What’s the term for a woman who is talented, cool and business smart? Oh right, bad bitch. Halifax is about to lose one its baddest. Local R&B/hip-hop artist Nicole Ariana (AKA Nicole Curry) is leaving the Halifax scene with a final show as part of the NSCC: Presents series. A graduate of the music business program herself, Curry is set to move to Toronto in the new year to work for the Feldman Agency, which represents many commercially successful Canadian musicians.
Nicole Ariana's recent five-song release, 4 Seasons, is packed with slow sexy jams that were admittedly a bit awkward to play for her mom. The EP includes collaborations with Cam Smith, Kayo and Austin "Aux" Jennings. Describing a trusting relationship with her collaborators, and pointing to Jennings' home (she lives just down the street with singer Samm Splash and boyfriend Alex Bueller, who has stepped in as DJ at live shows), Curry describes a tight-knit and supportive hip-hop community that she's reluctant to leave. "I feel like there's a [hip-hop] renaissance happening in Halifax right now. There are so many talented people and stuff is really happening. People are starting to get recognized," says Curry. "I almost don't want to leave because I'm getting to a point where I've got all these friends and it's super-easy to be like 'Hey give me a beat, let me record this!' I've got all these talented people that I know and so much good stuff is happening."
With her talent, ambition and inside understanding of the Canadian music industry, good stuff is going to keep happening for Curry. Say a goodbye for now and last class bash around at the NSCC: Presents Weirdo Click, the WAYO, Nicole Ariana and DJ iSmith this Friday
p> NSCC Presents Nicole Ariana, Weirdo Click, The Wayo, DJ iSmithFriday, December 13 at 9pm, $5
The Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street
