We recently connected with Nico Turner and have shared our conversation below.

Nico, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

My career has always been risk-driven, and I feel I’ve had a clear understanding of who I am andre that with the world. I attended college for one year, though it wasn’t my intended institution. I had received a scholarship to a top fine arts college in the U.S., but my mother insisted I should attend al arts college i how to best shanstead. Although I disagreed, I followed her wishes and ended up two-year libera miserable. I loathed my experience, attended classes infrequently, and ultimately flunked out. During that time, I made a commitment to become a musician, with aspirations to perform on stages around the globe, sharing my music widely. I fully believed in myself, and I chose not to return to college after that initial year. A few years later, I secured a show at a local all-ages venue. My idea was to create music live in front of the audience, drawing from the energy of the space—I had booked the show even before writing the songs. Although a planned collaborator dropped out last minute, I invited my girlfriend to join me. Our performance was exhilarating and transformative. I realized that taking risks aligned with my purpose led to success. A similar opportunity arose when I was invited to open for a larger band. They asked if I had enough songs for the upcoming U.S. tour, and I confidently replied yes, spending the entire following week writing. Eventually, I co-founded a business named Dreams of L.A., where we began hosting an event called Gay Asstrology. This event aimed to create a safe space for the queer community, a welcoming environment where everyone could truly be themselves. While it’s never perfect, embracing risk has taught me to adapt and grow through the process.

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 am Nico Turner, a Native Los Angeleno. I am an artist and Musician, and I also co-host a queer dance party called Gay Asstrology. I got into music over a decade and a half ago. I just began by believing in what I was doing; thankfully, others did as well. I’ve toured with some of my heroes (like Cat Power, or Vincent Gallo), and I have recently recorded my first solo record (at The Market Recording). I hope to release it soon and tour. I also paint large-scale oil portraits and have been creating a series of paintings of my friends recently. The party came about as a response to something I felt my friends and I needed in our lives – queer community that felt accepting of us as we are. The idea was to create a space that everyone feels welcome in, no matter race, sexual orientation, or how you identify. We hope to expand to other cities that need help building a safe space or broader community. I would love for us to expand into other areas as well, like queer music festivals, queer-centric health and wellness spaces, etc. I feel very called to help provide space to others. I have a skill and love of connecting people to what will help them thrive and flourish as individuals and in community. I attempt to do this with my music and with my visual art as well, especially now in the world we live in… it feels paramount to our longevity to heal together and to build together.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think there’s a bit of a disconnect sometimes between creatives and others who have a more practical way of thinking or approach to life. For a creative mind, there has to be a lot of blank space, a lot of time spent that maybe looks like it’s being wasted. Sometimes creative movement happens in stillness and sometimes it happens with a lot of energy. However it happens, the creative mind is always going to think about things differently than what may seem like the straightforward path. The creative is visual; the creative looks at a thing from all sides and doesn’t immediately see any limitations. The creative is continuously curious and always looks for a way through. I’ve run into folks who think differently than I do, and I’m always intrigued to hear something I haven’t thought of. I think sometimes non-creatives will get stuck in thinking that there is only one way to do something, or they get frustrated at the creative’s attempts to suggest other paths of accomplishing the same goal. I think the main thing to know is that a creative person thinks very differently and doesn’t judge their work or thoughts in the same way as a non-creative. I think both ways of being are beneficial and necessary!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that I am alone in the world or in my work or on my path. I used to spend entire days alone, working on my craft, making art, or even alone in community building. I had almost a fear of going out and being with people. I was afraid that I was too different. Too strange. That I wouldn’t belong. I had to push myself to just be in the uncomfortable beginnings of going out, speaking with people, and really settling into being myself in the world.

I spent a lot of time alone as a kid and I think I misinterpreted that alone time with loneliness. I had to redesign what alone time looked and felt like for me so I can now take joy in it and really accomplish whatever I need to accomplish, whether it be a painting, a song, working out, or simply sitting and reading a book.

I think sometimes, as a creative, you do have long stretches of doing what may feel like lonely work. I had to learn that it’s very important not to isolate. It’s very important to remember that there is a community of people that you are a part of. Also, if you don’t see the community you need or want, maybe it’s a sign that you can help create one. A lot can be gained, and a lot of progress can happen from collaboration and just being present in the world sometimes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Nicoturner
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoturner/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nico-turner-75615545/

Image Credits

1. Andrew James Peters
2. Derrick K. Lee
3. Sorrell
4. Nico Turner
5. Jules Kinkela