Biography

"...5 Stars. If you are a photographer, multi-media artist, musician
or songwriter you will appreciate the level of creativity at work in this
album "Under The Moon". You cannot escape the feeling of raw energy mixed
with deep emotions. It's crazy cool...it's crazy good! If pop rock/grunge
music has a voice, then I suppose it should be branded: Nikolitsa."
- Daniel Abioye, MRU Magazine

Nikolitsa and the Comrades is fronted by Nikolitsa Boutieros, a multi-media
artist from New York City. An already acclaimed photographer (who's work has
appeared in Spin.com, Time Out and various galleries), Nikolitsa has
photographed industry icons like Nick Cave, Patti Smith and many others. You
see a vivid, dramatic dance in her photography. Not merely photographs, but
compositions unlike any other. It is this same captivating vision that she
injects into her music with Nikolista and the Comrades.

Nikolitsa has risen above her early life challenges to divert those raw
experiences towards the passion in her music, and the mysticism of her
application to the arts. She has blossomed into one of New York's major
rising talents!

By blending elements of punk, alternative and grunge into her music, she
creates a wave of sound that is big, raw, heavy and melodic while remaining
identifiably hers alone. With grit, savvy and intent, she exudes a peaceful
but energetic aura with her timeless voice that is only embellished by her
amusingly honest lyrics.

One starry skied New York City evening, Nikolitsa found herself wandering
through record stores in New York searching through new and old cd's. She
happened upon an interesting and mysterious album that she ended up bringing
back home with her. That album was called, "Signs of a Vacant Soul" by
Virgos Merlot. Little did she know it at that time, but that record would
have a lasting impact on her as an artist and would help with the direction
of her music in the future.

That record is still with Nikolitsa to this day, both physically and
spiritually. Some years later, after first hearing that album and
then tucking it away, she decided to go back and listen to it again. It
was then that she realized the person who had produced that record (Brett
Hestla), would be the one who could understand her art form and the path in
which she was travelling. He would eventually guide her through the
recording process and inspire her to travel that path towards the next
level.

It took over three years to craft her first recording, "Under the Moon."
Creating the record was both a welcomed personal struggle to continue
growing as an artist, and a joy to see through to it's completion.

During the production of the record, Nikolitsa surrounded herself with
like-minded spirits to perform on stage what she and Brett Hestla had
created in the studio. They began playing around New York calling themselves
the Comrades.

"My main focus is to capture the truest essence of my material with
honesty, integrity and heart," says Nikolitsa. This essential mode is
totally evident during their live shows and is found in it's entirety in
"Under The Moon," their debut recording.

"Nikolitsa & The Comrades debut album "Under The Moon" is darkly intriguing
punk grunge, frank and in-your-face rock "n" roll. Produced by Brett Hestla,
this album features eleven bristling songs penned by the artist. Backed by
some fired-up musicianship, Nikolitsa's distinctive, biting alto is thick
and brooding, and together they create a black-veiled androgynous spectre.
"Hold Me In Love" has a retro-Blondie drive and seduction, and her vocal
dynamics and catchy refrain in "Elephant" sticks with a listener. "Look
Pretty" is down-right cathartic: "Shut your mouth, shut your mouth/Look
pretty/Look pretty, baby/Just look pretty." This recording has glimmers of
Bowie and tons of caffeine-infused energy.
- Janet Goodman, Music News Nashville