Music Review and Interview with Nick Arehart – Painkiller
You get a truly gorgeous moment of reflection and musical warmth with this song. The music is stunning, produced in such a way that it feels as though you’re alone in some vast world where only you and the sounds exist. A lovely guitar riff, and later, the warmth and simplicity of a piano piece. The vocal is a little unexpected at first, seems to sit on top of the mix, rather than within it, but a beautiful voice, and great lyrics.
The lyrics are intriguing and very real; reflecting real ideas, real life, a real statement of the times we live in. The music as a whole is hugely creative, experimental to an extent, but not unlike a lot of the more dream-like tracks released by the likes of James Blake, or certain more stripped back tracks from Lana Del Rey. Nick’s voice has a lovely tone to it, soft but gravelly, bearing that croaky edge of the note, just occasionally.
A little more of a reverb-like wash to the vocal might have smoothed it into the music a bit more, but as a performance, and as a song, it’s got so much going for it. It’s interesting writing, and an interesting vocal style, so for these reasons it’s hugely appealing and compelling to listen to. It’s the kind of song that you’d want to remember, purely so that you could look up or look out for more from the artist – what else does he think about, what else does he say that I’ve been unable to say in such a way?
The personality that comes out within the song writing is a huge strong point for this track, and definitely something for the artist to run with for future musical projects. It’s fairly likely that there will be a lot to look forward to, something to keep tabs on, for sure.
By Rebecca Cullen
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Nick: I grew up in Marietta, right outside downtown Atlanta. I’m not sure when I first got interested in music, but I’ve been singing since before I can remember – anything and everything I could listen to and imitate, I did.
I never had a lot of money growing up—my parents are blue-collar, both from huge families—and while they always pushed me to aspire to college and academic success, I think I always viewed musicians as my heroes, both because of how much music has always affected me personally and because of the fame and status associated with being a successful musician. When I would dream about the future, growing up, I think I would usually picture myself on stage, singing and performing, telling my story. I’m still chasing that dream.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Nick: Absolutely, as far as listening. All of the music that I’ve released so far is available for free streaming on my own website, nickarehart.com, and on my BandCamp and SoundCloud pages. As an emerging artist without my first album out, though, it’s not uncommon for your music to end up sampled to a beat in another artist’s song – or in the soundtrack of a commercial – with no credit given. So, to try to protect my work, I do restrict downloads to purchases through services such as iTunes.
Fundamentally I wouldn’t have an audience if my music were behind paywalls; that’s the beautiful thing about online music sharing. In theory, my audience is always just waiting there for me to send music their way, as is the music of the artists whose music means so much to me as a listener. I make music to be that for others – to communicate my vision and hopefully get people to feel what I’m feeling when I write. So I would never expect my fans to pay me for the privelege – I feel honored to have listeners and fans, and I put my money into getting my music in front of them.
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?
Nick: Frankly, I am one of those artists!
Really, I’m recording and producing my first album right now and I haven’t had time yet to really delve into marketing and booking – the more listener-facing side of music. Maybe the best advice I could give others in my situation is to explain why I’m so focused on production.
My perspective is that ultimately my music needs to speak for itself, and every tiny choice I make when I’m putting my product together needs to be one I’m proud to stand by and send out into the world to represent my vision as an artist. Earl Sweatshirt, who’s an inspiration of mine, says about his most recent record in a 2015 interview on NPR’s Microphone Check: “I prostrated myself to music.” I think that’s where I’m at, and I think the music which comes from that place is real, and powerful, and speaks for itself.
So, to artists in my shoes: surrender to it. Put all of yourself, everything you have, into what you’re doing, and then bring it into the world confidently and treat it like a masterpiece. That kind of dedication shows, both to new listeners and to the industry, and fundamentally I think it will set you apart as an artist and a creator.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Nick: The process varies. Sometimes, an idea will come from just sitting and listening to the artists who inspire me – either for a song, or for the presentation and production of a song – but I find myself writing the most and the best when I’m just coming out of difficult or powerful events. When life throws challenges and struggle at me, I know I sometimes don’t really even register the emotional impact those challenges have on me until I’ve just sat with them and let them come out through my guitar, through my voice, in their own time.
That’s where my best work comes from: letting those struggles tell their stories in the melodies that come to me. As a songwriter my role is to translate them into words as best I can, and then add the production to allow listeners to step into that space and feel – texturally – what I felt physically and mentally while I was there.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Nick: Yes! I have a fresh, crisp new website and – as of recently – my own .com domain, which made me feel a little like Macklemore in “10,000 Hours” – the site going up felt like getting signed. You can find all of the music from LOCKS so far, as well as a bunch of great wallpapers, promotional material, contact info, and more at nickarehart.com.
I am also on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, BandCamp, and many other sites: all of those links can also be reached through nickarehart.com.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Nick: The short list: sound-treat my bedroom studio; get Melodyne, Native Instruments Komplete, Maschine Studio, Guitar Rig, and a nice Rode microphone; and get a team together to set up some amazing live shows complete with a live band to tour with me. I’d spend that six months playing some killer shows.
Honestly, music is my life; I don’t take days off. So I’d just take all those new resources and pour more than ever into my debut album and into my artistry.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Nick: I definitely jump at the opportunity to plug my music, when I get chances to play life shows or feature on tracks. I also utilize some online marketing services to help get my music out there, especially in the Atlanta and (surprise!) the Toronto areas (cities with a huge fan base for pop-R&B-style material like mine).
This interview is a great example of what I enjoy most, though: I love talking directly to the fans and listeners out there, letting them know what I’m all about, letting my passion for my craft show itself in my words. I eat, breathe, and live my music, day in and day out, and I want people to know that; so if I’m not in the studio or in the headphones mixing and producing, I’m on SoundCloud replying to comments and messages, or on Twitter and Facebook plugging my material, or touching up my own website, or out networking with other musicians and with fans.
The best marketing is just being a real, reachable, passionate human being and showing people that passion.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Nick: Yes! I’m working full-time on my self-produced debut LP, LOCKS. It’s set to release 9/1/16 on my website, http://nickarehart.com, and on iTunes and most other major music distributors, and I’m incredibly excited for what’s going on with it right now. I think people are going to love what I’m making and I can’t wait to get it out to the fans and start playing shows. Truly, truly excited.
I’m also producing the debut album of a good friend of mine, Feven, an fresh rap/R&B artist in the Atlanta area. I’m constantly more and more blown away by her talent, and I think her project on its own merits is going to be pretty hype. So stay tuned for Feven to be blowing up in a few months’ time!
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Nick: I try not to think about that. In all seriousness, I’d probably be writing poetry and applying to MFA programs; I had the fortune to write my first book of poetry, The Lower Bulb, last year with Cave Canem alum Phillip B. Williams. He’s a truly inspirational writer and thinker, and definitely had a big influence on the songwriting I’m doing now. So without music I’d be continuing that endeavor.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Nick: Poorly! I don’t multi-task. I decided this year that music is what I’m going to do, come what may, with everything I have; so I do my best to minimize any distractions from that goal. When I take time off, on days when I just don’t have it and need a break, I hang out with friends, get groceries, do laundry, et cetera – at all other times, it’s eat, sleep, music. It’s just what it takes to achieve what I’m hoping to achieve.
I don’t just make the music for my project, either – I’m a one man business, so I do all my own graphic design and imagery, all of my own writing and marketing, all of my own brand management and web design and merch and sales. I’m a busy guy these days. So I stay on top of my increasingly-full workload by just putting on my blinders and living this passion of mine.
Nothing would be worse, in my opinion, than never giving it 100% of myself and never knowing what I might have achieved, if only I’d committed. So I commit fully.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Nick: LOCKS. I can’t stress that enough – this album is going to be big, and I think people are truly going to love what I have in store for them. I’ll be playing the first shows for the album later this fall, after it drops on September 1st, and I’m incredibly excited for that experience, too. For the first time I’ll have professional visuals and a full sound setup on real stages, selling seats, and it’s going to be a trip – so for anyone looking for shows to check out later this year, come experience the very first live shows of LOCKS together with me!
Tickets go on sale later this summer, and, again, LOCKS will be on major music distributors and on my website on 9/1/16.
