Atlanta band Nikki & The Phantom Callers are an eclectic mix of country, gothic rock and honky-tonk

On City Lights’ series “Speaking of Music,” local musicians share work and stories in their own voices. Today we feature Nikki Speake, the Atlanta band Nikki & the Phantom Callers lead member. 

Speake serves the band primarily as a singer, which is her primary instrument, but also as a songwriter. She also skillfully plays rhythm guitar, bass, and mandolin. She describes the band’s sound as an eclectic mix of Country, Rock, and Honky-tonk. “It’s not really country, it’s not really rock,” says Speake. “There’s some punk elements in there as well. Our drummer… calls it ‘country adjacent.’”

Musically, Speake started singing in church as a child and, beginning in her early 20s, joined many different bands which led her to ultimately create her own.