Ahead of the full-length album, Volatile Nick Vivid offers us a taste of things to come in the form of “Volunteer,” a song blending Bowie-esque shimmer and lo-fi funk groove, disco-infused vibes, and glam ‘s sonic charisma into a retro-futuristic blend of forward-thinking nostalgia. The fact that such a description feels both improbable and contradictory is perfect for Nick’s sound.
Raised in Buffalo, NY, by a DJ father with a penchant for spinning soul and blues records and a mother with a love of Bowie and Queen, it is understandable that Nick would have a very unique take when it came to making his own music. That early immersion sparked a lifelong pursuit of sound that took him from cult-status underground bands to the kind of solo projects that defy generic boundaries altogether.
That he is as much an engineer as a musician is understandable, given that he has almost had to invent the technology required to produce the sounds that make up his musical vision.
“Volunteer” is brilliant and beguiling, a strange weave of chiming and charming sounds, skittering beats and gentle grooves, electronic waves and falsetto vocals, none of which, on paper, feel like they should work in the same space. But that is Nick’s brilliance; he makes the sort of music that others have deemed impossible and too unconventional, challenging, and unworkable.
But, imagine if everyone just stuck to doing exactly what has been done before. Where would we be then? Still listening to ancient troglodytes hitting bits of wood with other bits of wood, I guess. Or worse, Oasis.
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