First off, why don't you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
My name is Nikki Cleary. I'm 15. I'm signed to Jive Records, and my debut album is called Nikki Cleary - self titled.
If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
Happy, fun, and hyper. Maybe. [laughs a little]
Is music something that you always wanted to do?
Yeah. If not music, I always wanted to be in front of people performing. I also did a lot of musicals in school, but I was always singing.
If you weren't in the entertainment business, what would you be doing?
I don't know. I kind of like doing hair and stuff, so maybe I'd like to do hair for people who work like me.
What are some of your long-term goals?
I don't really have a set out goal. I hope I'm successful, but I don't have something like "oh I want to get to Madison Square Gardens," and that's going to be my set goal. So, I just have to say I want to be successful and do what I'm doing.
I'm sure a lot of girls have wondered, and probably asked you this before, but what was it like to work with Chris Trousdale?
[laughs a little] He's really a lot of fun. He's fun to perform with. He's fun to work with. And also, on a personal level, he's really funny.
What was it like for you to hear your song/s on Radio Disney?
It was really cool. I was with my mom. It was exciting [laughs a little].
How did it feel to have AOL IM choose you as the first to promote in connection with their IM service?
That was really exciting because even when I'd just sign online myself I'd see myself pop up, and all my friends would be like "oh my God." [laughs a little] So that was really cool.
Your CD was just released. Did you do anything special for the release?
It was just released not too long ago. I had a release thing on the day of the release and then I had one a couple days later and they were both at Walmart's and they were both in my hometown, so a lot of my friends and family got to come and I got to see everybody and stuff.
What is a typical day like for you?
Well I just recently started going back to school because my school doesn't really have an attendance policy so I can be out as much as I want as long as my grades are good, so just wake up, go to school, come home, whatever, do all my music things until I have to go to sleep, [laughs a little], but on Saturdays and days that I have off, whatever, get up, go to the gym, then work on music all day.
Stacy: Wow, I'd like to go to your school [laughs a little].
Nikki: [laughs a little].
What's been the best show you've played so far?
Show I've played so far....well, actually, I just did a tour, my first tour. It was a lot of fun going to all those different places and doing all those shows. I had a lot of great shows on that. I really couldn't pick one, but it was really fun and I learned a lot from that.
If you could perform with one artist, who would it be and why?
I like Shania Twain. I'd probably want to do something with her. She's been my favorite [singer] forever.
Do you have any tips or "tools of the trade" for aspiring singers, looking to make it in the music industry?
Just don't give up. Do what you want to do. If a door closes, just find another way to do it.
Last but not least, do you have a message to your fans?
Check out the album. It's really good. I wouldn't talk about it if it wasn't [laughs a little].
Thanks for your time!
Okay, thank you so much.
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