Meet Nora

Nora Collins brings a confident and youthful originality to country music – a style she describes as “fun, flirty, relatable and honest.” That individuality is evident in her new single, “Neon Healing.” The song captures her energetic spirit and her talent for songwriting.

Her music has already gained the attention of CMT, Radio Disney, and the iconic music festival Summerfest in Milwaukee. Collins played 18 Summerfest sets across 11 days in 2016, then landed a spot on the main stage in 2017 and 2018 as direct support for national-level country artists.

“Being a Milwaukee girl, this is a dream come true for me,” says Collins, who was born and raised in nearby Brookfield, Wisconsin. “That was the stage I grew up going to, to see my favorite bands play. In a way it made me feel like I am ‘making it.’”

Indeed she is. In her first journal as a little girl, Collins dreamed about becoming a singer on Broadway. As a fourth grader, she started taking vocal lessons after some encouragement from her church’s musical director. However, the vocal coach was trained in musical theater and classical singing, struggling in vain to get the twang out of Collins’ delivery.

“I think it's always just been in me to go towards country music,” Collins believes.

A first attempt at guitar lessons at 14 unraveled when the instructor tried to teach scales and musical theory. What Collins really wanted was to learn how to accompany herself on acoustic guitar while singing a few songs she’d written. After switching teachers, the songs started flowing – suddenly she could play the melodies she’d crafted in her head. Her parents suggested that she record a couple of the songs as keepsakes. Fortunately, her uncle had studied music in college, so he helped with some simple multi-track recording at his house, while also playing some piano parts. Another uncle came by to play the electric guitar. Needless to say, Collins was hooked.

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