Musician: Kelly Nicole started guitar lessons at 17 and was told by her instructor after 6 months that she had surpassed him and should pursue formal education in music.  In 1995, at age 20, she enrolled in the Live Vocal Performance program at MusicTech in the Twin Cities and her talent set her apart from her peers.  She soon formed her own cover band and toured for years while honing her craft and developing her own material.  Musical ability oozed out of her every pore and, despite the health challenges that plagued her, on stage and in the studio she would shine.  Her voice was as sultry and vulnerable as it was powerful and her Alice In Chains-inspired harmonies help define the Kelly Nicole sound.  Kelly's Pink Floyd-influenced guitar solos flowed from her naturally and with intense passion. Lyrically, Kelly wasn't afraid to be introspective and her music is as heavy as it is hopeful.  She remains admired and loved by her peers across the music industry.  In her own words: "Music isn't what I do. It's who I am."

Personal life: Kelly had an overpowering magnetism and was instantly adored by all who met her.  Boundless charisma, eccentric personal style and a quietly compelling Rock Star aura drew people to her. Unfortunately, she suffered from an eating disorder and PTSD but tended to focus her energy on her music.  As she battled to eat, sleep and essentially survive day after day, she pursued her dream of sharing her music with the world.  On four separate occasions, she began work on the debut album that would eventually be named Hate Becoming. She heard her masterpiece for the first time on the day before she died of cancer on her 2nd wedding anniversary.   As an artist and as a person, she is a universal voice for trauma survivors.