What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My name is Nick Mass, and I’m from Buffalo, New York.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
Simply enough, my real first name is Nick, and my last name starts with Mas and is often mispronounced. I cut it to Mass to make it simple, so both names have four letters.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I made horrible poetry in high school. Then I went to a lot of open mics. Now I make songs about spicy peanut noodles and sexual relations.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
Creating my first track ever was unique. I was emotionally affected by an experience with a girl I was seeing, which gave me the motivation to write. I ended up recording it using a YouTube beat and a cheap microphone.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
To be yourself. Use your songwriting as a journal, a processing tool. Have fun when you want to, complain when you need to, but document who you are.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
The challenge was learning how to mix and master. I couldn’t afford studio time, so I had to teach myself. It’s tough because of the self-doubt, but it’s given me a lot of insight.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
It would have to be Tobi Lou. He’s so unique sonically and genre-bends in a way that resonates with me. He’s been the soundtrack to my life.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
On the road. I’ve got recording sessions lined up, hoping to push out EPs and get booked in other cities like New York, Toronto, and Pittsburgh.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
Finding my collaborators and working in live studio sessions with other creatives.
We occasionally feature artists on our Bird of Paradise Podcast for in-depth discussions. Would this be something you’re interested in exploring?
1000%. As artist Pete the God says, it’d be “a blessing and an honor.”
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
I’m looking for performances outside of Buffalo, playlists, interviews, residencies, and more.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
My latest music video for “Rice Noodles” premiered on my YouTube channel last week. All my work can also be found on my website nickmass.net.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
You can email me at nickmass@nickmass.net or send me a DM on Instagram @_nickmass.
