Local musician Nick Hagglof is creating a new style of reggae music. And while he’s at it, he’s starting a new record label that is releasing numerous singles along with his forthcoming EP, while seeking out up-and-coming bands to join his label – indie artists who will not only need a musical ally, but a guide and teacher to help them navigate the music business.
Self-branded as “alternative reggae music,” it’s neither the roots reggae of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh, nor is it the reggae rock of Sublime or Tribal Seeds. It’s a style that lies somewhere in between, where the rhythm and the instrumentation all fall under traditional reggae, while delivering a subtle dose of dub with a loose edge that pushes the music into an indie-rock realm.
Hagglof’s “alternative reggae” debut will be released in late 2020 or early 2021. “The Harbinger” is his forthcoming EP released under the moniker “Nick of Time” and released on his label NOTE RECORDS, short for “Nick of Time Endeavors.”
For Hagglof it’s always been about reggae music. Locally, he played guitar in the now-defunct reggae band Magi-Nation, but his love for reggae dates back to when he was a kid. It was classical piano lessons when he was 10, which eventually gave way to guitar, with reggae being his main influence along the way.
“With reggae music, it’s just so full of truth and power, and the history is absolutely fascinating,” Hagglof said. “I’ll be anywhere, in the store or somewhere and they start playing a reggae song, and 100% of the time it gets my attention. There’s something about it, I can’t really put my finger on it, but I really love the message, the truth and how you can have a positive rhythm with a powerful message behind it at the same time.”
As a record-at-home, DIY musician, Hagglof has laid down thousands of tracks of various length and instrumentation, many of which have been turned into already released singles or are being further written to be released on his forthcoming record. It’s a true-blue, 100% do it yourself, solo effort, as he’s handled all writing, arranging and instrumentation along with the production and engineering, skills he’s teaching himself in some self-imposed, on-the-job training.
Not only a musician, he’s a fan and friend to other similar artists, those up-and-coming musicians who want to create music and try to earn a living without getting mishandled by the larger music business. His label is being driven by the mission of making music and not screwing anyone over along the way.
“I have a degree in business and economics and I wanted to be able to use that in this, too, because I’ve seen way too many close friends of mine, and people high up in the reggae scene, that have been just decimated by the music industry,” he said. “Those people do not have your best interest at heart; they’re looking out for their top dollar. One of my favorite artists, it breaks my heart because he led what domestic reggae music is today, and the dude’s broke! He’s got nothing because someone else owns his masters. He got the fame, they got the money and he’s still grinding really hard to make ends meet. His music is what moved me and inspired me to do what I do. People need to understand the legal side of this, and that’s why I started a record label so I can dive in head-first and do as much as possible with my own work so I can help other small bands or different independent artists do that on their own as well.”
The next single off “The Harbinger,” titled “Hypnotized,” will be released digitally on all of Nick of Time’s internet outlets Nov. 13.
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
