It has been 12 months since Nicole Craig stepped into the spotlight to celebrate the launch of her deeply personal debut album *How I Got Here* — a project that consumed five years of her life, every stitch stitched from raw, lived experience. Looking back, the independent singer-songwriter admits she let anxiety steal much of the joy of that big night.
On launch evening, surrounded by a room full of cheering supporters, Craig found herself stuck cycling through a mental list of potential missteps instead of savoring the milestone. She even forgot to eat dinner that night, a small detail that sums up the overwhelming pressure she felt in the moment. “It was a big moment for me, and all the logistics and possibilities of what could go wrong plagued me,” she recalled in a recent interview. “I wish I had soaked it in a lot more.”
A year of distance has given Craig the space to breathe and reflect on what the album actually means to her, and what it has meant for the listeners who connected with it. Today, the album is out in the world, heard by thousands of fans, and its emotional resonance has exceeded even her quietest hopes. For Craig, the greatest win wasn’t chart positions or viral streams — it was finishing what she started, and pushing past the crippling fear of judgment that held her back for years.
“I spent way too much time in the past concerned about what if people hate it? What if people judge me?” she said. “I’m proud of myself for putting it out there regardless. What matters most is if I love what I created.”
That fear was not unfounded. The five-year journey to release *How I Got Here* was littered with obstacles common to independent artists: repeated production delays, funding gaps, scheduling conflicts that pushed the launch back again and again. What most listeners didn’t know while streaming the record was that Craig planned and executed the entire album rollout while pregnant. Determined not to let her transition into motherhood delay the project for another one to two years, Craig turned finishing the album into a testament to moving into life’s next chapter on her own timeline.
“Finishing what I started was now more than just about healing or facing fears as an artist, but it also became about moving into a brand new phase of life and wanting to be ready to tell new stories about it,” she explained. “Was it tough doing this while pregnant? Yes, there were many unexpected logistics that had to be considered that my team and I did not account for, but we were determined to follow through.”
True to form, Craig refused to compromise her artistic vision for commercial appeal. The record is a genre-blending work that incorporates Kriol, drawing entirely from her personal experience rather than chasing current industry trends. It’s a risky choice for any new artist aiming to grow their audience, but it’s one that Craig says was non-negotiable. “I didn’t choose a sound or topic because it was trending, or what the people dig listen to right now,” she said. “I did what felt right to me. That’s a tough choice to make when getting new listeners is a major goal of releasing a project.”
That gamble paid off in the way that matters most to Craig: fans reached out in droves to tell her that her music made them feel seen. Messages poured in from listeners who connected with the record’s themes of relationship heartbreak, self-discovery, and the search for authentic love — universal experiences that Craig did not expect to resonate so widely. “It was heartwarming to get so many messages from people who felt a real connection to the topic and the lyrics,” she said. “I learned how many people felt seen or heard and genuinely appreciated that I created this music.”
While Craig’s core opinion of the album’s tracks hasn’t shifted over the past year, her relationship to the music has transformed, as life and personal growth have given her new perspective. “I wouldn’t say my views of the songs have changed, but I can say I’ve seen how much I’ve grown,” she explained. “There are certain things I sang about that I wouldn’t do or accept today. I do see how life experiences shape you, and I’m glad that I gained confidence and self worth in the process.”
When asked which track holds the most meaning for her today, Craig answers without hesitation: *Rest of My Life*, a track that perfectly mirrors where she stands now. “I’m just in a really happy place in my life. I’m focused on moving forward, peace, happiness and living a beautiful, full life,” she said. “That song genuinely makes me happy, and so far, it feels like the best song I’ve ever written. I’m really proud of it. I am dying to perform it with J.Cas again.”
In the 12 months since release, *How I Got Here* has taken on a life of its own: it’s landed in the DMs of Craig’s new fans, earned regular radio play, secured a spot in the Channel 5 Christmas TV special *Nicole and Friends at Christmas*, and finally made it to the stage, where Craig performed her original music live for the first time in her career.
Now, Craig is slowly returning to the studio to work on new material, drawing fresh inspiration from her new role as a mother. She’s currently crafting an upcoming holiday project filled with original songs, and says that motherhood will be a central theme of her next chapter of work. “As always, I sing about life, and so I’m sure many people will be able to relate to what’s coming too,” she said.
But Craig is far from done sharing *How I Got Here* with the world. Even as she works on new music, she plans to keep showcasing the debut album for new listeners, and is eager to return to the stage to perform it for live audiences. “I know there are so many people who haven’t heard my music or didn’t see the album showcase,” she said. “Even though I’m working on new music, I will continue shining a light on *How I Got Here* to keep introducing it to new people who haven’t had the chance to hear it. I’m ready to start performing again!”
Fans will get their first chance to see Craig perform the album live this September, when she takes the stage on the 3rd, 4th, and 6th as part of the Francis Reneau Concert Series at the Bliss.