By ERIC SCHELKOPF
Singer-songwriter Nick Wiesner hopes that his music helps people through their struggles.
The 21-year-old Aurora native is set to release his debut studio album, “Valerie Blaine,” on June 23. To celebrate the release of the album, Wiesner will perform at 8 p.m. June 23 at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave. in downtown Aurora.
Also on the bill is Mirabelle Skipworth and The Brink Of. General admission tickets are $10, available at The Venue’s website, themusicvenue.org.
I had the chance to Wiesner about the new album.
Q – Great talking to you. I understand this is your debut studio album. What was it like to make an album in a studio this time around?
It was so surreal. I just got to work with so many people who were just so professional and so committed to putting their all into this project.
Q – Where did you make your debut album, “Flight”?
That was made in a spare room/garage of one of my friends. It was just one mike and no drums.
Q – And your EP, “Growing Up,” where was that made?
That was made in my bedroom.
Q – And that was released in May 2020 and comprised of songs that you wrote during the COVID-19 quarantine. So I guess it made sense that you made the album in your bedroom.
Yeah, that was kind of intentional. I wanted to share the quarantine experience that I was having. I was in high school at the time.
Q – Does your debut studio album, “Valerie Blaine,” have guest musicians on it?
Yes. I think there are close to 15 people who ended up contributing in some way.
Q – So I understand the album is named for a person who you never met before that person unfortunately passed away.
It’s a very unfortunate story, but it is what inspired the whole album, really. About two years ago, when I was finishing high school, I was also going through some very challenging mental illness struggles.
It’s a pretty big focus on the album. That’s essentially what this album is for, suicide prevention.
Because I struggled with that near the end of my high school experience. That’s actually why I started writing the song “Valerie Blaine,” because I made it through an attempt. The first verse is about me and my experiences.
I learned about a fellow high school student who had committed suicide like the day after I started writing that song. So the rest of that song after that first verse is dedicated to him.
I chose the name Valerie Blaine because I didn’t want to share his name. That’s not my information to share.
But I wanted it to be a specific name because it’s a very personal issue. Everybody deals with it differently and nobody can truly know how anybody else is feeling.
I made it a fictional person so it can apply to everybody who deals with it, but in a broad spectrum.
Q – I understand that you consider “Valerie Blaine” to be the most personal album you have released.
Yes, which says a lot, because I don’t really write music that doesn’t have at least some sort of personal connection.
Q – And of course Mirabelle Skipworth is on the bill with you at The Venue. I know she is originally from the area.
She is like the reason I am a musician today, actually. They used to run an open mike night at Tredwell Coffee in downtown Aurora, which unfortunately, is now closed.
Mirabelle heard me perform at Tredwell and she told me she thought I was really good and that she thought she could get me some gigs.
Q – That’s nice when musicians can come together like that.
Yeah, and she’s all about that.
Q – Ultimately, what would you like your music to do for people?
If people are struggling, they can listen to the songs and feel heard. They might not necessarily feel all better right away, but just feel justified in their sadness or justified in their struggles.
No comments:
Post a Comment