When St. Louisans hear the name Nikko Smith, their reaction may be, “Ozzie’s son?” Or they might remember him as the “Comeback Kid” on American Idol 20 years ago. A lot has happened since then. He’s the lead singer for the band Dirty Muggs, among other projects. Yes, Nikko is more than just doing fine, and it’s about to get better.
How did you get into performing?
I blame my mom. I have been singing and dancing from a young age. I would record myself acting like I was the host of Soul Train, and then I’d turn the camera around and also be the performer. My mom had me sing in church, and when I was 11, she signed me up for Ray Park’s dance academy. I started competing in dance competitions, and when Ray found I could sing, he put me in for that as well. From that point on, it was all about singing for me.
Not all performers can sing, and not all singers can perform. How do you manage to do both?
Practice. My dad instilled my work ethic in me. You have to practice until it becomes second nature.
What artists inspired you?
I was a super big Michael Jackson fan. On my 9th birthday, I got to see him in concert. We went backstage to meet him, and I even got to dance on stage with other kids. I was in the back doing all of the Michael moves, and he brought me to the front. I knew it was my time to shine. At that point, the stage wasn’t Michael’s anymore. It was mine.
You were in California. Why move back to St. Louis?
Long story short, I was in L.A. for about seven years. Things were going great, but I was starting to miss St. Louis. My parents were here, and my brother was beginning to have kids. I felt like I was missing out on a lot. At the same time, I didn’t want to come back to St. Louis and deal with starting my own band. I thought if it was meant to be, God would give me an opportunity. It just so happens that I got a D.M. from Lotty London of Dirty Muggs. The band was looking for somebody to sing with them. I came to St. Louis for a trial show, and just like that, I was moving back.
Why was Dirty Muggs the right fit?
I’ve been doing bands since I got back from American Idol. I worked with great musicians, but sometimes, attitudes and personalities clash, so you move on and you move forward. It’s rare to be able to slide into a band and click with everybody. Dee Dee James gave me the opportunity to not only be a part of Dirty Muggs but also help take the band to the next level. It’s been an amazing learning experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Go-to spot to eat after a gig.
Steak ‘n’ Shake—give me a triple steakburger with cheese.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
It would either be acting or martial arts. I was really into Bruce Lee at the same time I was into Michael Jackson and Prince.
What’s next?
I’ve been writing and putting out music for a long time. Starting with Dirty Muggs, one of the big plans was to start doing original material. That’s the next step.