About

The Long Version

Nick’s passion for music ignited at a young age. He began formal guitar training at the age of ten, following an early introduction to the instrument by his mother. His dedication and talent earned him a scholarship to The Victorian College of The Arts Secondary School (VCASS), where he studied alongside some of the country’s top young musicians. In 2010, Nick moved to Perth to further his education in jazz at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), graduating in 2012.

Since then, Nick has traveled the world, performing as both a lead guitarist and an acoustic soloist with companies like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival, and Holland America. His joyful and engaging demeanor, combined with his complex yet carefree playing style, has won him a dedicated following. Influenced by artists such as Jason Mraz and Martin Taylor, Nick is known for his quick, accurate fingerpicking, dynamic tempo changes, and smooth transitions from spoken word segments to catchy choruses.

Nick’s 2021 single "Care For" was followed by "Stardust," a track described as a sky-gazing earworm that explores themes of self-reflection, loss of faith, and clarity. The dreamy synth and gritty guitar create an unforgettable listening experience. Currently, Nick is based between Australia and the UK, continuing to craft soulful and authentic music.

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Nick's journey with the guitar began at the age of nine when his mother gave him a nylon-string guitar and a method book, promising lessons once he completed the book. A few months later, having finished the book, he persuaded his music teacher to let him join the primary school band, despite being considered too young. His early guitar teacher, Jeff Box, introduced him to the underlying theory of chords and scales and sparked his interest in improvisation.

In 2009, at 14, Nick was curious if there was a way to avoid the typical academic path, so he decided to audition for VCASS. Although initially unsuccessful, he reconsidered the requirements and sought out a classical guitar teacher. Following a recommendation from the head of guitar at VCA, Tonie Field, he began studying with Ben Dix, who introduced him to the great Classical Guitar repertoire. With a clearer understanding of the requirements and a successful audition, Nick was accepted into VCASS, where he studied Classical Guitar under Ben Dix and Jazz Guitar under Peter Petrucci.

From 2010 to 2012, Nick attended WAAPA in Western Australia, immersing himself in jazz performance, improvisation, composition, and arranging. In 2013, Nick auditioned and secured a position as a guitarist on Holland America’s Westerdam, gaining experience in theatre backing, pit orchestras, party bands, and dance music. During this time, he also began developing his voice and decided to pursue work as a soloist, a role that offered more control over his material and better conditions onboard.

Nick sent a showreel to several agencies and cruise lines, eventually joining Landau’s roster and performing as a soloist for Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean. His cruise ship work took him across the U.S. (Seattle, Alaska, Miami), the Caribbean, the Baltics, and the Mediterranean.

In 2015, Nick relocated to London, where he based himself for the next five years. With just three months of savings, he gave himself six weeks to secure regular gigs. Fortunately, within a few weeks, he began performing full-time, playing 3-6 gigs a week around London. During this period, he connected with producer Andy O’Neil to record his first EP, Lover Birds, released in 2016. Andy introduced Nick to the full recording process, which spurred his interest in learning the fundamentals of recording and producing. He continued to grow his catalogue by working with other producers, releasing singles like “Lesson Learnt” and “Misery Has Everything” throughout 2018.

Nick performed at notable venues in London, including the National Gallery of London, Harrods, and The London Eye. In 2019, he returned to Royal Caribbean with plans to focus on original music upon his return to London, but the pandemic interrupted these plans, leading Nick back to Australia, where he eventually settled in Airlie Beach, Queensland.

Grounded in a new town with an uncertain timeline, Nick quickly picked up regular gigs in the area after a three-month lockdown. In March 2021, Total Entertainment, an entertainment agency based in the Whitsundays, recruited Nick to help build their roster and serve as the point musician on Hamilton Island. There, he spent 1.5 years playing 6-9 gigs a week and expanding the roster to two musicians performing 12 gigs a week. He played for numerous corporate galas and events and helped Total Entertainment expand its bookings to include Hayman Island Resort.

In mid-2022, Nick moved off the island to Airlie Beach to focus on writing, production, and recording. Later that year, he joined the band Flying Double Front Kick as a bassist, alongside singer-songwriter Kaeden McCarthy and drummer Simon Briley. The band released music regularly throughout 2022-2024. Nick was also commissioned to write a series of Classical Guitar Meditations under the alias Twilight Place, which has amassed over 1 million streams to date.

Nick continues to perform full-time across the Whitsundays and broader Australia, with plans to return to the UK in December 2024.