Nicole Mercedes

Interview by Amanda Molloy |Photography: Amanda Blohm

Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Nicole Mercedes makes the kind of dream pop that sounds best during night drives or while wandering around the city. Mercedes’ music is undeniably pop, but with her songwriting prowess, none of her songs sound like anything you’ve heard before. The multi-instrumentalist talked with us about how living in New York City inspires her sound as well as how she is staying creative during quarantine.

When did you realize that you wanted to pursue music?

I’ve always played instruments and wrote songs, but I kept it mostly as a hobby until I had to choose what to study in college. I remember telling a friend it’s between music and anthropology. Music won.

Our September issue is our ‘Girl Boss’ issue. What does being a Girl Boss mean to you?

To me, it means being the boss of yourself, meaning you are the one that you ask permission from whenever you need it.