Nick Tara—who also records as Nick Terror—is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who also produces, engineers, and mixes tracks for other artists. To hear some of his handiwork, give a listen to Eric Linden’s “Crimson Lips,” which Nick mixed and on which he also played keys. With over two-hundred songs available online, he’s obviously a busy guy, so I was glad that he had some time to answer a few questions…

You’re Nick Tara and Nick Terror. Why do you record under two different names, and what’s the difference between the two?

The journey as a solo artist began with my lack of creativity concerning an artist name. I was more interested in just putting stuff out as what my friends knew me by which was Nick Tara. I just started releasing music as Nick Terror in 2022 after a friend of mine suggested Terror as a better stage name than what sounded like just another name. The reason I continue to release some songs as Nick Tara after the name change is because Nick Terror is primarily a more modern cohesive project, where my collection of songs is and continues to be very eclectic in variance of styles. A lot of the material I released as Nick Tara was as singles and as Nick Terror I have really found that albums and longer projects are my focus.

Your latest release, “Mission,” combines various musical styles. I’m hearing rock guitars, some hazy electronics, and a bit of a hip-hop flare. What do you like about combining genres? 

I love being able to show that I am not trying to be anyone other than my true self when I make music. With “Mission” I wanted to give people a feeling that even though the vocalist was rapping, he was also influenced by melodic singers.

Do you find it difficult to categorize your music –particularly when you upload it to a distribution service or try to get it onto playlists?

At this point, I really just want to forget about genres. You called it. I am so sick of trying to define my style even on a track by track basis. Electronic rock rap just sounds strange to me at this point and I guess that is the most encompassing way to sum me up. In terms of distribution and playlists I just market songs as one style or another and hope for the best.

I also understand that you’re basically a one-man band, recording all of the parts of your songs on your own. Does that pose any challenges?

I do outsource some things on certain tracks but I like to feel on other tracks the ability to create an entire environment sonically with only my own hands and tools available. The biggest challenge is always feeling like you could have done something better when you have already released it because of new knowledge.

You’ve released over two-hundred songs. How has your music changed over time? 

I would say that in the last two years of sixteen years of making music I have really started to hone in on songs that are replay-able than just interesting for one run-through. My ability to do a hook or a verse that I think will resonate with people and hopefully come back to it is my biggest achievement.

What have you learned over that period in terms of recording technique? Any advice you can share?

That is a big question. Recording in terms of audio is very reliant on mixing technique and the ability to forgive yourself for not knowing everything right at first. Allow yourself to experiment and make mistakes but learn the things that DO work and use them as guidelines in the future. When getting vocals to sound interesting and congruent to the song they are being recorded to there are certain tricks you want to have up your sleeve before you start recording for even a second. Who wants to hear their vocals through dry input? It’s so much nicer with a chain of plugins.

What about marketing? What works and what doesn’t? 

The most success I have had has simply come from being myself in social media and in real life. Finding and connecting with anyone who hears and appreciates your music can create a lifetime fan. Those are the fans you want to have on your side. Find a few people even that LOVE what you do and it will forever inspire you.

In addition to recording your own music, you’re also into production and mixing. Who are some artists you’ve worked with, and what do you see as the difference between producing your own work and producing the work of others?

I have produced for a number of indie artists and feel bad to name a few without saying every single one of them because they are all artists I also look up to and generally enjoy their music outside of our projects as a fan. To drop a few names that I work with:

• Joey Schneider
• Lucy Dorado
• Atom Make Music
• Eric Linden
• SourFlower
• Smoke Gzus
• X^NE (produced the instrumental on my biggest song to date “She Took My Soul”
• Rick Snare
• Sabrina More
• The Broke Man

And bunches more!

When I’m producing other people’s music I try to give it the same amount of care and attention I would treat my own music with or maybe even more.

What do you see as the role of a producer?

My main role when producing for an artist is to make them feel like their song really came to life. I want them to hear their song in a way they didn’t even think was possible. 

And what do you listen for in a good mix?

It is so basic sounding to say but layers are important. You don’t want too much or too little going on for the listener. Keeping things fluid throughout the song while still being true the concept of the sound is one way to describe it. A good mix is something you will know when you hear it because it pleases you.

What’s next for you?

I am about to release a third album as Nick Terror and then next year I will be promoting the material I have out as well as cooking up an album as Nick Tara AND an album for Nick Terror simultaneously.

Very cool! Looking forward to it!