Nichole Ellyse Nordeman (born January 3, 1972) is an American
contemporary Christian
Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...
singer and songwriter.
Biography
Nordeman was raised in
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
, where she played the piano in church. She got her start when she entered a
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership co ...
(GMA) contest in Los Angeles, California and was noticed by a music producer.
She has won multiple GMA Dove Awards, including two awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her best-known songs include "Why", "This Mystery", "Holy", "Legacy", "Brave", and "What If". She also sang a song on the soundtrack ''
Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia
''Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe'' is a collection of songs by various Christian artists with the common theme of the book series ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' by C. S. Lewis. The album was releas ...
'', called "I Will Believe".
During 2006 and 2007, Nordeman wrote an editorial column for
CCM Magazine
''CCM Magazine'' is a twice-monthly online magazine focusing on contemporary Christian music, published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications.
History
''CCM'' was first published in July 1978, as a printed magazine. It has bee ...
called "Loose Ends . . . Confessions of an Unfinished Faith." She recorded the album ''Brave'' after giving birth to her son Charlie. Nordeman released the greatest hits album ''Recollection: The Best of Nichole Nordeman'' on March 6, 2007 featuring two new songs: "Sunrise" and "Finally Free".
Her song, "Real to Me" was featured on the video game ''
Thrillville
''Thrillville'' is a simulation and strategy video game developed by Frontier Developments that depicts theme park management, similar to '' RollerCoaster Tycoon''. ''Thrillville'' is available for PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and, in Nor ...
''.
Her song "Crimson" on the album ''Brave'' is composed of original lyrics written by Nordeman sung over Chopin's Prelude in E min. Op 28.
Her song "Hold On (Love Will Find You)" was recorded by
Paul Brandt
Paul Rennée Belobersycky (born July 21, 1972), known professionally as Paul Brandt, is a Canadian country music artist. Growing up in Calgary, he was a pediatric RN at the time of his big break. In 1996, he made his mark on the country music c ...
for his album ''
Risk
In simple terms, risk is the possibility of something bad happening. Risk involves uncertainty about the effects/implications of an activity with respect to something that humans value (such as health, well-being, wealth, property or the environme ...
'', released in 2007.
Nordeman co-wrote the song "Forever Now" with American singer-songwriter David Wilcox. "Forever Now" is on Wilcox's ''Airstream'' album, released in the US on February 26, 2008. She also co-wrote the song "Stained Glass Masquerade" with
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall, who serves as the band's lead vocalist, as part of a youth group at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida. They lat ...
' front man
Mark Hall. The song appears on Casting Crowns' second album '
Lifesong
''Lifesong'' is the second studio album by American Christian rock band Casting Crowns, released on August 30, 2005 by Beach Street Records and Reunion Records. Produced by Mark A. Miller, ''Lifesong'' was the follow-up to the band's self-title ...
' which was released on August 30, 2005.
She also wrote and recorded the song "Beautiful for Me" for the ''
VeggieTales
''VeggieTales'' is an American Christian media, computer generated musical children's animation, and book franchise created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki under Big Idea Entertainment. The series sees fruit and vegetable characters retelling ...
'' movie entitled: "
Sweetpea Beauty
''VeggieTales'' is an American Christian media, computer generated musical children's animation, and book franchise created by Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki under Big Idea Entertainment. The series sees fruit and vegetable characters retelling ...
", released mid-2010.
In 2011, Nordeman was approached to create a
concept album
A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
for
Zondervan
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). They are a part of HarperCollins Christian Publ ...
's ''The Story'' campaign, in which churches nationwide go through nearly the entire Bible in one school year. Nordeman accepted and wrote 17 songs written from a first person perspective of characters of the Bible and applying them to today. This collection, ''
Music Inspired by The Story
''Music Inspired by The Story'' is a 2011 compilation album of songs by various contemporary Christian music artists. The songs were inspired by scripture passages found in the Bible; it is included in a series with books by Max Lucado and Randy ...
'', featured 24 popular
contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...
artists and debuted at No. 11 on ''Billboard''s Hot Christian Albums chart in September 2011.
On May 18, 2015, Nordeman announced that she was working on a new album, ''
The Unmaking
''The Unmaking'' is the first extended play from Nichole Nordeman. Sparrow Records released the EP on August 28, 2015.
Critical reception
Andy Argyrakis, giving the EP four stars from ''CCM Magazine'', describes, "Despite ''The Unmaking'' EP clo ...
''. In a series of videos released recently she performed a series of stripped-down fan favorite songs.
Discography
*''
Wide Eyed'' (1998)
*''
This Mystery
''This Mystery'' is the second studio album by Nichole Nordeman.
Critical reception
''This Mystery'' received two positive reviews from music critics. At AllMusic, William Ruhlmann writes that Nordeman concerns herself with the life applicati ...
'' (2000)
*''
Woven & Spun
''Woven & Spun'' is the third studio album by CCM artist Nichole Nordeman, released in 2002.
Critical reception
''Woven & Spun'' received generally positive reception from five music critics. At ''Christianity Today'', Russ Breimeier writin ...
'' (2002)
*''
Brave'' (2005)
*''
Every Mile Mattered
''Every Mile Mattered'' is the fifth studio album by American contemporary Christian singer and songwriter and two time recipient of the GMA Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, Nichole Nordeman. This is her first long-play in twelve yea ...
'' (2017)
*'' Fragile ''(2019)
Books
''Love Story'',
Worthy Publishing
Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a publishing company owned by Hachette (publisher), Hachette Livre, the largest publishing company in France, and the third largest trade and educational publisher in the world. Hachette Livre is a wholly owned subsidi ...
(August 2012)
''Slow Down—Embracing the Everyday Moments of Motherhood'',
Thomas Nelson Publishing (August 2017)
Awards
In 2003, Nordeman won four
Dove Awards
A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Award ...
including Female Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year all for her song for "Holy".
Nordeman has been nominated for two
Dove Awards
A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Award ...
for Female Vocalist of the Year in the years
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...
and
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
.
37th Annual GMA Awards Nominations and Winners
on About.com; Jones, Kim
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nordeman, Nichole
1972 births
Musicians from Colorado Springs, Colorado
American women pop singers
Christian music songwriters
Living people
Singer-songwriters from Texas
American performers of Christian music
21st-century American singers
21st-century American women singers
Singer-songwriters from Colorado