Nick Blaemire – The Ampersand EP

By starrymag | March 7, 2017

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) We’ve been calling it “nerd soul” — like, if Anthony Michael Hall’s character from Sixteen Candles ran headfirst into Justin Timberlake.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I grew up on Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen, then migrated to Green Day and Weezer and I still love all those guys. Though, lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Madaila, The 1975, Flume and Chance the Rapper.

 

Q) Your most recent song release is “Coffee & Wine” How did you come up with the lyrics for the song?

 

A) I was in LA staying in an AirBnB and was just looking at the stuff the nice AirBnB proprietors had in their kitchen. And I started thinking about what I consume and how it makes me feel — coffee at the beginning of the day, which wakes me up and can sometimes slip me a bit of anxiety and wine at the end of the day, which calms me and eventually puts me to sleep.

 

Q) How did you come to work with Daniel J. Watts on the track?

 

A) Daniel and I still can’t figure out how we met. But we’ve been playing shows together for about five years now so when I wrote the tune, which didn’t have a bridge, I knew Daniel would have something to say on the subject. So, I just sent him the demo and he sent me back that incredible verse.

 

Q) What do you think it is about this single that fans connect to?

 

A) I try to write songs that are universal, but using subjects that make you go, “Oh, I never thought about that, but that’s true.” So, hopefully, that.

 

Q) Which track off your upcoming The Ampersand EP means the most to you and why?

 

A) It’s a song called “Balancing,” which hasn’t been released yet. It’s not really a single, per se, but it wraps up how I feel about being a citizen of the world and America these days. I’m reminded of how much I agree with what’s in there every time I sing it. The track will be out soon, but you can hear it live at our upcoming show — C’MON EVERYBODY in BK on 3/17 @ 8:30pm!

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) A big fat one. I definitely have an idea of how I want to the songs to sound — but I love collaborating more than anything. Listening to the ways my producers Chris Leon and Packy Lundholm deepened and nuanced the tracks with their own takes on the songs was my favorite part of making the record.

 

Q) Will there be videos for all the songs or just certain ones off the EP?

 

A) Just certain ones. Don’t want to create video fatigue!

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from putting on The Ampersand EP?

 

A) I hope they’re surprised by a few things that are on there. It’s a pretty eclectic bunch of sounds, so hopefully we’re keeping your ears on your toes as you listen.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Nick Blaemire performance?

 

A) To smile and bounce around a lot to a killer band and your new favorite songs.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I’d love to work with Pharrell.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work? 

 

A) Thanks for listening to it! It means the world to me.

 

 

Listen to “Coffee & Wine”

 

Listen to “Evaporate”