If you find yourself craving some warm nostalgia to lift your spirit and get inspired, then “Hold Tight” by Nicolaas is totally up your alley. Get ready to groove to this new jam and dive into the interview while you’re at it.
1 – What sparked your decision to collaborate with KALLITECHNIS for your latest single “Hold Tight”?
I’m a fan of her work! She’s got a powerful and unique voice and so much style. I didn’t go into writing the demo with her in mind, but once it began to take shape I reached out to her to see if she’d be down to collaborate. I’m so grateful she was, I think there’s a lot of natural chemistry on this track.
2 – How would you describe the overall sound and vibe of this track?
It’s a sexy one. I’m always trying to tastefully walk the line between retro/throwback sounds and contemporary writing and production. I think it all clicked.
3 – What story or narrative do you want to convey through the lyrics?
You’d have to ask Kallitechnis about that, she wrote the lyrics, but my interpretation is she’s telling a story about meeting someone who might be a little guarded or lacking confidence, and she’s stepping up to take control. I take it to be about going after what you want.
4 – How did you infuse nostalgic elements into your music?
I do this by making writing and production decisions that give a nod to the 80s and 90s. It’s in the choices of synths, drum machine sounds, chords, and in the mix as well.
5 – As a producer, what is your favorite synthesizer or gear that holds a special place in your heart?
These days I’m working almost exclusively with software, but still break out my Juno-60 from time to time! I learned how to make music originally on the Akai MPC 2000 so that one holds a special place too.
6 – Would you like to highlight any production techniques or choices that were employed in “Hold Tight”?
Nothing I’d want to single out, but generally speaking I’m always trying to take the “less is more” approach to my production. It’s not always easy because I love experimenting with sounds and ideas, but ultimately this track is a main poly synth for the chords, a heavy bass synth, and some ear candy for extra flavour. More than enough! We also tried to incorporate Kalli’s vocals as more of an instrument in the mix than a traditional lead vocal that’s way out front. This was also a nod to some of our favourite RnB/Post-Disco stuff from the early 80s.
7 – Will there be a music video accompanying the release of this single?
No plans for traditional music at this point, but I’ve produced some short promo clips that can be seen on my socials and my YouTube channel.
8 – How do you perceive the impact of receiving three Juno Award nominations and being long-listed for the Polaris Prize on your musical career?
It’s always nice to receive recognition from others when you’re pouring your heart and soul into something, but beyond that, I don’t think there’s a whole lot of impact. There’s so much politics in the music business, most of these institutions operate in a self-serving way and have more to do with relationships, perceptions, and money than actual music. It’s business, so I totally understand why that’s the case, but I choose to spend my energy on getting better at what I’m doing, and ultimately making myself happy with my music. If others like what they hear, I’m so pleased to hear it. There’s so much out there. To have someone choose to spend their time listening to your music is pretty fucking cool.
9 – Are you currently immersed in any new projects or exploring fresh collaborations?
I’ve got a ton of new music in the works and hope to direct a lot of it into a debut album. I’m just letting it happen naturally, so I’m not sure when that’ll come together. In the meantime, I’m working on a number of remixes and other projects that will be dropping regularly.
10 – Finally, what do you think makes this project called Nicolaas unique?
For me, this project is rooted in nostalgia. I look to nostalgia for inspiration because it reminds me of a time when I was discovering so much – music, film, art, fashion, and ultimately developing my own taste for things. I look back to this era because for me it was a time when everything was new and anything was possible. These days, with all the negativity and tragedy going on in the world, I lean on nostalgia to keep my optimism and creativity burning. That’s why I tie visuals so tightly to my music, it’s really about looking back so I can move forward. My goal with this project is to bring people along with me, so they can feel that same positive, inspired, optimistic feeling.
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Hi, I’m Erick Ycaza — a music blogger with a BA in Advertising & Graphic Design. I created this blog to keep you updated with daily music news. Surprisingly, I’ve been writing about music since 2007. If you’re an artist and would like to be featured, feel free to reach out: info@electrowow.net
