Hi Nick and congrats on “Feel the Heat”! As you already know is has been added to our “Gem” category and will be included in the list of the Best Albums of 2023! (ps: It was finally voted as the “Bets Album of 2023)!!!
N: “Gem”… Wow such an amazing compliment. We hoped the album would go down well but never anticipated the amazing response we have had. This is Tom and James first ever album mix (which is ridiculous to think), but even though I was confident they would do an amazing job you never know entirely how it’s going to be received until it hits the shelves. We have had amazing feedback.
Nick, after a hiatus from the music scene, what drew you back in 2015 to create Nitrate? Were there specific musical or personal experiences that reignited your passion for playing music and writing songs?
N: It was more of a mid-life crisis (lol). As I was about to hit the age of 40, I fancied recording some tracks properly that I had written many years ago. I teamed up with Rob Wylde, who did a lot of the work and instead of recording older tracks I got inspired and wrote newer tracks instead which he helped co-write. One became two and in no time at all there was a full album.
Nick, having played in bands in the early 2000s, how do you feel your musical approach and songwriting style have evolved over the years, especially in the context of “Feel the Heat”?
N: I am and always will be stuck in the 80s/early 90s rock scene. The style in the 2000’s was mixed between my influence of 80s rock/hair metal and other band members influences such as ‘Muse’ and ‘Foo Fighters’ It was a very collective bunch of tracks. One was called ‘Wet n wild’ (lol).
On the last two albums I have teamed up with Tom and James and we have gone down a more 80s AOR style which suites all our influences and especially Alex’s amazing voice, as opposed to the more hair metal approach of album 2. They are amazing talents and they alongside the other band members have given the music a more distinctive style. Me as a songwriter, I am still learning, and I think I am getting better as time goes on. Tom and James have been doing this for a lot of years and are at the top of their game.
“Feel the Heat” takes the listener on a musical journey through AOR, melodic rock, arena rock, and hard rock. How did the collaborative songwriting process unfold among you, Robert Hodson, Tom Martin, and James Martin? Any interesting anecdotes from the studio?
N: The usual approach is I send an acoustic song over to whoever I’m working with, and let them add their input to the track. I’m not precious and trust their skills as accomplished songwriters to add and change what they want. I wrote a batch of songs with Rob and a batch with Tom and James and picked four tracks from a batch of tracks Tom and James were writing at the time that I thought had Nitrate written all over them. They are always writing and send me tracks over to listen to, so I was lucky enough to get first Dibs on the ones that made me smile.
With Alexander Strandell on vocals, the Martin brothers, Tom & James on guitar and keyboards respectively, and the addition of guitarist Richard Jacques and drummer Alex Cooper, Nitrate boasts an impressive lineup. How did you decide to bring Richard and Alex to the band? Moreover, do tell us how did each member contribute to shaping the album’s sound?
N: Both Richard and Alex have been around for a while since the backend of album 3. Rich was in the videos and Alex put the videos together for “Renegade” and was responsible for various artwork and T-shirts. I headhunted them both (lol). Rich plays in a Def Leppard tribute band and has a very Phil Collen influence in his playing which is an ingredient in Nitrates sound. Likewise, Alex Cooper is an all-rounder, songwriter, singer, producer, artist etc, so is a great addition to the team not just as an awesome drummer.
How did the collaboration with Issa on “One Kiss (To Save My Heart)” come about? Was Issa the first person that came to mind for this special duet with Alexander?
N: Issa is James’s wife and has actually sung the demos to nearly all of Nitrate’s songs. She is amazing and gives the songs a certain class which helps put the tracks in That AOR genre before Alex works his magic and gets creative with them. So, you can sort of already hear that Issa and Alex are a perfect match vocally. I mentioned a possible duet for a while with the twins and James mentioned that “One Kiss” might be the perfect match. He rewrote the lines and played around with the vocals a bit and Issa kindly agreed. It is a beautiful song with them both on there. Tom and James wrote that track so have to take all the credit.
Are there any specific albums or bands from the 80s and 90s that served as direct influences for “Feel the Heat”?
N: Lots, like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Roxette, Survivor, Toto, Journey, FM, starship… I could go on all day long (lol).
The album title “Feel the Heat” evokes a sense of energy and intensity. Can you share the inspiration behind the title, and how it relates to the fictional (or shall I say post-apocalyptic) cover artwork?
N: We have a cyberpunk / blade runner esque theme to the band. A sci-fi Nitrate universe. Tom and James wrote the song “Feel the Heat” and the second I heard it I knew it was the title and a single. Alex Cooper, our drummer, does all the artwork/videos etc, a very talented creative artist. We are both big sci-fi fans and are on the same page regarding the theme and style the artwork is at.
Listening to the album, it’s evident that there’s a perfect blend of melody and powerful instrumentation. How do you strike the balance between crafting memorable melodies and delivering hard-hitting rock performances?
N: I’m a believer in big hooks, and sweet melodic lines especially in the pre choruses. I’m pretty good at the hooks and melodies but musically I’m not so good. The other guys in the band are the musical stars. They deliver the sound and not many musicians craft and produce a song better than Tom, James and Martin. Alex’s voice is pretty insane and with that we are able to push his voice to a high key and Alex C and Rich are awesome musicians. We have a great chemistry and are all cracking human beings. I am very lucky.
Given the album’s nostalgic nods to the 80s & 90s, are there any specific moments or experiences from that era that had a direct impact on the creative process or the overall atmosphere you wanted to capture in the music?
N: I think as you get older you get more nostalgic. I also think that today we have lost something that those times had. The 80s movies, tv shows, cartoons, 80s pop and rock, it all plays its part. I’m still listening to that music now and watching those shows and movies. I’ve been told that the new album takes some fans back to those times with fondness. If that is the case, then we have achieved what we set out to do.
How does this album differ from your previous releases?
N: I think it’s just got better songs and production than the previous three. We are just trying to improve on the previous album each time. No good bringing out an album you are not happy with it. There was a style change between album 2 & 3, and we have built on that really to try and give ourselves a recognizable sound.
Do you feel this album represents your growth as a band?
N: Definitely, we have attracted a lot of new fans with this release. Joining Frontiers Music has also helped reach a larger audience.
Do give us a hint about each track…
N: “Feel the Heat”: Latino vibe in the drums, Miami Vice feel to the track…
“The Right Moves”: 80s movie soundtrack imagine “Pretty Women”.
“Wild in the City”: Hard Bon Jovi style rocker…
“Needs a Little Love”: Big hook chorus with pop vibes.
“One Kiss (To Save My Heart)”: Beautiful ballad…
“Live Fast, Die Young”: 80s LA inspired Driving song.
“Haven’t Got Time for Heartache”: Heavy Rocker with a cool riff.
“Satellite”: Mid-tempo Def Leppard influenced space themed love song.
“Strike Like a Hurricane”: Top gun style rocker…
“Big Time”: Young girl, heads to the city to hit the “bigtime”.
“Stay”: Emotional ballad that builds as the track goes on.
Where did the recordings take place and who was in charge of the production, the mixing and the mastering? What has changed in the way you record and what do you think of the final outcome on the whole?
N: A lot of it is done in respective home studios as is the way these days. Tom and James live nearby each other so often spend time together and I went up to see them a few times and we even wrote a couple of songs together in the same room which doesn’t often happen. They handled a lot of the work, produced, and mixed and playing on the record. A talented engineer called Todd Jenson mastered the album. Alex Strandell did all his vocals at his home studio in Sweden, and a talented musician called Leon Winteringham did a lot of work on the album as a bit of an unsung hero. He lives near Tom and James and did a lot of backing vocals, some guitar work and came up with various musical ideas. He really got involved. Matt Shuttleworth helped us out with some editing, Alan Clarke Added some backing vocals, as did Issa and Paul Laine added some backing vocals as well, which was a big deal to me as I’m a huge fan. Rich and Alex Cooper both have home studios. I used a Nottingham studio to record my bass parts.
The renaissance of interest in 80s & 90s AOR and melodic rock has been evident in recent years. How do you see Nitrate contributing to or standing out in this revival, and what do you believe sets “Feel the Heat” apart from other releases in the genre?
N: That’s a hard question and one maybe for a fan to decide… we were all born in either the late 70s or the early 80s, so we can still remember how the music felt. We also are influenced from 80s pop music just as much as rock so that might make us stand out a little. We try and write fun catchy songs and not take ourselves too seriously, so maybe that helps too.
What are your expectations from “Feel the Heat” and what do you wish to achieve with Nitrate over the next years?
N: We hope to keep pushing the band to grow. Increase the audience and keep pushing the standard of the albums we write.
Looking ahead, are there any plans for live performances or tours in support of “Feel the Heat”? How do you envision translating the energy of the album to a live audience?
N: Yes, we are putting some plans together as I write this. It’s going to be hard to match the quality of the albums production live but we will do our bests to make it sound great.
It’s time for our “strange questions”!!! How did you come with the band’s name Nitrate initially?
N: We needed a name for the first album. I thought it had to be something that had never been used. If a cover band had used something, I discounted it and will the internet literally ever name I thought of had been used. It took weeks to come up with a shortlist. There was a few names on the list and I asked the other guys which they preferred. Nitrate won. It’s pretty easy to find on streaming sites so it was a good choice.
The music industry once had to deal with the issue of downloading. They are currently dealing with the streaming version. What are your thoughts on both of them? Do you have any personal preferences?
N: I prefer streaming to downloading. Streaming needs to pay the artist more money for sure, but that said there are some benefits. You can reach a larger audience in countries you wouldn’t find through physical copies and also streaming has sort of stopped the downloading issue. We have found a large percentage of our audience through streaming and you tend to find it doesn’t stop the fans picking up a physical copy as well.
If you could “erase” one thing from modern music, what would it be?
N: I don’t listen to modern music so couldn’t comment (lol)…
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words:
N: Rockstar: Slash
AOR: Survivor
Pornstar: Jenna Jameson
Eurovision: Bucks fizz
Music Realities: X factor?
Which is that band that you’d like to be part of (any time & era)?
N: Bon Jovi…
Which are the best 3 AOR/Melodic Rock albums according to you?
N: Def Leppard – “Hysteria”, Bon Jovi – “Slippery When Wet” and “Survivor – “Vital Signs”!
Fill in the phrase… “Rock music wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
N: Eddie Van Halen
Put together the best rock line-up of all time. Who plays what?
N:, Freddie Mercury on vocals, Eddie van Halen on guitar, Slash on guitar, Cozy Powell on drums and Duff McKagen on bass.
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
N: The theme music to friends (lol)! That song been played on TV multiple time a day since the nineties!
Top 3 80s/90s movies of any style?
N: Too many to choose from, let’s go with “Highlander”, “Back to the Future” and “Total Recall” for a great night in.
Who is the sexiest female Rock Star of all time?
N: Not sure if she’s the sexiest but I had a massive crush on Susanna Hoff from the bangles.
Which do you consider to be the best male & female vocalist in rock history?
N: Male Freddie Mercury, Female, not sure, always loved Stevie Nicks & Kate Bush’s unique voices. Whitney was probably one of the best though.
Which is the composer/songwriter who influenced and defined rock music the most?
N: You could say it was influenced by Elvis maybe, but he wasn’t really a songwriter, just rocked up other people’s songs. Eddie van Halen was very influential.
If you had the chance to travel in time…, where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
N: That’s a tough one… 1985 would be cool for nostalgia but I’d love to go back to the 1800’s and walk around my local city for a day and experience that time period. Then travel into the future maybe the year 2090 and hope the earth is still there. Can’t choose just one. I’m fascinated by time travel.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extra-terrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
N: Jeez that’s a hard one. I’m always looking to self-promote Nitrate, any opportunity, so I would give them “Feel the Heat” (lol).
What are your thoughts on AI? It appears to have taken over the world in every part of our life over the last year or so, and this is just the beginning. What are your thoughts on the AI-created music?
N: I can see AI causing a lot of problems in the future. We can all joke about Terminator 2 and Cyberdyne, and robots taking over but the more AI is developed the closer we get to some sort of reality. I don’t like the ideal of AI-created music as streaming sites will use it as a way of increasing profits by flooding the services with AI generated music on playlists and ads and pocketing al the revenue.
We’re done Nick! Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. Wish you the best for the future to come. Take care dude!
N: Thank you for your interest in the band. It is very appreciated.
