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By Eldridge “Big Cat” Tolefree

In her sophomore album, The Art of Letting Go, Tamika Nicole opens her journal and takes us on an exploration of her life and lessons learned. Known in the Bay Area for her raw, gritty sound, high-octane live shows and versatility, Tamika shows that during the seven years since her first release, she’s grown as an artist and person. She wrote and produced all of the songs on the album, which includes everything from blues and funk to rock and jazz.
    Tamika released her debut project seven years ago when she sashayed on the scene with My Message. The album’s soulful, jazzy sound introduced Tamika to an international audience. The first project only had five songs. Tamika was testing the market to see if anyone was feeling what she had to say, and the response was overwhelming.
    Born and raised in Oakland, it wasn’t until after Tamika finished college that she began to develop her gift as a vocalist. The longtime educator holds a master’s degree in education administration, and she has worked to balance her jobs in corporations and classrooms with performances, auditions and recording sessions.
    Her theater credits include the 2007 productions of “Hair” and “The Wizard of Oz.” She has performed at San Francisco Grammy events and at fundraisers for Terri Vaughn’s Girls Inc. Foundation.
   “To be able to write songs that will hopefully touch people and make them think is why I wake up in the middle of the night and write in my journal,” said Tamika Nicole. “It’s a realization of a dream for me.”

Send your comments to Big Cat at insidebuzz@yahoo.com.