Let’s dive into Nico May’s diverse inspirations, as he paints his journey throught rhytym and style
From the early days surrounded by melodies to a seamless fusion of genres, May’s narrative encapsulates an evolution marked by passion and exploration. Unravel the story behind his transition from rap to the soulful embrace of indie folk, all while drawing inspiration from a diverse tapestry of artists.
DAMAN: How did you start getting into music? What was your start?
Nico May: Growing up I was always around music, whether that was listening to it or playing it. In second grade, my parents encouraged my siblings and I to choose an instrument, and I opted for the Alto Saxophone, marking my entry into the music world. I spent seven years in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Jazz Program, gaining valuable insights into music theory, reading sheet music, and improvisation. During high school, I passionately explored diverse music genres, diving in without a concrete plan, simply having fun and experimenting with various sounds.
DA: How was getting into songwriting for you, was it a difficult process or adjustment?
NM: I would say you could call it an “evolution”. I first started songwriting six years ago and my sound has drastically changed throughout that time. When I first started, I was drawn to rap, but as my commitment to songwriting deepened, I began exploring new instruments like the guitar, and my style gravitated towards singer-songwriter and indie folk music.
DA: What other artists inspire you?
NM: I think this question is pretty hard for me to answer because there are a lot of names. I feel like I get inspiration from certain parts of different songs. For example, I think Noah Kahan and Zach Bryans storytelling and lyricism is some of the best and I try to write in a similar way.
DA: What did you listen to growing up and do you pull any inspiration from music you heard when you were younger?
NM: Growing up, I took a lot of listening inspiration from my brother. I’m sure many people can relate to being the younger sibling and following in the older siblings footsteps. I think thats something that I definitely did whether that was Music, Sports, or Hobbies. I grew up listening to a wide variety of genres. From Jazz, 90s Rap, Pop, New School Rap, to Country.
DA: Did you always know you were going to do music? If not, what else did you think you were going to do?
NM: Music has always captivated me, and I believed that with hard work, it could lead to something meaningful. After high school, I enrolled in college to pursue a degree in Biology and Computer Science, but I realized I lacked the deep passion for these subjects. I made the decision to take a year off and wholeheartedly commit to pursuing music seriously.
“THIS TOUR WILL GIVE ME 15 CHANCES TO DISCOVER SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF AS AN ARTIST, AND HOW I CAN IMPROVE”
DA: Other than music do you have any other goals that you want to achieve?
NM: Fashion has been a lifelong passion of mine. I used to model during my childhood, participating in photo shoots and even commercials. My first intro into acting occurred when I played the lead role in a short film featured at the Milwaukee Film Festival. I’m an unapologetic shopaholic and hold a deep affection for the fashion industry. Pursuing a career in modeling and acting is undoubtedly another aspiration of mine
PHOTOGRAPHY @photographermitchell
STYLING @jckimstyle
Singer Nico May
Grooming Maxwell Martin/ Exclusive Artists
Production @mediaplaypr