Press

• “Nakia is the real deal y’all, he’s got some serious soul… And that’s what Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are all about… Soul.”
Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

• “…Nakia’s full- throated, gritty howl that lights this fire. Someday, Nakia’s vocal chops are going to be front and center as part of the next great supergroup to come out of Austin (a la the Arc Angels or Storyville). But until then, this one-name solo artist is doing just fine with a little help from his friends.”
Texas Music Magazine

• “I absolutely love Nakia’s Water To Wine, I love the singing, the songwriting and most importantly, the soul. His talent shines.”
Michelle Shocked

• “The debut full-length from Nakia proves the Appalachian-born belter one of Austin’s most talented singers.”
Austin Chronicle

• “Thousands of Austinites might best recognize Nakia as the unassuming fellow pulled on-stage for a dance with soul diva Sharon Jones at the Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008. She’s not the first genre devotee to see something special in Nakia….Nakia’s rich voice and lyrics that lay bare the record’s themes of discrimination, love, loss and spirituality. “On the Bus” features an Otis Redding whistle, while “There Goes the Neighborhood” is a dizzyingly brilliant array of instrumentation and insightful lyricism. The slightly bitter “Elizabeth Lee” and “Outta My Head,” meanwhile, are frustrated odes to a lost love in the best tradition of Southern blues.”
Austin-American Statesman

• “His live performances are akin to a religious experience. With his first full-length release, Water To Wine, Nakia captures his trademark soulful, spiritual sound. It’s a big, theatrical voice, and an execution that’s Southern gospel with more than a hint of Joe Cocker.”
Texas Music Magazine

• “Soul music. With its categories and subcategories ““ from northern and neo to country and deep ““ it can be a tough concept to pin down. You might want to rely on a variation of that classic method for identifying porn: you know it when you hear it… On the first half of this assured debut, Alabama-raised and Austin-based Nakia echoes various definitions of soul from over the years, some irrefutable and some fringe… I heard it. I know it.”
No Depression

• “Southern soul is a special thing. Alternatively inspirational and sinful, it is always engaging. Exhibit A is Austin soulman Nakia’s debut release. The Austin soulman book-ends his debut full release with “Choose Your Poison,” a down and dirty ode to guilty pleasures and “Safe Inside” a gospel ballad. In between are eight tracks that showcase the breadth of Nakia’s talent.”
Twangville!

• “I receive dozens of recordings from aspiring Austin musicians; Nakia’s submissions have always stood out from the pack. I am excited that his debut album is coming out so that all can hear his magic. He’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeve.”
Jody Denberg, Program Director/KGSR

• “…it is truly hard to top the beauty and fortitude of Nakia’s Southern soul music.”
Honest Tune Magazine

• “Austin-based Nakia projects a bold, brassy presence his first time out with a striking set of Texas-bred rhythm ‘n’ blues.” Performing Songwriter Magazine

• “With his soulful vocals and rich instrumentation, Nakia stood out among the hundreds of demos we receive each week at XM SATELLiTE RADiO. “Down In A Pinch” was a perfect fit for The Radar Report, so we featured his music in “The Futures” section–a set of emerging artists who we think has what it takes. Nakia certainly does.”
Josiah, XMU XM-43, XM SATELLiTE RADiO

• “You can’t fake soul, and, on his debut release, Playing The Cards, Nakia proves that he’s the real deal.”
Singer & Musician Magazine

•”In a small room off the beaten path at this year’s SXSW I found a big voice. Austin singer-songwriter Nakia took possession of the room that night, his rich and brawny voice shifting effortlessly from a soulful ballad to a R&B rave-up. Ably backed by his top-notch band the Southern Cousins, it was a highlight of the conference.”
Mayer Danzig – Twangville!

• “Unrestrained vocals delivered with soulful conviction…Austin’s best kept secret.” The Blues Hound 90.1 FM KPFT

• “It only took one listen for me to rank Nakia in the upper echelons of Austin vocalists! And he’s got a solid group of veteran musicians to back him up. When I played “Down in a Pinch,” I got an immediate response from listeners. One spin generated requests for days! So I had to play it some more.” –
Loris Lowe, Music Director/KLBJ

• “Seeing Nakia perform was the one true unexpected gem for me this year at South By Southwest. Soulful, passionate energy mixed with great songs make Nakia a name everyone needs to know.”
Rob Bleetstein, Radioio.com

• “Knocked everyone out. Heard lots of positive feedback. No one saw him coming – but they can’t forget Nakia now.” -
Ed Bailey, KLRU/Austin City Limits

• “Nakia will hook you from the first listen. With upbeat, bold sounds to energizing lyrics; Nakia may not be a name you have heard of before, but after a few minutes, it makes you wonder why you haven’t.”
Atlantis Music Conference 2007 Listening Committee

• “Big and Bold, Upbeat and Fun, Nakia’s debut is one of the best I’ve heard in long time!”
Bryan Beck, Morning Show Host/KGSR

• “Got the disc and very much enjoy it. – “˜Down in a Pinch’… that’s a winner.”
David Brown, Texas Music Matters/KUT

• “Playing the Cards” chosen as a Texas Top Ten of 2007 by the Austin Chronicle’s, Margaret Moser

• Voted one of the 10 Best New Bands In Austin – 2007-2008 Austin Music Awards

• Mayor Of Austin Proclaimed February 15, 2007, “Nakia Day” In Austin, TX

• Winner – KGSR/Apple Computer Give A MacBook To A Musician

• Selected As A ME Television Emerging Artist And Awarded Four HD Camera Concert Video Shoot

• Selected Four Times As A Performer For The John Lennon Songwriting Contest Educational Tour Bus

• Siren Song Magazine 2004 Male Artist Of The Year