Traveling tunes
NEKITA WALLER REFLECTS ON TIME AS STATE TROUBADOUR
In August, Middletown’s Nekita Waller will end her three-year term as Connecticut’s 17th state troubadour, an honor she noted she will never forget. The troubadour serves as an ambassador of music and song and promotes cultural literacy among Connecticut citizens.
Waller became Connecticut’s state troubadour in 2018 after submitting a song and a story about the reasons she thought she was right for the role, and detailing her musicianship about her life as a vocalist in the state of Connecticut.
“I submitted a song called ‘The Connecticut Anthem,’ which was about growing up in the state and how I was raised,” she said. “I talked about downtown Hartford and going to the Civic Center, apple picking and seeing UConn games, and made everyone familiar about the things that were a part of my life. I think people were able to relate.”
In the past, the role traditionally went to folk singers, but Waller wanted to go for the position even though with her R&B and pop background, she was not the normal applicant.
“Governor Daniel Malloy and those on the committee voted me in, and I was so happy,” she said. “It’s an honorary position but it’s one that has a
huge responsibility and an obligation, and one that I am very proud of. Connecticut can be seen in a lot of different ways, but there are ways we can all see it through the same lens.”
As part of her job as State Troubadour, Waller visits different schools and youth centers in different areas of the state, and has travelled from end to end during her term. She’s also been to many of the state’s museums and cultural landmarks.
A typical day in the life of the troubadour is to attend an event, and work with people to make songs or “anthems” for the schools.
“We are doing songwriting, performing and the kids are finding a way to talk about what empowers them about their school and what it means to them,” Waller said.
Naturally, when COVID-19 hit, the pandemic changed a lot about what she could do and how she could get her music in front of people.
“Since COVID, I’ve had to be a little more creative in how I get the message out,” Waller said. “I’m doing some Zoom classes and more songwriting and performance workshops.”
For example, she’s currently working with the town of New Britain to create music with some of the schools in the town through Zoom. She also started a virtual program with youngsters in the Chaplin area that’s going strong.
“People are still inquiring and still excited to keep the arts alive through the music that I have,” she said.
Waller always knew that music would be a part of her life. She debuted at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem as a teen, and has performed the National Anthem at numerous professional sporting events. Today, she sings with her band around the state.
Her latest song, “Won’t Stop Loving You,” recently premiered in the UK on BBC Radio.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue doing what she loves, while pursuing her master’s degree and teaching classes.
“I want to continue to bridge diversity, music and education together in the arts,” Waller said. “I am looking forward to going back outside and doing some outside performances soon. There have been talks I’ll be doing something in Windsor soon.”
Once Aug. 1 comes around, a new troubadour will take Waller’s place. The Connecticut Office of the Arts will begin accepting nominations for her replacement on May 1. Any Connecticut resident singersongwriter with a minimum performance history of five years is eligible for consideration. In addition, aspiring troubadours must have composed and performed at least one song that promotes Connecticut.
With almost three years of experience behind her, Waller has some tips for those who will be following in her footsteps.
“Don’t be what I was or who anyone else was that has served the position in the past,” she said. “Bring a totally different dimension to it. Whether that is someone who is a spoken word artist, or someone who just plays guitar. They should put their own spin on it and tell them what was special about them growing up in Connecticut and trying to make it so people relate to that experience.”
Looking back at her time, she considers the most rewarding part of being the state’s troubadour is maintaining relationships with the students.
“I did a Black History program for Ashford School, and they asked me back when they were getting ready to leave school,” she said. “Another highlight for me was being a commencement speaker at the Greater Hartford Arts Academy in 2019. It’s been such an amazing journey.”
Keith Loria is a freelance writer.
“WE ARE DOING SONGWRITING, PERFORMING AND THE KIDS ARE FINDING A WAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT EMPOWERS THEM ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM,”
— NEKITA WALLER