KAIROS
The Album
When asked, about the meaning of the word KAIROS Nicole goes on to say that it is the Greek word for “appointed time”, “Everything is coming together at the right time.”
Growing up in a small Holland village, Nicole Bus vividly recalls listening to Sade, Bob Marley, and various gospel artists a la Ron Kenoly alongside her dad. On weekends, she sang in church before eventually picking up a keyboard at ten-years-old and cooking up countless rudimentary beats on 8MB floppy disks.
In high school, a mentor who gave her theater and dance lessons introduced her to Lauryn Hill by way of the artist’s seminal MTV Unplugged performance, and it proved nothing short of lifechanging. “It showed me how to put all of my emotion and passion into music,” she elaborates
KAIROS is a love letter to all her influences a sound track of her youth.
History
Nicole’s first single “You” hinted at the scope of her robust range and the international implications of the sound. A reggae groove simmers beneath jazzy horns as her jaw-dropping delivery takes the spotlight before slipping into a sample of the original instrumental behind WuTang Clan’s classic “C.R.E.A.M.”
It paved the way for her debut album, Kairos, which Nicole co-executive-produced and coproduced along with the legendary Needlz [Bruno Mars, Cardi B] who produced the entire album. With Kairos, Nicole cultivated a fluid, focused, and fiery genre-blurring vision.
The single and album opener “Mr. Big Shot” fuses island-style production with a show-stopping and soulful vocal performance, stretching from vibrant verses into a knockout hook. Elsewhere, Nicole ignites more vocal fireworks on “Love It”—which she also performed on NPR to much praise. Everything culminates on the vulnerable, yet uplifting “Look Up To The Sky.”
At the heart of Nicole’s unique sound is which draws on Rock, Jazz, Funk, Soul and more. Nicole Bus' sound is nostalgic. It's reminiscent of vintage R&B, yet still feels current, and can transcend age and demographics. Check out Kairos’ influences below.
As Long As I Got You
- The Charmeis
On the team we had this amazing songwriter called Rocky. He came up with the idea to take the Wu Tang Clan sample from the song C.R.E.A.M and incorporate it into the track. The moment we flipped the song we know it was going to be something special. Isaac Hayes iii, the son of the late Isaac Hayes agreed and gave us access to more unreleased songs of his late father. We had the honor to release a song that has never ever been released to the public.
On the team we had this amazing songwriter called Rocky. He came up with the idea to take the Wu Tang Clan sample from the song C.R.E.A.M and incorporate it into the track. The moment we flipped the song we know it was going to be something special. Isaac Hayes iii, the son of the late Isaac Hayes agreed and gave us access to more unreleased songs of his late father. We had the honor to release a song that has never ever been released to the public.
Someone That I Used To Love - Bette Midler
This Song is so touching and soothing we all agreed that we needed this beautiful piano piece to strengthen our personal love letter to God.
I Know You Got Soul - Bobby Byrd
These drums are so groovy and strong. I believe Needlz and TL Cross picked the right beat to carry the melodic force that is Unchanging hand.
If Tomorrow Never Comes - The Controllers
I remember when Rocky played Busta Rhymes song that uses the same sample. As a team I could feel that our efforts were paying off again. The composition of this song is so strong and amazing it really carries the load of the lyrics and the composition made sure to let the lyrics come to alive.
I'm Glad You're Mine - Al Green
Mr Al Green’s drums are so amazing, they are subtle, strong and carry the song in to a whole other dimension.
It Ain't Hard To Tell
- Nas
This song is so special to me. Mental health and suicide are taboo subjects. I remember when Rocky and I sat down to write this song, it was a difficult subject to talk about. We want that stigma to end, we want people to start seeing the signs, talk about it and make sure we take care of those that need it. Adding the lyrics from It Ain’t Hard to tell made the message so much stronger.
Cause We've Ended As Lovers - Syreeta
The rain in this sample, the strong guitar melody, the minor construction in the chords, all help set the emotional tone that this song carries. It is s something that this song needed and made the track so much stronger and beautiful because of the major resolution on the end of the chord circle.
It's A New Day
- Skull Snaps
This song was produced by TL Cross, and I have to say I am so happy he choose this drum sample, because it gives a steadiness to one of my favorite songs on the album.
Tom's Diner
- Suzanne Vega
I’ve been told that this song, was the first song ever to be made into a MP3 and thus is called the Mother of MP3s. This makes the song extra cool to me because this songs has a powerful melody but also highlights a moment that forever changed how we consume music in this time.
Wind Parade
- Donald Byrd
The synth repeats this melody combined with the mesmerizing melody of Toms Diner, It’s hypnotic just like the song the original. It was just meant to be.
Ashley's Roachclip - The Soul Searchers
If these drums don’t make you dance, then I don’t know what will. This was the perfect ingredient to lift up the song.
Akiwawa
- Village Crusaders
A lovely groove that fits right where it belongs. The mix off percussion and drums just gives it the boost that we needed to make the message of Mr Big Shot come through.
Isaac Hayes - All Day We Love
This has been an immense honor to receive a composition and arrangement by the great Isaac Hayes that has never been released before. I couldn’t be more touched and proud that Isaac Hayes iii entrusted me to bring this song to the public. I am forever grateful.
SPOTLIGHT TRACK
As Long As I Got You
On the team we had this amazing songwriter called Rocky. He came up with the idea to take the Wu Tang Clan sample from the song C.R.E.A.M and incorporate it into the track. The moment we flipped the song we know it was going to be something special. Isaac Hayes iii, the son of the late Isaac Hayes agreed and gave us access to more unreleased songs of his late father. We had the honor to release a song that has never ever been released to the public.
TIMELINE OF SAMPLE SOURCES
