Today, we are speaking with Nick Calarco.
Can you give us a little background information about yourself?
Growing up I have always had a love for music. Being from NY we had a lot of access to different music genres. I have always been into the dance, dance pop, EDM genre of music. As a kid growing up I used to pretend I was on the radio mixing songs together like a DJ. Sadly my music interest was placed on hold while I focused on my career in aviation. After that I remember what was mirt you want out of life is wrong. The music I create is to help everyone be true to who they are and know that you are loved and should always be yourself. Be the best version of it. You should never feel like you need to impress in order to be happy. We need to be happy with the person we are, and the music I create is in hopes that we one day truly believe this. For just the duration of my songs, I hope that we can let go and be in the moment. Smile, Laugh, Be happy, and BE YOU. I hope you all enjoy it!
How did you ultimately come into creating music?
Being a lover of music it was easy for me to want to start creating it. I believe one of my biggest pushes into music was being a part of the LGBT community. It isn’t easy being a part of it sometimes and music was always my biggest outlet. I was always able to come to music and feel like I belonged. A lot of the music I listen to just helps you be in the moment and forget about your problems and that is exactly what I want to do for many with my music. I want to give them an easy outlet where they can let the world fade and let the music in.
What does your recording set up look like (e.g. what do you use to record, what are your favorite tools)?
I use a program on my laptop to mix the melodies and have a professional microphone to record the lyrics. It’s kind of a simple but powerful setup. Being in your own element is super important when trying to be creative. The surroundings you keep are ultimately your inspiration when you create. Being a flight attendant and traveling around the country and world I use the surroundings I’m in to get my inspiration to create. I love being able to do this because it makes the music I write very inclusive to everyone around the world and this is very important to me. I want everyone to enjoy my music as much as I do and feel that sense of belonging.
What is objectively different between the singles in your discography – Be You, My Reflection, and Dance Together?
Growing up I didn’t always have the best self esteem and it actually lingers today. My Reflection is actually the “reflection” of me talking to my bad self esteem and my inner demons and wondering why it won’t go away. If you listen to the lyrics I’m trying to figure out why it happens the way it does and why I can’t solve these thoughts and feelings. Dance together is just that, it’s my first single and the opening point to my music being an outlet. Just to come together and dance and just enjoy the music and the sense of being together. Be You was actually a struggle mentally to produce and create. This was a reflection of being in the LGBT community and seeing what was going on in the world. Seeing the hurt that everyone is feeling through the riots, protests, COVID, and those not being able to see their loved ones while they were sick. This song was created as a reminder that no matter what, you are loved, you are wanted, and being yourself is all the world could ever ask for.
Tracks like Be You have a powerful message weaved throughout; what sort of other morals or sentiments do you include within the rest of your discography?
The emotions I got from writing “Be You” were indescribable. However, this is the type of message and type of music that I want to create. I think it is very important to write and create music from your heart and soul this way you can connect to your fans on an even deeper level. Each song I create has a theme attached, mainly things that happened in my past, present, and future that many people can relate to. Being in the LGBT community I know life gets hard sometimes and majority of my music is just to make sure everyone feels a sense of being included. We are one in this world and we need to understand that we all hurt and we all need compassion and love. Being a flight attendant and meeting so many different people and hearing so many different stories it is important to me to give someone even just for the duration of my songs a place where they can go and just let it all go.
These singles – along with others – will ultimately constitute a new album. What should fans expect from the rest of the music that will make it onto the disc?
My album is actually about to go live with 15 songs on it included my 4 singles. Each of my songs will always have an underlying theme or message because it’s important to write with heart and soul and I will always live by this. On my website nickcalarco.com I am working on explaining the message behind each one. Some artist release their music and you listen to the lyrics and aren’t really sure why, or what the message is. However, I don’t want fans living a cliffhanger like a movie, so I am making it a point to explain each song and why it was created. The new album is “My Strength” and it’s called that just for what it is, my first album and the strength I found in my music to pick up, dust off, and move forward into the future.
How has the current pandemic changed your approach to creating music and playing to audiences?
Before the world turned into the scary place it is today, I was planning on possibly performing in some local places, or submit to play at edc events or things like that. Living in South Florida, EDM and dance pop music are very popular so I feel like My music would fit in very easily. As we see the world needs to adapt, and so does everyone living in it. I’m now trying to get ideas on how to move forward over just creating and publishing music. I was thinking of possibly doing some live streams or maybe even areas more open to do performances in parks that will allow it under the social distancing rules. Or even just posting videos of performances or something to that extent. I’m currently working on a music videos to keep my listeners engaged before I can figure out how to to do more of a “live” interaction. I will have all my announcements and events posted to my website nickcalarco.com when I can figure it all out.
How can interested NeuFutur readers locate samples of your music?
Listeners can hear my music on all the major streaming platforms. You can check out my website where I have direct links to all the major platforms as well. Before my album was published I had exclusive sneak peaks to my songs on there as well. You can subscribe to get all updates directly from me.
Finally, do you have any additional thoughts about life and the universe for our readers?
I feel like now more than ever we need to come together and be there for one another. Celebrate each other in the good times and the bad times. People need to be celebrated in their good and bad times because helping someone whose really down brings them to the point of being able to celebrate them when you pick them up. The world is a scary places right now and being divided isn’t going to solve any problems. No one truly realizes the power of even just a simple smile. We don’t know what is going on in someone’s world and I truly believe being together and working together will help us solve so many of the issues we have major, small, or underlying. I hope that my music can help create some kind of sense of togetherness. It’s important again to know that you are loved, you are included, and being you, the best you that you can be is more than enough.
I want to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to be interviewed by NeuFutur. This is an opportunity I never thought I’d get to experience. When you do something you love and get recognized for it, it’s a feeling that is unexplainable. But also when you do something you love and help someone out however minute, the feeling is even greater. Without the support of my grandparents, parents, friends, and family, I have no idea where I’d be. I hope that this is a long lasting career for me and I’m able to put all my thoughts and ideas into action. We need to be a lot more selfless and bring up those struggling and in need from those who are not. The only way we are going to be successful in life, as a society, is be there for one another. Give that helping hand to those in need, because one day we are going to need that hand ourself.
I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity.
Thank you so much for your time.