If you ask Nicholas Alphonso about his music you will receive a modest response but ask a fan and you will hear quite a different story. Fans have been raving about this singer and songwriter, liking and sharing his songs which have been viewed thousands of times on Facebook so far.
Now 22 years old, Nick, as he is called, began singing at the age of 15 and while he has recorded somewhere between 100 and 200 songs, he has only released eight of them to date.
The songs are “Born Great”, “Hate From Far”, and “Comes in Waves” all of which are in the Dancehall/Reggae genre. Then there are “Loser”, “It Ain’t Worth It”, “Drifting”, and “Keep Your Eyes Off Me” in the Hip Hop/Trap genre and “Girl I Got You”, which is a Pop song.
Nick explained that he is comfortable singing Rap, Hip Hop, Trap, Dancehall and Reggae and because he loves other genres, he would dabble in them from time to time. He mentioned Soft Rock, Alternative, Indie Rock, Soul, Reggaeton and Pop. Of all the genres, he is most versed in Reggae and Hip Hop.
His life surrounds music. “It’s an outlet. It’s my therapy, my hobby, my go-to leisure activity. It’s a lot more than just a career or a means of income. It’s part of me. It’s how I express myself, how I deal with stuff,” the singer said.
Nick hails from Lima Sands on the Essequibo Coast. “Mischievous, stubborn, problematic,” were the words he used to describe himself adding that his mother would confirm this. Nick is the fourth of six children.
A former Anna Regina Multilateral School student, Nick did not foresee himself entering the music industry but then he met some friends. Zoe, Shamar, and Jevon, he noted, were the ones who made him realize that he did not need a fancy studio, or the world of money and resources to do so. They showed him that once he had earphones and a laptop, he could make his own music.
“I started to hang around them and we started making music. It was beyond awesome,” he shared. They were soon famous in school and were liked by their classmates and teachers. It was through their teachers that they had their first stage performance and audience. Their teachers cheered them on and praised their talent and that was the beginning of their school performances as they were continually called upon to perform at various school events. “That was pretty cool,” said Nick of their teachers’ support.
Speaking of support, the singer noted that among his biggest fans and supporters are his parents and siblings further sharing that at times when he felt unmotivated to put out a song, they kept encouraging him. “They made me feel like I was that good. So thanks to their support I’m confident enough to put out my work for [others] to hear,” he said.
Through his first set of friends, Nick became more exposed to numerous singers, many of whom have influenced his music today. “I’d say Eminem for Rap, the way he writes and plays around with vocabulary like a jigsaw puzzle always leaves me in awe,” said the artiste. Nick also likes the music of Ed Sheeran, Calum Scott, Jacob Banks, Lewis Capaldi, Dermot Kennedy, James Arthur, and Sam Smith. His favourite Reggae artistes are Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Gregory Isaacs, and Sizzla Kalonji.
Despite having numerous stage performances at school, Nick has not yet performed on stage since leaving school. When asked why, the singer explained that he was not as dedicated as an artiste should be. He said it was not the case that he could not get such opportunities but in because he did not feel ready to get out there with his music. Up until now, the young man said, he had his share of responsibilities that he needed to take care of.
Now that he feels more settled in life, he is venturing into music as a career. Every chance he gets, he spends it in his home studio working on his music.
“I think the local artistes are all doing a great job. The music industry [overall] in Guyana has become a lot more welcoming when it comes to real talent, and that’s really all we want. I do think Guyanese artistes can make a living off of music alone, but it will depend a lot on how much support we get from our own people,” said Nick.
With every new song he puts out, Nick shares a piece of himself. His songs reflect his experiences and how he made it through them. The songwriter explained that a lot of the music he writes surrounds pain, which he feels is most relatable.
“In a world where everyone’s trying to fake perfection, I’ll just always be that guy that tells it as it really is. The world isn’t perfect. People are messed up, myself included. And all we can try to do is stay positive and learn from our mistakes, but the fact still stands that nobody’s perfect,” the singer stressed.
Since the release of his songs, the singer has received a lot of positive and encouraging feedback. He has also received some criticism, but he does not feel discouraged by this. In fact, Nick pays attention so as to better hone his skill and create a better self.
Singing and song writing are not the only things Nick can do. He also plays the guitar, though he has never taken any classes. He is self-taught.
Speaking about where he hopes to take his music someday, Nick said, “I hope to be able to launch a proper record label in Guyana someday and provide the younger generation with an easier route in which to make music a career.”
The singer can be followed on Facebook @ Nick Augustine or on his YouTube channel @ BNick Official Music.
