Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicky James.
Hi Nicky, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, music was always around, but I didn’t really find my own way into it until I picked up a guitar and started writing songs. I wasn’t the kid who grew up knowing he was going to be a country singer. It happened pretty organically, and somewhere along the way a hobby turned into an obsession.
Before I knew it, I was gigging all over the Midwest, learning from the guys around me, playing anywhere that would have me, and slowly figuring out who I was as a musican. If I could talk to my eighteen year old self now, I’d tell him I’m proud he cut his teeth the old-fashioned way, loading up the gear, hitting the road, and playing any bar that would give him a corner and a few bucks.
That part of the business feels like it’s disappearing. Today, there’s so much focus on the next viral video, how many followers you have, or how many likes something gets. I understand that’s part of the game now, but none of it means much to me if you can’t walk into a room, grab a microphone, and connect with the people standing in front of you. That’s where I learned how to be an artist.
The truth is, the music industry can be tough, especially when conforming can sometimes feel more important than creating. I’ve been fortunate to surround myself with people who care more about figuring out who I am as an artist than chasing whatever happened to work on the radio last week. That’s made all the difference.
A huge part of that for me has been working with producer and songwriter Derek George. Derek has really pushed me to lean into who I am instead of trying to fit into a box, and I think the music we’ve made together is the most honest representation of me as an artist yet. We have eight songs coming out this year, and it feels like we’re just getting started.
We kicked things off in June with “Pour Decisions,” and it’s been exciting watching the momentum build from that first release. More than anything, it feels like the beginning of a new chapter. Every song coming behind it shows another side of who I am and where this whole thing is headed.
I’ve never been very good at sugarcoating things, and I think my music reflects that. I stay in my own lane, write about the things I know, and surround myself with people who challenge me to get better. At the end of the day, I want to make music with people who still live for the song more than the numbers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Theres no such thing as a “Smooth Road in Music”
Music has given me some of the best moments of my life, but it’s also humbled me more times than I can count. I spent about eight years in Nashville, and that town has a funny way of making you feel like you’re one song away from everything changing and, five minutes later, wondering what the hell you’re doing with your life.
There have been deals that didn’t happen, songs that didn’t go where I thought they would, plenty of “no’s,” and stretches where I questioned whether continuing to chase music made any sense at all. Trying to balance music with being a husband, a dad, working a real job and providing for a family also changes your perspective pretty quickly. The dream is still there, but the stakes are different than when you’re 21 years old sleeping on somebody’s couch in Nashville.
Moving back to Nebraska was probably one of the biggest turning points. At the time, part of me wondered if coming home meant I had failed. Looking back, it was probably one of the best things that could have happened to me. It stripped away a lot of the noise and reminded me why I started doing this in the first place.
I think the struggles ultimately made me a better writer, artist and person. These days, I’m a lot less interested in proving something to the music industry and a lot more interested in living in the moment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I make country music rooted in where I come from which is the Midwest, blue-collar people, small towns, family, heartbreak, and real life. I’ve never been interested in pretending to be something I’m not just because it might make a song easier to sell.
If I specialize in anything, it’s finding songs in ordinary moments. I want somebody to hear a line and think, “Damn, I’ve been there.” That connection has always mattered more to me than chasing whatever sound or trend is popular at the moment.
I’m most proud that after all these years, I’m still doing it and making music that feels more like me than ever. I’ve been fortunate to cross a million streams, play some incredible shows and festivals, and work with writers and producers I really respect. Working with Derek George has been a huge part of this next chapter and we’re focused on making records that sound like where I come from instead of trying to recreate what’s already working.
I think what sets me apart is pretty simple: I know who I am now. I’m a Nebraskan who spent eight years in Nashville, came home, started a family, worked real jobs and kept writing songs through all of it. I’m not trying to manufacture a character. The guy you hear on the record is the same guy you’re going to meet after the show.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Nashville is the creative community. Some of the most talented people in the world are sitting in writing rooms, playing little bars, and chasing the same dream. I spent eight years there, and a lot of who I am as a songwriter came from that town.
What I like least is probably the growth. Nashville has changed a lot, and sometimes I miss the version of it that felt a little smaller, a little rougher around the edges, and more about the songs than the scene.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nickyjames.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickyjamesmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickyjamesmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickyJamesMusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3mMKcvOOK7XZAOZGuLFNAk
