Nikolitsa and the Comrades is fronted by Nikolitsa Boutieros, a multi-media artist from New York City. An already acclaimed photographer (who's work has appeared in Spin.com, Time Out and various galleries), Nikolitsa has photographed industry icons like Nick Cave, Patti Smith and many others. You see a vivid, dramatic dance in her photography. Not merely photographs, but compositions
unlike any other. It is this same captivating vision that she injects into
her music with Nikolista and the Comrades.

Nikolitsa has risen above her early life challenges to divert those raw
experiences towards the passion in her music, and the mysticism of her application to the arts. She has blossomed into one of New York's major rising talents!

By blending elements of punk, alternative and grunge into her music, she creates a wave of sound that is big, raw, heavy and melodic while remaining identifiably hers alone. With grit, savvy and intent, she exudes a peaceful but energetic aura with her timeless voice that is only embellished by her amusingly honest lyrics.

One starry skied New York City evening, Nikolitsa found herself wandering through record stores in New York searching through new and old cd's. She happened upon an interesting and mysterious album that she ended up bringing back home with her. That album was called, "Signs of a Vacant Soul" by Virgos Merlot. Little did she know it at that time, but that record would have a lasting impact on her as an artist and would help with the direction of her music in the future.

That record is still with Nikolitsa to this day, both physically and
spiritually. Some nine years later, after first hearing that album and
then tucking it away, she decided to go back and listen to it again. It
was then that she realized the person who had produced that record (Brett Hestla), would be the one who could understand her art form and the path in which she was travelling. He would eventually guide her through the recording process and inspire her to travel that path towards the next level.

It took over three years to craft her first recording, "Under the Moon." Creating the record was both a welcomed personal struggle to continue growing as an artist, and a joy to see through to it's completion.

During the production of the record, Nikolitsa found like-minded spirits with etymological hearts and they began playing around New York calling themselves the Comrades. The Comrades are: 17 year-old guitarist Tori Knops who weaves the beautiful melodic stories together, rock-wizard bassist David Schwab who creates a soulful driving groove and Tony Nugent on drums who keeps the trio positioned on the track.

"My main focus is to capture the truest essence of my material with
honesty, integrity and heart," says Nikolitsa. This essential mode is
totally evident during their live shows and is found in it's entirety in
"Under The Moon," their debut recording.