Nick Catoire – No Promises

By starrymag | March 22, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Riffy, soulful, a little bit extra. [laughs] I definitely love a dance beat and a catchy pop hook!

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I grew up listening to Lauryn Hill, Brandy and Mariah. But I also obsessed over the catchy pop hooks that N’Sync and Britney were serving. So, I’d say I’m a bit of mix. Soulful and Poppy.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “No Promises.”

 

A) I lived in the closet for most of my life and grew up feeling like I’d never find anyone. And then I moved to New York City and fell for a guy. He was the first guy I ever loved, and I was the first guy he ever dated. Things were beautiful, until his family found out he was dating a guy. Pretty soon after that he ended things. And I felt abandoned and so lost. It brought back all the other times in my life that I’d felt that way. Like, my father abandoning me, telling me he couldn’t love me if I was gay. I could make a whole list of times, but I’ll spare you. [laughs] I’ve learned to hold my head up and move forward from these things and that’s a lot of what this song is about. It’s about holding your head up when you’ve been abandoned by the person you care about the most and learning to be your own light.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) We’ve all lost something and felt that deep dark place takeover. I found a way to climb out and I hope this song feels like that climbing moment for others!

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) The video is all about connecting with my fans. I asked them to send in videos singing to the song or telling a story about a time they felt abandoned by someone but held their heads up!

 

Q) The song dropped on Friday, March 12. How did you celebrate the release?

 

A) I’m still quarantining at the moment, so I couldn’t go TOO crazy. But I danced around the house with my family for a good while and then we all went for a drive and listened to it a ton of times. It was pretty great.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) With this song, the line “I don’t care what my momma says” just kind of fell out of my mouth, lyrics and melody at the same time while I was playing around and strumming my guitar. But that’s not how it always is. [laughs] A lot of the time, I am singing a random melody using some kind of gibberish non-words and I try to connect with my emotions while I’m singing it and the story and lyrics come from there,

 

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

 

A) I write my songs on guitar or keys usually and then I work alongside my producer, Long Boy, deciding together pretty much every single sound we use in the song, what specific instruments, textures, rhythms, etc. that we want. He’s really a genius. Truly a technical production wizard, and an amazing artist as well, yall should check out his music.

 

Q) What are some of the themes you will be exploring on your EP Stranger?

 

A) Abandonment, for sure, is a big theme throughout it. But Resilience as well. Empowerment.

 

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away or take to heart from this EP?

 

A) I just really hope that people feel seen. Queer people especially. I tried to be really honest about what life can feel like as a queer person. About what it feels like for me. There can be a lot of isolation, longing and loneliness but at the same time, there’s perseverance. This strength that you learn to have. And I tried to put all of that into this EP.

 

Q) With concerts currently on hold, do you have any plans for live streaming events?

 

A) Oh yes! Definitely! But I really can’t wait for live shows to come back, once we can gather safely!

 

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

 

A) I really want to collaborate with other queer artists. It’s time for a queer pop music takeover. Kim Petras, Hayley Kiyoko, Sam Smith, MNEK, Troye Sivan, Lil Nas X, Conan Gray, Vincint, Ryan Cassata, Jordy, Gregory Dillon… I could go on. These are just the inspirations that came to my head just now. [laughs]

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) I’m perpetually in a Robyn phase. She is such a queen. The lyrical content of her songs are so honest and vulnerable. Like you’re listening to her sing about how lonely she feels, but at the same time you just can’t help but want to get your life on the dance floor. It’s such a vibe.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Social media has allowed me a space to grow as an artist on my own terms, at my own pace and to meet new fans along the way, over years. It’s been really special. My favorite part is being able to share a song that I haven’t even gotten to record officially yet and then having people start tagging you in covers of it the next day.  That’s got to be my favorite part of social media. When anyone posts a cover of one of my songs, it’s the best feeling.

 

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

 

A) Um, congrats on being the absolute BEST people alive? [laughs] No, but seriously, I have to say thank you!!! Thank you for supporting me, for sharing encouraging comments, sharing my songs and generally just letting me sing at you all the time. I hope when you listen to these songs that you hear yourselves in them. Because they would not exist without you. I made them for you. And now, we’re here!! So, get into it, yall! And be ready for more! +