When it comes to something like raising money to purchase essentials for the homeless, we are all ears.
When awareness of the homeless is elevated in song, that is even more special.
These two important aspects of society and culture have merged into a unique – and good – band called Nikki and the Human Element.
The New York indie band was founded in 2017 by New York City songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Dr. Niki Neretin.
She is the director of Homeless Services for the Institute for Family Health aiding clients in soup kitchens, shelters, and on the street.
It may seem naive or sound like a cliche, to say that there should be no homeless persons in the richest country in the history of the world. Dr. Neretin and the band that she recruited regularly play packed live shows in the city.
Armed with her band’s compelling new debut album, Elemental, Dr. Neretin rips into themes around motherhood, medicine, marriage, and menopause backed by raw blues and catchy rock-pop musical landscapes.
Our fans will be home to relieve their babysitters and get good nights’ sleep or be ready to go out and party all night long.
“We do a fundraiser at each gig,” Dr. Neretin says, “and have collected over 1,000 pairs of socks for the homeless,” adding; “a portion of the proceeds [from album sales] will go into a fund to help my clients when they are housed in order to buy essentials to create a home.”
There are some notable songs on the Human Element’s album, including “Pictures” which she says was inspired by a visit to a Nazi propaganda camp.
“They staged benign pictures of the Jewish inmates in order to confuse the world into believing that life wasn’t as brutal as it truly was. Social Media also has a way of confusing us into believing things that are not real.”
It is not the most uplifting album – in fact, much of it is dark. Dr. Neretin touches on many sensitive and horrifying subjects, including sexual assault.
The organization she works for, Health Save, is a grass-roots movement with the ultimate goal of educating others on the benefits of a vegan diet within schools, jails, hospitals and
In the past, Dr. Neretin has fronted a number of bands including the popular Pretenders tribute band Nikki and the Tattooed Love Boys and an original rock band called Dysorderlies.