Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Hicks: I grew up in a small town in the southern part of Sweden called Helsingborg.
Music came in to my life in pretty early stage. My Ma’ and grandpa’ always listened to music, especially country music. So there were always music on the radio or from the record player.
Ma’ told me when I was about two years old I stod in my diapers and used my gramdpa’s big shoehorn as a guitar. Playing to Johnny Cash. And everybody said; Yep he’s gonna be an artist.
I was twelve years old when I did my first professional gig. And it was the best thing I’ve ever done. Not only did I get to play music. There were people watching and singing along and they paid me to do it.
I have as long as I can remember, loved music. I can still go crazy and get goosebumps from listening to great music.
So it is my love for music that made me wanna be an artist.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Hicks: I wanted something short and simple. Something that was easy to remember.
And it fits me I’m a Hick from the south.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Hicks: There’s good and bad in that. The good thing is, it’s a lot easier for artist like myself to go out there and do my thing. To get attention and exposure. We don’t need labels like the way we used to. It gives us more artists freedom. There is so much we artist can do with the right mindset.
The bad thing is that a lot of people expect music to be free. But it costs a lot of money to record and produce great songs. So the economy for many artists doesn’t add up.
I have been given music away for free. For promotional purpose.
But like I said… There will be a minus in the saldo doing that.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not greedy. But you can’t give everything away for free. You will go bust, running your business like that. And it is a business. Music Business.
I don’t think there are car dealers giving away cars for free. And recording an album sometimes costs a lot more than a car
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Hicks: Don’t give up! It’s a hard business, and in the beginning most people will tell you no for different reasons. But don’t listen to the haters and naysayers. Keep pushing.
Listen to constructive criticism. Always have a desire to get better.
Find out who you are as an artist and human. Self knowledge is important. And stay true to who you are. Don’t fake it. people will know. You can fool people once…
Find your own sound. There’s no point trying to sound like everybody else. I mean you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. but try to stand out a little from the rest.
Tell everyone you know what you’re doing. Invite friends ask them to bring their friends to rehearsals. Hopefully they help you spread the word.
There are million ways to be creative and get attention… But the most important tips I can give is. WRITE GREAT SONGS!!!
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Hicks: I laugh at it… Sometimes it’s funny to tell the crowd that I made a mistake.
If it is possible me and the band make a thing of it. Maybe after the next song I do the same thing again but this time on purpose. And there’s always someone in the band that will pick up on that. We have a great chemistry in the band. trying to throw a big party every night we play. Mistakes or not…
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Hicks: A few years back a drunk guy, and I mean seriously drunk guy from the audience managed to get up on stage. He was expecting us to be a death metal band or something like that. He offered my guitar player a dollar if we’d play his favorite song. I don’t know what song that was. Anyhow we said that we didn’t know that song so he put the dollar down my guitar players t-shirt and said “I give it to you anyway just as long as you go home” That was just so funny. Luckily the rest crowd didn’t agree with him.
But the coolest thing that ever happened. Was when I played at the British CMA in London. The previous year I won “Best European Country Act” that was a huge honor.
I went on stage just before Steve Wariner ,who is on e of my musical heroes.
When I walked off stage he said he enjoyed the show and invited me to Nashville to write with him. I just couldn’t believe it… Pinch me… Am I dreamin’… Hello what’s goin’ on… That was just mindblowing.
So I went back to Sweden packed my bags jumped on the plane to Nashville and wrote some killer song with Steve.
And one of them is my newest single Stomp A Little Louder https://youtu.be/oldib_KV3K4
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Hicks: From everywhere. Life… Reading books… Watching movies… Talking to friends… Thinking… Feeling… Dreaming… Watching the kids grow… Travelling…
When I write on my own, I usually write the song in my head first.. Maybe not all of the lyrics just some words that will give you an idea what the song is about.
When I have something that sounds like a song I pick up my guitar and start putting chords to it. I do most of my writing in my car. I don’t why but it is something relaxing with driving and humming melodies and come up with lyrics.
Sometimes when I’ve written a song a just let it lay for a while. And then pick it up again a few weeks later to see if it’s still good. And if it is I record it.
Some songs write themselfs in just a few minutes while others can take months and even years to finish.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Hicks:
www.reverbnation.com/hickscountry
All the digital downloads iTunes, Amazon, Soptify,Apple… I’m everywhere
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Hicks: I don’t know if I have any embarrassing songs. I think it depends on who you ask. Most of my friends think that country music is pretty embarrassing. So if you ask them they would probably say every song… But if they’re in my mp3 player they are there because I like them.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Hicks:Â I would play even more. Cause I love to play and if you have a little money you can do some shows for free. Maybe play for people that can’t afford to buy a ticket. Just play shows for the hell of it.
I would invest some of it. So that money works for money.
Some would go to charity.
And I would travel a lot. I love to see the world and meet different cultures.
I also would buy some rain forest in the Amazonas. Before it’s gone. Big corp is doing it’s best to destroy it.
I don’t think I would buy a lot of stuff. Maybe a new guitar. A Fender Telecaster…
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Hicks: I don’t have a studio off my own. I hire studio time and let the professionals do their work.
I’m always there through the whole process of recording. And sometime I produce. But I’m not a techie guy. I leave that to others.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Hicks :I’ve worked with Michael Stover at MTS Management the past years. And it works great for me. Plus I do a lot of promotion myself. These days with a computer you can get a lot of stuff done.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Hicks: I would love to play Nissan Stadium (formerly LP Field) with Brooks And Dunn, Steve Wariner and Van Halen with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony back in the band.
They are all big musical influences on me.
I guess that’s why I sound the way I do. One foot in country and the other foot in rock.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Hicks: Going to London next week to do a TV show called Country Sessions. Going back to my home town for a big X-mas show in Dec.
Have some upcoming gigs in England and Scotland next year.
I still write songs for other artists. Having a co-write session next week with Erik Martensson from Eclipse. We’re gonna write for their up coming album.
I’m right in the middle of promoting “Stomp A Little Louder” so there’s a lot of  interviews in the nearest future.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Hicks: I would probably work with something in the fitness/health field.
I go to the gym four five times a week. And I try to live a healthy lifestyle. I love to inspire others to change their life an become healthier. Many of our diseases comes from eating wrong, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, drinking too much soda, eating too much sugar, not exercising and taking good care of yourself.
These days there’s sugar in almost everything. So my advice is . Read the food labels. Now the manufacturers are some sneaky guys. They have a lot of cool names for sugar. maltodextrin,High fructose corn syrup or HFCS, modified starch, maltose, sacchrose… and a bunch of other clever names so you don’t think it’s sugar.
Bottom line is too much sugar makes you sick. And I love helping people get healthier.
So cut down on the sugar.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Hicks: Walt Disneys The Djungle Book. I was just the happiest kid in the world. I rode the bus all the way downtown all by myself. I think I was six or seven years old. Went back home a played it a million times.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Hicks: That puzzle is sometimes hard to fit together. But somehow with the support from my family and good friends, we make it work. Planning is key, to make all the logistics work.
I took a little break after “I Belong To You” my previous single. To recharge the batteries and hang with my family. I’m trying to take short brakes. Take a trip to Spain or Greece. And then back to work. I think taking time to wind down is really important.
A few months ago I started doing Shaolin Qi Gong. And I must say that has been a total life changer. I feel more calm even when it’s a little stressfull.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Hicks: Me being out on the road a lot more. Doing some more TV-shows. And iI have a killer album in the making. So many amazing songs. So proud of every song. Right now I’m having a hard time picking the ones that should be on the album…. But that is a real luxury problem.
