Nikisha Priest

Nikisha Priest is a 20-year-old country rock singer-songwriter from Lake Macquarie, NSW. Easily picked in any crowd or stage Nikisha is known for her unique edgy country style and her green hair.
Inspired by powerhouse artists like P!NK, Amy Winehouse, and Lainey Wilson, she blends soulful grit, raw honesty, and country rock energy into her music and on stage connecting to her audience. A graduate of the CMAA Senior Academy and a Top 10 Busker at the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival, Nikisha has performed on some of the scene’s most iconic stages from the Newcastle Entertainment Centre to TCMF’s Main Stage and Fanzone. She has also featured on Australian Idol as Kyle Sandilands’ Wildcard and played the ABCRA Grand Final Rodeo Pre-Show, as well as the Gympie Music Muster. Coming into 2026 playing multiple band shows at TCMF and being nominated for the Creative and Performing Arts Award for the Lake Macquarie Awards.
Nikisha lives and performs with undivided passion, captivating audiences wherever she goes.

Nikisha Priest is a 20-year-old country rock singer-songwriter from Lake Macquarie, NSW. Easily picked in any crowd or stage Nikisha is known for her unique edgy country style, winged eyeliner and topped off with her green hair. Inspired by powerhouse artists like P!NK, Amy Winehouse, and Lainey Wilson, she blends soulful grit, raw honesty, and country rock energy into her music and on stage connecting to her audience.
Having a passion for music since the time she could walk, Nikisha started her journey and was classically trained at the Conservatorium of Music in Gosford for seven years, from ages 7 to 14. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she appeared in various musicals and could often be found busking at local markets, sharing her love of music with her community.
In her senior years of high school, Nikisha was a featured artist in Starstruck in 2021 and 2022, performing live at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre before crowds of more than 6,000 people. In 2024, she graduated from the CMAA Senior Academy in Tamworth, a milestone that included a sold out show at Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar and the honour of opening the Tamworth Country Music Festival. The same year she was featured on Australian Idol as Kyle Sandilands’ Wildcard pick, showcasing her talent to a national audience. That year also saw her make the Top 10 Buskers at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, earning a spot on the festival’s main stage in front of thousands.
Carrying her momentum into 2025, Nikisha returned to Tamworth, performing across multiple iconic stages including Fanzone. She was also selected as one of the Senior Academy graduates to perform in the Academy Showcase, and brought her high-energy country rock sound to the ABCRA Grand Final Rodeo Pre-Show. Later that year, she joined the AICM Song Muster in Gympie, which led to a performance at the Gympie Music Muster at the Kombi Keg Bar.
Starting off 2026 with a hit, Nikisha performed once again at the Tamworth Country Music Festival playing venues with her band including West Diggers, Longyard and Fanzone stage. Coming off the back of TCMF Nikisha is a finalist for the 2026 Lake Macquarie Awards being nominated for the Creative and Performing Arts Award.
With a love of songwriting and connecting with new people, Nikisha has also taken part in the Dag Songwriting Retreat in Nundle, the AICM Song Muster in Gympie, and She Songwriting Retreats with Lyn Bowtell, who is also Nikisha’s mentor.
Whether she’s travelling for gigs or back home in NSW, she loves being on stage with a full band behind her, rocking out all night and connecting with the crowd through her songs. At just 20, Nikisha Priest is only at the beginning of her journey but with her drive, talent, and passion, the road ahead looks unstoppable.