Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nick Coetzee . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nick , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The gift of life documentary

https://youtu.be/P9CoX7GD6N0?feature=shared

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always had a leaning to be a creative and growing up in South Africa wasn’t easy. I had a small world view and realized that finding my way to the US was firmly in my sites. An invitation to Australia in 1989 was one step toward my goal. For 6 years I worked hard at my craft. 1989 was my first experience at a DAW, a digital workstation. Nothing like what’s available today as it was only midi based and allowed me to create tracks with samples and so began my career as a composer and producer.

1993 the Rain Man soundtrack by Hans Zimmer had a profound effect on me and deep down I knew this is what I really want to do. In that same year in Brisbane Australia I was asked to composed the music for a 5 night a week drama series called Paradise Beach. I was producing albums for Christian Artists, writing TV scores and from time to time conducted workshops for church worship teams.

I had released 2 instrumental albums and won a number of awards but I still wanted to move to the USA.
I took a trip to the US and handed out a few CD’s and two significant things came from that.

1. A large Non Profit in LA heard one of my songs and they wanted to use the song as their theme each year for star studded event they hosted each year called the vision awards. RP international ( Retinitus Pigmentosa) a degenerative eye disease has been very instrumental in funding the clinical research and trials to slow down macular degeneration or reverse the effects of this debilitating disease. Incidentally because it’s not life treating there is much federal funding and hence the vision awards
Every year for 15 years I was flown in to be a part of this prestigious event. Recording and performing multiple songs with notable artists.
2. A recording contract from an American record company. This was to be 2 album deal with world wide distribution.
Around that same time another record company had approached once they had heard the instrumental recordings. They offered me an opportunity to to work with the best of the best in the industry and they also asked me to arrange and produce the first recording of the hit song, Shout to the Lord for the US market.

1995 turned out to be a big year as I was offered a worship leading job in a church in South Carolina and had 3 international releases.
My vision was two fold,
Own a production studio and be a resource for singers and songwriters to help get their music out there.
Also to prepare for a career as a composer for film and TV.

Now nearly 30 years later I am living that dream and now having produced hundreds of projects and lately scoring for various faith based film and tv productions, I can’t wait to see what’s next.
In closing I want to mention that my wife Alisa and I have a heart to establish a non profit that provides resources to gifted artists who otherwise might go unheard. This foundation will inspire community and creativity and a platform for new artists and songs.

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

Since 1991 my vision has been clear: to bring hope, inspiration and community to artists and songwriters all over the world.

Rain Music works with aspiring artists providing them an opportunity to record, release their original music and videos.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is for instance when I cook a meal which is very often I love to watch the reaction after the first bite. When I play an original song for the first time I feed off the audience.
When I play my beautiful grand piano and my wife is listening as she draws out my creativity because I know she loves hearing me play.

Contact Info:

• Website: Rainmusic.org Nickcoetzee.com
• Instagram: Nickycoetzee
• Facebook: Nick Coetzee
• Youtube: NickCoetzee