Canadian singer-songwriter Nicky Lawrence has released Middle, the second single from her upcoming debut album Ugly Black Woman, which is due for release on 18th October.
The funky opening with its heavy beat and RnB tinged percussion sets the scene and provides a smooth backdrop for Lawrence’s delicate vocal. Restrained and with a soulful edge, Lawrence’s vocal draws you in right from the start as she sings “I couldn’t see it coming but you knew all too well. Your secrets and your lies that you refuse to tell…” A track about being at a crossroads within a relationship and not knowing which path to take, whether to leave or stay, Middle relates a powerful tale but is understated in its delivery. More of an RnB edge develops in the percussion as the track progresses, leaning more towards a soulful vibe that really melds well with Lawrence’s voice as she shakes off the shackles and frees the full power of her vocal. The chorus of “Stuck in the middle, I’m I’m, I’m, I’m stuck in the middle. Stuck in the middle, I’m I’m, I’m, I’m stuck in the middle. I don’t know what I’m gonna do, I don’t know what I’m gonna do, I don’t know what I’m, I don’t know what I’m…” is mantra-like but also gut-wrenching when you fully consider the gravity of the story behind the words.
When speaking of Ugly Black Woman, a collection of songs and poems and the release of which will coincide with Black History Month, Lawrence said “Ugly Black Woman is a window into my soul. As Black women we are consistently accused of being angry yet UBW is a beautiful cacophony of sorts conjured up through the dissonance I feel with such a powerful stereotype. It is the depths of my emotional degradation, pain, sorrow, fears and joy. It’s also a way for me to share so closely and relate with other Black women, the suffering and the commonalities of hurt which we share without even necessarily knowing each other personally. This album has become a way of relating to all women no matter race or class.”
The multi-hyphenate (innovator, singer, songwriter, actor, playwright and director) is in talks to bring her production, also entitled Ugly Black Woman, which was performed to sold out audiences at Toronto’s Paradise Theatre in 2022 to the UK. Lawrence has a skill for telling stories, be it in the form of poetry, song lyrics or on the stage, and her mission is to share and shed light upon the experiences faced by herself and other Black women.
Middle is available to stream now. Find out more about Nicky Lawrence here and listen to Middle below.