Knowing His Name: Nic Dantes on His First Live Show, New Music, and Building His Own Path
Knowing His Name: Nic Dantes on His First Live Show, New Music, and Building His Own Path
Less than 24 hours after making his live performance debut at We Found New Music at Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood, Nic Dantes sat down with Highwire Daze at a local Coffee Bean to reflect on a milestone moment in his artistic journey.
Already known to many through his acting work, including an appearance on Law & Order: SVU, Dantes is now carving out a space for himself in the music world with a blend of vulnerability, humor, and genuine heart. With the upcoming release of know my name encore, a collection featuring new songs that explore both the triumphs and challenges of chasing creative dreams, Dantes is proving he’s far more than an artist to watch. He’s an artist determined to be heard.
Fresh off the stage and still processing his first-ever live performance, Nic discussed the experience, the stories behind his newest songs, his ballet background, acting career, and the supportive community that’s grown around his music.
We’re back here with Nic Dantes, and this time we’re in West Hollywood at the Coffee Bean. How did your We Found New Music set go last night, and what were some of the highlights?
Well, first of all, it was my first show ever, which was surreal for me. I’m still sort of processing everything. Getting to perform my own original songs for the first time was such an exciting, scary, and liberating experience. I was so happy to receive such a warm response from everyone there.
What was going through your mind right before stepping on stage?
Gosh. To be totally honest, I was mostly focused on making sure I was going to hit all the notes, and making sure I had a water bottle next to me because I knew I was going to get parched. It’s funny how it’s always the little details that get into your head at the last second.
Who was your guitarist, and how much rehearsal time did you have together?
Nick Sword was my guitarist, and I actually met him just a day before the show. We only had about an hour-long rehearsal. He’s a mutual friend and he’s awesome. I’m really glad we connected.
It was also my first time ever working with a guitarist, which was really cool. Hearing my songs played acoustically added a whole new dimension to them. I’m a big fan of acoustic versions of songs, so when I chose to do this showcase, I already had that in mind. Since it was my debut performance, I wanted to introduce the songs in a more stripped-down and intimate way.
You’re re-releasing your EP Know My Name (Encore) and adding some new songs. Let’s talk about one of those tracks, “Lucky Boy.” You performed it last night, didn’t you?
I did. I got to give everyone a little sneak peek.
I’m very, very proud of “Lucky Boy.” The song is essentially about hard work versus luck. I think it’s easy these days to look at social media and see people’s victories and high points without seeing the hardships and obstacles they had to overcome to get there.
I try to present myself as someone who has things together, someone who knows what’s going on, but I wanted to write a song about the reality of being an independent artist. This isn’t luck. It’s passion. It’s hard work. And there’s a lot of pride that comes from that.
As someone who’s self-made and started from the ground up, no one told me to start making music or writing songs. It all came from something I felt in my heart. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I decided to pursue it. There’s a discipline that comes with passion, and no one can take that away from me.
The song is really for all the dreamers out there who are working hard every day to get where they want to go and who continue to believe in themselves.
Another one of the new songs has a pretty unforgettable title: “Stupid People on the Internet.” Tell me about that one.
“Stupid People on the Internet” is probably my favorite song I’ve ever written.
The title is another clickbait-style title, kind of like “Sextape (Worthy of Love)” from the original EP. The line actually comes from the first verse:
“Waking up in my bed, JK, I haven’t slept. Been up all night in my head, watching stupid people on the internet.”
At its core, the song is about grappling with disappointment when life doesn’t go the way you expected it to. It’s about dealing with confusion, anger, sadness, and all the emotions that come with plans falling apart.
I wrote it after moving back home and living with my parents. Earlier in my life, everything had moved so quickly. I was a child actor, performing in musical theater, training as a ballet dancer, living in New York City, pursuing dance, and making pop music. Then suddenly I was back home in the city where I grew up.
It felt like whiplash.
What I find funny about “Lucky Boy” and “Stupid People on the Internet” is that they’re complete opposites emotionally. One song comes from a place of feeling like a winner, while the other comes from feeling like a loser, feeling disconnected from where you think you should be in life and in your pursuit of your dreams.
I wanted both songs to be released together because they were written by the same person, and both feelings are real.
Sometimes, as an independent artist, you can feel like you’re on top of the world and like the biggest loser at exactly the same time. “Stupid People on the Internet” leans more toward that latter feeling.
I think it’s my favorite song because it’s so personal. I also think people will relate to it because we’ve all fallen into that trap of doom-scrolling, watching other people’s lives online, and feeling like we’re wasting away on our phones.
Let’s talk about “Sextape (Worthy of Love).” What kind of reactions have you received from that song so far?
Funnily enough, whenever someone asks me what’s the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, I always say releasing that song.
When I put out “Sextape (Worthy of Love),” I genuinely didn’t know how people were going to react. I thought it could go one of two ways: people were either going to love it or absolutely hate it.
To my surprise, I’ve received a lot of love for it. I think that’s because people understand what the song is actually about. It’s really about the universal desire to feel worthy of love.
I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the warm reception it’s received, and it’s encouraged me to become even more vulnerable and personal with my music. That’s a big reason why these next two songs are so personal.
It was definitely a risk and it was very scary, but I’m incredibly glad I did it.
What was it like having a chicken co-star in the video?
Duchess, my famous co-star!
One of the most exciting parts was having a live chicken on set. We had an amazing handler taking care of Duchess the entire time.
It was definitely surreal filming with a chicken sitting next to my head. What’s funny is that she was actually quite small, even though she looks much bigger on camera.
She was also incredibly professional. The chicken only pooped once on the pillowcase, so overall I’d say she did a fantastic job.
A lot of people don’t know there was actually a support chicken on set, too.
Duchess is still an award-winning hen and she’s doing great.
From Duchess the Chicken to working with Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order: SVU, recap that experience.
To this day, I’m incredibly grateful for that opportunity.
It taught me so much about acting, especially on-camera acting. Being part of such an iconic show was amazing, and Mariska was incredibly supportive throughout the process.
What’s also been really special is that the show introduced me to a whole new audience. People who were fans of Romeo have become fans of Nic. We call them “Nic Nacs” now.
It’s exciting because I’ve been able to share different sides of myself through both acting and music.
What was it like seeing your name in the credits?
I actually have a video of the first time I saw my name in the opening credits.
Seeing my name appear there was a complete pinch-me moment.
It’s especially meaningful considering the EP is called Know My Name. The project is meant to introduce me to the world as an artist and entertainer, and then suddenly there was my name appearing on a nationally televised show.
It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
I want to talk about your time with the Joffrey Ballet. What part of that discipline still carries over into your daily routine?
Ballet taught me discipline.
People would arrive early, stay late, take corrections, and constantly work toward improvement.
Today, I apply those same lessons to songwriting, acting, and everything I do creatively. You have to show up for yourself every day. To do that, you need discipline.
I truly believe there’s a discipline that comes with passion.
Ballet is often misunderstood by mainstream audiences. What do you wish people understood about it?
Ballet is much harder than people often realize because dancers make it look effortless.
Nothing about ballet is natural. Everything requires incredible training and discipline.
Dancers sacrifice a lot physically and emotionally, and I don’t think they always get the credit they deserve. Ensemble dancers and corps members do so much of the heavy lifting.
Dancers really are the glue that holds many productions together.
Is that something you’d like to return to?
Once a dancer, always a dancer.
Dance will always feel like home to me. I don’t know if I’ll ever pursue a professional ballet career again, but I’ll always be a dancer and I want to bring that part of myself into my music.
It’s part of what makes me who I am.
What advice would you give a young LGBTQ+ artist, or any young artist, hoping to start a music career?
Just do it.
Don’t wait for permission. Create the space you want to exist in.
As a queer artist, there can be moments where you feel like you don’t belong, but I genuinely believe the right people will find you and connect with your work.
We need more queer art in the world.
Be brave. Create. Put your work out there. Don’t let fear stop you.
With Know My Name (Encore) coming up, what’s next?
I’m doing more theater work in Chicago, which I’m thrilled about. I’m also hoping to eventually make the full-time move to Los Angeles.
Beyond that, it’s really about continuing to create. I’m recording new music this weekend, and I’ve already got another single planned for early January.
So it’s more music, more acting, and more opportunities to keep creating and growing.
Last question. Do you have a message for your fans, the Nic Nacs?
The birth of Nic Nac Nation has honestly been one of the most fulfilling parts of this entire experience.
I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have found a community that shows me so much love and support.
Honestly, every artist dreams of having that kind of connection. It isn’t about having ten million fans. I’d rather have ten amazing people who genuinely connect with what I do and who I can connect with in return.
That means more to me than fame, fortune, or anything else.
So yes, despite writing a song called “Lucky Boy” about hard work over luck, I have to admit that I feel pretty lucky because of the Nic Nacs.
In Conclusion
What stands out most about Nic Dantes is his authenticity. Whether he’s discussing the nerves of stepping onto a stage for the first time, the discipline learned through years of ballet training, the vulnerability behind his songwriting, or the gratitude he feels toward his growing audience, everything comes across as genuine.
The night before this interview, Dantes stood on a stage at Bar Lubitsch and introduced his music to a live audience for the very first time. Judging by the response in the room and the confidence behind the songs he’s preparing to release, that performance felt less like a beginning and more like an arrival.
With Know My Name (Encore) now out for the world to hear, along with new music, acting projects, and an ever-growing fan base, Nic Dantes is proving that hard work, passion, and a willingness to be vulnerable can take an artist a very long way. If “Lucky Boy” is any indication, he’s only getting started.
(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Scott Waters)
Nic Dantes on Instagram
