More Than Gaming

So, it's been a long time. I've been going crazy between work and school, mostly school though since my final semester is basically everything I need stacked up on top of each other, to make my life that much more interesting. But since it's almost midnight, and I finished my assignment a little early, I thought I'd share with you all.

For my journalism class I got to be the oddball and pick who I wanted to interview. We're SUPPOSED to be interviewing staff, but I got a bit of an exception. Instead, I'll be interviewing some of my favorite independent musicians. The first one will be Nico Stai, who I've already shared with you all. I cut down a lot of questions for my article, so I guess you can consider this full length bit, somewhat of an exclusive

1.) Me: What inspired you to become a musician?

Nico: I don't think there was ever any event in particular, or any one thing that did it. I never really felt I chose to do this. If anything, it feels more like the other way around. Like this thing that gets all in my face about writing these songs and what not (a lot of the time it doesn't even say please...). There were definitely bands and musicians that inspired me too.

2.) Me: What motivates you to write music?

Nico: It’s just there. I write all the time, I have a lot of unfinished songs, and I constantly come up with new ideas, melodies, etc. Probably too many…it’s messy, and it’s scary. It’s something that’s just there, that I wake up to everyday, and sometimes don’t have a clue what to do with. I have never really thought about motivation and things like that. To not create is the frightening thing, to stop… You play to fight the idea of losing; some of us play not to lose.

3.) Me: What was it like finding out your songs were chosen for various television shows, like Private Practice, Numb3rs, and the Josh Schwartz (The O.C., Chuck, Gossip Girl, Upcomng X-Men movie) web series, Rockville CA, which you actually appeared on as yourself?

Nico: It’s an offshoot of what I do. I make music and some of it has ended up on TV. Some of the shows or what not, I haven’t even seen yet. It’s sort of scary to me. These stories I tell are close to my heart, and sometimes it’s weird seeing imagery over them that has nothing to do with what I’m saying. But TV is the new radio, and a lot of people have come across my music and that of others through it. It’s just another medium. I guess the question points to the fact that I should take pride in it and to how that felt. This question just made me realize how truly awful I am at that stuff.

4.) Me: How many albums do you have out total right now (including the limited edition album recently released)?

Nico: I have Park Los Angeles, which is my first full length, then Dead Pony, which is an E.P. There's also The Victory of Miss Friday, and The Five Songs You Died For, which is another E.P. and then the double E.P. Finally, I also have the two demos that came out before Park Los Angeles, The viva Dead E.P. and The Anderson Takes (most of these two demos ended up on park Los Angeles).

5.) Me: Do you have anything else in the works right now?

Nico: I have a lot on the works right now. There will be a lot of stuff hopefully his year. I can't really say if there will be one or two full lengths or E.P.'s, or a DVD of live acoustic music. There's a lot of ideas rolling around my head. I'm locking myself up starting now, and when I get out, we'll see what I have. Maybe I come out empty handed with a head full of voices and nothing to say...

6.) Me: What song(s) would you have a new listener hear first from you?

Nico: The Kind Aside, You Came Around, The Skies Over Your Head... I dunno' man. If you ask me again tomorrow, I'll probably tell you three others.

7.) Me: What's your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Nico: Real mandrid and making weird movies with weird music that I never seem to finish.

8.) Me: What's your favorite venue to play at?

Nico: The Troubadour

9.) Me: What band are you enjoying the most at the moment, if any?

Nico: Fences - Christopher Mansfield (lead singer of Fences) is the rawest talent I have come across in many years. Raw, by the way, is good. It’s the most commonly lacked element in the arts, and it’s essential, for without it there is no honesty, and without honesty, there is no art.

10.) Me: Do you have any advice for an independent musician trying to start off?

Nico: Yeah, Don’t listen to music, don’t listen to the radio, and don’t watch TV, just listen to yourself. Expose yourself to art outside of the music form and listen to yourself, again and again. Then, start making your music. If it’s scaring you, you’re on the right track. If you’re thinking people are going to like it, you’re probably on the wrong track. Do what you do and let them come. Make your fire, and let it be YOUR fire, and forget about all the smoke stacks around you.

Nico Stai is probably my favorite musician. He's the biggest hidden gem in my opinion, and it's only a matter of time until he breaks out and gets the recognition he so rightfully deserves. I hope you all like this interview, and you can bet I have more on the way from other favorites of mine!

And go to his myspace here http://www.myspace.com/nicostai and listen to the Ella Fitzgerald masterpiece Blue Moon, remade by him, leaving no emotion from the original behind. It's excellent!

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