Bio
NICKY MORAN
Itinerant Musicianary
Nicky Moran Bio May 2025
Hey this is Nicky Moran traveling musician from New Zealand. I love working shorter 1-3 month contracts on cruise ships and am actively seeking a wide variety of ships, people and locations to travel amongst.
My current ongoing gig is working as a singing pianist aka Piano Bar Entertainer. I have some shorter contracts lined up with HX over 2025 and 2026 on the expedition cruise ship Roald Amundsen. Lime Entertainment have been helping me secure this work and it's great to work through them. I enjoy delivering my own interpretation of popular cover songs and occasionally originals in an inspiring and fun way for up to 4 hours every workday. With 12 years piano training to LTCL level, I also worked with various vocal coaches to solidify and enhance my unique low female voice. Along the way I learnt live looping with keys, rhythm guitar, bass, and a little uke developing into a ‘one lady band’ ie fully solo musician.
Also I enjoy playing drums on call for church band when they are short.
I’ve been an itinerant church band leader or member in various capacities since 2005 in many NZ towns. I formed contemporary Gospel bands in 2007-2008 and later in 2010-2011 while in a CCR covers band. From 2014 I've toured New Zealand nationwide 1-4 months at a time for 10 years - playing in a variety of pubs, bars, cafes, town halls, prisons, rehabs, hospitals, churches, house concerts and outdoor events.
With 10 contemporary Gospel albums under my belt, my original music embraces mostly country/gospel and folk/rock sound from 2008-2021.
Gospel song Gonna Turn featured in the NZ MLT country music songwriting competition as a finalist in 2021. I'm currently writing 2 more albums for future release as time allows. As a working musician I'm very driven to bring an inspirational encounter to every performance.
I particularly enjoy bringing music from the 60s & 70s to life.
Fortunately I managed to tour extensively during the Covid pandemic between lockdowns, then changed to cruise ships from 2024 with a 400 song set list.
After playing a 3 month North Pole to South Pole cruise in 2024 and completed 2 months on an Antarctic cruise by March 2025. I hope to bring my live looping multi-instrumental show onboard ships as a Headliner act sometime soon and to ultimately tour a few other countries with a roadie or two.
Thanks for reading my bio!
REVIEWS / REFERENCE
REVIEWS
Guest reviews on Nieuw Amsterdam, HAL June-July 2025
23 June 2025 Entertainment Billboard Onboard Bar:
“Nicky Moran is fabulous in Billboard.”
Kathy Livingston, Guest
4 July 2025 Entertainment Billboard Onboard Bar:
“Our small group that we came with LOVES listening to Nicky the piano player at the Oceans Bar. She’s easy to listen to and she has such a wide range of songs.”
David Miller, Guest
22 July 2025
Entertainment Billboard Onboard Bar:
"I listened to some of your music on Amazon Prime music and it was wonderful. I also enjoyed listening to you on our Alaskan Cruise (June 1-12-Nieuw Amsterdam). You are very talented. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your music. God Bless You, and keep on rocking!"
Sal Anastasio, Guest
Re: Nicky Moran, Cruise Ship Entertainer
June 1st-12th, 2025
Holland America Cruise NADM Ship-Alaska Cruise
"Nicky Moran is a very talented pianist and vocalist. She plays a wide range of songs from different eras, musical genres, and artists. Nicky also has a very engaging personality that resonates with the audience."
Rating: ***** 5 stars
Guest, Sal Anastasio, USA
Review from Gregory Franklin passenger HX Roald Amundsen Northwest Passage, Arctic 28 Sep 2024
Rating ***** 5 Stars
"I have enjoyed Nicky’s music and singing in the lounge of the Roald Amundsen for 4 weeks in August and September. Her voice and music were perfect for the lounge atmosphere. She played a great mix of covers and her own songs and in multiple genres as well. Nicky presented herself very well, very personal, great eye contact, but still highly professional. Great showmanship. A job very well done. Many passengers along with myself, thoroughly enjoyed Nicky’s shows. Thank you."
Gregory Franklin, Canada
Biddy Mulligans Irish Pub
The Home of Live Music
Hood Street, Hamilton, NZ 26 March 2024
"To Whom it may concern. We have known Nicky Moran for a number of years through her performances at Biddy’s and her musical talent and passion for music is amazing.
Nicky recently did a performance for us on a Friday evening which brought in an audience that packed our Front Bar. The evening of music was totally enjoyed by all with Nicky actively engaging with the crowd, which created participation and enjoyment on everyone’s faces and everyone stayed for the whole evening.
Biddy’s promotes its self as Home of Live Music in Hamilton and has done so for about 15 years. We have live music 7 days a week which is a rare thing in Hamilton. We totally support Nicky in her Music and any adventures she decides to persue."
Duncan Otto.
Owner, Biddy Mulligans
Review from Dean Nicol Ascot Park Hotel
18 Sep 2023
Rating ****/* 4.5 Stars
"Nicky did an excellent job of entertaining our clients here at the Ascot Park Hotel and EMBERZ bar. She was able to read the crowd and perform the songs that matched our cliental. We all enjoyed her performance and I have no problems in recommending Nicky for any venues."
Dean Nicol.
Executive Manager, Invercargill, NZ
www.ascotparkhotel.co.nz
Review from Travis Wilson, Dawsons Hotel Reefton 25 Nov 2023
Rating ***** 5 stars
"Nicky is a very skilled multi-instrument musician. She played a great assortment of classic songs and even played a request from the crowd. Awesome vibe. Would have her back anytime."
Travis Wilson
Shift manager
Dawsons Hotel Reefton, NZ
https://www.dawsonshotel.co.nz
Review from Murray Boyd, Donegal House Irish Pub, Kaikoura 18 Sep 2023
Rating ***** 5 Stars
"I Murray Boyd have been the owner/manager of Donegal house for 25 years. Without any doubt whatsoever Nicky Moran was the best solo musician we ever had entertaining at our Irish Pub. Each time she played we had large crowds singing dancing and entertained to the highest level. She gets 5 out of 5 for her ability to entertain everyone. Lots of guests keep asking when she will return as she has inspired lots of admirers. We thought she was excellent. If anyone wants to have her entertain, we recommend her totally."
Murray Boyd.
Former Managing owner Donegal House, Kaikoura, NZ
(The new owners have since offered for me to play there when touring)
Review from Saurebh Kumania Five Stags Hotel 5 October 2023
Re Nicky Moran
Rating ***** 5 Stars
for live music in the pub. Thursday 2 March 2023.
"Nicky’s performance here at Five Stags was immaculate. Not just us but the customers appreciated your performance which was of such great demeanor. It would be our pleasure to have you perform at our venue in the foreseeable future."
Saurebh Kumania.
General Manager
Five Stags Hotel, VR Hotel group, Hanmer Springs, NZ
Review from Owen at Rangiriri Hotel 18 September 2023.
Rating ***** 5 Stars!
"We are very happy to give you a star rating and review:
Nicky has played at the Rangiriri Hotel on several occasions and has been a pleasure to work with and listen to!
She is a very popular act with our customers and provides top class entertainment.
We wish we could book her more often."
Owen Michie. Owner/Manager Rangiriri Hotel, Waikato, NZ
2 REVIEWS FROM NZ CHAPLAIN RAMON MANALOTO 28 Oct 2023
"Paremoremo Prison musical review- prisoners in both the 2 units were inspired and uplifted in spirit. They enjoyed every bit of the concert as you really gave a total package. They were still talking about the concert days after your performance which showed the impact of the show on them. Staff alike enjoyed the concert as they were also encouraged to look at their own spirituality. For this performance I gave you a 5 stars. With this rate, I will again invite you to do the same next year and the years to come."
Chaplain Ramon Manaloto Auckland Prison, NZ
Middlemore Hospital musical review
"Both patients and staff were inspired specially our manager. It was a first for her to witness such a concert. Nurses, doctors, orderlies, cleaners, chaplains and other staff enjoyed the whole concert. For this I give you a 5 stars as your rating. I will definitely invite you again to perform in the hospital."
Chaplain Ramon Manaloto Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, NZ
LIME ENTERTAINMENT SHOWCASE MAY 2025
NICKY MORAN, HX SINGING PIANIST
🎹🎤 Spotlight: Nicky Moran 🎶🎹
#LimeFam, we’re back to feature for the second time an extraordinary talent lighting up the Antarctic seas: Nicky Moran, pianist and vocalist currently sailing aboard the Roald Amundsen with @hxhurtigrutenexpeditions
Nicky brings warmth and soul to every performance, blending classical roots, decades of musical experience, and a repertoire of 400+ songs. From Beatles and Carole King to themed nights with costumes and classics, she creates unforgettable moments in the cozy piano bar for hundreds of guests each night.
With two successful contracts under her belt (and zero seasickness, even through the Drake Passage!), Nicky has truly made her mark. When she’s not at the keys, you’ll find her exploring icy coastlines, spotting penguins from her cabin window, or jumping into crew talent shows as a musical director, accompanist, or tech.
🛳️ 🎶 “Working on ships has been a dream—and Lime helped make it real!” 🎹 🎤
Here’s to more music, golden sunsets, and penguin 🐧encounters in 2025!
Follow Nicky’s adventures: @nicky.moran.14
#LimeEntertainment #LimeSpotlight #CruisePerformer #LifeAtSea #SingingPianist #LimeOnTheMove #PolarPerformances
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17DMyWkWZ4/
LIME ENTERTAINMENT SHOWCASE NOV 2024
Nicky Moran, HX Singing Pianist
Lime Entertainment
🎹🎤 Spotlight on Nicky Moran! 🎶🎹
On this November Fri-Yay, we’re shining the spotlight for the very first time on the irresistable @nicky.moran.14! 🔦
Nicky is a multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand, who toured the north and south islands intensively for 10 years as a solo live looping artist, bringing country / rock / gospel concerts to prisons, pubs, town halls, rehabs, churches and a slew of other venues, and including extensive tours of 66 gigs and 72 gigs during the pandemic despite many limitations. 🇳🇿 🚐
As a songwriter, she has 10 varied gospel albums, with the most recent being Unlocked, written during the pandemic; the first track “Gonna Turn”, was featured in the NZ MLT country music songwriting awards in June of 2021. 🥝 🎶
Currently, Nicky is rocking her first cruise gig on Hurtigruten’s Roald Amundsen as a piano bar entertainer. 🛳️ 🎹 🎤
Nicky’s experience so far: “We traveled the Northwest passage of the Arctic, saw some amazing sites including polar bears from a distance and the Northern Lights, Greenland Icefjord, icebergs, Arctic flowers, and wild horses and seals on a Canadian island. Now we’re sailing the Americas and are heading south to Antarctica via the Panama canal to see all the penguins. It’s a lifetime experience!” 🐻❄️ 🧊 🦭 🐴 🐧
Not too shabby for a first-time itinerary, eh? Keep having a blast out there, Nicky! 💫 💥
#NickyMoran #LimeMusicTalent #LimePianoBar #PianoBarEntertainer #CruiseShipPBE #Hurtigruten #HurtigrutenEntertainment #StarTalent #LimeFam
Press Release
Press release
Embargoed until 27 August 2021 20/8/21
NICKY MORAN – UNLOCKED - ALBUM RELEASE
FRIDAY 27th AUGUST 2021
Unlocked, the 10th Gospel album from Nicky Moran, was mostly written and composed during lockdown. It reveals the contemplation and reflection invoked by that unprecedented event and features her recent single Gonna Turn, which she performed for the first time at the finals of the 40th MLT Song Writing Award in June 2021.
Unlocked contains Christian themes of praise, redemption and contemporary worship. It is an uplifting combination of catchy and sometimes unexpected sounds. A mix of ’70’s/’80s pop with a sprinkling of Americana, Country Blues, Rock and even big Orchestral ballads. Guaranteed to get you dancing along, whether it’s to Holy Is Thy Name, which goes from zero to groovy in 5 seconds flat, or the Beatles-esque Faith Come Alive. Jesus Our Reality features rhythmic flamenco guitar and Better Than Life Itself has a beautiful Orchestral flavour which is both inspiring and empowering.
Nicky says: “the songs keep morphing and developing. I’m influenced a little by Johnny Cash, but working with a choir and hearing fresh flavour in my songs compelled me to try new sounds, new ideas.” Moran is at her most creative during quiet times of reflection, musings, prayer and contemplation. During our lockdown in New Zealand: “the Scriptures poured out of me when I was still and quiet and not rushing in the everyday ordinary life things.”
Nicky has faced her own personal lockdown, being severely ill in her 30’s. Unable to do much she played piano and along her long road to recovery encountered Divine inspiration and unlocked “her true heart voice”. She says “Unlocked is about letting go of old behaviours and unlocking new mindsets that focus on positive affirmations”, something she has been focussed on ever since regaining her health. Unlocked reminds us that positive affirmations are good for the soul, something we all need post 2020.
A prolific artist, writing, recording and touring at a pace that is hard to keep up with, Nicky is about to embark on her next tour, her second this year. For the last 6 years Nicky has toured New Zealand prisons, the only female artist to do so, performing 450 gospel shows in various forms on the inside to male and female prisoners.
Given her Country/Gospel sound and ability to express her thoughts, and passions through her music one could almost call her the female, Kiwi, Johnny Cash.
For more information please contact Catherine at info@AskCatherine or Tel 0223507147
Social media links for Nicky Moran:
Facebook: @voicewithspirit
Website: https://nickymoran.com/
Instagram: @nicky.moran.14
YouTube: http://bit.ly/NickMoranYoutube
Press Coverage
The Other Side
Nicky Moran – Gonna Turn (2021)
https://www.theothersidereviews.com/nicky-moran-gonna-turn-2021/
With inspiring messaging, Nicky Moran is encouraging us to change our lives and embrace hope, kindness and forgiveness in ‘Gonna Turn’. This is a message that many of us need to drop the chains of our old existence and fully take on the light of a new life or positive changes. Using a mixed country, folk and gospel sound, she touches your spirit in a way that pours her passion into your soul.
Since she was a young girl, Moran has wanted to sing and spent years learning and honing her musical skills. While hit with significant health issues, she encountered divine inspiration which infused her with hope, healing and light. Through her music, she looks to impart these feelings and help listeners find peace, purpose and passion in their own lives.
Gonna Turn’ has a wonderful country vibe to the melody. The beat has your foot tapping to it while your head has to bop along. While there is a really great country vibe, this is woven around a folk rock sound that comes through in the depths of the guitar lines. The piano adds a shimmy and sway to the music that makes you think of folk acts of old. You can hear the passion Moran has for what she does in the music is it works its way into your veins and sinks into your cells.
As you’re grooving to the earthy tones of the melody, her vocals grip your spirit and pull. Through her performance, you are filled with a sense of light and confidence that makes it possible to take on the changes you need in your life. There is a gospel element to the vocals, but this has been artfully threaded into the track to bolster the resilience of the human spirit. The confidence you get from listening to the track will have you ready to face the world and embrace any changes you need to make.
Nicky Moran uses the passion and power of her style to fill you with the confidence to change your life with ‘Gonna Turn’. There is a wonderful weaving of country, folk, rock and gospel in the melody that has you grooving to the sound. Her vocals bring the inspiration hit of the lyrics while sliding into your veins.
Rising Artists
https://risingartistsblog.com/2021/07/21/gonna-turn-by-nicky-moran/
For the first time in a very long time the world was hit by something unimaginable and as we slowly try and crawl back to what our lives were post-2020, we have to be reminded that positive outlooks can do wonders for the soul. Those reminders can come in a variety of forms; notes left on the fridge, texts from loved ones, or songs like “Gonna Turn” by New Zealand’s Nicky Moran.
There has been a song in Nicky Moran’s heart since she was just a kid and while she spent two decades writing and playing piano, nothing stuck until her life took its own unexpected turn. After battling some health issues and finding solace in her community’s support, she was inspired by a sort of divine spirit. From that came songs that guided her from the shadows and into the light, and onto brighter days.
“Gonna Turn” is just the latest positive note from Nicky Moran. A song that stands on a solid foundation of Americana and folk, but soars to new heights thanks to the myriad of positive turns it encourages throughout. In the end, hopefully moving all who listen to turn their lives around for the better. Which is what Nicky Moran has done with her music for many years, as she is still the only artist in New Zealand to tour prisons. Touching the lives of those society often forgets for several years now, Moran’s folky gospel has moved many.
Those who love their folk with a gospel touch can check out “Gonna Turn,” available now on all major music and streaming sites. Also, keep those eyes and ears open for Moran’s 10th gospel album, ‘Unlocked,’ out soon.
Written by Kendra Beltran
Mango Wave
https://mangorave.blogspot.com/2021/07/news-nicky-moran-gonna-turn-2021.html
New Zealand's singer and songwriter Nicky Moran will publish her tenth album "Unlocked" this year. The award-winning artist is well-known for her concert tours in prisons. Moran's mission is to spread hope, love, and peace amongst those who need a second chance.
Nicky Moran magically mixes Country and Soul, and thereby creates a powerful Rock Gospel. The gifetd musician uses gorgeous harmonies and soul-touching choruses to enchant her audience. "Gonna turn" is positivity-spreading piece of joy and hope, and you don't even have to be religious to enjoy it.
MUSIC MANAGERS FORUM AOTEAROA: 40TH ANNUAL MLT SONGWRITING AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED, MEMBER NEWS, INDUSTRY NEWS
Event Details: 7pm, Thursday 3rd June, 2021 Tickets: https://www.nzcountrymusicawards.co.nz/attend
With just 5 weeks till their much-loved event, the NZ Country Music Awards are proud to announce the Top 10 finalists of the MLT Songwriting Awards; an award that celebrates the unrecorded songs of NZ & Australia. The annual NZ Country Music Awards are held in Gore and recognise the best of the broad genre of Country Music in the Southern Hemisphere. Audiences who gather in the South each June witness the announcement of the Tui for Recorded Music NZ Best Country Artist, APRA Best Country Song and the MLT Songwriting Award Winner with performances from the finalists for all three awards.
Jeff Rea, Chairman of the NZ Country Music Awards Committee and the first ever MLT Songwriting Awards Winner (1980), is excited to be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Awards with a finalist list of world-class songs. “I’m amazed at the ever increasing standard of songs entered in the MLT NZ Songwriting Award and this year with close to record high entries of 117, we can’t wait to hear the top 10 finalists perform their song on the theatre stage,” (Jeff Rea, NZ Country Music Awards Chairman)
The Official Top 10 Finalists for the 2021 MLT Songwriting Awards are:
Look But Don’t Touch – Marian Burns (Auckland)
Gonna Turn – Nicky Moran (Hamilton)
If You Were a Bird – Jenny Mitchell (Gore)
Imperfect Lovers – Mia Jay (Napier)
Trouble Finds a Girl – Jenny Mitchell (Gore), Tami Neilson(Auckland), Chris Wethey (Christchurch) and Tali Enjalas Jenkinson (Christchurch)
Old Bones and New Strings - Carylann Martin (Otaki)
Alexandra Road – Chad Robinson (Queenstown)
What It Does – Michael Young (Auckland) Dixie Dolejs(Auckland)
Downsizing – Eric Reid (Pelican Waters, Australia)
Tired as a Possum – Ron Mitchell (Gore)
The NZ Country Music Awards are delighted to be nearing a sold out theatre for their event and welcome and encourage music lovers of all ages to secure their seats as soon as possible.
Budding songwriters of all experience levels are also invited to attend the MLT Songwriting Seminar on Thursday 3rd June (10am – 2.30pm). The Seminar will feature guest speakers Ant Healy (APRA), Country Music superstar Kaylee Bell and award winning folk songwriter Jenny Mitchell.
https://www.mmf.co.nz/news-pages/2021/4/28/40th-annual-mlt-songwriting-awards-finalists-announced
MUSIC MANAGERS FORUM AOTEAROA: HAMILTON MUSICIAN AND SONGWRITER REACHES FINAL OF MLT SONG WRITING AWARD. MEMBER NEWS
Local musician and songwriter, Nicky Moran has reached the finals of the 40th MLT Song Writing Award, to be held in Gore in June.
Nicky is among 10 songwriters short-listed for the finals. She describes her song ‘Gonna Turn’ as “helping us to change from the old to the new life we are destined for. A life which is full of hope, kindness and forgiveness.”
Nicky will be travelling to Gore to perform her song in the final on 3rd June. Her performance will come straight off the back off the prison tour, where she performs in all NZ prisons for free, something she has done annually since 2014.
Nicky has said “I feel very humbled to have been shortlisted for the final and am excited to perform on the night in the company of other such talented songwriters.”
‘Gonna Turn’ will be released as a single on 4th June 2021. It will also appear on her 10th Gospel album “Unlocked” due for release Spring 2021.
https://www.mmf.co.nz/news-pages/2021/5/7/hamilton-musician-and-songwriter-reaches-final-of-mlt-song-writing-award?gploaded=true&gploaded=true&gpcheckthirdparty=true
MUSIC NET NZ: NICKY MORAN – GONNA TURN - SINGLE RELEASE. FRIDAY 4th JUNE 2021
Gonna Turn is the first single taken from Nicky’s 10th Gospel album “Unlocked”, which is due for release in Spring 2022.
Moran describes her song Gonna Turn as “helping us to change from the old to the new life we are destined for. A life which is full of hope, kindness and forgiveness.” Gonna Turn has a country/Gospel, folk/rock flavour “inspired by the change music can bring to lives. I see it as a vehicle to finding hope, purpose, peace and passion”.
Gonna Turn reached the finals of the 40th MLT Song Writing Award and will be performed on stage by Moran at the final, and will be released as a single on 4th June 2021.
Nicky has faced her own major challenges in life having recovered from severe illness in her 30’s. Unable to do much for a time due to ill health she learnt piano and along her long road to recovery encountered Divine inspiration. Shediscovered her “true heart voice”. As she says “my songs are about life, love, how we are precious, the journey of hope and healing, and how to get to know the Almighty”
On regaining her health Nicky has become a prolific artist, writing, recording and touring at a pace that is hard to keep up with. For the last 6 years Nicky has toured New Zealand prisons, performing over 350 times on the inside for prisoners.
Given her Country/Gospel sound and ability to express herthoughts, and passions through her music, as well as her empathy with prisoners, one could almost call her the female, Kiwi, Johnny Cash.
https://www.muzic.net.nz/news/11236/hamilton-musician-and-songwriter-reaches-final-of-mlt-song-writing-award
STUFF: HAMILTON GOSPEL SONGWRITER NICKY MORAN AMONG FINALIS FOR NATIONAL PRIZE
Hamilton gospel musician Nicky Moran has reached the finals of the 40th MLT Song Writing Award.
Moran is among 10 songwriters short-listed for the finals of the award, which forms part of next month’s MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards.
She describes her song Gonna Turn as “helping us to change from the old to the new life we are destined for. A life which is full of hope, kindness and forgiveness.”
She will travel to Gore to perform her song in the final on June 3. Her performance will come straight off the back off her annual prison tour, where she performs in all New Zealand prisons for free – something she has done each year since 2014.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/125146651/hamilton-gospel-songwriter-nicky-moran-among-finalists-for-national-prize
