Emerging from a heavy music underground with a sound that’s cinematic, cathartic, and unafraid to hit where it hurts, Katerina Nicole isn’t easing her way into metal… she’s taking her place in it. Though some may recognize her past work in pop and EDM, her roots have always been in the kind of heavy music that “hits you right in the chest.” After DJ’ing in the Netherlands and exploring the high-adrenaline side of electronic production, she found herself craving the grit, emotional weight, and raw power of the music she grew up with. The turning point arrived when she reworked one of her own songs into a dark, heavier form; a moment she describes as the spark that made everything “click.” Following the release of her brand new single “Crystalline” we sat down with Katerina Nicole for That’s Good Enough For Me to talk evolution, emotional release, growing with your audience and never, ever putting the microphone down.
You made a notable shift from pop/EDM into heavier alt-rock/metal territory. What sparked that transition, and was there a moment you realized you had to make the change?
I grew up surrounded by heavy music — the kind that hits you right in the chest — and it’s always been the genre that felt like home. I actually started out doing rock covers, which taught me a lot about emotion and raw performance. Then came an unexpected twist: I got the chance to learn how to DJ in the Netherlands. That’s where my EDM journey began — late nights, big drops, and a completely different kind of energy.
But even with all the fun and adrenaline, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I was craving the grit and intensity of metal again. The real turning point came when I took one of my original R&B tracks and transformed it into a dark pop version — and that’s when it clicked. That blend of emotion, darkness, and power showed me exactly where I wanted to go next.
As a solo artist who also produces and writes her own material, how do you manage the dual roles of creator and performer? Do you find one side harder than the other?
Being branded as a solo female artist has given me the freedom to really explore my writing, themes, and sound. I have to give a lot of credit to my producer, Jordan Chase, for truly understanding my vision and helping me bring it to life in a way that feels 100% authentic to who I am. Over time, I’ve had the pleasure of assembling two different live bands for shows, and the energy has been incredible. I’m now looking forward to building a full-time band in the near future — one that I can hit the road and tour with.
Your visuals and video work often feel cinematic and dreamlike. How early in the process do you start thinking visually when writing a new song?
I’d say the imagination behind a song really starts to take shape during that very first studio session. We’ll talk about how we’re feeling that day, what’s been going on in life, and what emotions or stories need to be expressed. It’s a really organic process — once we capture that spark and have a demo, I can’t stop listening to it on repeat. That’s when I know we’re onto something special. From there, I start to envision the visuals — what the music video could look like and the kind of fun, creative content that would bring the song to life. I’ve never been the type to make fake or forced content just for the sake of posting on social media. I have to feel genuinely connected to what I’m creating, because only then do I believe my audience can truly connect with it too.
There’s a lot of emotional honesty in your lyrics, especially around trauma, self-discovery, and transformation. How do you protect your own emotional well-being while being so open in your art?
Surprisingly, I actually feel a million times better — so much lighter — after releasing my ideas. It’s almost like my own diary, and I have no problem sharing the deepest parts of my despair through my music. It’s real, and that authenticity means everything to me. Of course, some tracks touch on stories or emotions from someone else’s perspective, but there’s always a layer of truth in there. I try to find balance by bringing high energy and a sense of fun into some of my songs too. At the end of the day, I just want to walk off stage knowing I had a hell of a time up there!
Your fan-community is growing fast and you’ve clearly built compelling momentum. How do you stay connected to listeners while balancing the pace of growth?
It’s so cool to see fans who’ve been with me since the very beginning — it’s still something that feels new and special every time. Welcoming new listeners as I grow gives me this quiet reassurance that I’m still moving in the right direction, not just for myself, but for them too. I’d love to meet those same fans years from now at shows and hear about their lives, how they’ve grown alongside the music. That’s what this whole journey is about for me. Even though I create music to fulfill something personal, it really feels like my fans and I are in this together.
Finally… if you could whisper one piece of advice back to the Katerina who first picked up a mic, what would it be?
If I could whisper something to my younger self, it would be the same thing I tell myself every single day: “Whatever you do, for God’s sake, don’t put down that microphone.”
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/