Nicole Nicolalde often lets herself fall into rhythm, jamming along to karaoke songs or rehearsing a salsa performance in her kitchen. For her, salsa is not only a rich mixture of Latin music, but also a catalyst for fusion.
Nicolalde is a first-generation Ecuadorian singer born in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood and an up-and-coming artist who fuses classic Latin music with modern sounds.
Her path to the stage began when she and her band took first place in this year’s Biggest Mouth Contest held at Columbia University Chicago. The band competed against 12 other artists for a chance to win cash prizes, a performance at the Manifesto Arts Festival, and press in local publications.
Since then, Nicolalde has been entertaining audiences through lively concerts, most recently held on September 26th at House Caliber.
Nicolalde’s family are also musicians, and she said they always nurtured her musical talent. They embraced Spanish performance and Ecuadorian culture. Although Spanish is her native language, she felt uncomfortable singing in Spanish in a predominantly English-speaking audience.
As Nicolalde explored different musical styles, including musical theater, she said she became more comfortable singing in Spanish.
“I felt like I wasn’t Ecuadorian enough and I wasn’t American enough,” she said. “As I got older, I realized that’s what’s unique about this movie: It’s my own, and it’s something new.”
Nicolalde established his own musical identity and formed his own band while attending Columbia University Chicago. The other eight members, whom she met in college, play a variety of instruments, from bongos and bass guitar to saxophone and trombone. Spanish is now integral to their performances, as the band performs songs in both English and Spanish.
“Spanish lyricism is on a whole different level,” Nicolalde said. “It’s more expressive, poetic and beautiful than English. That’s why I fell in love with it, and especially artists like La India and Selena are the main ones I admire.”
Salsa is central to Nicolalde’s musical style, and she incorporates contemporary artists like Rosalía and Kali Uchis into covers of songs by older musicians like Celia Cruz.
The financial cost of forming large bands and nostalgia for classic salsa are preventing salsa from “growing up” in a changing music scene, she said. Nicolalde aims to revive the genre in a way that maintains its original essence while keeping pace with the times.
“What we want to do is honor our roots, because roots are so important,” Nicolalde said. “We also want it to be something new and fresh. That’s the beauty of art. You can do whatever you want with it.”
Nicolalde and her band enjoy playing everything from disco medleys of Jackson Five songs and Selena songs to songs by Argentine singer Naci Peluso. Her recent concert featured a Latin jazz number and a remix of Spanish singer Rosalía’s song “Despecha,” created by one of her bandmates. This remix incorporates meringue into the song’s mambo pop style.
Singer Nicole Nicolade dances center stage during a concert at House Caliber in Chicago on September 26, 2024. She and her Latin fusion band choreograph their own dance performances. (Photo provided by Lauren Rose)
Another influential part of Nicolalde’s approach to music production is welcoming non-Spanish speaking Latinx people to her performances. She encourages kids to enjoy the songs and not be ashamed of not speaking the language. She says the “no sabo kid” metaphor, which pokes fun at Latinos who don’t speak Spanish fluently, can make them “feel alienated.”
“One of the things I like to do with my music is be intentional about what’s going on vocally and instrumentally,” she said. “Two people come together and tell a story at the end. If we’re doing our job right, it doesn’t matter what language we’re singing it in…just feel it and tell the story in your own way.” You can interpret it as you wish.”
Nicoledo uses both song and dance to tell stories on stage. She often choreographs her own salsa dances with her bandmates, incorporating Ariana Grande’s choreography, she said. She loves the “soulful” nature of salsa music and has a natural inclination to move and dance.
“It’s like the music is telling me what to do in that moment,” Nicolalde said. “I improvise with the audience…and do dance breaks when everyone (bandmates) are doing their solos. That’s the perfect time to do it and go crazy.”
She also uses her background in musical theater to express the stories behind the lyrics of her songs. She said her first and upcoming original song, a salsa song called “Again,” was heavily influenced by these plays.
Although it is still in production, Nicolalde said the theme revolves around love and anxiety as one moves into love.
Nicolalde’s band has only been together for a year, but she has big dreams for the future and plans to try her hand at songwriting.
Singer Nicole Nicolde (bottom center) poses with her bandmates at House Caliber in Chicago on September 26, 2024. Their goal is to combine classic Latin music with modern sounds. (Photo provided by Lauren Rose)
Recognition is just part of the fulfillment she gets from making music. Her greatest motivation comes from the joy of creating art. Her goal is to travel abroad and share her salsa fusion with “anyone and everyone,” she said.
Nicolalde encourages other aspiring Latinx artists to incorporate their cultural heritage into their music. Networking with other Latinx artists, learning about their experiences and fostering a non-competitive community are some of the many benefits of being a musician in Chicago, she said.
Through musical storytelling, Nicolalde hopes to inspire a new generation of artists and fans while elevating traditional Latin music to new heights. Her goal is to bridge the past and present and invite others to dance with her.
