Nick (the Dream) Weaver started playing guitar in 1976. His biggest inspiration was his older brother who played multiple instruments and was a folk singer/song writer. Nick started writing songs in the mid 1980’s and hasn’t slowed down since. His songs have been played on NPR, College Radio Stations, Indie Broadcasts and Internet radio world wide. Nick has performed live on KWJG (a radio station based in Alaska). He has played Folk and Music festivals across Alaska. Along with local news articles reviews, his songs have won first place in Creative Arts Contests hosted by the Veteran’s Administration.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Nick about this music, technology, challenges, how the music biz has changed and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I was born in Montana and that is where I first started playing music. That was about 1976. By 1978 I was traveling a lot and wrote my first song in 1980. Currently, I reside in Anchorage, Alaska and have been here for 27 years. This is where my singer/songwriter career really started.
I primarily write folk/country songs, but I always wanted to stay expanded in my thinking so I’ve also written blues, swing, reggae, and alternative style tunes. My album “Spirals”, is a sampling of a few of my other albums and a mix of some of the different genres.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I had a brother ten years older than me who was a songwriter and very talented musician, that inspired me to play guitar when I was sixteen.
When I was about Forty I had written many songs and friends around me were getting CD’s recorded, which motivated me to go purchase equipment to create my own recording studio. In becoming my own studio engineer, I was now able to create at my own pace. There was absolutely, a learning curve, but, it made it easier for me to create with minimal monetary restrictions. Being able to stay open to this creative flow, without paying hundreds of dollars for production of my music, has allowed me the freedom, and time to create and record on a schedule that suits my inner muse.
I stepped into the digital music age as a late comer round 2008. The response from those who come and listen to what I create as a singer/songwriter keeps me motivated to keep going and the freedom to be creative keeps me motivated as well.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
“Spirals” is non genre specific. It covers country, folk, jazz, reggae, alternative, as well as dark, light, lighthearted humor, romance, real life, human kindness, and spirituality.
My goal with “Spirals” was to highlight some previous releases, introduce some new ones, and cover as much of the gamut of life as could be portrayed in one release.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
One of my biggest challenges is always having the money to put releases out to the public. (I guess it’s true, you have to spend money to make money). Also, quoting one of my own songs (The Songwriter) “Just a drop in a sea of musicians, and a heart full of raging ambitions, left nothing but frustration, and a lifetime of songs to go……”
Even though, I may have those frustrations at times, the digital age has helped me immensely. Streaming revenues are low, but it’s more than I was making when I didn’t have those incomes available to me. Since about 2012, I’ve had a few songs that paid some surprising (to me) royalties. Internet radio, college radio, and broadcast radio. One of my earliest songs was picked up by two television programs in the UK on public broadcasting. I owe it all to the digital age.
What was the last song you listened to?
I have a good friend and talented musician/songwriter here in Anchorage. We’ve co-written a few songs together. I just listened to our latest release, “Avec Mon Deja Vu” by The Swing Jumpers. It’s a New Swing style song he produced in his studio. It’s the last song I listened to today.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I was born in 1960, all we had was vinyl back then. In the early 70’s my older brother had a reel to reel tape deck with several albums. I would lay in bed at night with head phones on and listen to some great music. Then I listened to eight track tapes. Remember those? LOL. Then came cassettes, and then CD’s. Now it’s only digital MP3’s that I listen too. I still buy music that appeals to me or older material I’ve owned before. I’ll buy the CD’s, load the music onto my i-pod, and put the CD away.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I listen to a variety of sites when I get tired of one or want to hear something different. I might tune into Spotify, sometimes Amazon, Apple, or my expansive list of songs on my i-Pod.
Music is so much about mood. What kind of mood am I in today? If I’m having a down-in-the-dumps day I have a tendency to listen to melancholy songs on whichever streaming site is available to me at that moment. If I’m having a very uplifting day, it’s going to be happier spring-in-your-step music. Sometimes I stream Soundcloud as well.
Many times, it’s about availability. I’m grateful for all the streaming sites that put music at your fingertips. I like the playlists because many times I get to hear new artists and music I have never heard before. I’ve ended up buying albums because of what I heard on a playlist or sometimes on our local public radio stations. Because I spend so much of my free time writing and recording, I don’t get to explore new music like I used to. I have a day job that allows me to listen to whatever I want musically, so that’s where I get to discover other artists. I spend a fair amount of time with the music I grew up with as well. On my i-Pod, I have music that is only local to Alaska and you won’t find some of it on line.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
Do you ever google yourself? I have. I like what I see when I type in Nick The Dream Weaver and hit the search or enter button. So many places you can find me. reverbnation.com , soundcloud.com , Spotify, Apple i-Tunes, Amazon, YouTube, i-Heart radio, Deezer, and so many others. If you stream on any site, search for Nick The Dream Weaver. I also have a website nickweaversongs.com I’m always releasing new music. I have several albums in the wings as well as singles, and I hope to release a new album in April 2020. On the nickweaversongs.com website, you can also connect with me via email for questions or comments.
Anything else before we sign off?
The business of music is changing so much from when I was growing up. If you are a singer/songwriter, invest in yourself. You probably won’t make a million dollars but you will be listened to by many. People you don’t know, people you do know. If you can’t afford to go into a studio, take the time to create your own, take the time to learn how to become a studio engineer. It’s an investment in yourself. Do it. Use the resources available online to get yourself out there. I’ve gone as far as to create my own publishing company and my own independent label. What better investment is there? Make yourself a priority and have fun with it. Sometimes, it’s just about the appreciation that someone out there is listening.
