Recently, I sat down with R&B/Americana singer-songwriter and guitarist Nikki O’Neill. Set to release her third solo album, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, on March 14, 2025, through Blackbird Record Label. The album will be available on 12-inch vinyl, CD, digital download, and streaming.

Featuring 11 original songs, the album was co-produced by O’Neill and Rich Lackowski and recorded mostly live at Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago with her five-piece band. The Illinois Arts Council supported the project through its Creative Catalyst Grant, recognizing O’Neill’s contributions to the arts.

O’Neill, whose music blends soul, Americana, rock, gospel, and blues, cites Pops Staples, Prince, and Teenie Hodges as key influences. While she has been praised for her expressive vocals and nuanced guitar work, she considers songwriting her primary passion. Critics have called her “an expressive, nuanced singer and excellent guitarist” with a “remarkable sense of melody.”

Written between 2023 and 2024, Stories I Only Tell My Friends reflects O’Neill’s experiences after relocating from Los Angeles to Chicago. The album explores themes of exclusion, migration, and personal reinvention, alongside reflections on maintaining creativity in a fast-paced, information-driven world. Some songs celebrate love, while others delve into introspective storytelling.

“The album naturally transitions from music-driven to more lyrically driven storytelling, which wasn’t something I planned,” O’Neill said. “I was nervous about recording a new album with a mostly new band, but once we started, there was an immediate spark,” O’Neill said. “The guys put their hearts into these songs, and John brought out the best in us.”

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Born in Los Angeles and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, O’Neill’s diverse sound is rooted in her multicultural background. Her family’s history of displacement—her Russian grandmother and Polish mother moved frequently—shaped her sense of identity. Music was a constant presence, with her mother introducing her to artists such as Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Santana, and Dinah Washington.

“I started writing songs at 12 and picked up the guitar at 16,” O’Neill said. “When Purple Rain came out, I bought it immediately. Prince and Sly Stone’s ability to fuse soul and rock, and lead diverse bands, had a huge impact on me.”

After moving to New York City, O’Neill played guitar in various bands before relocating to Los Angeles, where she launched her solo career. Following the release of her 2017 EP Love Will Lead You Home, she and Lackowski became part of L.A.’s Americana scene. In 2020, she signed with Blackbird Record Label and released World Is Waiting, her second solo album.

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The pandemic halted touring, and the rising cost of living in California led O’Neill and Lackowski to move to Chicago.

“It took time to settle in, meet musicians, and start writing again,” she said. “But I didn’t want these songs to feel like leftovers from my last album—I wanted to discover how Chicago would inspire me.”

With Stories I Only Tell My Friends, O’Neill delivers an album rich with heartfelt storytelling, soulful melodies, and a sound that reflects her artistic journey.

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