Nicole Springer’s self-titled debut album tells the story of growing up and finding a place in the world

Courtesy image by Scott Bosworth

Award-winning singer-songwriter Nicole Springer releases her first solo full-length album, Nicole Springer, today (October 24).

Springer has been playing music in Kansas City for the last decade. From being a front person for The Clementines and The Good Hearts to singing on the Melissa Etheridge stage at Camp Leavenworth Festival to sailing the world performing on cruise ships—she is no stranger to the art of performance.

The self-titled album tells the story of the last 20 years of Springer’s life. Each of the eight songs serves as a stepping stone throughout her journey, highlighting her struggles with mental health and the feeling of falling in love.

“I’ve been playing music in Kansas City for some years, but I’ve never just made an album myself, musically, instrumentally, and vocally. This is me. My music stripped down raw, vulnerable,” says Springer. “That’s what makes it different from anything I’ve ever done.”

This album has been in the works for more than a decade. After being isolated by relatives who did not accept her being gay at 19, Springer fought every day just to survive. A cousin took her in and gifted her a guitar, and she turned to songwriting to cope. Over the past year, Springer worked with her wife and a team of songwriters to put together these partially written songs to tell her story.

“The biggest struggle has just been emotionally accepting it for what it is. I’ve spent a year in the studio putting this together, and I could have spent another year or another five years. The challenge was to learn to love it as it is and as I am,” says Springer.

With the tales of growth and learning what it means to be an adult, Springer walks the listener through each era of her life with a bright disposition, even with the tough topics.

“I’m not shying away from the emotions of what they mean, but I wrote them hopefully in a way that is relatable and uplifting. I don’t want to depress anyone. I want people to know that they’re for somebody to look forward to the future,” says Springer.

Her song “Better Day” reminisces of the gospel choirs she sang in as a child and represents her struggle with mental health and a suicide attempt in her early 20s. The song elegantly captures the essence of “it gets better.”

The soft but strong guitar—reminiscent of a heartbeat—on “Someone to Love Me” encapsulates the feeling of falling in love and wanting to experience life with someone special. “Love Never Rests” tells the story of walking through life next to the person you love, parallel to the story told in “Someone to Love Me. Springer’s personal favorite, “The Power is Always Yours,” is dedicated to her nieces.

“I wrote it to remind them of their power and ensure they always know what they feel is real and valid,” she says.

Nicole Springer’s self-titled album follows the release of her 2022 EP Chase the Light, including original songs “Strong,” and “Hell,” and the 2022 winner of Best Local Song from The Pitch: “Break up Museum.”

Springer will be setting sail once again for five weeks, performing on cruise ships and sharing her new music. She is currently planning for a tour in 2024.

Nicole Springer is available for download on Apple Music and Spotify.