Nicole Willis

Daniele Nicole E. Willis, aka/fka; Nicole Willis and/or Daniele Willis (1963) is an American visual & sound artist, scriptwriter, singer-songwriter, producer, and director. Willis lives and works in Helsinki, Finland.

Early career
Willis contributed vocals in London, United Kingdom in 1985 with Washington Week in Review. Prior to that she was a member of The Hello Strangers and Blue Period with Spike Priggen, Jean Caffeine and Mark Mulcahy performances at Munson Diner and Danceteria's No Entiendes, based in New York City. Nicole Willis was the lead vocalist of the neo soul group Repercussions. Singles and albums were released on Mo' Wax, Reprise/Warner Records USA, Pony Canyon Japan. The single Promise Me Nothing from the debut album of Repercussions LP Earth and Heaven, peaked at number 6 in the Hot Dance Music, Club Play chart of Billboard magazine on March 18, 1995. Together with Curtis Mayfield, the band recorded a version of Mayfield's Let's Do It Again in which Willis sings a duet with Curtis Mayfield in 1994 released on Reprise/Warner Records. The group also released an album on Pony Canyon Japan, titled Charmed Life in 1997.

Willis has collaborated with Leftfield singing and writing lead vocals for "Swords" on the Rhythm and Stealth LP in 1999 on Hard Hands/Higher Ground/Sony BMG Records, which was also featured on the soundtrack for the film Go released 1999. The LP Rhythm and Stealth received a Platinum Sales Award in the United Kingdom.

Art 2005 - 2014
After moving from Barcelona, Spain to Lahti, Finland with her family, Willis began study at The Institute of Fine Arts at Lahti University of Applied Sciences in 2005. She graduated in 2009. The university has been since replaced by LAB University of Applied Sciences, incorporating campuses in Lahti & Lappeenranta whilst the LAB Institute of Design & Fine Arts incorporates campuses in Lahti (Institute of Design) & Imatra (School of Visual Arts).

Willis collaborated with artist Sophie Calle for her installation Take Care Of Yourself with a performance in time-based media in 2007, which exhibited at the French Pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2007. Willis also contributed vocals to time-based media performance Rinologia of Barcelona-based artist group Los Rinos who are artists Marcel.lí Antúnez, Pau Nubiola and film director, Sergi Caballero. Rinologia was performed at the BEM Festival in Burgos, Spain in March 2007.

Willis contributed 10 jewel cases, painted in acrylic and one musical track, of ten musicians/visual artists musical contribution, Do the Watusi (written by Jimi Tenor, Pete Toikkanen & Nicole Willis) to curator/artist Jaakko Tuomainen's group exhibition Soundtrack for Painting from September 1 to 30, 2012, at the Lahti Modern Art Kiosk, in Lahti, Finland.

Willis had two of her first solo exhibitions of oil paintings, in 2012, first of which were in March 2012 at Galleria Kingi Kongi in Helsinki, Finland and in November 2012 at Pirkko-Liisa Topeliuksen Galleria, also in Helsinki, both titled Gatherings. Willis has contributed a painting to a group exhibition to be shown from July 18 to August 11, 2013, in London, United Kingdom's A Side B Side Gallery, curated by artists Chloe Mortimer & Harry Pye, titled ELVIS: I Love You Because of which the subject is Elvis Presley.

Willis had a solo exhibition at Gallery Emil in Tampere, Finland titled Talking Trash; February 2, 2014 – February 28, 2014.

Puu | Sähkö Recordings - Timmion Records - Herakles Records
On Puu/Sähkö Recordings, Willis released her first solo albums Soul Makeover 2000 and Be It 2003. In 2005 Willis collaborated with the Soul Investigators and released Keep Reachin Up on Helsinki's Timmion Records. The LP Keep Reachin' Up was critically acclaimed. Their song Feeling Free was chosen 2006 Worldwide Winner on the Gilles Peterson's BBC show.

The title track of the album Keep Reachin' Up was chosen by US President Barack Obama, as one of many songs on his Re-Election Campaign Spotify Playlist, in February 2012. The track If This Ain't Love(Don't Know What Is) was placed in the USA TV channel ABC's show Brothers & Sisters in season 2, episode 1 in 2007. The track No One's Gonna Love You was placed in Showtime's Ray Donovan in season 1, episode 3, Twerk in 2013.

Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators released an album, titled Tortured Soul in 2013 on Timmion Records in Finland, France, United Kingdom and other regions in the EU & North America. Tortured Soul received 4 out of 5 stars in a review at Helsingin Sanomat's Nyt magazine. Tortured Soul entered the Official Finnish Music Charts in its first week after release at number 8 in week 7 of 2013.

On May 10, 2013, Willis and Jimi Tenor released album Enigmatic by their project Cola & Jimmu on her new record label Herakles Records, Finland. Cola & Jimmu went on to release a follow-up titled I Give To You My Love & Devotion in 2014. The single Open Up Your Chakra peaked at position 21 in Japan's J-Wave HOT 100 Chart in June 2014.

Timmion Records released the third Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators album titled Happiness in Every Style in October 2015, produced and written by Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators. Happiness in Every Style received 5 out of 5 stars in Helsingin Sanomat. Singles One in Million and Let's Communicate were released in August and October 2015.

Willis announced on April 16, 2017, that she will no longer be collaborating with the instrumental group The Soul Investigators on Facebook.

Persephone Records - Present
Willis released on her new sublabel Persephone Records (Herakles Records) the EP Big Fantasy (For Me) / Tear It Down, a collaboration of Willis, Jimi Tenor and Jonathan Maron (electric bass player) on March 31, 2017.

She announced the release date of her next LP My Name Is Nicole Willis, the second release for Persephone Records as September 29, 2017. The album is a collaboration with UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (credited as UMO Jazz Orchestra), composed of songs written by Willis, guitarist Pete Toikkanen and Jimi Tenor as well as from her catalogue with The Soul Investigators. Ian Svenonius is featured on the prologue as well as epilogue tracks of the album. My Name Is Nicole Willis received a 4 star review in Helsingin Sanomat.

In February 2019, Nicole Willis released an album called My Soul Sensation with a hand picked line up titled Banda Palomita, recorded at Suomenlinna Studios, as well as a digital release of the instrumental album version Banda Palomita's My Soul Sensation.

Willis recorded the first vocal single of the Finnish electronic group Aavikko Space Disco Muysic, written by Willis and the members of Aavikko.

Willis returned to performance art at Hunajanjyvä, Salama ja Maa on October 7, 2023, at Mad House in Helsinki, Finland. Phobos & Deimos Contemplate Reception in 2 acts of dramatic monologue, scripted, voice acted and performed by Willis along with recorded music produced by Willis. The curators of Hunajanjyvä are artists Sadet Kirsimäki and Eero Pulkkinen.

On July 12, 2024, Willis released "My Name Is Nicole Willis, Instrumentals" on Persephone | Herakles sublabel, Goliath Records. The album is available for digital sales and on streaming platforms. The instrumental versions of the album "My Name Is Nicole Willis", by Nicole Willis featuring UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (Persephone Records 2017) was composed by Pete Toikkanen and Nicole Willis, and arranged, composed and scored by Jimi Tenor. Additional instrumental versions of tracks written for the original version album as well as tracks written by Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators from the album "Happiness In Every Style" (Timmion Records 2015) are featured, as well arranged and scored by Jimi Tenor.

The digital release of "Polymer or PARA [Seasoned]" was added to Willis' Spotify profile as the first release (Sampson Records 2022) under the name Daniele Willis. Seasoned, an electronic, neo-classical, city garden music, "Seasoned", to be heard at Pehr Kalm Revival (Jan-Erik Andersson), in part of  "Listen to a mushroom, listen to a bicycle", curated by Galleria Titanik, Turku, Finland (2020).

Education
With study rights for the Open University and to Pursue Non-Graduate Studies at the Department of Film, ELO, at Aalto University, Willis took courses from 2021 to 2023.

Willis graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from her studies at Lahti Institute of Fine Arts, Lahti University of Applied Sciences in Finland, and Erasmus studies at Sir John Cass Department of Art, London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, in 2008 & completed in 2009. Willis' concentration in her studies were Oil Painting, Time-Based Media and Performance with professors Markus Heikkerö, Mika Karhu, Inari Virmakoski & Hyun Joo Min.

Willis graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1980.

Solo Exhibitions

 * 2014: Talking Trash; Oil Paintings, Time – Based Media (Digital Film), Colossal Raggedy Anne (Textiles), Gallery Emil, Tampere, Finland, 28.02 – 02.02.
 * 2012: Gatherings; Oil Paintings, Galleria Pirkko – Liisa Topelius, Helsinki, Finland, 01.12 – 02.11.
 * 2012: Gatherings; Oil Paintings, Galleria Kingi Kongi, Helsinki, Finland, 27.04 – 6.04.

Sound and Performance Art

 * 2023: Hunajanjyvä, Salama ja Maa; at Mad House in Helsinki, Finland 07.10. Phobos & Deimos Contemplate Reception, (Act 1: 6 min 29 sec) & (Act 2: 3 min 22 sec) (dramatic monologue/dialogue) Script, monologue/dialogue recording and music recording, performance, Daniele Willis. Curated by Sadet Hirsimäki & Eero Pulkkinen.
 * 2020: Listen to a mushroom, listen to a bike; music – sound art project in Turku city space; Time – based media (“Seasoned – Six Compositions: 29 min 16 sec”). Recording digitally released, titled Polymer or PARA, Sampson Records, 2022. Turku, Finland, curated by Galleria Titanik, 31.10 – 01.10

Scripts

 * 2024: Iloinenmaa | Happyland, 15 min. Finnish | English. Screenplay for a fiction, short film. Dramaturgy, Additional Writing: Mirkka Kallio.
 * 2023: Phobos & Deimos Contemplate Reception, (Act 1: 6 min 29 sec) & (Act 2: 3 min 22 sec). English. for Hunajanjyvä, Salama ja Maa.

Films

 * 2023: My Friend Keke (2023, Daniele Willis, 4 min. 50 sec) Music Producer, Kalifornia-Keke (Niko Liinamaa) delves into inspiration and purpose as we catch up on lost time. Director, Editor, Grading, Audio Mixer: Daniele Willis, Cinematography, Sound Recording: Miika Ekström.
 * 2023: Atoning for Gen Alpha, Discussions on Religious Pluralism with Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (2023, Daniele Willis, 72 min. 25 sec), discussion with theologian, Professor Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, M.Ed., M.A.,D.Th., at the National Library of Finland in Helsinki. Director, Additional Cinematographer, Editor, Grading, Audio Mixer; Daniele Willis, Director of Photography; Kaapo Kamu.
 * 2022: 1 418 Inhabitants Per Square Kilometre (2022, Daniele Willis, 5 min. 06 sec). Director, Cinematographer, Audio Mixer and Editor; Daniele Willis
 * 2017: Jimi Tenor & Felix Kubin Kontula Electronic (2017, Daniele Willis credited as Nicole Willis, 8 min 15 sec). Documentation by mobile phone camera of the performance of Felix Kubin and festival founder/curator, musician Jimi Tenor at Kontula Electronic at Kontula Shopping Center on April 21, 2017.
 * 2017: Felix Kubin & Jimi Tenor Kontula Electronic (2017, Daniele Willis credited as Nicole Willis, 14 min 4 sec). Documentation by mobile phone camera of the performance of Felix Kubin and festival founder/curator, musician Jimi Tenor at Kontula Electronic at Kontula Shopping Center on April 21, 2017.

Artist Collaborations

 * 2022: About us (refrain to refrain), performance in time – based media | audio visual for artist Jani Ruscica, exhibited with No Dot on the I at Taidehalli, Helsinki, Finland from 30.04 - 29.05.2022.
 * 2020: Between Paths I, of In Transition - Between Paths, sound: W.B Yeats Second Coming, read by Nicole Willis, recorded for a video installation by Juan Kasari.
 * 2007: Take Care of Yourself, performance in time – based media for artist Sophie Calle, exhibited at the French Pavilion, Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy from 10.06 - 21.11.2007.
 * 2007: Rinologia, vocal recorded performance in time – based media for artists Los Rinos, performed at Festival BEM, Burgos, Spain on 03.03.2007

Albums

 * 2024: My Name Is Nicole Willis, Instrumentals – composer, producer (as Nicole Willis, featuring UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Jimi Tenor & Pete Toikkanen), Digital, Goliath Records, Finland
 * 2022: Polymer or PARA [Seasoned] – composer, producer (as Daniele Willis) Digital, Sampson Records, Finland
 * 2019: Banda Palomita's My Soul Sensation – composer, producer, executive producer (as Banda Palomita, Nicole Willis) Digital, Persephone Records, Finland
 * 2019: My Soul Sensation – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer, producer, executive producer (as Nicole Willis & Banda Palomita) LP/Digital, Persephone Records, Finland
 * 2017: My Name Is Nicole Willis – lead vocals & backing vocals, lyrics, composer, producer (as Nicole Willis & UMO Jazz Orchestra) LP/CD/Digital, Persephone Records, Finland
 * 2004: Be It – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer, producer LP/CD, Puu/Sähkö Recordings, Finland
 * 2000: Soul Makeover – lead vocals, lyrics, composer, producer LP/CD, Puu/Sähkö Recordings, Finland

Singles

 * I Call Your Name Smoove Remix (Radio Edit)  / I Call Your Name Smoove Remix (Original) / I Call Your Name Smoove Remix (Instrumental) (Persephone 2019) digital, Nicole Willis & Banda Palomita
 * Reparate (Original) / Reparate (Instrumental) (Persephone 2019) digital, Nicole Willis & Banda Palomita
 * I Call Your Name (Original) / I Call Your Name (Instrumental) (Persephone 2019) digital, Nicole Willis & Banda Palomita
 * An Angel on My Shoulder / And I'll Be Free As A Bird ( Persephone 2018) 7", Crown Of Brahma ft. Nicole Willis
 * Still Got A Way To Fall (Original) (Ronet 2017) 7", Nicole Willis & UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (as a bonus track on the album digital release)
 * Big Fantasy (For Me) / Tear It Down [Radio Edit,  Original,  Instrumental]; both sides (Persephone 2017) 12",  Nicole Willis, Jimi Tenor & Jonathan Maron
 * Say It (A1: Original version, A2: Dharmaone Remix, B1: We Won't Miss a Thing (Nuspirit Remix)) – (Puu/Sähkö 2003) 12"
 * Siesta / Heed The Sign (Siesta A1: Roberto Rodriguez remix, A2: Temple Of Soul NYC remix/Heed The Sign B1: Jimi Tenor remix, B2: GusGus remix) (Puu/Sähkö 2002) 12"
 * Curiosity A1: Candy Apple Remix, A2: Zanzibar Remix, B1: Jimi Tenor Remix, B2: Jan Cooley Remix, B3: HK's Punkhouse Remix (Puu/Sähkö 2001) 12"
 * All The Time (A1: Roberto Rodriguez R&B mix, A2: Jori Hulkkonen House mix, B1: Radio Edit / Album Version, B2: Jimi Tenor Dub feat. Chris Dawkins, B3: Accordion Dept. mix)(Sähkö/Puu 2000) 12", Nicole Willis.

Albums with Cola & Jimmu

 * 2014: I Give To You My Love & Devotion – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer, producer (as Cola & Jimmu) LP/CD/Digital, Herakles Records, Finland
 * 2013: Enigmatic – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer, producer (as Cola & Jimmu) LP/CD/Digital, Herakles Records, Finland

Singles with Cola & Jimmu

 * Open Up Your Chakra [as Cola & Jimmu] digital (Herakles Records 2013)
 * Transcend Our Love [as Cola & Jimmu] digital (Herakles Records 2013)
 * No More Wars [as Cola & Jimmu] digital, (Herakles Records 2013)
 * 369° Grind [as Cola & Jimmu] digital, (Herakles Record 2013)
 * Enigmatic [as Cola & Jimmu] digital, (Herakles Records 2013)
 * Brooklyn Girl [as Cola & Jimmu] digital, (Herakles Records 2013)

Albums with The Soul Investigators

 * 2015: Happiness in Every Style – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer, producer(as Nicole Willis & The Soul investigators) LP/CD/Digital, Timmion Records, Finland
 * 2013: Tortured Soul – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer (as Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators) LP/CD/MC, Timmion Records, Finland (peak FIN #8)
 * 2007: Keep Reachin' Up Remixed – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer (as Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators) LP/CD, Above The Clouds Records, UK
 * 2005: Keep Reachin Up – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer (as Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators) LP/CD/MC, Timmion Records, Finland

Singles with The Soul Investigators

 *  Hot Sauce (Original)/Hot Sauce (Instrumental) – (Timmion Records 2015) – 12"
 * Let's Communicate (Original)/Let's Communicate (Instrumental) – (Timmion Records 2015) – 7"
 * One in a Million (Original)/One in a Million (Instrumental) – (Timmion Records 2015) – 7"
 * Paint Me in a Corner/Where Are You Now – (Timmion Records 2015) – 7"
 * Tell Me When/It's All Because Of You – (Timmion Records 2012) – 7"
 * My Four Leaf Clover/Holdin' On – (Timmion Records 2006) – 7"
 * Feeling Free (Original)/Feeling Free (Instrumental) – (Timmion Records 2006) – 7"
 * Perfect Kind of Love – (Timmion Records 2005) – CDS / 7" (peak FIN #15)
 * If This Ain't Love (Original)/If This Ain't Love (Instrumental) – (Timmion Records 2005) – CDS / 7" (peak FIN #4)
 * You Better Change/Raw Steaks (feat. Jimmy Tenor) – (Sahco Records 2003) – 7"

Collaborations

 * Aavikko ft. Nicole Willis; digital single, Space Disco Muysic (Soit Se Silti 2023) spoken word, author, lead vocals, lyrics/composer, recording.
 * Bosq feat. Nicole Willis; 12" single, Tonight (Ubiquity Records 2018), lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer, recording ,
 * Nicole Willis & UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (credited as UMO Jazz Orchestra); 7" single Haunted by the Devil / (Everybody) Do The Watusi (Persephone Records 2018) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer, producer.
 * Nicole Willis & UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (credited as UMO Jazz Orchestra); 7" single Still Got A Way To Fall (Ronet Records 2017) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer, producer.
 * Nicole Willis, Jimi Tenor & Jonathan Maron; EP Big Fantasy (For Me)/Tear It Down (Persephone Records 2017) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer, instrumentation, producer.
 * Bosq ft. Megan Doherty & Nicole Willis; 12" single Can't Seem To Hide /Take Me There (Ubiquity Records 2017) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer, recording.
 * Bosq ft. Nicole Willis; 12" single Bad For Me (Ubiquity Records, 2015) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer, recording.
 * Nicole Willis, Jimi Tenor featuring Tony Allen/Nicole Willis & Jimi Tenor; 7" single All For You/Touching (Sahco Records 2015) lead vocals, lyrics/composer.
 * Pizzicato One; LP One And Ten Very Sad Songs, on track A Little Bit Of Soap (Universal Music 2011) lead vocals.
 * Jimi Tenor & Abdissa Assefa; LP Itetune; on track Leatheries (Temmi Kongi, 2011) spoken word, author.
 * Shawn Lee; LP Soul in the Hole, on track Jigsaw (Ubiquity Records 2009) lead & backing vocals.
 * The Flexatones Originals; on tracks Fresh & Cause I Want (Fat Belt Records 2007) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer.
 * Mr. Comicstore; 7" single Are You Ready To Party? (Mamushi Records 2006) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer.
 * Nuspirit Helsinki, LP Nuspirit Helsinki; Honest (Guidance Recordings 2002) lead & backing vocals, lyrics/composer.
 * Op:l Bastards; 12" single Funking, a remix of Funking from Nicole Willis and Jimi Tenor. Op:l Bastards single (Form & Function 2001)
 * Jimi Tenor; LP Out Of Nowhere, on tracks Spell & Call Of The Wild. (Warp 2000) lead vocals, lyrics.
 * Leftfield; LP Rhythm and Stealth, on track Swords (Hard Hands/Chrysalis/Sony Music 1999) lead vocals, lyrics/composer.

Albums with Repercussions

 * 1997: Charmed Life – lead & backing vocals, lyrics, composer, producer (Repercussions) CD, Pony Canyon Records, Japan
 * 1995: Earth and Heaven – lead vocals, lyrics, composer, producer (Repercussions) LP/CD, Warner Brothers/Reprise, US

Singles with Repercussions

 * Love, Again (Canyon International 1997), digital
 * Promise Me Nothing (A1: Promise Me Nothing, Masters at Work Mix Remix – Masters at Work, A2: Promise Me Nothing (Bass Hit Dub) Remix – Masters at Work – B1: Promise Me Nothing (Dusk Till Dawn Sampladelic Remix) Remix – DJ Tennessee, Super DJ Dmitry, B2: Promise Me Nothing (H-Man's Old Skool Dub) Remix – Hani, B3: Promise Me Nothing [Album Version]) (Warner/Reprise 1995) 12"
 * Let's Do It Again with Curtis Mayfield (A1: Let's Do It Again (Edit) B2: Let's Do It Again [Album Version]) (Reprise/Warner 1994) CD Single, Promo, 12" Single, Promo
 * Promise/Field Trippin' (Mo' Wax 1992) 12"

Music videos

 * One In A Million (as Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators) Aleksi Raij: director 2015
 * Earthly Delights (as Cola & Jimmu) Cola & Jimmu: director 2014
 * Open Up Your Chakra (as Cola & Jimmu) Cola & Jimmu: director 2014
 * Transcend Our Love (as Cola & Jimmu) Cola & Jimmu: director 2014
 * No More Wars (as Cola & Jimmu) Cola & Jimmu: director 2014
 * 369° Grind (as Cola & Jimmu) Nicole Willis: director 2013
 * Enigmatic (as Cola & Jimmu) Jimi Tenor: director 2013
 * Brooklyn Girl (as Cola & Jimmu) Jimi Tenor: director 2013
 * Time To Get Business Straight (as Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators) Tony Sheng: director 2013
 * Break Free (Shake a Tail Feather) (as Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators) Tony Sheng: director 2013
 * If This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is) (as Nicole Willis & the Soul Investigators) Vincent Scotet: director 2007
 * Let's Do It Again (as Curtis Mayfield & Repercussions) 1994
 * Make No Mistake (as an extra; Keith Richards) 1988
 * Keep On Movin (as an extra; Soul II Soul) 1988
 * Happy Ever After (as an extra; Julia Fordham) 1988
 * Rock Box (as an extra; RUN-DMC) 1984