SPOTLIGHT: Nicholas Howard

Nicholas Howard was born in LA but grew up in Queens New York. His mother was a dancer and his father a writer. After giving hip hop a try while in high school he moved to Florida to get a degree in audio engineering. After graduating he got a job at Right-Track studio right off Times Square.

He wasn't satisfied with just working on others' music and wanted to create his own. He founded hiw own independent label Belief & Hustle Records. Shortly afterwards he released his first album A Rip in the Sky. The album went on to place in the Independent Music Awards.

If he had to label his music Howard calls his music urban soul. On his newest album God Is In The City his music jumps from style to style. The title track itself moves between the sacred and the profane, singing his thanks to the city that has inspired him.

Of his influences he says "My influences? Everything and nothing. Life is my biggest influence. Hip-hop, rock, blues, jazz, salsa, Bachata, middle eastern, a little country, a good subway performer, a guy playing the buckets with his boyz. Any music that has the power to move me."