Eyes closed. Hypnotic trailing hands. Gentle winding hips. The music of Nick Hakim is an irresistible fever dream where the listener finds themselves taken to another realm – one of late, late nights and hot summers.
Since he came onto the scene, the New York-based musician has been entrancing fans with his succulent psychedelic soul. And now the artist has dropped his brand new track “QADIR”, taken from his highly-anticipated album Will This Make Me Good, out 15 May.
We caught up with Hakim and talked his creative process, plus his endless projects in the works…
When did you first realise you wanted to make music?
I realised I first wanted to make music when I was 16, and I started teaching myself how to play keyboard and writing songs with my younger brother who plays guitar.
Who did you grow up listening to?
Anything my older brother was listening to. My parents listened to a lot of different kinds of music as well. Lots of good music from my hometown, Washington DC.
How would you describe your genre?
Haha I don’t know! I’m open to suggestions.
Where do you get your inspirations from?
Books, movies, my friends, loved ones, family, but sometimes it just comes and I don’t even know what is happening.
Who do you make music for?
When I was writing this last record, It was purely for myself. But when the songs were finished, I began to realise and remember they are for whoever is listening and whoever wants to dive in them. It’s for the people!
Your new record is super heartfelt and introspective – do you feel vulnerable putting out something so personal to you?
Yeah! I do feel that way but it also feels good to share something that makes me slightly uncomfortable. At the end of the day I stand behind this music and I am so proud of what this process was for me and for everyone involved!
What’s your favourite track or lyric from the record?
“There seems to be a complexity to being kind” on “QADIR”.
Who would you love to collaborate with?
I’m already working with folks I want to be working with.
What’s next for you/ what are you excited about?
Projects I’m working on with: Roy Nathanson, Arto Lindsay, Onyx Collective, Jesse and Forever, Zooey Celeste, NAIMA, Lianne La Havas, Nilufer Yanya, Juan Wauters, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Slingbaum, Oddisee… a bunch of other stuff..
