This young new artist is poised to make inroads into the mainstream pop music scene in much the same way as Amy Grant, and may well out-perform her.
Nikki Leonti brings a young and energetic sound to a well-made collection of pop sounding tunes. The vocals are fresh and independent, placing her in league with Kathy Troccoli, Leanne Rhimes, and Rebecca St. James. A blending a symphonic rock sound with a hint of classical themes paints a rewarding musical backdrop. Most impressive is Leonti's ability to range from a pure pop to a deep moody sound without sounding artificial.
A song-by-song overview explains why I believe this debut Christian market album could be a mainstream breakthrough for Leonti. “It'll be Alright” is very up-tempo and popish. It has begun to get exposure and is a good pickup track to generate interest in this new artist. “Everlasting Place” drops the tempo, features her vocal skills, and rewards the listener with a wonderfully arranged string section. “What You Do for Me” digs right in with a moody rock sound similar to when Kathy Troccoli was picked up by the mainstream secular market. “Love One Another” is a soothing duet. The prominent use of the vocals and strings is gorgeous. Again, a good potential light-rock crossover tune.
“Now I Believe in Miracles” takes off running with almost a late 70's disco groove thanks to a whami pedal and lyrics similar to those of Jefferson Airplane’s “Miracles.” The lyrics have just the right secular sound to draw in a wide listening audience and yet make a Christian point perfectly clear when carefully followed. “Shoelaces” is a peculiar tune deliberately made to sound childlike and is actually rather awkward when compared to the rest of the CD. It was the least palatable of the tunes. “Every Moment” is a strongly symphonic piece that envelops the listener in sound. “It Will Come to You” picks up the pace with a wall-of-sound feel yet manages to leave the vocals bright and right in focus. “Shelter Me” is nearly an acappella piece that showcases this young singer’s vocal maturity. “One World” is a wonderful piece with a guitar riff that has a distinct Clapton flavor. Starting off with a church organ, the tune suddenly takes a blues turn and fills out to a gospel/rock sound. The blend of the musical styles gives this track top marks.
I put the disk in at work and let it play repeatedly over a week without the songs getting tiresome. As a debut album this is a stunning example of talent and production and places a pretty high benchmark for other new artist to follow
By Chris Ott (11/14/98)
Joining the ranks of young female vocalists on the Christian music scene today is Nikki Leonti, a 16-year old out of Corona, California. Under the direction of production veterans John and Dino Elefante, Miss Leonti has put together a collection of songs which are enjoyable and uplifting. Her powerful voice belies her youth, and though at times the influence of vocalist Crystal Lewis shows through, her style is all her own.
These songs are, for the most part, ballads and up-tempo pop tunes carried along by lush strings. Most would fit comfortably on your local AC station. In "It'll Be Alright," she reminds us that when life gets tough, if we keep our eyes on Jesus "everything will be alright." "Everlasting Place" gives a vision of our eternal home. In "I Believe In Miracles" she sings of the miracle of God's saving grace.
Now I believe in miracles.
I see them ever since you came in my
life.
I have sight
And You're the reason why.
You give me hope for the future now.
Just when the world around me came crashin'
down
Right out of the blue
A miracle came true
And it's You.
Although most of these songs are upbeat, songs of celebration of the love of God, Leonti is not afraid to search her heart and ask for God's help. In "Shoelaces" she prays for God to free her heart and forgive her sin. "Shelter Me" is a plea for the loving arms of God to encircle her and take away her fears.
Nikki Leonti has crafted a fine debut with this project. Fans of Crystal Lewis and Jaci Velasquez should enjoy this cd as there are many similarities in styles. If Miss Leonti continues to sing with such power and passion, we can look forward to more great music from her in the future.
By Janet Friesen (1/23/99)
