Rejuvenating, soulful, subtle, crystal-clear-thriller are the terms used to describe the Jamaican born International Music powerhouse Nickeishia Barnes. Her vocals effortlessly ease through the musical genres Jazz, Gospel, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae Soul, Hip Hop, World Dance Music, and Jamaican Dancehall. This multi-talented singer, rapper, songwriter, poet, author, and emerging producer without a doubt is heading for super stardom. Her vocal prowess has been likened to the greats Arethra Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and the Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths.
A constant figure on the live music scene in Jamaica and the International sphere, due to her signature high energy and impeccable vocal styles on stage, Nickeishia Barnes has begun to lay a brilliant musical foundation in the recording studios, with the help of her technically grafted Street Team (NickeishiaB Street Team and Music Matters Campaign) which helps oversee all official promotion and management affairs. Nickeishia Barnes is capable of performing at any classy event anywhere in the world such as a Wine and Cheese Party, a Miss World, a Presidential Cocktail, a Ball Room Celebration or she can come down-to-earth in the Dance Hall and groove in Rocksteady Land. She is just incomparable. NickyB is perched on the edge to brand the airwaves with her vibrant, contagiously-sweet sounding vocals from live stage to LP, 45s and digital mediums.
The Early Years 1994-1999
Nickeishia Barnes got her first real taste of the live stage at the age of 12 years old, when her eldest brother, placed her atop a domino table at a party and told her to sing “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” which at the time was her favourite Whitney Houston song. Nickeishia’s rendition was well received by the patrons and she was an instant hit in the community of Arnett Gardens and Trench Town, Nickeishia became a regular feature of the community party/dancehall scenes under the protective guidance of her older brothers Michael “Sweet Dean” Barnes and Christopher “Escobar” Barnes.
While at the Holy Childhood High School in Kingston Jamaica, Nickeishia Barnes joined the school choir, this is where her performance and vocal skills were further honed for success, as the choir gained a very big presence on the local scene, through entering several School Talent based competitions put on by the Jamaica Cultural Development Corporation (JCDC) and receiving many awards.
In the summer of 1996 after finishing her Caribbean examination’s Councils papers for grade eleven (11), upon the encouragement of adoring supporters from the Arnett Gardens and Trench Town communities, she entered the biggest talent search competition in Jamaica “Tastee Talent Search”. She placed fourth (4th) in the parish Semi-Finals singing her rendition of Monica’s “Just One of Them Days”. She then went back to school to complete her Sixth (6th) Form studies achieving six (6) Advanced Level Certificates, while nurturing dreams of being an international producer and recording artiste.
In 1999 Nickeishia convinced her brother Deejay Escobar and their good friend Nesbeth to enter the Tastee Talent Search once again, this time with an original song “You Never Know” produced by Horace Murphy. The trio’s collaborative effort earned them third (3rd) place in the Quarter Finals of the Tastee Talent Search. It was while being groomed by her brother Escobar and Nesbeth as a singer that Horace Murphy gave Nickeishia Barnes the opportunity to sing background vocals for Dennis Brown’s final album that he was the key producer. Nickeishia’s love for music grew even more into an intense passion.
Nickeishia smiles when she speaks, “I used to follow them early mornings and late nights to the studios in Kingston especially around Anchor, Mr Gussie Clark place, to observe them working on tracks or voicing, as I wanted to produce, and then they would allow me to sing a few background vocals but I was so shy and nervous. We worked with Horace Murphy he was Escobar and Nesbeth’s manager, and he got us the opportunity to work with Sly and Robbie, it was absolutely amazing to be in the presence of these icons and I made up my mind that this is what I wanted for my career, music….”
The Formative Years 2000-2005
Nickeishia Barnes encountered during this period several emotional setbacks as the year 2000 started with her family attending the funeral of her Aunt Denise Mckoy who passed away from AIDS, but also one experience in 2002 she describes as “miraculous”. As Nickeishia grew to enjoy her adventures to the studio sessions where she worked alongside her brother and other artiste, her adventures took a back seat to her safety, as gang warfare broke out in the often times volatile community of Arnett Gardens and her brother that it was best for her to stay in during his trips to the studios. Nickeishia was very saddened as music and the production of the art form were her escapes from her very dark and ugly reality of life in the inner-city, “the studio…the music gave me the chance to be somebody, to be able to speak and have people interested and listen….I wasn’t just a ghetto girl…I was an artiste…I represented something more than death, pain and sadness…” Nickeishia therefore focused on furthering her education where she enrolled in The University of The West Indies and studied Political History and Sociology. While at University romance bloomed for the young singer, as she met in the summer, the father of her son. However as love blossomed in her romantic life, Nickeishia and her family were struck by the death of her eldest brother Michael “sweet Dean” Barnes to the gang warfare in the community. Nickeishia looks out in the distance and whispers,” he was my best friend…the 1 person who made me feel like I was beautiful…he was proud of me….” She looks away stoned face and smiles a tight smile.
In November 2002, Nickeishia welcomed what she calls “my gift from God” her son Jahneil. Her son she says made her take on the musical quest once again, as the death of her brother had left her emotionally drained and she poured her energies into her studies at university. However it seems the veil of death would soon steal her joy once again, as another family member was killed her uncle Michael Mckoy, was gunned down. “it’s like music was my sanity during these times, as their deaths were very close…it’s like the men in my family whom I loved best and loved me so much were being ripped from me…I was feeling lost…but I couldn’t show it as I had to be strong for my mom and I was also pregnant so I had to be careful for my own health…so I drew closer to my son’s father…” After the passing of her uncle a few months later her family was rocked again by the death of her deceased uncle’s eldest daughter due to heart complications while she was at work, she also lost two (2) other brothers Christopher “Escobar” Barnes and Gary Barnes during this period . “We didn’t get time to heal,” Nickeishia whispers looking away.
While at university Nickeishia formed bonds with two (2) mega future producers Taffi “PsiPhi” Bryson, and Donald “Icon” and her writing style took on new meanings and outlooks, as she wrote her pain in poems that would later be used in some of her earlier works such as “So Much Pain’ penned specifically for her brother Michael “Sweet Dean” Barnes. She graduated from the University of the West Indies with a BA in Political History and Sociology achieving Upper Second Class Honours, “this for me was a bitter sweet moment graduating and not having my brother there, he would have made so much noise…But my son saw mommy accept her degree, it’s God comforts me at all times…
A Professional Career 2006-And Beyond
Nickeishia Barnes entered a massive popular talent competition in 2006 on the prodding of her family, friends and many supporters from the Arnett Gardens Community known as The Digicel Rising Stars aired on Television Jamaica while she worked at The Ministry of Health as a Project Coordinator. Nickeishia’s entry in the competition did not see her at first being selected by the votes of the viewers, she felt down and never lost faith in believing that if God gives her this talent then He will open the doors for her voice to be heard. Despite being heartbroken she felt this opportunity of a lifetime would pass her as she didn’t receive the votes to go into the studio finals. However, to Nickeishia’s surprise she was called back as the programmes producer’s pick “The Wild Card”. During the three months of intense competition, Nickeishia received helped along the way by her friend Taffi “PsiPhi” Bryson on her song selection and moral support from her family and friends.
Nickeishia Barnes rose up to claim second position from her energetic and seamlessly effortless stage performances during the competition being dubbed “Jamaica’s Mary J Blige and Lauryn Hill”. She impressed many famous producers before the competition even ended and was recording at Penthouse Studio while working. In addition she received a phone call that the legendary Beresford Hammond of Harmony House had interest from the night she gave a stardom performance of “I’m Going Down” by Mary J Blige, Nickeishia Barnes was interviewed and was offered to join Harmony House. Although not with Harmony House or Penthouse, she believes she can sing her own music providing the people wants more of her today. She recalls from the legend of the powerhouse of musical talent that “Music is continuous” and when asked what’s next? The artiste laughs with her eyes shinning, “music is in my life until I die; it’s my way of reasoning, my way of being lifted throughout this life’s journey…I’ll continue recording, and performing, so what next? Ultimately albums that will take me to the Grammies…”
From the stages of The Digicel Rising Stars competition Nickeishia Barnes has forged a path of success with her musical career, gracing all the major stages of musical festivals in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Nickeishia’s live performances are a sight to behold, as you are transported into her world of love, laughter, joy, sadness, struggle, healing, insecurities, family, motherhood, sacrifice, triumph and victory, this has been translated to her recordings in the studio as her sense of openness and vulnerability draws the listeners closer and closer craving more of this dynamic, versatile artiste. Thus far her catalogue of works include her impressive renditions of “Everybody Needs Someone To Love”, “Tonight’s the Night” produced by the legendary Donovan Germaine of The Pent House records fame, which has allowed Nickeishia to collaborate with Buju Banton on tracks yet to be released. Her collaborative efforts have also seen her work with Anthony B lifting her amazing voice against child abuse especially molestation in the aptly titled track “Dirty Step Daddy” which has gotten rave International reviews.
Her smooth and agile vocals can be heard on tracks produced by Jam2 productions “Sweetest Mistake”, and a massive song favourite by her ever growing fan-base “In Love (Sha-la-la)” produced by Mario Lawrence of Music Factory and her friend Taffi Bryson of Psi Phi Productions. Her warm personality and great work ethic has seen her pen songs and record for musical producers Bobby Digital of Digital B Productions issuing a sweet sexy song called “Come Alive”, Ernie Wilks of Mista Wilks Production, Shocking Vibes Production, and J’Island Productions as well as Flava Squad Productions where her single on the Evolution rhythm “Leaving On A Jet Plane” is on constant rotation on the airwaves in Jamaica and Italy. Look out for Nickeishia Barnes; she is on the verge of exploding on the musical scenes. This time, like never before.
