What is your name?
Nicholas, but everyone calls me Nic.
What is your genre of music?
I write mainly sad songs, and then they all eventually kind of fall into the chill, bedroom pop that you could stare at the ceiling and cry to or bop your head to in the car.
What made you go into music?
I’ve been an actor for almost 10 years now, so my life’s revolved around entertaining and performing for a long time. I love acting but I’ve always had a special affinity for music. It was only a matter of time until I started writing my own, which came at the end of 2018 when I wrote my first few tunes with my guitarist, Ben Kuhl. I moved out to LA from Australia pretty soon after that, and I’ve spent the majority of my time ever since either auditioning, filming, or writing music. When COVID hit, those first two things went away for a little bit, and I was faced with purely writing songs, which eventually turned into recording and, now, releasing them.
Who are your influences?
I listen to a ton of chill pop, similar to what I write. People like Quinn XCII, Jordan Mackampa, Ruel. Sad songs sung in an upbeat way. I also love Lewis Capaldi and Yebba, ballad artists who sing with everything they’ve got. I’ve also started to think about writing for other people, because I just enjoy writing so much, so in that sense I freaking idolise Ed Sheeran. The way he can just write for someone else and it sounds like they wrote it, how he can fit into someone else’s shoes perfectly like that is incredible.
You released your debut single ‘Different Year’, tell us more about the single. What is the meaning behind the Single?
As much as Different Year is about how I felt during 2020, it can really apply to any point in anyone’s life where they’ve felt like they want to legitimately time travel in order to get away from the situation they’re in. When you just want to close your eyes and wake up when everything’s fine again. I can’t state the amount of love I have for songs that are about something so depressing and heart-breaking, but are produced in an overwhelmingly positive and uplifting way. I wanted to achieve that with Different Year, and I think we really got there.
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote Different Year with Britton Buchanan, another fish out of water in LA. He grew up in North Carolina then moved out here, and I started in Australia. So when we started writing a song about how we were feeling last year, we had a ton of similar thoughts about it all, experiences we’d had being, essentially, alone during a pandemic. I flew out to New York to record the song and some other tracks on the upcoming EP in November of last year. I hooked up with Arthur Pingrey, who’s a legendary producer who’s taken me under his wing. Super super grateful for that man.
Describe the track in two words.
Depressing (but) uplifting.
Will we see an EP or Album and if so what can we expect from it?
You will! Later this year I’m releasing my first EP, filled with songs I’ve written over the years. Every song on there has a similar vibe to Different Year, but less-so in terms of genre and more-so in terms of messaging. Every song is really honest and candid, like a little diary of my life so far. There’s something in there for everyone, I wrote songs that were inspired by my dad’s music taste, some by my mum’s and some by my own. I wanted to create a well-rounded, easy to listen to EP, and I think we’ve done that!
Where do you see yourself in 5 Years?
Ugh. Who knows? 2020 forced me to not really have any crazy long-term goals. My goals now are next-minute. What can I do today that will make my tomorrow better? Doing everything I can to make my life, career and relationships a cut above what they were the day before, that’s my goal. That being said, I just want to be happy in 5 years. I’ll count myself as successful if that’s the case.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
I’ve always, but especially ever since high school, lived by the idea of “treating someone with the respect the treat you with”. The saying is often twisted to mean you have to be kind to everyone, but this generation is showing that sometimes the people who you should look up to aren’t exactly role models. If someone is treating you with respect and decency, match that and give it back. But if someone looks down on you for no other reason than to be above you, don’t be afraid to throw hands, figuratively speaking.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
I’ve never gigged! I’ve done a few open mics here and there but my main focus up until now has been acting. Now that my attention is on my music, the world’s kind of shut down a little bit. When I’m able to gig I’ll let you know.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes im on all socials 🙂
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
