Nick Howard
 FMFB: When did you realize you wanted to be performer?
NH: I don't know that I realized it... I have always been
performing in one way or another. I made a conscious
decision to become a singer, and make an album. Performing
is just one of the essential things in making this
career happen.... I was very nervous about sharing
my work in a performance at first, but now, I'm actually
enjoying it.
FMFB: You are an engineer/producer/artist, was that the natural
progression and where do you feel more at home?
NH: Actually the progression was, artist/producer/engineer
and then artist again. I feel the most at home and
satisfied when I am creating. I got into engineering
so that I could keep a foot in the music biz, and be
able to make a living at the same time. I have to constantly
be surrounded by music.
FMFB: Is there a particular artist you will like to collab
with?
NH: I don't have any dream collabs in mind, but there are
plenty of talented people out there that I would not
mind working with at all. Alicea Keys, OutKast, Nas....
just to name a few.
FMFB: You say music is a she, do you feel you have found
your perfect mate or are you still looking? in other
words do you feel you found your musical style and
niche?
NH: I think I have found my perfect mate. I don't think
of her in terms of musical style or niche. I just do
what she tells me to do. I feel if I am open to her,
she will be open with me, and there will be no way
musical style or niche will get in the way of people
recognizing our relationship.
FMFB: Top ten artist you are listening to?
NH: hmmm.. that's a tough one... at the moment, in no particular
order Amy Winehouse
Alice Smith
System of a Down
Bronze Nazareth
Duke Ellington
T Bone Walker
Citizen Cope
Rachmaninov
Billie Holiday
Curtis Mayfield
FMFB: Your best show to date and where
NH: SOB's July 11th. It was a BMI showcase. I had a great
crowd of friends there, and even though it was just
a 4 song set, everyone, including myself, had a great
time!
FMFB: Tell us about Belief & Hustle Records
NH: It's the record company that I started about 4 years
ago. The first album funded by Belief & Hustle is my album, "A Rip in the Sky"... out now,
www.cdbaby.com/howardnick. I was going through a tough time, where I had no money,
tired of my job, just got out of a tough relationship. I said to myself, "All I
have is my Belief and my Hustle.....hmmmm, that's a good name for a record
company". So it stuck.
FMFB: What are your thoughts on the state of the industry?
NH: I'll give you the short answer. I think the people
who are running the industry, are more worried about
losing their jobs, than NOT following trends, and trying
to suffocate the market with what turns out to be,
a clone of the "artist" that their competition put out 6 months ago. I think the industry is
more focused on bravado and bullshit than actual talent, and that's why we have
seen a steady decline in record sales, because the consumer doesn't believe in
the "artists" that are marketed to them. I think I'll stop there
FMFB: Other than you getting on, are there other artist you
producing and any you will like to give props to?
NH: We've got a very talented couple of rappers that we
are developing, and producing. A guy from Queensbridge
named Devious and a girl that I've been trying to get
into the studio for ages named Sig.... They are both
dope, and you should look out for them.
FMFB: As you well know, it is all about moving units. What
is the most amount of tickets you have sold when playing
live?
NH: Truthfully, I've always done free shows, since I actually just started
performing for this album... so let's see how many
I sell for this one...
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