Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Stringfield.
Hi Nikki, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised about 30 minutes south of downtown Dallas in the small town of Red Oak, TX. I always had a passion for music, and I fell in love with playing guitar when I was 14. It consumed my life outside of school, and later I attended the University of Texas in Austin to major in Radio/TV/Film with a minor in business when I was 18. I hoped to finally find musicians to perform with there since I had nobody in my small hometown, but I still was stuck playing alone in my bedroom. I started making YouTube cover videos while the platform was still relatively new, and I was one of the first female guitarists really taking advantage of it. I finished my last semester of college in Los Angeles and interned at Warner Brothers Music. I decided if I was ever going to find a band, this would be the place. Within a month, I got a job at my favorite guitar company, Schecter Guitars, and joined two different bands; an original metal band called “Before the Mourning,” and the all female tribute band to Iron Maiden, “The Iron Maidens.” My life was completely changed during that semester, and I networked as much as possible getting to know the musicians and completely different lifestyle of Los Angeles. I went from the shy, quiet girl in the classroom to playing on stages across the country and later, around the world.
I’ve now been playing professionally for 13 years, and in addition to still performing with The Iron Maidens, I now front my own project/band as the singer/lead guitarist; I have an acoustic duo with my husband, Patrick Kennison; and together we both have a rock band called Heaven Below. We definitely stay busy! Because we tour so often, Patrick and I moved back to the Dallas area (Waxahachie) to be closer to family while we’re home from the road. It’s been exciting to find new venues around the DFW area while we dive back into the local music scene.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think being a musician is one of the most challenging paths you could take. The uncertainty, the instability, the grueling travel schedules, being away from family.. it’s hard. However, it’s also one of the most rewarding careers I think. When you see people smiling and singing along, or you see people wearing your shirts and hear how much your lyrics mean to them.. it makes all the struggle worth it.
I had to grow a thick skin to not let all the negative comments get to me. It was really hard to deal with at first, especially when a lot of the comments were against me playing guitar simply because I’m a girl. I moved across the country to pursue my dream to a place that was so polar opposite of where I had lived and where I didn’t know a single person. I was finishing my last semester of college; had an internship; worked a job; I was in two bands and had to learn two full sets of songs within a month or two all during this same time period. I feel like since I got through the stress of all of that, I can get through anything.
Also, having your own band is the same as running a business. There’s been a lot of trial and error, but we love being in total control with no label. We print and mail out our own merch, produce/record our own music, and my husband and I ran an entire acoustic tour on our own earlier this year.. just the two of us. We learned a lot!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a rock/metal guitarist. I also sing/front my own solo band/project and I’ve released an EP called Harmonies For The Haunted; a full length album called Apocrypha.
I’ve toured across the world with the world’s only female tribute band to Iron Maiden, “The Iron Maidens,” for 13 years now.
I’m in a rock band with my husband called “Heaven Below.” We just released an album called “The Majestic Twelve” and plan on touring with it next year.
My husband and I also perform as an acoustic duo which started as viral videos of songs that aren’t usually acoustic. We toured and opened for guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman earlier this year, and we usually perform at Hard Rock Cafes and other similar venues,
I’ve been featured in Guitar World Magazine, Guitar Girl Magazine, and more. I have 2 signature guitars from Schecter Guitars that I helped design. In the past few years with these different bands/projects I’ve opened for rock legends such as Zakk Wylde’s Zakk Sabbath, John 5, Accept, and many more.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I think one of my favorite memories would be when I was 13 and I accidentally won tickets to see one of my favorite bands . My mom took me, and we had pit tickets so I was standing super close to the stage getting to see one of my idols, Amy Lee from Evanescence. I think that changed my life and really made me want to be up on stage,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nikki-stringfield.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_stringfield/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xNikki.Stringfieldx/
- Twitter: https://x.com/nikki_shreds
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NikkiStringfield
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Akc6n4EOh6Zq9ppbtvBDa?si=sC9rW1ZJQpmj7JCzeP5PNw
Image Credits
Thomas Coffman
Lyndsey Prentice
Adam Hendershott
Joe Schaeffer
Christian and Iris Buhrer
