Nick Merico

 “I want people to hear my music and say, ‘this guy wasn’t afraid to talk about his fears and how he feels’.  I wish to completely put myself on the line because that gives people hope that they can do the same thing.  And I truly believe that that’s the gift of art.”

“I don’t feel like there was much fear, because I think fear comes into play when you have an expectation, and at that time I didn’t have any expectations.”

Releasing what he refers to as a ‘creative vision’, Nick says that he was posting the video for himself, not for anybody else.

 “I loved it, and I released it.  I guess the fear came into play after the video did really well.”

Having received immense amounts of feedback, millions of views, and a newfound fan base from the first video, Nick’s new reality of ‘all eyes on him’, took flight.  Nick was ready to release his next video with hopes of similar applause until experiencing his worst nightmare; hitting puberty and needing to re-teach himself how to sing.  

“When I say I wasn’t able to sing, I really mean that I wasn’t able to sing. Notes that I had hit before, simply weren’t possible.  So, that’s when the fear hit.  I had all of these fans that wanted more, and I couldn’t give them anything.”

No longer having the same voice that everyone recognized and adored, Nick knew that if he was going to pursue his dreams as a singer, he would need to put in the work, which is exactly what he did.

Self Expression;

“I feel like we have enough people in the world suppressing their emotions and talents as is. There are enough people trying to fit themselves into a box somewhere, which is why it’s so important, I believe, as artists, that we completely and openly express ourselves and our insecurities.”

When his music is released, Nick wants his fans and his listeners to know that he wasn’t afraid to be completely open and transparent.  By allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we create a space in which others feel comfortable to truly be themselves.  This is why at TrooMe, like Nick, our main goal and focus is to shed light on fears, failures, and overcoming’s, in hopes to inspire and empower. 

Everyone should strive to have an outlet in which they can express themselves. Whether it be through music, art, writing, or fitness, you name it. If it’s an expression of you, in your raw and authentic form, then you’re bringing your true self into movement, which is how boundaries are pushed and history is made.  

“Art has the ability to create a force, a movement, a revolution of collective ideas and expressions.  Which is why I don’t think that any form of expression should be held back.”

Stage Fright;

“It’s what feeds me, it’s what fuels me.”

“What makes it so rewarding is that when I’m on stage, all of my fears and doubts about my identity, and what people think about me, disappear.  All that I experience is the ability to release my emotion and my energy to the audience, and them reciprocating it, and that’s always been the case.”

No matter what condition he is in, or however big the crowd, Nick says that he always puts in 100%.  Never giving half of himself, or a taste of his talent, Nick puts everything on the line. In doing this, he has a guarantee that the audience is feeling what he’s feeling, and they can experience his performance as if he were singing just for them. 

 “I realize that the key is to always maintain confidence and always maintain a level of security.  You need to know how good you are, you’ve worked hard for this, and no one can take that away from you.”

Maintaining confidence in one’s self, as well as what we are putting out into the world, is key in giving all that we have to offer, no matter the audience's size, appreciation, or applause.  

Judgement Day;

It takes resilience to push through critical opinions, and it takes strength to do so with grace and poise.  Each time Nick gets on stage, his talent, personality, and passion are up for judgment.  Although the opinions and advice from others are appreciated and taken to account, Nick says that the only judge that truly matters is himself.   

“At the end of the day, music is subjective.”

When we turn on the radio, we’re practically guaranteed to hear a song that we dislike.  Whether it be lyrically, or melodically, everyone has their personal preference and taste, and who are we to say what is good and what’s not? 

“American Idol is a show that is based solely around singing, and there’s so much more that goes into an artist.”

“If you’re so sure about something, and no one agrees with you”, says Nick; “you’re either dead wrong, or you’re about to change the world.”

The approach that Nick Merico has towards his talent and music, in his opinion, is what artists need to have to get them where they’re wanting to go.  This is a truth that many overlook.  It would be highly unlikely for an athlete training for the Olympics, to believe that they didn’t have the skill set it takes to bring home the gold.  

“That’s why it doesn’t get to me, because the work ethic and the discipline that I’m putting in, far outreach their criticism.” 

Your Biggest Fan; 

“I’m my biggest fan, I’m my biggest support system, and I’m the one who continues to look in the mirror and say, ‘you are good enough.’

Our support systems, whether they be family, friends, loved ones, or fan bases, play an important role in our journeys.  When we no longer have the energy and determination to pick ourselves back up, having these support systems means that we have a hand to reach out to, to pull us up to our feet.  

Being surrounded by loyal peers holds great importance, yet, at the end of the day when it comes down to it, we only have ourselves.  

“I know that may sound selfish or egotistical, but in reality, you dictate our future and your world around you.” 

Telling ourselves that we are good enough, that we are worthy, and that we are capable, plays a huge role in our self-talk.  After thorough repetition and reminder, these affirmations become concrete, and oftentimes, become the only things that we can be sure of at the end of the day. 

 “Everyone has to be there number one fan. My mom isn’t going to walk in the room and say, ‘he’s the best’, my girlfriend isn’t going to walk in the room and say, ‘he’s the best’; I’m going to walk in the room and say, ‘I’m the best.”

Confidence may seem to be an attribute that many people are born with, but Nick says that it’s something that takes ‘very hard work.’  When we think of our character traits like muscles, we can better understand what Nick is referring to.  Like a muscle, over time, and with the proper practice and dedication, these principles become ingrained into us, making our self-love, second nature.  

“I was always relying on my natural talent, and that wasn’t good enough.  Hard work and discipline are always going to overtake natural talent. I had to work hard to build that confidence, so in turn, that confidence could build me.”

Grounding;

“I live a frenzied lifestyle and I think a lot of artists end up having this sort of scatterbrain.”

With a frenzied and fast-paced lifestyle, seeking ways to ground one’s self is vital in achieving desired outcomes.   In our interview with Kevin Love, Kevin shared an important tool that he uses for grounding himself before and after every game.   Although different from Nicks, both techniques and tactics play important roles in balance.   

“I have to write it down and be organized with my time.  If you don’t do that, you’re going to be aimless, and there’s more than enough aimless musicians right now.”

By establishing daily, weekly, and monthly goals and routines, we allow ourselves to improve consistently.  As mentioned in our interview with Nathan Chen; breaking our days, weeks, and months down into bite-size pieces, creates a space in which improvement becomes constant.  

Influence;

“When you’re honest with your fans, that might give them something to look up to; some guidance, or some piece of mind. “

 “I feel like what people need to focus on, aren’t the things that are going to be forgotten about overnight.  If you have an influence, talk about what gets you up in the morning, talk about what you feel needs to be said.  Talk about what you’re afraid of, what you’re scared of, and what you want in life.”

At TrooMe, we believe that when stories are told, and personal feats are shared, a window of opportunity opens, and a space becomes available for those hearing the stories, to relate and reflect on their situations, from a new perspective.   
As Nick mentioned, when we open up and become vulnerable, the ability to inspire and uplift those who may be in similar situations becomes possible. 

“I just want people to look at me and understand the basics of how to live a healthy life.  By treating people with love and respect, by giving love as much as you can, without expecting much in return; and to love yourself.”

In having and displaying these core values; fans, friends, and followers of Nick can begin to put these beliefs into action, thus leading in the direction towards a more fulfilling and sustainable self.  

Advice;

“I feel like I lived a lot of my life off of other people’s opinions.”

Having shared his talents and passion with many throughout his career, oftentimes in hopes of advice or approval, Nick says that much of his capacity was suppressed due to the opinions of others.  

“If someone didn’t like a song that I played for them, even if I loved it, I’d value their judgment and tell myself, ‘maybe they’re right, maybe it’s not good enough’. And then 2 years later, I listento the song and think, ‘oh my gosh this is amazing, why didn’t I do anything with it’, and then I’d remember that it was because one person, who didn’t even mean anything to me or my journey, didn’t like it.”

Oftentimes in our lives, we seek approval and acceptance from outside sources. Although in many instances, seeing things from other people’s points of view holds great value, there’s greater significance in going with our gut feelings and intuition. Perhaps the person whose approval we sought, was in a bad mood, attempting to bring us down, faced with jealousy, or doesn’t see our vision the way we see it. Whatever the case may be, at the end of the day, the decision of how we wish to craft our destiny is in our hands.

“If you listen to other people, you’re never going to get anywhere. Someone whom I look up to once told me, ‘never make your music a question, make your music a statement. Drop it, release it with pride, and then when it’s out, let them voice their opinions’. I’ve lived by that ever since.”

In following this advice, Nick has been able to approach the release of each piece of music with a sense of confidence and knowingness in his talent.  And if the feedback isn’t what he expected, that just means that there is room for improvement, and the next song he puts out will be that much better.  

“Trends come and go, but you need to stay passionate about your craft, your skill, your invention, and yourself; selling it, representing it, and believing in it one hundred percent.”

No Longer Pursue;

Countless artists and musicians flaunt a ‘limelight lifestyle’.  Attending dazzling parties and events, feeling on top of the world, entranced by the thrill.  But, short-lived pleasures don’t heed worthwhile results, and this is something that Nick had to learn the hard way. 

Chasing the glitz and glam of alluring nightlife is a slippery slope.  Feeling on top of the world in one instant, and chewed up and spat out the next, isn’t a sustainable way of life. By setting our sites on what we truly wish to accomplish, we soon understand that to receive what we wish for, the work needs to be put in; and when the work is put in, fulfillment and longevity follow soon after.  

“I wasn’t getting any closer to meaning or value by chasing short-lived moments that held neither.   So, now what I chase is that feeling of working endless hours on a song or a beat, stepping back, and knowing that i’m proud of what im putting into the world.  And I know that if I love it that much, maybe ten other people will as well.”   

We were put on this earth not only to receive, and enjoy life to the fullest, but to give as much as we can.  When we put our talents, passions, and creativity on the table for the world to take and enjoy, we come to find that through giving, we receive the greatest gifts. 

“If you love something, people are going to love it too.  If you give people something to love, the love comes right back to you.”

100% True;

At TrooMe, we believe that our gifts, talents, traits, and truths are meant to be shared.  When we come to the end of our lives, we will know in our hearts that no talent was left unshared, no story left untold, and no love was left unexpressed.  

May we follow in Nick Merico’s footsteps, being proud of what we put into the world, standing for what we believe in, and giving one hundred percent of ourselves to our craft, and to the world.