Stevie Nicole is a new, independent, disabled singer-songwriter based in Washington, D.C., USA. Her disabilities necessitate a more measured approach to her music, one that differs from the standard pace of this fast-paced industry.
In this exclusive interview, Stevie Nicole opens up about her experiences living with multiple health conditions, her journey to becoming a disabled musician, how she has grown quite a supportive community of listeners on TikTok – doing weekly acoustic live streams that can be attended remotely – and the release of her debut album Rise, which is a story of grief, resilience, and living with the uncertainties of chronic illness.
Stevie Nicole on living with chronic illnesses
Stevie began by sharing details about her chronic illnesses and how they affect her on a daily basis:
“I have a few different chronic illnesses – rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which I’ve had since childhood and was finally diagnosed at age 22, then hyperadrenergic POTS (a form of dysautonomia), myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and a genetic muscle disorder called myofibrillar myopathy.
“The latter three all started and were diagnosed in my late 20s. The RA is well-controlled at the moment, so it does not affect me daily currently, but when it flares up, it causes fever, significant pain and swelling in the joints of my knees and hands.
“The dysautonomia causes my heart to beat too quickly and irregularly, impacts my body temperature and breathing regulation, and causes abnormal adrenaline surges, which also affect my heart rate and breathing.
“The ME/CFS causes exhaustion and energy crashes if I’m too active without rest periods, and the myofibrillar myopathy causes muscle weakness at the same time if I’ve overdone my activity levels. So I have to be attentive to my activity level each day, build in many small rest breaks, and manage stress levels, as well, to prevent RA flare-ups.”
Stevie continued to explain how she manages her symptoms with the help of mobility aids and support from others:
“I don’t use mobility aids daily at this point, but I do have a wheelchair with a motor assist, as well as a cane that I can use when symptoms worsen or flare up, and I require moderate support weekly to manage house tasks, complete errands, and prepare meals.”
Stevie Nicole on becoming a disabled musician
Stevie grew up immersed in music, starting formal voice lessons at age 8, graduating from a performing arts high school with a concentration in vocal music, and singing in multiple iconic venues worldwide.
Stevie shared what inspired her to get into singing/songwriting:
“I would say my musical family got me started singing at a really young age, and they always made music such a fun thing for me with little sing-along movies and bringing me along to my dad’s performances with his band.
“I began formal voice lessons when I was eight, because I wanted to start performing publicly despite serious social anxiety/shyness, and I had an amazing voice coach who worked with me up through high school and really brought me out of my shell to where I could shine onstage.”
“As for songwriting, I never thought of myself as someone who could write songs until my best friend passed away in September 2023, at which point the emotions and grief just flowed out of me and into my music without much thought.
“I had written my first song ever for her a couple of months before her death (my song Invincible), which she loved, and she encouraged me to keep writing. So after her passing, I knew I wanted to honour her in that way and put my music out into the world the way she always dreamed I would.”
Stevie went on to explain how she approaches her music with chronic illnesses and whether she has faced many challenges or prejudices:
“As anyone with a chronic illness knows, the symptoms can really dictate how the day goes and how productive it will or will not be, so when it comes to my music, I have to capitalize on the good days and really focus on getting my writing, rehearsals, and logistical stuff done while I’m feeling well, which poses a challenge when I’m trying to meet a deadline.
“I work in spurts, often going multiple days without being able to devote the cognitive or physical energy to writing or playing/singing, so for me, I really try to honour my health first, knowing that I’m doing the best that I can on any given day.
“I haven’t faced as many prejudices as I’ve expected so far, but I do wonder whether that’s because these illnesses are largely invisible most of the time.
“I do have a port (an implanted central line/IV line under the skin on my chest that goes directly into my heart, used for IV treatments) and when that’s visible based on what I’m wearing, I do get questions from viewers during livestreams, but I love that they feel comfortable enough to ask those questions, so I use it as an education opportunity.”
Stevie also shared more on what her journey into the music industry has been like up to releasing her debut album:
“My debut album release was actually my formal entry into this side of the music industry! So, I’m still very new to this. Previously, I had been in the world of classical music/singing, as well as musical theatre, both of which are very different from the contemporary music industry I’m in now, but that involved a lot of live performances, hours of rehearsal each day and on weekends.
“Throughout secondary school, I would compete, travel, and participate in regional and state-wide singing competitions that would comprise a three-day weekend multiple times a year. So I didn’t have the typical teenage experience of getting to go to sports games or dances and parties with friends because I was often away singing when those were happening. But that taught me from a young age that success in the music industry would mean making sacrifices and prioritising the long-term goal, so I feel like I’ve already got that skill going into this new aspect of my music journey.”
Stevie Nicole on performing live on stage and online
Stevie has been fortunate enough to perform at venues as varied as Disney World, London’s Landmark Arts Centre, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
Speaking about some of her favourite performances, she said:
“My favourite performance was probably in Dublin, Ireland, on St. Patrick’s Day, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral! It’s a stunning venue that felt surreal to perform in, let alone on St. Patrick’s Day. So, that was one of my classical music performances that I will never forget.
“Another favourite was performing in a holiday show at Walt Disney World in Florida when I was 16 or 17, alongside Whoopi Goldberg! I’ve also gotten to perform with my dad on many occasions, as he’s been a performing musician for as long as I can remember, and it’s always special to get to share the stage with him.”
Stevie also livestreams performances, including cover tracks, to her 12.3K followers on TikTok. Discussing those experiences of live streaming and how it differs from in-person events, she said:
“I love the livestreams so much! From my perspective, it’s a much more accessible type of performance for me to put on, as there’s much less set-up compared to an in-person event, and there’s no energy spent travelling and carrying heavy gear.
“But I also love that it’s also more accessible for audience members, as well, who may have trouble getting to in-person venues, navigating facilities that may not be very accessible, or dealing with the sensory overload that often comes with a live performance setting.
“I love getting to interact with viewers from around the world, listening from Australia, Brazil, Canada, various parts of Europe and Asia; it’s just a very cool experience for me as an artist. It is definitely different from the energy of an in-person performance, which allows you to kind of feed off the audience’s energy/vibe, make eye contact with listeners, and get immediate feedback on how they are receiving the music, but I still feel energised following the livestreams because people do give feedback in the comments and are still very interactive virtually.”
@stevienicolemusic I get told to “stay strong” a lot by lovely people with the best intentions, but I want those I care about to know that they don’t have to “stay strong” with me. You’re allowed to exist around me in a way that feels “messy”, “dramatic”, or “mopey”. You don’t have to be so strong all the time ❤️🩹🫶🏼 #staystrong #chronicillness #healingthroughmusic #griefjourney #indiemusic ♬ original sound – Stevie Nicole 🎵
With regards to touring in the future and live streaming, Stevie said:
“I think if the right opportunity presented itself in a way that felt doable for me, health-wise, I would absolutely tour in the US or internationally! It would have to be a slower-paced tour with the stops more spread out to allow me to recover between shows, but I think that would be an amazing experience to get to have.
“For now, my focus is still on the weekly livestreams and connecting with local venues, but we’ll see where this leads and whose path crosses with mine alone the way! You never know what kinds of doors might open.”
Stevie Nicole on releasing her debut album Rise
Stevie released her debut album Rise in March 2025. The 12-track record covers themes of grief, resilience, and chronic illness. With intimate lyrics and a voice full of both comfort and raw emotion, her songs invite listeners to slow down, feel deeply, and find light in unlikely places.
Produced independently and recorded at Sine Studios in Philadelphia, this album’s sparse arrangements intentionally align with interspersed themes of isolation, uncertainty, and vulnerability. Recorded as a live album with minimal vocal edits, Rise is a purposeful journey through hardship and hope.
Reacting to the responses to her record from her fans and the wider community, Stevie said:
“I’m honoured to say that it has completely exceeded my expectations! With this being my first album, and having released it on my own with no management team or formal promo efforts at the time, I’m blown away by the reception from listeners worldwide.
“The album carries some heavier topics than most contemporary music tends to touch on – including grief/loss and the emotions that come with chronic illness – and I’ve had so many listeners tell me that it reached them in a dark place and helped them feel less alone/less isolated, as well as helped them find the motivation to keep living and keep going.
“My only hope for the album was that it would help someone feel less alone in their grief/sadness to hear that I’ve been there too, so to know that it’s impacting so many listeners in exactly the way I’d hoped really touches my heart more than I can express in words.”
You can find Stevie’s album Rise available to stream on most music streaming platforms, or as a digital download available for purchase through Bandcamp.
Stevie Nicole: looking ahead and inspiring other disabled artists
Looking ahead to 2026, Stevie shared what she has planned for the next 12 months:
“In 2026, I’ll be continuing to write and finalise some new songs, and I’ll be back in the studio for album number two! I’ll also be announcing the next album’s name and release date in 2026, so I’m excited to get to share those updates.
“I’ll continue doing livestream performances on TikTok, and I also have some local in-person performances in the Washington, D.C. area in the works, with dates to be announced further down the line.”
Stevie concluded by advising other disabled musicians and artists on how to break through into the industry:
“My biggest piece of advice is to do your best to ignore the conventional path and pace of the present-day music industry. If you compare your speed of creating with the speed at which able-bodied musicians operate, it could discourage you from even getting started. It can feel isolating and overwhelming to forge your own path as a disabled musician in this industry without a road map for how to do it successfully, but it also feels rewarding to figure out a new path as you go along and to watch your efforts slowly pay off as listeners who can relate to you find you and your music.
“I’d also recommend being as honest with your audience as you’re comfortable being, as I’ve found people crave authenticity above many other qualities. It can be hard to talk about your illness or disability with an audience who likely hasn’t yet intersected with someone who’s disabled in the music space before, not knowing the kind of reactions you’ll receive, but I’ve found that sharing my bad days with listeners on livestreams and explaining what I’m feeling physically in those moments really helps people understand what we live with, and it helps build a stronger connection to you and your music overall.”
You can find out more about Stevie Nicole and stream her music by visiting her website and following her on Instagram, TikTok, Spotify and YouTube.
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