Nikka Costa: can’tneverdidnothin’

By David Diehl

After recently releasing her new album, can'tneverdidnothin', and touring with Lenny Kravitz, Virgin Records funk-rock recording artist Nikka Costa is making a distinguishable name for herself within the United States.

The daughter of Sinatra-famed producer Don Costa, Nikka has branded her own sound in the world of pop music with aggressive lyrics and sultry style. A seasoned superstar outside of North America, Shine spoke to this fiery diva that's ready to take the rest of the world by storm...

Shine: Well, I've been wondering what your phone voice was going to sound like, and it's met all my expectations…

Nikka Costa: [laughing]

Shine: What kind of voice gets you going?

Nikka Costa: I like a raspy voice.

Shine: A raspy voice? Is mine doing it for you?

Nikka Costa: [laughing] Oh yeah baby!

Shine: So you've just toured with Lenny Kravitz. How did you two hook up?

Nikka Costa: Well we've had mutual friends for the last few years. We met a long time ago quickly, because we're on the same label. So we kind of ran into each other, but I've been friends with his guitarist, Craig, for a long time. At the end of the record we were like would Lenny want to play drums. And he was like, 'Yeah, he loves playing drums and no one ever asks him to play drums.' So I was like, 'Oh, I'm gonna ask him.' So I called him and he was totally down. He came to the studio and played on a couple songs and it was great. We had a great time. So from that we were instant friends and it just so happened that he was going on tour. And my record was just about to come out so we hooked up the tour.

Shine: So how was the tour?

Nikka Costa: It went for two months. Started in April. And it was great. We went all the way across America and back, and did a couple dates in Canada. It was awesome. I've always wanted to tour with him because I think musically we're a good combination, you know. And I'm actually joining him in Europe in July.

Shine: What was the craziest part of the tour?

Nikka Costa: The craziest part of the tour was always the days off. [laughs] We'd go out and party.

Shine: What was the inspiration behind your new record can'tneverdidnothin'?

Nikka Costa: I wanted to make a record this time around that reflected my live stuff a little bit more...less heavy production. More kind of live vibe. That was where we wanted to take it. We wanted to make it a bit more raw and a bit more 'in your face.'

Shine: You were quoted as saying that this album is "a little more f*ck you." What did you mean by that?

Nikka Costa: [laughs] Yes, becoming more and more fuck you. It's a big progress.

Shine: You worked with Prince, how did that come about and what was that like?

Nikka Costa: We met years ago. We met when I was touring, Everybody's Got Their Something. He reached out via the internet. And we just hit it off and every now and again he'll email and ask me to either write with him or he asked me to sing at one of his shows. I didn't know that he was performing "Push & Pull" (by Nikka Costa) at his concerts. So we sang it and it became his DVD. He's been amazingly supportive and generous.

Shine: Is there anybody specific that you'd like to work with in the future?

Nikka Costa: Yeah I'd like to work with Jimmy Page. I'd like to do something with George Clinton who I just met the other day. He's crazy. I think it'd be cool to do a duet with Chris Cornell (Audioslave).

Shine: There is a butterfly on the new album cover, what's the symbolism of that? Is there any?

Nikka Costa: I always get associated with butterflies, and I think that every album you're being reborn in a way.

Shine: How did you get into funk-rock?

Nikka Costa: I have always liked both kinds of music. When I started buying my own records I was really into Rufus and Chaka Khan and then I was really into Led Zeppelin. It just went back and forth, like Beatles, Aretha Franklin, you know, Stevie Wonder, AC/DC. I was always mixing it up. So when I started forming my own songs, I just wanted to find a way to make the two meet.

Shine: Well, I'm a huge funk-rock fan, so besides Prince, Lenny Kravitz, and Nikka Costa, who's the greatest funk-rock legend?

Nikka Costa: Well, I think Sly and The Family Stone are…they're not super heavy like rock, but they have that kind of rebellious, rock spirit and they're really raw like that.

Shine: Already a Mega-Star overseas, is this the year that you take over the United States?

Nikka Costa: Oh, one person at a time. We can only hope.

Shine: What's your motto for the summer?

Nikka Costa: 'Can'tneverdidnothin!' [laughs] To be a total dork, but it's so where I'm at right now.

Shine: Okay, last question: I've heard that on tour you've been signing a lot of body parts. If I run into you this summer and ask you to sign my ass, would you oblige?

Nikka Costa: [laughs] Hell Yeah!