Led by Nick D’Andrea, Nick D’ and The Believers specialize in infectious alternative pop that puts the focus on trimming the excess fat and putting the emphasis directly on unforgettable, relatable songwriting. The band’s latest single “Nina Simone,” which premieres today on mxdwn, follows that mentality to a “T.” A selection from the band’s upcoming EP Crown, “Nina Simone” is driven by a buzzing synthesizer line and buoyed by simple yet effective drumming.
The group formed after D’Andrea connected with his friend Joseph Barker with the idea for the band. D’Andrea went all-in on his musical dream, dropping out of night school to pursue The Believers. Barker, who was originally a guitarist, takes a simplified approach to his drumming, using a stripped-down kit. Despite the spartan percussive approach, the drums on “Nina Simone” are a major factor in the song, guiding it through the various movements, topped off by the sweet, sing-along ready chorus of “You’re my Nina Simone / I can’t leave ya’ / I can’t leave ya’ alone.” While the lyrics use Simone as a metaphor for D’Andrea’s perfect partner, they never get too abstract – cutting straight to the sentiment of the songwriter.
“I started writing it as a love song,” says D’Andrea, “But right around that time I got the news that my wife was pregnant with our first child. I didn’t know we were going to have a girl, but luckily for me, daughter rhymed with water. She’s now eight months old, and we’re finally putting out the song. It’s a love song to my wife, and partly to my daughter too. Nina Simone has always been a huge hero of mine… her name serves as a metaphor for my dream woman.”
Rounding out The Believers is guitarist Kerry Henderson, who was drawn to the group’s stripped-down blend of folksy lyricism and simple yet effective melodic approach. With a bare-bones drum kit and D’Andrea only working with an octave and a half of keys, the band puts their focus on delivering via solid songwriting and passionate performance.
In addition to the significance of the lyrics and song title, the artwork for the single also holds weight to the Nick D’. “The artwork came from a collaboration between two old dear friends, both extremely talented artists who have never met,” he says. “It started with a photograph by Kate Sweeney, which we then sent to Samantha Giesige to perform her magic on it. The collaboration created something really unique and special to me, personally, since it’s the first time these two artists have ever collaborated.”
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