We recently had the chance to connect with Nikki Allen and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Nikki, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that I found has brought me joy lately is coloring. I was gifted some adult coloring books, and enjoy spending time being creative in a non-pressured environment, playing with different markers, pencils, and crayons, and relaxing in almost a meditative state. I think the repetition of the movement of coloring soothes and calms my anxiety, too. It also offers a distraction to sort of “tune out” of the chaos that is our current world for a bit and creates opportunities for me to practice mindfulness during my busy schedule. Above all else, I think as an adult who is a creative trying to make it in a competitive business, like music, we can tend to forget how to play and be free. Coloring takes me back to that fun, carefree childhood space where I can explore and not be afraid to make mistakes and draw outside the lines.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Nikki Allen (neé Lickstein), a passionate songwriter dedicated to creating my own kind of music. I am a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist, chasing my dream of being a professional songwriter here in Music City. Since preschool, I have known music is what I wanted to do with my life. That being said, I do not wish to be an artist. Rather, I aim to be the songwriter behind your favorite artist’s songs. I want to be the person who writes the words you sing at the top of your lungs with your best friends in the car.
Going to a public school of the arts, participating in jazz band, orchestra, and School of Rock programming while growing up in South Florida helped shape the musician and writer I am today. Camps through Berklee College of Music, Curtis Conservatory, NYU Steinhart, and Julliard Jazz, as well as my studies at University of Miami’s Frost School of Music helped lead me to transferring to Belmont University’s Curb College to further study songwriting and music business. I made the move to Nashville at 18, after years of visiting and gigging back and forth.
Since moving to Nashville, I was awarded with both the Ben Vaughn and Brad Paisley scholarships before earning my undergraduate degree. I’ve hosted my own writer’s rounds at The Listening Room Cafe, played originals at The Bluebird Cafe, Live Oak, and other notable venues downtown. I am proud to be represented by Lucky Money Writer Management and my current PRO is BMI. I am an active member and participant in organizations around town like the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International, (without whom I would not be where I am today).
I’ve been lucky enough to have been mentored by many of Nashville’s greatest songwriters, and have received a plethora of accolades for my writing over the years. I have been recognized as NSAI EARS One to Watch four times (July 2023, January 2024, March 2024, May 2024), became a Finalist in the 25th Great American Song Contest, and reached Runner Up in the 24th Annual NSAI Song Contest presented by the Bluebird Cafe and CMT. I have been in NSAI’s Top 40 in Honor of Bob Kingsley Playlist multiple times, (most recently January 2025’s instillation) and in 2023, was an International Songwriting Competition semi-finalist for my original music and lyrics. I have participated in several successful pitch to publisher events with heads of A&R and VP of Creatives at companies like Edge Hill publishing and Reservoir. I have been chosen as one of the “Recommended” Songs Considered for Pub Luncheon, was a Top 8 Finalist Grammy U Virtual Songwriter Showcase in 2020, and received a nomination for an American Songwriters Award as a teenager.
My work includes notable cuts from American Idol’s Christiana Alaire’s “Lucky One”, James Deborde’s “Gave You Warning”, Serena Laurel’s “Heaven Let the Lights Go Down”, Maddie Mae’s “Go Fish” and “Divorced First”, Cody Q’s “Use Me”, and McKenna Bailey’s “What I Need”. I will continue to work towards making my dream a reality as I am continuously motivated by the talent and young women in this industry, in this city, and music, in general, to keep getting better at my craft. These days you can find me playing around town and I am always looking for new artists, songwriters, producers, and collaborators of any genre to work with, so please reach out!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Besides music being my passion, I work as a full time special education teacher for Metro Nashville Public Schools. I earned my masters degree from Middle Tennessee State University and have been working at a Title I elementary school for several years now. The school is located in the heart of Antioch, a diverse community and population of families who are working to give their kiddos a chance at the best education they can get. The Exceptional Education Team, paraprofessionals, and administration show me the difference hard work can make every day as we see the day to day impact it has on our students with disabilities.
Apart from my day job’s influence, my family has also taught me a lot about the importance of having a good work ethic. My parents are business owners. My father, a surgeon, often worked long hours and days to finish taking care of his patients before making it home for dinner. My mother, was pregnant with me while earning her MBA degree and worked multiple jobs. In our household growing up, my sisters and I were taught that the harder you work, the luckier you get. This was modeled for us.
I am the middle of three girls, neither of which are musical. However, we each have our own “thing” and were encouraged to make success unavoidable in whatever that area may be. My older sister has found success as a content creator in the political advocacy space, working on what matters most to her in D.C. My younger sister is currently in college studying at the University of California, Santa Barbara, exploring her passions and making them into reality.
With students, colleagues, and a family like mine, I have no shortage of inspiration and motivation, consistently being exposed to the return of investment you earn when doing your best work.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
In Alcoholic’s Anonymous, we talk about the “gift of desperation”. When asked about what suffering has taught me that success never could, this is immediately what came to mind. I have been sober and working my recovery program for over 5 years now, but it has not been a smooth journey to say the least. I will say though, that the gift of desperation, recognizing nobody was going to come save me except future me, taught me a lot. Having to get back up from my rock bottom, having to ask for help, all of those lows helped humble me. Overcoming those experiences in active addition has showed me how strong I am and how much more capable I can be when I believe in myself and have the right support system around me.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closet friends would say what matters to me most is making an impact, making sure the people in my life feel appreciated and heard, and telling stories and feelings through my music. They would say I’m known for being unapologetically myself and caring deeply about those I love.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace with an acoustic guitar in my hand, and it’s been that way for 20 years. Since I was 5, the vibrations of the strings under my fingers, laying my head on the curves of the wood, playing chords, and just listening, felt peaceful. Music has always been my medicine and helps heal parts of me in ways that nothing else has been able to, and in ways I believe no one else can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nikkiallenmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikki.lickstein/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLickstein/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrkOYZjdi2nRlmLrvJbC0DA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nikkiallenmusic
Image Credits
Crystal Clear Photography
