I was introduced to Cherdericka Nichols, the sexy Detroit-born songstress, when I was my brother’s plus-one to her son’s birthday party a few years back. She had worked with my brother before, and through him, I became familiar with the creative world of Cherdericka—pronounced SHA-DARE-RICK-UH.
Cherdericka proudly claims the title of multi-hyphenate, as she builds her world through music, visual art, poetry, and film. Every time I open my feed, she’s giving us more. Whether it’s a song, a visual, or a list of films to watch, Cherdericka is letting us into her universe.
Her debut single, “GIMME MORE,” arrived in 2022 along with a hypnotizing visual that brought her love of music and film to the screen. The Verhoevenesque shots, the Missy Elliott-like movements, and, of course, the music. The music! There’s a lot to take in on the first listen. So you listen again, and then you begin to get it. And once you get it, she has you hooked.
Since then, Cherdericka has contributed songwriting to Beyoncé’s Grammy-nominated album “Renaissance" and released two EPs this year alone, moments, wanted and GA’RAGE. Now she has just dropped her latest single, “BLEU VINCENTS.” It sounds like a song that would play in a movie when the main character finally lets go of her inhibitions and gives in to her desires. I hear it as an alternative cousin to Rihanna’s “Pour It Up”: sexy, bold, and commanding, with indie-pop and electronic production. It’s a perfect single to ring in what I consider the sexiest holiday of the year: Halloween.
I wanted to get to know the woman behind the music, so I challenged her to a game of Truth or Dare, with questions about creativity, ambition, and desire. Here’s how it went.
Round 1
Truth: With songs like “FR’EAK” and “GIMME MORE,” your music boasts a confident, sensual energy. Have you always felt comfortable expressing your sexuality in your work, or is that confidence something you grew into?
I’ve always been a confident person. My sensuality is something that has grown with me over the years, but I’ve always been in love with beauty in all its facets. I grew up around women who loved being sexy and were the HBICs in all aspects of their lives. My mom was my first example. Now I always wake up and think: How can I be sexy today?
And sexy doesn’t stop at just being physically attractive for me. When I feel like I’m growing and learning new things, that’s when I feel the sexiest. Also, I’m a vain Taurus. I took up bodybuilding as a sport at one point because it solely focuses on looking good. And if I’m having a bad day, at least I’m hot having a bad day. Music also allows me to just live in that headspace constantly, so I would also say I may be my most confident and sexy self when I’m making music.
Round 2
Truth: You move across so many creative forms—from writing and producing to singing and performing. What’s the hardest part of being a multi-hyphenate? If you had to focus on just one art form, which would you choose?
Ahh, this is so unfair. I love to do so many things, and it’s always been a point of contention for me with some people. They would always be like, “You need to focus on one thing,” but I think that’s something that people with limited talents say and think.
But back to your question: if I had to be imprisoned doing just one thing, it would be writing. Since I could hold a pencil, I’ve been writing. I’ve had journals since I was about 8. With pen and paper, so many things can exist, and I can be as descriptive, vivid, sad, happy, or whatever with just those two things alone. So I would choose writing. It truly is a gift that keeps giving to me.
Round 3
Truth: Was there a particular person, moment, or feeling that inspired “BLEU VINCENTS”? What sparked the song?
Dare: Name three artists you haven’t worked with yet who you’d want on a “BLEU VINCENTS” remix.
Can I please answer both the truth and dare here? Funny enough, this song was inspired by an older demo I’ve had for a few years. It’s a jazzy record, but it was called “Pussy Lake,” and one of the opening lines was, “My pussy blue, can you come through?” Well, the producer was telling me that he didn’t think I should write that, haha. So we were sitting there experimenting with it for a while, and I just didn’t want to let the idea of it go.
I was listening to Project Pat’s “Cheese and Dope.” There’s a section in the song where the backing vocals go, “Go pimpin’, go pimpin’,” and I was like, wait, I want to do something like this. And instead of it being directly about my little lady, I instead focused on trying to make a record that focused on sex being a euphoric drug, and that’s how “BLEU VINCENTS” came about. Also, I would want to feature Doja Cat, a production flip from Missy Elliott, and, of course, Project Pat.
Round 4
Truth: What I enjoy most about your music is the unpredictability of the genre. You give us a bit of everything. You’ve described your artistic journey as “slow, intentional, and chaotic”—maybe that chaos has something to do with it. Has there been a moment when you felt pressure to make your work more understandable, marketable, or easier to categorize?
Dare: Choose one: a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden or a visual album directed by one of your influences, Wes Anderson.
Can I please answer both again?!
Oh brother, do I get irate about this a lot. When I first started making music, I made this electronic record with some poetry I’d written (it only exists on SoundCloud). That serves as a lighthouse for me and my creativity. I’ve grown and am still developing as an artist, but there hasn’t been a moment so far when I’ve been conventional.
I think the frustrating part of it all is that I’m not trying to not be conventional. This is who I am and how my brain works. These are the colors, sounds, visuals, ideas, etc. that I think are cool. The hardest part about being unconventional is that people are always late to your party. I’ve had so many meetings over the past few years where they’re like, “We love her, but we don’t know what to do with her.” But it’s OK because pretty soon, I think those same people are going to wish they came to my party a little sooner.
Wes Anderson would be a dream, but I’ve been feeling more chaotic as of late, and I think I want Park Chan-wook to direct a visual album for me. The way he’s able to tell a story through framing alone is mind-blowing. Every aspect of the frame is important, from lens selection to where an item is placed, the colors, the pacing. Ugh, I’m still reeling over No Other Choice, and The Handmaiden is one of my all-time favorites.
Round 5
Dare: Finish these sentences without overthinking: “The song I put on when I’m feeling down is…” “My comfort film is…” “One thing I’m embarrassed to admit I love is…”
The song I put on when I’m feeling down is “Djougou Toro” by Volta Jazz.
My comfort film is Norbit.
One thing I’m embarrassed to admit I love is beating a dead horse. I don’t let things go.
Round 6
Dare: Fuck, Marry, Kill: Music, Film, Books.
Omg, this feels like a sin to even consider killing any of these, but let’s see. I would marry books—they literally hold all we need in this world—fuck film (I love movies, so I’m assuming this is one of the greatest fucks of my life), and I know this is crazy, but I would kill music. (I would still get pieces of her in books and movies, so I guess she gotta die.)
By the end of our game, Cherdericka was calling me her twin. With so many shared interests and similar tastes, I could see why. We’re always chatting about movies and books through DMs, but it was fun to get into how she creates, what makes her feel sexy, and why she refuses to limit herself to one art form.
What I love most about Cherdericka is that you never know where she’ll take you next, and I’ll keep following her into whatever strange, sexy world she dreams up. She says people are always late to her party. Consider this your invitation to arrive early.
Stream “BLEU VINCENTS” on all streaming platforms, and explore more of Cherdericka’s world at cherdericka.com.