Delirious, Coldplay, Eight, U2, John Mayer, Brooke Fraser, Dave Matthews Band, David Crowder Band, Switchfoot, POD, Jack Johnson, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Alanis Morrisette, Jeff Buckley
I was born in Delmenhorst, Germany, where I spent the wee stages of my life on farms. From there my family and I moved to Hawaii and the Phillipines where my father studied at YWAM's University of the Nations. The next port of call was Micronesia, where we spent five years in Saipan and five years in Guam, with a short stint in Hawaii between. From Guam my family (now complete with two brothers and a sister) moved to Tonga, where I began my musical journey. It was in Tonga that I was given my first guitar by my father at age 13 - an Ovation, and taught my first three chords: G, C, and D. From there I relentlessly practiced and figured out as many new chords as I could... barre chords were an absolute mission! By watching the pros and practicing alone I very quickly developed a passion for the acoustic guitar, and even began writing some of my own songs...
After High School I left home and did a builder's apprenticeship in Wales with my uncle Jeremy. Jeremy taught me a lot of things about how to be a man, and how to make things with my hands. All the while I was still developing my musical expression... Jeremy gave me my second guitar - a Yamaha which had a lovely tone. I would often play it late at night... it was always handy in the room. After a couple of years back in Tonga managing Vai Mo'ui gas station the Yamaha was stolen during a visit to New Zealand... As gutted as I was it prompted me to buy a beautiful Taylor guitar as a replacement. Now my playing skyrocketed! I was all of a sudden finding a new dimension of song coming through longer jam sessions and practices... I thought there might be something in this....
After another short stint in Wales as a builder, I spent a year doing youth work in North Carolina, USA. This was one of the most amazing years of my life, as I was spending every free moment in between youth work honing my craft... working on songs, practicing guitar and singing. I bought a dictaphone and a palmtop studio and began recording some of my ideas. I also had my first gig in a cafe called Muddy Waters. It was great - I got an immense buzz and realised it was what I was made to do. I began to believe that there was substance in my songs and that with a little work and practice (by that I mean a lot) I could do it full time!
Since then I have moved to New Zealand and am now in my degree year of music studies at Vision College in Hamilton. I am the lead singer and guitarist of a band called Eshalon (www.myspace.com/eshalonband), a band which is going to go places. We are about to release our debut EP, about which we are very excited.
I juggle and enjoy a healthy mixture of band and solo gigs, the main thing being to play my music as often as possible! In between gigs and studies I am writing more songs and exploring new expression and ways of getting the music that's in me out onto paper and tape... I am excited about what the future holds as I continue on the journey...
Oh and by the way if you're still reading this I'd love to hear from you so drop me a line or an email or come to a gig...
nick
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Kia ora Nick......nearly finished?? have finished?? proud of your year ......your gonna be the biggest graduating year yet.....just popping by saying hi.....ESCARPEE FOR LIFE xxxoooo
Primal Acoustic Sessions is here! Don't miss your chance to be a part of the largest performance based song writing competition in New Zealand. Entries need to be in by 2nd of October so be quick! Heats start 9 October and there are some amazing prizes to be won! Click below to find out more.
yeah i'm looking at doing a compilation album with a few of the bros (including Jay) recording early next year...should be good having all the fun and not as much of the responsibility(-;
HI! I'm doing well. So I always liked listening to you play but I love your stuff...I've listened to it all and keep dragging my husband over to my computer to show off my friend. haha. Anyways..proud of you and am so glad for how God is making all this stuff happen for you. SWEET!
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