Meet Naples-born UK Open Mic performer Nicholas Evangelista:

Hi Nicholas Evangelista, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

30

Where were you born?

Naples

Where did you grow up?

Naples, Italy

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

It influenced me a lot as a person and my music as a consequence (probably?)
My dad, Italian, used to play a lot of Pino Daniele around the house but my mum, English, was more into the Stone Roses, RHCP, Beatles, etc
So yeah, a bit of a mix!

Where are you based now, and why?

London, wanted to embrace my Englishness and hopefully do music?

What got you into making music in the first place?

I loved singing along songs as a kid and just eventually started doing it more and more.
The more you do it, the more you love it until your ego gets involved and that’s what put me off music for a while.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing, Guitar, Music Producer, Piano

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Jeff Buckley, Beatles, Queen, Nina Simone but I generally go through phases where I’ll obsess over one artist in particular until I get sick of him/her/them

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

6?

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

Just knowing when it works and when it doesn’t. Good songs feel right

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

1

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

Need to share what I do+fun

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

We’re on the same boat, just go for it!

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

People who are very loud and don’t listen.
They remind me of my mum

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

Yesterday: realised I had no voice midway through the song and just stopped

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

Probably the time (because of work) and right people to work with. Only been here a month so I’m not exactly complaining.

What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?

That I’m Italian but sound really English?

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

My life

Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?

https://instagram.com/nicholasevangelista

We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?

No thanks!