Nikki Lemire spins her life around her music, making space to perform in multiple fields and genres. Her songwriting features her expressive vocals over layered and hypnotic accompaniment. She dives deep into moving themes surrounding motherhood, love and loss. 

Employing modern harp techniques, loop and electric pedals, her songs sit somewhere between the old folk bedrock of Joan Baez, the musical innovation of Joni Mitchell, and the influential pop stylings of Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. Nikki artfully shapes the music to her words, creating a sound that refuses to adhere to any one particular genre, somehow feeling old and new at the same time.

Nikki performs as a solo artist and with her four piece all-female band of fiddle, upright bass and hand drums weaving intricate textures and harmonies within her luscious soundscape. 

As featured on Smouse in the House for Adventures in Americana, Nikki reflects on her musical roots and the legacy passed down through her family. She shares how music has become a thread connecting generations — from her own childhood to her children today — and how performing and storytelling remain central to her connection with community and family.

Sacred Heart Music Center Duluth, MN October 2024

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Recording Artist and Collaborator

An accomplished harpist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist, Nikki Lemire has performed and recorded with award-winning songwriters Molly Maher, Sarah Morris, Matthew French, Emily Haavik, Charlie Parr, and Taylor James Donksey. She has also collaborated with multiple bands including The International Treasures (Midwest Country Music Song of the Year Nominee), The Josh Cleveland Band (The Voice), The Twins of Franklin, The Foxgloves (MCMO Americana Artist of the Year Nominee), and Katy Tessman and the Turnbuckles resulting in a catalogue of music that brings the pedal harp to unusual unexpected genres of Bluegrass, Pop and Folk. 

[Mend It] is a dreamy, simple, and beautiful song led by the sounds of her harp.”

Natalia Toledo, The Current

Nikki Lemire’s delicate and silky smooth voice pairs perfectly with the harp. Her solo songs warmed up the Aster Cafe last night while building a new appreciation for the harp.” - Tom Smouse

— Smouse in the House