Nicholas H

I am a 25 year old graduate of West Virginia University and have been playing guitar for 11 years, writing songs for about 8 years. I originally began recording music in Garage Band and created a SoundCloud page to store my music, both originals and covers. This SoundCloud page still exists, and you can use it to track the evolution of my vocals, guitar playing, and general presence over the past many years.    

I am a huge advocate of self-education, as I have personally seen what fruits come of sheer willpower, practice, and the belief that you can accomplish something if you just believe that you can (and also that you might never accomplish something if you already convince yourself that you can't).   I am hugely influenced by '60s musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Jimi Hendrix, and John Lennon, as well as more contemporary artists such as Modest Mouse, the Shins, and Elliott Smith. I believe that, when it comes to performing, perhaps the most important skill to cultivate is simply that of being entirely present--present in each line of the song, in each chord, so that your mind is nowhere but "here" and "now". That may sound trivial to some, but anyone who has ever performed live, and performed live often, know the difference between presence and a lack thereof. So, while I may not be the most skilled guitar player or the best singer, I have a committment to my craft, and especially to my ability to hold energetic, full-of-soul performances.