Nicola Tucker’s gospel

SHE is a woman who cares, and who uses her passion for music selflessly.

“It’s not about how good I can sing, but who can I inspire, who can I help and encourage. Many people in the music industry have answered the call to God. For those out there wondering if it’s worth it — absolutely. Imagine using your own talent to inspire greatness and good in people and spread the good news! That’s what I’m doing now — putting my gift to good use,” Nicola Tucker said.

Tucker, 44, has been in the music industry for over 12 years, and toured internationally for years as backup singer for Beres Hammond, Luciano, Buju Banton and other big reggae acts.

When All Woman caught up with her in a round-table interview, Tucker shared that during this time she felt fulfilled as she was doing what she loved and getting paid to do it.

“From as early as probably age seven I would always be singing in the house and at family concerts, even though I didn’t [necessarily] want to. But my brother Junior Tucker would always place the bet on me and say, ‘ You’re the one to sing.’ And after that he got a record deal and convinced me to sing on the album and come on tour with him. The rest, as they say, is history,” she said.

On the surface things seemed to be going well for Tucker, but she was experiencing a bit of emotional turmoil which seemed to never end. Single mother of a teenage daughter, she was invited by her brother to witness him sing in church after he got saved and became a Christian. This invitation would change her life.

“I was not going to go, then I felt really bad and said I’m going to go because he likes having family around. I went and he started singing Healing Me, and my sister-in-law asked if I needed a tissue. I said, “Junior’s singing doesn’t make me cry”, but the tears started to flow and I almost finished the roll. Something happened,” she admitted.

Tucker kept on touring with Hammond until he wrote You Give Me Joy and told her he had never seen her so happy singing gospel. She said that this gave her the conviction to fully commit.

“He told me to write the second verse and he said, ‘There’s something between you and God.’ Then there was a conviction of knowing this is where I needed to be. I said to Mr Hammond, ‘I’m going to go fully into the church and take this further.’ He said, ‘OK! A long time we see you, enuh,’ and I said ‘I just want more…,’ and he finished it and said, ‘…of Jesus’. So after eight years of touring with him, it was just time,” she said.

Now the worship director at Transformed Life Church, Tucker says her experiences in the secular world have helped to shape her approach to her Christian duties.

“I learnt a lot. He taught me to feel what I’m singing and make it a part of me, and that fits perfectly now as the gospel is real. My experience with touring, seeing how sound operates and doing years of background vocals, just learning the whole industry, about interviews, how to operate, deal with people, seeing how they operate, learning to be on time, seeing that every cent counts, not considering anyone lower than me, knowing every single man counts — it has all helped me now in coordinating praise and worship, and I realise that this is a gift,” Tucker said.

Additionally, she is the lead vocalist of the church-based group Lifesong, which recently completed their début album, Wi Love Strong, in which she played an instrumental role.

“People can expect church, reggae music, an applicable God. It talks about life situations and offers worship unto God. So whether in church or out of church, God is relevant and can breathe life into you,” Tucker said.

Through her church Tucker has visited Japan, Guam, Holland, Ghana and Nigeria, and has found the time to engage the community by participating in missional projects such as street evangelism, discipleship and mentorship. She also visits Martha’s House, Matthew 25:40, Dare to Care and Open Arms in order to share the gospel and lend support to those at the different institutions.

“You are the only Bible that some of these people read, the only church they know. Handing out gospel tracts and a bottle of water, spending time with them and talking is refreshing. I’m passionate about our youth knowing Christ and making Him known. So whenever I get the opportunity to do this, I gladly go,” she said.