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Saturday Special: "One In A Million" by Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators

Nicole Willis
29 August 2015

After two decades of solid but under-appreciated work, including collaborations with Curtis Mayfield and The The, soul singer Nicole Willis broke onto the international scene big-time in 2005 with the release of Keep Reachin Up, her first album with Helsinki, Finland’s The Soul Investigators, and its scorching, pizzicato-driven lead-off track, “Feeling Free.”

This October, the world will receive the third album by Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators: Happiness In Every Style. As the title suggests, the new release – her fifth solo outing since 2000 – offers plenty of variety and lands on a sunnier side of the street, following her darker, acclaimed 2013 release, Tortured Soul.

The Brooklyn-born, Finland-based poetess of funk graciously agreed to a brief Q&A about the latest single from the new album, and its joyous video.

Who directed the video? Had you ever worked with this director before?

NICOLE WILLIS: The director was Aleksi Raij. I had not worked with him before so it was a fresh experience for all!

Where were the horse race scenes filmed?

NICOLE WILLIS: The scenes from the horse race were shot in Vermo which is a horse track in the Helsinki area. The races that take place there are always horse and cart. The actual winning jockey was an 18 year old who had never won before.

You looked like you were having a great time. Did your horse really win?

NICOLE WILLIS: I won every time! LOL! It’s all big fantasy!

Where were the performance scenes filmed?

NICOLE WILLIS: The performance scenes were shot at Casino Helsinki. There was a great stage and other slot machines and gadgets, very enticing.

Tell us about the song “One in a Million.”

NICOLE WILLIS: The first single we released from the upcoming album was “Paint Me In A Corner” / “Where Are You Now.” That was released in the spring. “One In A Million” is the first video for a track from the album Happiness In Every Style which is due for release in October 2015. We had a cool autumn and winter making this record and we are excited to perform the whole album live.

Fans of Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley take note: Happiness In Every Style comes out October 2 on Timmion Records