It’s been a couple weeks, but the Artist Spotlight is back with Nirvana Hope, a solo musician from Manhattan, KS who has spent the last couple years performing across the state. She recently performed in Hays at the Paisley Pear.
“I’ve pretty much pulled inspiration from every corner of the musical spectrum to create my “sound”. I think having this variety of influences has helped me not try to fit my music into one box. I like to let myself experiment with a lot of different things, and you’ll notice when listening that no two of my songs have the exact same sound. They all have their own personalities to them, which is a result of all of the influences that went into them.”
7eight5: Tell us a little about yourself.
Nirvana Hope: My name is Nirvana Hope and I am a 19 year old solo musician living in Manhattan, KS. I started playing guitar when I was 8 and fell in love with performing at around 14. I graduated from a very small town high school in 2022 and moved to Manhattan to start really pursuing music. I fell in love with performing because there is just something so special about connecting with an audience through words and melodies. I was hooked from the start.
7eight5: Where are you based out of?
Nirvana Hope: Manhattan, KS How would you describe your sound? What kind of music do you play? I would say my music falls into the alternative-folk category. mostly just me and my guitar, but I did hire a drummer to sit in on a few songs for Rewind, and those songs have more of a pop-rock vibe to them!
7eight5: How long have you been performing?
Nirvana Hope: I’ve been performing professionally since I was 15, but I played my first show at 13.
7eight5: You have a really nostalgic sound. What or who are some of the biggest influences that have shaped your sound?
Nirvana Hope: My biggest influences were (and are) the a lot of the Cranberries, Alanis Morrissette, Sarah McLachlan, and Fiona Apple (these ones are pretty obvious to most people). but also Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Nine Inch Nails, Led Zeppelin, Silverchair, and my dad, who played in local bands throughout my childhood. So I’ve pretty much pulled inspiration from every corner of the musical spectrum to create my “sound”. I think having this variety of influences has helped me not try to fit my music into one box. I like to let myself experiment with a lot of different things, and you’ll notice when listening that no two of my songs have the exact same sound. They all have their own personalities to them, which is a result of all of the influences that went into them.
7eight5: You recently released the album Rewind. What is the story behind this new album?
Nirvana Hope: Rewind was my second release, and I needed it to be something more than Unstuck. Unstuck is exactly who I was when I wrote it, and it was raw and totally unplugged. It was my hello to the world as a musician. But when I started writing again for Rewind, I knew I wanted to do more than that. The first track I wrote on Rewind was “What’s Growin Up”, which is an ode to my childhood, the life I used to know, and the girl I used to be. I never believed adults when they told me to take my time when I had it, or to hold on to that child-like wonder and joy-seeking nature. But they were right. “To Never Know” is my anthem for all the kids that grew up with adults around them shoving false truths and immoral ideals down their throat. After those 2 tracks, the rest of them just kind of flowed. “When You’re Around” was my first ever attempt at a real love song. “Where Are We now? (Contemplating Existence)” came on a late, lonely night. “Roots” started as a poem I wrote the night my grandmother died when I was in the 8th grade. “Sensory Overload” is my song for everyone who has ever loved. I pulled inspiration from my Pop Punk favorites and wrote some fun upbeat baselines, dusted off my electric, and asked Hiawatha based drummer, Patrick McGee to lay down some drum tracks for “What’s Growin Up”, “To Never Know”, and “Sensory Overload”. We had about 3 recording sessions at ROFO Records with Barry Magner, and from the moment I got those audio files, they became everything. I cannot tell you how long I cried after hearing the first mixes of these songs. Hearing all of the pieces come together with my words, the way Pat was able to compliment the songs with his drumming, and the way Barry pulled it all together and made it feel like me. It was like magic. As the album came together, it didn’t feel complete. I wanted to bring it full circle with a stripped down version of “What’s Growin Up”. Track 1 you get “What’s Growin Up” with all the bells and whistles. Track 7 you get “What’s Growin Up” as an acoustic version recorded in one take. The album felt complete and whole, and I was ready to share it.
7eight5: Which song from “Rewind” are you most proud of and why?
Nirvana Hope: I’m most proud of “Rewind”. When I think of Rewind, I’m thinking of the whole. She’s a whole being that I created, and all of the pieces are my favorite.
7eight5: Do you remember your first show? What was that like?
Nirvana Hope: My first show was in May of 2017, it was at the first RockStock over by Atchison which my uncle kind of pioneered. I opened the festival with the National Anthem on my electric guitar and TOTALLY messed it up. It was the nerves. I was shaken in my boots to say the least, but nobody cared. they saw me up there doing my thing, and even though it wasn’t the best performance (I’m no Jimi), they were all still so supportive of me. that carried me through and I was able to try again the next year. they invited me back and I totally redeemed myself, but I’m not sure I would have had the courage to if all those people hadn’t been so kind and supportive. it just was the best crowd I could have asked for for my first show.
7eight5: What do you do outside of your music? Hobbies, career, etc?
Nirvana Hope: I have a lot of creative energy that I like to direct towards painting, crochet, embroidery, and cooking. I make jams, broth, and sourdough from scratch. I also do daily yoga flow and love going camping and hiking.
7eight5: Finish this sentence: (fans of (insert band/artist here) would love your music).
Nirvana Hope: The Cranberries
7eight5: Do you play original songs, or covers?
Nirvana Hope: I play both!! I’ve got about an hour of original material and 4+ hours of (memorized) covers I’ve accumulated over the years.
7eight5: Where do you get influences from when writing music?
Nirvana Hope: Mostly from my surroundings, experiences, and emotions.
7eight5: What comes first for you, the lyrics or the music? Or is it more 50/50?
Nirvana Hope: Always lyrics. but they don’t start as lyrics, they start as poetry. I write often, and have dozens of notebooks filled with poems or potential, but not all of them become songs. sometimes I’ll have a plan for them, but usually I’m just writing to write. and if I happen to find a nice melody while playing guitar that fits with one of them, it becomes a piece of music.
7eight5: Where do you want to be as an artist in 5 years?
Nirvana Hope: I’m hoping that in 5 years I can sustain myself on music alone. that’s the dream, right? Just to make a living doing what you love, that’s where I hope to be.
7eight5: What’s a goal you are hoping to achieve?
Nirvana Hope: I’m hoping to make it out to some different states for shows. I frequent Kansas and Missouri, but I’d love to eventually be able to do a mini tour or even a full one. Just to get out and expose myself to different groups of people and also connect with fans that live further away and can’t make it to shows in my typical radius.
Do not let a dead crowd or an unpaid gig kill the fun. Everyone has to play to their fair share of empty bars. Everyone has to come out of a few shows with less than they started with.
7eight5: How active are you in performing these days?
Nirvana Hope: So far this year I have played at least one show a week. I’ve had a couple weeks where I’ve had two or three. It feels good to be so busy!
7eight5: Who are you listening to (music-wise) right now?
Nirvana Hope: A lot of Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel, Rubber Soul era the Beatles, and Hendrix. Something about that April air has just been really pulling me towards those artists lately.
7eight5: How do you go about setting up shows to play?
Nirvana Hope: About once a month I’ll try to sit down and email my list of “want to play” venues, or just my regular spots that I’d like to return to. Sometimes venues respond, but sometimes they don’t. Especially since I’m a young local artist. A hand full of my shows I’ve been able to book thanks to other artists in the area, just by sticking their neck out for me, mentioning my name, or giving me advice on exactly who to talk to for the best chance of response. There are also some venues that have reached out to me because of publicity from another event that lead them to my page!
7eight5: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since you started playing live?
Nirvana Hope: Do not let a dead crowd or an unpaid gig kill the fun. Everyone has to play to their fair share of empty bars. Everyone has to come out of a few shows with less than they started with. Yes, it would be nice to pack it in every time and make a bit of money, but I’ve just had to learn to remind myself that that’s not the only reason I’m doing this.
7eight5: What can we expect next from you? Any upcoming shows, projects, or collaborations you’re excited about?
Nirvana Hope: I’m very excited for all of my upcoming dates! I’m booked most weekends throughout the summer and am excited to return to some of my favorite places, including a show at Auntie Mae’s Parlor (MHK) with the awesome Matt Wade (6/27) , and a trip back to my hometown for a show at The Hiawatha Creamery (6/15). I have been writing a lot of things lately, a handful of which are in the song-completing process (*wink* 2008 & Patchoili & Sage) and I cannot wait to share them!!
7eight5: How can people get a hold of you?
Nirvana Hope: People can get ahold of me via my socials: Instagram: @nirvana.hope, Facebook: Nirvana Hope or via email : nirvanahopemusic@gmail.com
