We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Stone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I feel like success is an ever-changing ceiling for a musician. When you’re young it could be just writing a song; then it becomes recording that song; then releasing an EP or album; then heading out on a national tour; then an international tour; and the list goes on. The goalpost is always moving. My personal definition of success as a musician is to see the world through performing my own music. Ideally, financial stability would be a nice addition too haha, but it’s not really about fame and fortune. For me, success is about creating art of worth. As long as I love the music I make and get to travel and work with great people, it’s an added bonus when others like it too!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Pretty much everyone in my family plays an instrument, so I was hyper-exposed to music from a young age. However, my family was mostly in the classical world, which I found a little too stiff for me since I wanted to rock out! So, I started off playing bass in an indie-rock band. After finishing University and pursuing a career in radio broadcasting, I continued playing in bands and eventually shifted from bass to acoustic guitar. I was doing well in the radio broadcasting world and even receiving national awards for it, but I wanted to explore the world and decided it was time to leave New Zealand. I began working for NGO’s such as Reach Out Volunteers (which I mentioned earlier), doing community development and conservation projects in South East Asia and South America. However, I never stopped playing the guitar. In fact, it was my only consistent companion for many years.

My travel experiences and love of nature and conservation heavily influenced my music, as well as the cultures and styles of music I was exposed to during my travels. I’ve always acted like a sponge with music, soaking up everything around me. I think there’s greatness to be found in every musical genre, and every culture has a different sound. Music is a universal language to me, allowing me to converse with people I couldn’t speak to otherwise.

There were many risks and challenges to overcome in order to be here in Nashville today. I moved here to pursue my relationship with Dani and our band South for Winter, but I’ve stayed for the community and the music connections. When I moved from New Zealand I was leaving behind my family, a successful business with my best friend, lots of great friends, and a comfortable career playing music in cover bands. Moving to Nashville meant being surrounded by the best of them; pursuing songwriting, producing, and performing in a much more uncertain, but even more fulfilling way. Rather than having set pay amounts and guaranteed audiences, Dani and I have had to start from virtually nothing with South for Winter. We’ve slowly created songs we were proud of, found the audience for those songs, met band-members that fit our musical vision (and also believed in our music), and figured out how to DIY the business, marketing, and bookkeeping sides of music. It’s been hard, but so worth it! Every year we feel more stoked and proud of what we’ve achieved. I am so thankful for the journey, and stoked to call Nashville and its amazing music community my home.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I was looking for a stay-cation I’d head to The Dive Motel for the week. Monday night go to Embers Ski Lodge and Brown’s for drinks and BBQ at Edley’s, before Karaoke at Santa’s Pub. Tuesday, I’d take them to Legion for Honky Tonk Tuesday before heading to the Underdog. Wednesday, Eastside Bahn Mi for lunch, and Butcher and Bee for dinner, then Attaboy for Cocktails. Thursday, head to Green Hour in Germantown, and catch a show at Brooklyn Bowl. Friday, head to The Wash for dinner then Living Waters, Fox Bar and Tiger Bar for drinks. Saturday, chill poolside at The Dive Motel, maybe catch a Titan match or a Preds game. Sunday brunch at Blue Sky, coffee at Retrograde, lade night jams at Inglewood Lounge!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The two biggest shout-outs for me have to go to an international organization called Reach Out Volunteers, and a Nashville-based Facebook page called Nashville Young Entertainment Professionals. I met my wife, Dani, through a volunteer trip in Peru with this NGO Australian charity, Reach Out Volunteers. There she and I wrote a song that would later on become our band South for Winter’s first single, “Fallen Seeds”. If it wasn’t for that organization we never would have met and South For Winter never would have started. When I followed Dani to Nashville in 2017, I joined a local Facebook group called Young Entertainer Professionals (Y.E.P). It was through this site that Dani and I connected up with South for Winter’s now-cellist, Alex Stradal; our producer, Matt Leigh; and our graphic designer, Derik Hobbs.

Website: https://www.southforwintermusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southforwintermusic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickrstone

Twitter: https://twitter.com/southforwinter_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southforwintermusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/southforwintermusic

Image Credits
– Jeff Fasano – Autumn Dozier – Alex Huisman – ZEDPics – Dani Stone – Josh Neufeld

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