Interview: Toronto Pop Singer-Songwriter Nicole Haber Discusses Her New Single "Wish You Well"
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“I love performing and just having that energy of a crowd. I love looking out and seeing everybody singing along and dancing, and enjoying themselves. ”
Congratulations on the release of your new single "Wish You Well"; what inspired you to write the song and how did you connect with the producer Jonathan Karkar?
Thank you so much!! I wrote this song with inspiration from a breakup. It was a weird break up for me because it wasn't a good one but not bad either... Or maybe it was both.
I genuinely had so much love still for this person in my heart, so the song was kind of closure for myself so that I could move on happily and healthily. It's also something that I think a lot of people can relate to, we always want the best for the people that we've been with but they also want to be like "I'll be alright without you."
I actually connected with Jonathan through Instagram. He's worked with a few of my friends before and he ended up reaching out to me saying, "I really want to work on this track" and would not take no for an answer. I'm really glad he did that though because he made the song so amazing and it turned out beyond what I expected.
"Wish You Well" will be appearing on your upcoming album "Full Circle"; what can you tell us about the project, and is "Wish You Well" indicative of what we can expect from it sonically and thematically?
“Full Circle” is still in its early stages. This album is something that I've wanted to work on/release for a while now, but I'm still figuring out all of the logistics for it. I wish I could tell you when it will be released, but I know that there's so much work still to be put into it.
The album has a theme of the hero's journey, through battling life and one's self, and “Wish You Well” is the point in the journey somewhere close to the halfway point. Where you begin to accept and move on from certain situations out of necessity for your own good. So, a lot of the songs that are going to be on this album are talking about falling behind, coping, retracing your steps, and moving forward. Things like that, like how we grow as human beings pretty much.
You started writing music at 6 years old; do you remember the artists that influenced you to pick up a pen and pad and start expressing yourself through song?
Oh, of course, Shania Twain was the one and only. When I was a kid, she was my inspiration for everything and she's the reason I started singing. As I got a bit older Rihanna kind of took over that influence.
How would you describe your typical studio session? Do you write music there or do you have your lyrics already prepared beforehand?
As I always say, no song is the same. Every studio session I've worked on has been different. Most of the time my lyrics and my chords are already created and we go in with the idea to create the track and put it all together. But sometimes I've walked into the studio with absolutely nothing and we create magic together. Other times I just need vocals because the beat is already made and so are the lyrics. It's a different process depending on who you're working with and what the project is for.
What do you enjoy most about performing for a live audience, and do you have a favorite song to sing?
I love performing and just having that energy of a crowd. I love looking out and seeing everybody singing along and dancing, and enjoying themselves. I can't tell you how much I miss being on a stage, but the best part was always having a drink after my set with my fans or my friends or my family, just taking in everything that happened. Oh, actually I will say I do also miss my band, the lights, and loud music. So, I guess I miss the whole aspect of performing live and it's all my favorite.
If you're asking me what my favorite song of my own to sing is, I love singing “Runaway”, it's a song I worked on with Indonesian DJ's, Owl Proximity and Keep Like Normal. If it's a cover you can always find me singing “Addicted to You” by Avicii. Although, my favorite songs tend to change quite frequently.