Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Miller.
Hi Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Nicole Miller, I’m originally from West Des Moines, Iowa. I moved to Nashville after high school to attend Belmont, where I went to school for a year before dropping out and pursuing music full time. I was a singer/songwriter full time for years; working on songs for other artists and putting out my own EP ‘Lonely On the Weekend’. Unfortunately my time as a full timer came to an abrupt end as I became swiftly disabled by complications to a disorder I didn’t know I had, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. By the time I was diagnosed my head and neck had become dislocated in multiple places- leading to ischemic mini stroke episodes and fainting whenever I moved my head. After seeing multiple doctors across the US for my craniocervial instability I underwent a complex spinal fusion in Barcelona, Spain in 2024. Music may have had to be put on pause for a bit, but I’m fighting my way back to it! While I’ve healed dramatically + now am keeping my head on straight (literally!) I’m still working my way through some other symptoms that were missed from being undiagnosed. I’m fighting hard to get back to writing songs as soon as possible and making my own mark on the industry- however that looks for me! In the meantime, I’ve started a consignment business called ‘Nic’s Picks’. I’ve always had a love for fashion, and this music hiatus has given me time to explore that passion. My business focuses on finding new homes for contemporary and designer pieces; whether its a closet cleanout or just making room for the new- Nic’s Picks is a luxury and contemporary consignment business that believes every piece of clothes, shoe, bag etc. has a story to tell. We look to take your old pieces, and find you the next ones! It’s been such a fun way for me to get to dive into luxury fashion, while giving Music City a place to get cash for the items they don’t reach for, and finding them the pieces they can’t put down. This past year I adopted a sweet rescue dog named Cashew, and even though I’m working my way through EDS struggles still, I’m happy to have time for all my passions- and know the Lord has it all planned out. ‘Til I’m back to writing songs for work (don’t you worry- while still sleuthing out the best fashion finds in the 615!) I’m enjoying time letting my body rest, re-discovering who I am, and training my sweet pup.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been, and honestly it still isn’t! I think a lot of people don’t realize how truly important and fragile good health can be. I surely didn’t, until was lucky to be alive + walking. It’s taught me a lot about what is important in life- and how short it really is. While this season of my health over the last few years has been the most difficult storm I’ve had to weather, it’s also been the most fruitful in discovering myself. I used to think bravery meant doing things without fear- but now I know to be brave is to do it scared. It’s trusting yourself and having faith the Holy Spirit will guide you through challenges, even when they’re terrifying. I didn’t feel very brave advocating for myself and my health. I went doctor to doctor trying to find one to understand symptoms from Ehlers Danlos (EDS) complications of craniocervical instability (CCI), bow hunters syndrome. In the end, I was the one who discovered the name for my illnesses, through white-knuckled bravery and blind advocation. It shouldn’t have taken a college dropout musician to walk into the top facilities in the country saying “this is what I have, now prove it”. But it did. And if it hadn’t worked out that way, I wouldn’t have the trust in my own intuition and courage that I do now. I have the Mayo Clinic, USC and most of all Dr. Gilete in Barcelona, Spain for my healing- and I’d like to think I have myself to thank too. Sometimes you really do have to hold yourself up by your (cowboy)boot straps, trust the Lord and his timing and fight like hell. While I still believe there is a bumpy road ahead left to full healing, this time I know I have the bravery and faith to make it through. Maybe we all have a time in our life where we’re faced with who we are and what matters, and maybe this has been mine. Regardless of the future, I’m awfully proud of how far I’ve made it- that kid from Iowa would be too.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The common thread between songwriting and my Nic’s Picks consignment business is storytelling. Every person and piece has a story to tell. At the end of the day, I hope to leave people better than I found em. No matter what writers room I’m in, what stage I’m singing on, or who’s “this used to be my favorite purse” bag I’m selling, I hope everyone I meet feels like ‘a somebody’. I’d like to think I’m a good songwriter, a good singer, a good friend. But at the end of the day, I really hope those things would be afterthoughts to anyone who describes me. I hope they’d first say, “she’s a good person.”
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Nashville for it’s calm business. There’s always something to do here, but you can find a pocket away from the noise when you’re looking for it. It’s also such a big melting pot of people, if you keep your head up and your eyes open, you can learn something new every time you leave the house. Everyone’s got something you can learn from them. The thing I like the least about Nashville? The potholes. Need I say more?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nmillermusic.com and www.nicspicks.com
- Instagram: @nmillermusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/32HvVypa8q2bJIQOcYzIWS
