N!CO: The NAMM Show 2025 Interviews

N!CO: The NAMM Show 2025 Interviews

N!CO is a singer / songwriter on the rise who also produces and does mixing and mastering as well!  In addition to being a member of the band Youthanize, N!CO has released four solo singles, the most recent being an intriguing reverie entitled Baby Blue.  N!CO had a lot to celebrate on a weekend where the world gathers at The Anaheim Convention Center for the annual event as Baby Blue was being released on digital platforms during the much-revered convention.  Highwire Daze caught up with N!CO to find out more about this new amazing artist.  Read on…

We’re here with N!co at The NAMM Show. First of all, what are you most excited about being here at The NAMM Show today?
I’m excited to see friends, especially because there are people who come from all across the nation, and they all meet here. It’s like a big group of musicians. It’s been fun to connect with people and catch up with everybody. That’s probably the main thing.

Tell me a little about yourself and your music.
I’ve been playing music since I was 5. I started on guitar and then I learned bass from guitar. My sister played drums, and I kind of stole those drums from her. I just try to learn as many instruments as I can. And then after a while of playing for different people being in different bands, I started making my own music. Then I learned to produce, mix, and master. I wanted to do everything myself, so I didn’t have to rely on anyone else. Since then, I’ve been making music on my own. And I’ve released a few songs, but I’m still playing with other people. And that’s kind of where I’m at now.

You just released a new single last night.
I did! The name of the song is called Baby Blue. It’s a sad song. It’s about a girl. I was kind of going through it when I wrote it. It’s a sad song, and I was just kind of pouring my feelings out on it. She’s heard it now.

What did she think?
She thought it was really good. Then she did reach out. We’re speaking about it. Very, very vulnerable song. I think this is the most vulnerable I’ve been in a song. The first song I released was kind of sad too, but this one is probably like the most I’ve put out there.

Tell me about some of your other songs.
Right now, I have four out. I started with Worse Than Me, and then the second one is called Deep In My Mind, and the third one is called Talk To You. And then the one I released right now is Baby Blue.

Let’s talk about Worse Than Me – the very first solo song you released.
Worse Than Me – I really wanted to release a song, and I went through a breakup at the time – so I locked myself in a room for a couple of days. That’s really pretty much it. I finished it and I showed it to my dad, and they were saying “release it!” I was like “alright,” and I released it. And since then, I’ve been making music. Because it was the first one and I did everything myself – I was proud of it. It has a special place in my heart. I like that one – it was nice.

It’s interesting how most musicians write the best songs when they’re sad. Who can really write when you’re happy?
When I’m sad, writing these songs is kind of like a way to cope with it. But then, the song is already done – I might as well release it. I do like happy songs, and the next one will probably be happy, cuz I need to get out of the sad slump. I think I’ll start moving there for the next few songs.

So, we’ll see Happy N!co is the next song maybe?
Yes, hopefully – that’s the goal.

If you could open for any band or artist either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
If we’re talking like big, big artists, maybe Billie Eilish – just because I feel her music has changed a lot over the years – and I think some of her albums have inspired what I do. I really love her music.

If you were invited to be on a Billie Eilish tribute album to cover one song, what song would you choose and why?
She has a song called Ilomilo – I would say that song. That album that it’s off of is called When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? That album kind of shaped how I do music now, and it changed a lot of stuff in my production. But that song specifically – the production on it is amazing – and that was probably my favorite off the album, so probably that song I would say.

What would you like to a listener to remember the most after your music for the first time?
I think it depends on which song it is – because there are some songs that I’m really proud of the production. So, they need them to sit in a room by themselves, close their eyes, and try to envision each instrument – listen to each instrument individually – and then listen to it all come together. I think that’s really cool about the music I’ve been making. I just hope some people relate to it – some people can find some peace in it – that’s probably the goal.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Vivian Ortega of So Finch Photography)

N!CO on Instagram