Five dollars: It’s the price of an ultra fancy drink at your favorite coffee shop. It’s also the meager price that Regina, Saskatchewan’s indie-folk band Nick Faye & The Deputies are charging for their newest release, Worry.
The downfall of the “traditional” music industry (ie: record sales) and subsequent rise of digital music services like iTunes and Rdio has provided music fans with nearly unlimited options for listening to their favourite artist. An unfortunate by-product of today’s music business model is that it is arguably harder than ever for artists looking to squeak out a living off making music.
Yet millions of people are willing to routinely shell out money for that fancy café drink that they will consume within a couple of hours but think twice about purchasing the music of an artist they enjoy which will remain with them forever.
For what it’s worth, Nick Faye – performing at Moncton’s Plan b Lounge next Thursday night – understands what it is to be involved in the music business in today’s day and age. He is as perplexed by the music business as any other independent musician but that doesn’t mean that he’s not enjoying himself.
“On one hand, the internet has made everything so readily accessible. You can launch a music career from your basement if you’re somewhat decent at home recording,” Nick says matter-of-factly. “But the downside to everybody being able to put out a record so easily is that it becomes that much harder to stand out from all of the other acts out there.
“People aren’t always keen to pay for content, either. I’m guilty of it too, though. There have been times where I will literally spend months listening to something for free before I pay for the music. I totally get that purchasing music is an investment. We are hopeful that people will see $5 as a reasonable amount of money to spend on new music.”
Quite frankly, Nick has bigger fish to fry than to concern himself with record sales and the state of the music business. Nowhere is that more evident than on his group’s latest release.
Throughout the seven songs featured on their newest record, the band tackles the delicate topic of mental illness. Through his lyrics, Nick explores the complexities that mental illness introduces in the day-to-day happenings of someone attempting to lead a happy and healthy life.
Nick acknowledges the topic is a rather heavy one and shares that the songs are based on some personal experiences intertwined with fiction in certain parts. topics heard in the songs on the record are based on and fiction.
“I believe that one of the biggest issues experienced by people suffering from mental illness is that they are not necessarily comfortable talking about it. I did my best to share my story and would love to encourage others to do the same. Everyone is different though and needs to find what works best for them.”
Although Nick does not go into specifics, he says that there are some very personal moments captured throughout Worry’s seven songs. And though he caused some concern among close friends and family after they heard Worry, he insists that all is fine in his world now.
“A lot of the songs stem from some aspect of personal experience with a healthy dose of fiction infused into every song. I am in a much better place now but there is still some vulnerability associated with letting people into that part of my world. I’ve had a lot of people reading into the songs, asking what is wrong and how I am doing when in fact I am fine now. It felt good to take a negative situation and, over the last two years, construct something from which I could grow as a person. By the time the record wraps up, it isn’t so much a happy ending as much as you’re simply happy it’s over. Life is not always fun but life does indeed go on. That is what is important to remember.”