Conversations with Nick Casey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Casey.

Hi Nick, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started playing music when I was 16 years old. My high school had a talent show where a classmate and I started a duo to perform at the event. From that day on, I was hooked on playing live music. I began mainly by booking shows at local coffee houses and busking on the streets, with my guitar case open, around Rhode Island. Since those days, I have just taken advantage of every chance to play that has come my way. Networking has been a major factor. We’ve built up a strong following over the past nine years.

It feels more like a snowball effect. Folks see us live, tell their friends and the crowds keep getting larger. We have had great opportunities such as touring the Midwest, opening for national acts at county fairs, and releasing our debut record, “Ghosts Like Me.” I think we have gotten to where we are just by saying yes to any opportunity that crosses our path.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. As an up-and-coming artist, there are a lot of personal battles with self-doubt. You will ask, “am I truly cut out to do this?” Social media plays a big factor in this. You see your friends in the industry having some success or getting to the next level quickly, and you often wonder, “why not me?” It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, especially when we see everyone’s lives so often on social media platforms.

Booking and promoting shows, writing the songs, networking, and running the social media accounts can often be a lot to handle. You can face burnout when running the show yourself as a rising artist. You’re faced with a lot of “no” answers as opposed to “yes” early on; from there, you have to say, “it’s not meant to be just yet.”

I think it’s important in those scenarios when you feel low to keep powering through. Perseverance is the key. Ultimately, as long as it’s in your heart, you will get exactly where you want to be. It’s a long journey for everybody, but it will be worth it when it arrives.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a country singer/songwriter from Rhode Island. I perform live with my band regularly throughout the North East. We play more traditional sounding country music. Some listeners might throw us in the Americana scene, the Outlaw Country genre. I call it country music. We’ve gained a lot of fans since the release of our album, “Ghosts Like Me.” I am most proud of our organic growth so far and fans just spreading the good word about this band from the North East. I believe our live show and musical style sets us apart from others. We’ll put on a great show every time and make it memorable for every new or long-time listener.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I listen to the Hippies & Cowboys podcast regularly. The hosts, Garrett and Mike, interview a lot of country singers that I look up to. Hearing their personal stories reassures me that I am on the right path. I read a lot of Stephen King books. I would not say they help me do my best in life, but they open my mind creatively to different song ideas. I read a lot about the music industry as well as songwriting books. I think it is useful to learn about that aspect of the music world early to help you succeed down the road. “All You Need to Know About the Music Business” by Donald S. Passman is a great read for anyone looking to get into the music business. Connecting with fans and listeners online or at shows helps me do my best in life. Knowing that I am impacting their lives or that my music has touched them in a certain way motivates me to continue this career. Outside of the Internet and books, I spend a lot of time at the gym, going on hikes, and fishing. Staying active and moving around is a great stress and anxiety reliever.

Contact Info:

• Website: nickcasey.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickcasey.jpeg/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickcaseymusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickcaseytweets
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/nickcaseymusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/03nzUAZ8WglsDllSqTGQQt

Image Credits
Black and White Photos: Ally Army Blue Tinted Photo: Rob Briggs Other Live Photos: Caleb Silvia