There’s nothing conventional about Nicole Millar – and it ain’t a voice or a face that needs introducing. From growing up in Sydney’s south and hanging out with hip hop crews, to becoming one of the most recognisable voices on Australia’s electronic circuit – nothing has been clear cut about Nicole’s break into the dance scene. After picking up a number two spot on Triple J’s Hottest 100 and an ARIA for ‘Best Dance Release’ for"> Peking Duk’s ‘High’, touring the country and pushing out incredible collaborations (sup Cosmos Midnight, Golden Features, Zuri Akoko)– Nicole is now back in the studio and working on an album that is set to shake up expectations.

Izzy took Nicole out to the aquarium in Sydney’s Darling Harbour to get fishy. She talked about her unusual entry into the industry, who inspires her and what it is to transcend popular Australian music. They then went to the Chinese Gardens and drank a whole lotta wine with some majestic lizards – like ladies of leisure do.

Early days and cracking the industry:

I’ve always loved singing in my bedroom by myself. I think when I was 14 I went to a music camp because my friend asked me if I wanted to come along. It ended up being this camp full of little teenagers and we were just hanging around singing karaoke, but I figured out that I really loved it. I was pretty bullied in high school –  it happens to most people I guess [laughs]. I moved to a performing arts school.

When I went to performing arts school I had a friend from Bankstown (Sydney’s west) called Adesua. She had a lot of friends who were rapping and in hip hop crews – I used to go with her to parties and I would be the only white girl there [laughs]. I kept hanging out with hip hoppers – some of them were friends with Israel Cruz, who helped me record some songs.

After a few years and keeping up with making tracks, Cosmos Midnight contacted me through my friend Jack Toohey and then Peking Duk contacted me after that. I owe the internet so much!

When people think ‘pop’ is what you’re all about:

We had 40 song ideas, but then it got cut down to 20 and now 13. We wanna pick singles and maybe do an EP before the album. It’s great, because I don’t produce I get to really be creative with who I choose to make the album with. A lot of people just want to work with the one person.

I’ve been listening to a lot of hip hop and experimental stuff and I love the idea of freestyle music. Sometimes you don’t want to do your general verse, chorus, verse bridge style – although that can be good – but I’m looking forward to getting out of the box a little bit. If you listen to some of Drake’s songs it starts out typically but as it goes on you can’t believe it’s the same song – it’s so diverse within it.

I want do something a little bit different to what a lot of electronic girl singers are doing at the moment. I now kind of want a more RnB feel for this album. I’m completely obsessed with The Weeknd. He can make any lyric as dirty as he likes but it still sounds beautiful. I kind of want to channel that a little bit without getting filthy because that’s not who I am [laughs].

Gettin’…creative:

I think it’s important to write your own lyrics; the whole art of it is to express yourself. Sometimes I do get help – mainly from Alex Burnett from Sparkadia – I’ll write it and he’ll tweak it. Listening to the songs that I have been working on now – some of it is not about me personally. But it’s mainly about sex [laughs], I’m gonna be honest. That’s just what I write about.

And speaking of sex:

It’s an interesting topic. I think society makes us feel like women are meant to look a certain way – especially with social media. I wanted to explore female sexuality. Guys are doing it all the time – but girls are more often writing about the romance and heartbreak of love. I want to explore the female side where the woman has power.

It’s a bit daunting when I’ve written a story about sex and then I walk into the studio and people are like ‘what do you wanna sing about?’ I feel very shy. That’s why the process has taken a little while, you need to be around people you’re comfortable with. I can’t wait to write more songs with topics I feel strongly about. It’s so easy to write about love, but the difficulty is getting deeper.

Nicole has definitely explored this since we spoke to her – making some serious lady waves with producer Zuri Akoko in their latest cover series. Coving 50 Cent, Shlohmo and Mya – the two bring a youthful edginess to some global favourites that shouldn’t be missed.

GRL PWR.

You can catch Nicole playing this weekend at The Basement in Sydney with ol’ mates Kilter, Paces and Set Mo [grab tix here] as part of VIVID Festival and also with the fronds Peking Duk at Splendour in the Grass this year.

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