Nikka Costa American funk soul singer, composer and actress Date of Birth: 04.06.1972 Country: USA

1. Biography of Nikka Costa
2. Early Career
3. International Success
4. Exploring Musical Styles
5. Recognition and Recent Career

Biography of Nikka Costa

American funk-soul singer, composer, and actress Nikka Costa was born on June 4, 1972, in Tokyo, Japan. She grew up surrounded by music as her father, Don Costa, was a producer and musician with connections in the music industry. Famous musicians would often visit their home, and due to her father's profession, Nikka traveled with him around the world.

Early Career

Nikka Costa's singing career began at a very early age. At the age of five, she recorded a single with Hawaiian singer Don Ho, and at nine, she performed on the lawn of the White House alongside Frank Sinatra. In 1981, Nikka started her solo career by recording the song "(Out Here) On My Own" from the musical "Fame" in Italy. The song topped the charts for 14 weeks, became a number one hit in France for five weeks, and appeared on the charts in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

International Success

Following her initial success, Nikka Costa released her first album outside the United States, simply titled "Nikka Costa." The release reached number one in Europe and South America, leading Nikka to embark on a worldwide tour. In 1983, her second album, "Fairy tales," was released, but shortly after recording, her father Don Costa passed away from a heart attack. Despite personal loss, Nikka decided to continue her music career, and the pop songs from her third album, "Here I am," released in 1989, made it onto some European charts.

Exploring Musical Styles

Throughout her career, Nikka Costa struggled to define her own musical style, even as a veteran in the music industry. Since finishing high school, she began experimenting with music, composing her own songs, and constantly listening to artists from Motown. During this period of exploration and personal growth, she married Australian producer and musician Justin Stanley. She formed her first band, "Little Mona & The Shag Daddies," playing "happy funk," but the group disbanded after four concerts in Sydney. In 1994, she formed a new band, "Sugarbone," which successfully toured and signed a contract with the Australian label "Mushroom."

Recognition and Recent Career

In 1996, Nikka Costa released the album "Butterfly Rocket," earning her a nomination for the "ARIA Music Awards" in the categories of "Best Breakthrough" in 1996 and "Best Female Artist" in 1997. Her song "Like A Feather" was used in a promotional campaign for iconic American designer Tommy Hilfiger, further advancing her music career in the United States. In 2005, her album "Everybody Got Their Something" was released, followed by her appearance in the sitcom "Courting Alex" in 2006, alongside actress Jenna Elfman and her husband Justin Stanley.

Nikka Costa's most recent studio album, "Pebble to a Pearl," was released on October 14, 2008.