Inside the halls of Fort Lauderdale High School, bass player Nicole “Nikki” Rapanos (9), embarks on her high school journey with a fervent passion for hard rock and glam metal music.

Platform boots, ripped-arm jackets with patches, and jet-black, long, and curly hairstyle. Nikki’s punk-rock-inspired fashion sense sets her apart from most of the student body. Some inspirations for Nicole’s style include Nikki Sixx, the bassist and songwriter of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, along with artists Tom Keifer, Duff McKagan and local ‘80’s heavy metal tribute band Soulicide which is one of Nicole’s favorite bands.

Nikki is surrounded by music. She is a recording artist and plays guitar for a band that she joined just over a year ago, Mr. Entertainment and the Pookiesmackers, of which she is quite proud.  

“I’ve experienced cool things through [my band]. I was in the recording studio, and I’m on a record that’s going to come out soon, and it’s all very exciting,” she shared. The record is being pressed now;  the finished product will be released around late October at the earliest. 

The band is best described as  a genre of psychedelic rock anti-folk, with their most recent album Who’s Left? fully released in October 2022. 

Mr. Entertainment and the Pookiesmackers stray away from big streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music because they are a small band. However, the record will be released on their Bandcamp prolife,  Mr. Entertainment and the Pookiesmackers.

Music isn’t the only artistic talent she holds, as Nikki is a respected student of FLHS art teacher Mr. Fitzgerald.

 “Nicole is focused and inspiring as a student,” he said. She is an engaged listener who produces beautiful first drawings and a sketchbook. She is an open learning vessel and is willing to absorb.”

This gifted artist is skilled with various mediums and has been drawing since childhood.

Nicole, who has been drawing from a young age, expressed, “I picked it up because I was bored, and it went on from there,” She continued, “Sometimes my music and art go together. l draw pictures of musical artists. I drew a picture of Eddie Van Halen that I like, and it’s people’s reaction to it that makes me feel happy, that they are impressed.”

While Nicole is artistically advanced, her humility and her maturity shine through. She acknowledges, “I am constantly surrounded by artists who are better than me, and that inspires me. I am excited to see my band escalate, and create one of my own someday.”

Nicole’s journey that is artistic from all directions is a testament to her dedication and talent, promising a bright future in both music and art.