Canadian pop punk band Nicolas Rage have been building their following in the scene. Hot off the debut of their EP the band has been working at getting their music out there. BareBones Ent got the chance to sit down with Nicolas Rage and chat about being a band, their debut, and what is next for the band.
BBE: What do you think it is about your band that resonates with fans?
NR: I’d like to think the lyrics are what really resonates with our fans. The subject matter to each song comes from my own personal experience. And each time we receive a message about how much our songs have helped people through something is a big reason why we do this. I spend a lot of time on the lyrics making sure they say the right things in a specific way in order to give our listeners hope and feel like they’re not alone.
BBE: I know we are past this point of the year, but it’s still early enough and I’ve never asked anyone about it before. Every year Spotify releases a year “wrapped” for listeners. What does it mean to you guys to see Nicolas Rage on people’s lists of top listened to artists, songs, etc.?
NR: Honestly it means everything to know people choose us. It’s a blessing to be able to write and create art that people willingly choose to listen to. And to see us above all other music in the world for some people. That’s really something incredibly special to us. Can’t thank people enough for that.
BBE: Do you prefer streaming, or having physical music like CDs or records?
NR: Honestly, I don’t have much of a preference. As long as people have access to our music any way they can afford it. We love the idea of physical copies cause I think people still value holding something in their hands. A sense of ownership over something special to them. But we understand that can get pricey. So we’re just happy for anyone listening in any way they can.
BBE: Pre-saving for releases has become such a big part of music. How have you found it best to get your music out there and promote your band?
NR: We’re still learning the marketing side of the business and with every release we learn something new. I think in order to have people willing to pre-save your music, you need to give them some sort of value or experience with how you’re promoting it. Creating some sort of connection to the viewer is so important. Give them a reason to invest their time in your songs, create an atmosphere that’s relatable and visually gives the meaning of the song some life. We’ll see how that works during our next set of single releases.
BBE: Personal Party, came out a little under a year ago. What was that EP cycle like for you?
NR: Personal party was our debut EP so naturally it came with a lot of pressure to succeed. Given it was our first EP with a label, there was a lot of learning curves thrown our way. We see it as a step in the right direction and a valuable experience. We feel more prepared for future releases because of it. Not to say I’m not proud of the collection of music, we just feel more humbled and ready to do it again.
BBE: Any song off the EP, that may have surprised you by the love from fans that it received?
NR: “Embrace” surprised us with how much traction it got as a single. Getting on a few great playlists really helped the song reach a lot of new fans. It wasn’t our number one choice as a single but we’re glad people seemed to enjoy that one.
BBE: For fans, just now checking your band out do you feel that is a good jumping on point to begin exploring your music, or where would you recommend for people to start at to get a feel for your band?
NR: I think it’s always fun to start from the beginning of a band. Checking out their first singles and making your way to where they are in the present. Seeing growth and direction is fun to follow. It also gives insight on a band’s capabilities. For us, at the beginning we were more raw and had some heaviness to our sound. Then with the ep we had more of a polished style of songwriting. It’s cool to see how or if we’ll blend those sounds together in the future.
[I agree entirely!]
BBE: What are you currently working on that you are able to share?
NR: Right now we’re working on our next ep. We wrote this one completely remote as I’m currently living on the other side of Canada. But the songs are in my opinion the best we’re ever written and we can’t wait to show people
BBE: What is the best way for fans to stay up to date with Nicolas Rage and connect with you?
NR: Follow us on Instagram @nicolasragenoise and our TikTok @nicolas_rage where we show glimpses into our songwriting process and give sneak peaks into our lives.
BBE: Anything else you would like to add?
NR: Just wanted to thank everyone who’s been with us along the way. We honestly love each and every one of you. The support for this band feels amazing and really we can’t put it into words how grateful we truly are. Just know with every share, comment or DM we gain life and drive to give you more. Thank you for everything.
