We were lucky to catch up with Nick Baxter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nick, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Every song I make is meaningful and as I grow more as an artist and individual it feels like each song i’m working on becomes more meaningful. I just released a new song called “Sidewalk Slams” and I made the entire music video myself using some of my animation and visual art skills so that was definitely a pretty meaningful and involved project as well as milestone as I would like to continue having full creative control over the visuals for my music.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a local artist and musician from Raleigh, North Carolina, who performs under the name Gnarley Nick. I grew up in the Raleigh area and spent most of my free time skateboarding and playing drums with my friend and bandmate, Justin. Our band is called Shadows, and we do a one-off show now and then when we can find the time. I actively make music as a rapper and have been rapping for about a decade. It started as rapping over beats in cars until I decided to record one day, and it’s been on ever since.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My main goal is to make music for the underdogs and misfits that feel like they can’t fit in. I’ve always had the compulsion to create, and during my teenage years, I don’t think I realized what I was making was for myself. Although I’m aware that I’m an outcast in this genre, I lean into it. I struggled for a long time trying to find my place until I realized I had to make that place for myself. So, where there was no show and no invitation to perform, I created events that packed the venue. I’m so intent on creating space for kids who feel left out because I know how that feels. The mission is to let those kids know they aren’t alone.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

If I could go back in time, I probably would have started my website and social media accounts sooner because it’s the easiest way to take charge and put yourself out there on a limited budget. It’s also allowed me to reach people that I wouldn’t have got the chance to otherwise. I enjoy making videos and sharing the true behind-the-scenes so that other performers (or future performers) can see what goes into it. I feel like a lot of artists gatekeep and try to keep new people out of the scene. Having been around all types of artists, I can honestly say it’s not as glamorous as it seems. It’s hard work to build a following, make a music video, and sit down to write a good song. I want people to know that if they put in the time and effort, they can go a long way on their own. I hope to be living proof.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gnarleynick.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/gnarleynick
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/gnarleynick
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/gnarleynick

Image Credits
Cover photo by Edde Burgess Skateboarding photo by Kevin Lithium Illustrations by Gnarley Nick