Talking to: 9ICK
Introducing 9ICK: he may only be 19, but this classically trained pianist and producer, hailing from Denmark and currently based in Canada, is already a prolific producer and music-maker. If you are looking for something a little deeper than your usual electronic, atmospheric rap vibe, he is one to watch.
Real name Nicolas Hamilton Stephensen, 9ICK makes genre-fluid hip hop beats with laid-back, electronic instrumentals and pop influences. Combining modern sounds with a love for composition, he has already racked up an impressive eight single releases, and it doesn’t look like he is planning on slowing down yet.
We caught up with 9ICK on the tail of his latest single release, Unfinished Poem, a sun dazed late summer rumination on future anxieties,present turmoil, love, and past shortcomings, and talked about his classical training background, genre, the beauty of collaboration, and his future music plans.
Firstly, what is your take on the music you make?
My music is personal and it is meant to reflect who I am in those moments that I make it. It cannot be categorised into a single genre as my curiosity for sound drives me to be as experimental as possible in my work. I’m always looking to find something that I call ‘ear candy’, something that gives me a warm spark inside; almost like magic. As far as my musical career, I don’t know where it has taken me so far. I am very much a live-in-the-moment type of person and I’ve just been letting that guide me through this life-long journey.
Can you tell me a bit about where you are from, where you are now, your classical training and what got you into music?
I was raised in Copenhagen, Denmark and I lived there my entire life until I moved to Canada at the age of 17 to study at Pearson College UWC. From a very young age, I have always been immersed in music. My parents encouraged me to start playing classical piano at the age of 5, which slowly progressed into jazzier piano pieces and music production as I got older.
Do you think it is a help or hindrance to have a classical music background when working in the sphere of modern music?
Learning classical piano before producing has enabled me to go at a faster pace. A lot of my music is very inspired by jazz and classical harmonies. Two of my favourite classical composers are Erik Satie and Claude Debussy. Both, which are very heavily influenced by jazz, has inspired me to make the music I make today; a blend of jazz, electronic and classical music.
What sparks you creatively?
I get very emotionally attached to the music I’m making and the people that I’m making it with. These intense waves of emotions and close relations to people are what inspires me to make music every day.
Something that also inspires me is when I rest. Ironically, the days when I decide to take a break from music, I also seem to get most of my inspiration. Additionally, when I go to sleep, different sounds and compositions pop up in my head, this can be extremely annoying from time to time depending on when I have to get up the next morning. But the inspiration always wins in the end and makes me get out of bed and write down the music in my head at ungodly hours of the night.
And what influences you?
I get really inspired by my surroundings; if it’s a rainy day, I tend to make more sombre music. When people listen to my music, I want them to be transported to the mood and location I’m at when making it.
What life experiences do you put into your music?
As a child, I was always very active and all around the place, but as soon as I sat in front of a piano, a blanket of calmness fell over me. I guess that has followed me through my life so far - Every time I need a break or just want to relax, I just make music.
How is the current situation with the pandemic affecting you both personally and as a musician?
I am a person that really needs my personal space and time and this pandemic has, in a way, been a blessing in disguise as it has given me that space and time that I crave. It’s also given me a lot of time to stop and reflect on the music I am making, but also on myself, my life, and how far I’ve come.
Tell me more about your collaborators, and do you have any dream collaborators?
Since I do not sing or rap myself, I rely a lot on the people I collaborate with. Typically, I spend several hours a day networking and finding people to work with that possess that specific ‘ear candy’ sound I am looking for. I love scattering social media to find vocalists to work with. Recently, I have worked a lot with a good friend of mine, Justin Christopher, who was featured on my latest single ‘Unfinished Poem’. Very soon, I will be releasing an instrumental album with a couple of friends from all around the world.
As for dream collaborators, I have always wanted to work with Tom Misch, Ólafur Arnalds, Frank Ocean, James Blake or Saba; all of them are very big inspirations to me.
I get the feeling you are someone who likes to take a back seat and let the people you collaborate with shine - is this right?
It is always my intention to leave as much breathing space as possible for the main artist to shine through when making beats intended for vocalists to add toplines. Additionally, I do like things to be in a certain way in order for the specific tune to give a specific emotion that I want. All the musicians I have worked with thus far know that I love to give loooooong feedback lists so that I can direct the song in a specific way.
What sort of music are you listening to at the moment?
At the moment I listen a lot to Pip Millet, Loyle Carner, Jacob Collier, Cisco Swank, Frank Ocean, and many more!
Artwork from Unfinished Poem © Neil Lakini 2020
How is your latest release doing?
My latest release, Unfinished Poem, is doing really well. As far as numbers, it is the most played song of mine. Additionally, I have an album coming very, very soon, maybe around November or December, so stay tuned for that!
And as well as an album release, what else is next?
My plan is to take next year off so that I can intern at a music studio so that I can gain as much experience as possible. It would be amazing if I could move abroad, preferably London, LA or Texas. At the moment, I am spending a lot of time researching where I want to go, writing an application and so on. After this, I would love to major in Music Production and/or Audio Engineering. Let’s see what the future brings...