s already a part of me and who I am today. I feel like my responsibility would be to keep letting that shine through my art and I’m grateful to be a part of a community with so many amazing artists who have shaped who I am today. My family is super supportive. They play a huge part in keeping me focused and always pushing me to keep going.
- Your songs seem to be a fusion of contemporary genres with ‘80s alternative pop! How did you come up with this unique sound?
I really look for this specific nostalgic feeling that my favorite songs give me every time I listen to them. Those genres being mainly from the 80s/90s alternative/pop era, they play a very big part when working on new music in the studio.
- How do you feel about performing in front of large crowds? Do you prefer working in the studio over being on stage?
I’m in love with the process of being in the studio and creating but I look forward to singing along with a crowd knowing they’re singing these songs to their own experiences. It’s a good kind of nervous but it will come when it’s the right time.
- Who has inspired you the most to be a musician? Can you name a few artists who have influenced you while growing up? Who would you like to collaborate with?
I would say my parents. They introduced me to such an expansive range of genres and cultures through music that I listen to all the time still. So many artists! like I said there was always different music I was being introduced to consistently from Soda Stereo, Linkin park, Selena, Gypsy Kings, Timbiriche, Tracy Chapman, RBD, Enanitos Verdes, Tears for Fears, Shakira, Mana, Depeche Mode, Nirvana, Gian Marco. I would really love to one day collaborate with Kevin Parker, I have learned so much about sound through tame impala and his personal productions with other artists, it would be a dream to one day work with him.
