Nekita Waller, a singer from Middletown, is Connecticut’s 17th state troubadour, and the first not to perform music that’s loosely thought of as folk.
“I’m definitely non-folk,” Waller says. “I would consider myself a soul/pop/R&B singer.”
Waller, a versatile singer, is also the first African-American solo artist to take on the role. Synia Carroll-McQuillan was appointed in 1998, along Jeff McQuillan, her husband and musical partner. Waller begins her term on Aug. 1 and succeeds Kate Callahan, who took the spot in 2016.
Waller initially applied for the role “because I am in the arts and always looking for different opportunities. I came across this as something I could compete for.”
“Traditionally this position is held by a folk singer, but Nekita brings a new dimension to the position with a strong background in soul and pop,” CT Office of the Arts Executive Director Kristina Newman-Scott says in a press release.
“We are just thrilled to have Nekita representing Connecticut. With a fresh vision, authentic heart, and her compelling message that Connecticut is ‘a state that I believe in’ we know she’ll serve us well.”
Newman-Scott’s statement references Waller’s “Connecticut Anthem,” a video uploaded to YouTube on March 28, shot at various locations around the state.
“You can love it or leave it,” Waller sings on the song’s chorus, “But it’s the state that I believe in / I’m proud to say / that I’m Connecticut-born and Connecticut-raised.”
The song, which Waller dedicated to the memory of her father, who passed away in March, was recorded at Horizon Studios in New Haven by Vic Steffens.
“With everything that was going on, that song brought me back from the present to the future,” Waller says. “I tried to dig deep into my memories. I just wanted to shed some light on my upbringing. It just popped up with everything that was happening with my father.”
During the review process, the Connecticut Office of the Arts received 14 applications, according to Department of Economic and Community Development spokesperson James Watson.
Applicants were evaluated based on seven criteria, including “quality of musicianship in singing and songwriting,” “merit of the body of the musician’s work,” “experience with diverse audiences” and other factors.
The 2018 selection panel included Callahan, former State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch and John Dankosky, executive editor of the New England News Collaborative.
The panel submitted its recommendation to the Arts Council on May 31. One week ago, Waller learned that she won.
“I’ve been waiting since April,” Waller says. “They were unsure if they were going to make it a two- or three-year term. They had to wait for the budget to pass.”
Along with the appointment, Waller will be awarded a $2,500 stipend per year.
In her new role, Waller wants to “get the word out that the position is open to everyone, not just the folk singers… If you’re a Grateful Deadhead, why not enter?”
“Music can actually bridge the gap and bring us closer together,” Waller says.
Waller plans to visit schools, to “bridge the gap with the students, to give them opportunities.”
“If they can write a poem and work together with someone else to make it a song,” Waller says, “there are so many ways to make music. A young choir can apply for this position.”
