Nikki Hopkins explains to Viv Hardwick how her faith has helped her along the road to an EP release and a big concert debut

ALMOST two years on from victory in a Gospel Rock contest, Darlington’s Nikki Hopkins could be forgiven for being frustrated that is has taken such a long time to release her debut EP, Held By Love.

But the shy 28-year-old, who had to be encouraged by North-East pastor Rachael Mawston to put herself forward as a singer, is happy to build her performing skills slowly.

“My career has gone at a rate that is suitable to me because I’m on my own with my children and they are my first priority. Also, to get something done to a high standard is not an overnight job, particularly when you write, produce and record tracks,” explains the singer, who is also a Darlington church leader.

In addition to the release of her debut EP, Nikki was the landslide choice when UCB Radio ran a competition to find a singer for this month’s Big Church Day Out.

“It’s May 25-26 and I’ll be making quite a trek to Sussex for what is the biggest Christian music festival in the UK. There’s something like 20,000 people who attend, so it’s definitely worth the journey,” says Nikki, who admits she’s having a few butterflies about her biggest gig to date.

“This is completely different to anything I’ve done before, so it’s new territory and I’m well out of my comfort zone, but that’s good because that’s how you learn and grow.”

Her song Forever Faithful won the radio contest and when asked where her compositions come from, Nikki replies: “Obviously, the songs are based on my faith in God, my relationship with him. It’s also my experiences since I became a Christian and how God has brought me through certain situations.”

Britain appears to have become less Christian and church-going. Does that make Nikki’s work harder both as a leader of the Xcel church and as a performer?

“I think the vast majority of people that I’ve come across have been very, very open to Christian music. This is Christians and nonchurchgoers alike. I think people are open to this music when its done well and made accessible.

My songs are likely to be aimed at a different market and I don’t necessarily have the intention of breaking into mainstream music, but the Christian music circuit is on the increase,” she says.

NIKKI says that her past experiences have shaped her into the person she is now, but feels a little too much was made of her period of Army service, as a medic with the Black Watch, in Iraq.

“I think, perhaps, being in such an uncertain environment has given me a greater appreciation of the life I have. But, to be honest, the story that Iraq was what triggered my faith has been taken a little out of context.

“What I’d said is that being in Iraq was probably the first time I’d given God a thought since I was a little girl. But it was many, many years before I really started going to church and became a Christian,” she says. Nikki admits that leading the Xcel church, which has moved from Darlington’s Dolphin Centre to Firth Moor Community Centre, is quite a responsibility and comes before her performing.

“We knew that the move to Firth Moor was quite a challenge, but we are making quite an impact and we now run a food bank which has really taken off because we are helping families in desperate need,” says the mother-of-two.

Her EP has been produced with Sheffieldbased Resound Media Ltd boss Andy Baker, with the company signing Nikki for a year while her work is promoted.

I have to ask her if she was ever tempted to go for the instant fame of X Factor or Britain’s Got Talent.

“To be honest, I was at one point, but now I believe that God will open the right doors and whatever happens will be what happens. I don’t feel the need to put myself out there for a non-Christian audience.

“This is about sharing my faith, not about money and being famous. If the door opened to a wider audience that would be great, but I don’t think that I would want the pressure of a TV talent show,” she says.

Her children – Megan, eight, and Keira, five – come first and Nikki is aware that accepting more chances to perform will have to be judged against the impact on her family life.

“My mum and dad are extremely supportive.

Anywhere I go, my mum, Sam, comes with me and she will probably help out with the children when necessary.”

BBC’s last remaining religious TV show, Songs Of Praise, is a target for her songs. “It would be absolutely amazing because a couple of Christian artists I know have been on it recently.

It’s a great platform. I’ve got some interview requests coming in now, so things are starting to take off “People laugh when I say it, but I love Darlington.

Whenever I’ve lived away I really do miss it,” Nikki says.

  • Nikki Hopkins EP Held By Love is released on May 13. She has a video relase on Youtube . For more details go to facebook.com/nikkihopkinsmusic