Rapper Nikolai Thers is new to town and is gearing up to take the stage at Animas City Theatre next week for his first headlining show.
We chatted with him about his influences, his music and what it’s like to go to a military college.
Q: How long have you been in Durango?
A: Just a couple months. I moved here after I graduated from Virginia Military Institute – I packed up my car and moved here.
Q: There are a couple of questions that stem from that: So, military institute. How did you end up being a hip-hop guy? Was (the school) a serious military program? Should you have gone into the military? Was there that option?
A: Yes. It’s like 50 percent of the school goes into the military, 50 percent goes civilian. But I’ve been doing music since I was 3 years old and got my first little plastic guitar for Christmas. And then from that, I just stemmed to bringing all the pots and pans out and making little beats on my own in the kitchen. And then just writing my own songs forever, and I turned 18 and I just made a rap song for one of my best friends, Mark, who loves rap, I just made a song for him one day. I was like, “Check this out; it’s a new song I found,” and he was like, “Oh, this is great! Wait a second ... is this you?”
Q: You’re pretty young (he’s 23): Who are your influences?
A: My biggest influences growing up were Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and then Outkast, so all over the spectrum.
Q: How would you describe your sound then?
A: I think that my influences definitely shaped my sound. I’m not like a traditional rapper who talks about money and women all the time. I like to talk about positivity, love, you know, good stuff.
Q: Do you think that helps set you apart?
A: I think so. I think so many people are just used to that gangster-style of rap, and I just want to kind of bring it down to a ... you know, anybody can listen to my music.
Q: Going back to military college: How did you end up there?
A: I’d always been a little toy soldier in the backyard, and honestly, I was set to go to another school throughout my high school career, and then one day, we got days off to go visit colleges, so I said, “Hey, I’ll just go and have the day off and not have to go to school today.” So I visited VMI and I just fell in love with it right there.
Q: What did you like about it?
A: Just the structure of it. There was something about it that drew to me and I applied to it the next day, early decision, and got in. What drew me to it? I think it was just the structure – there was a prestige about it that really drew me in. It was different. I didn’t want to be the same as everybody.
Q: Were you coming up with rap songs all the way through?
A: No. So, the first year you get into VMI, it’s like a ... they break you down. It’s called rat year – you’re not even considered a person, really, which is hard, but ... so that whole year, I kept it underground. Nobody knew that I did music at all just because I didn’t want to stand out in a situation where you just want to fit in, really. My second year, I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, and it was there that I met up with some musicians and played some music for them and they really enjoyed it. That trip was where I figured out I wanted to do music forever.
Q: Was it hard that first year keeping what you’re obviously passionate about under wraps?
A: Yes. It was really hard. At nighttime, I would have my headphones in, while all my roommates were sleeping.
Q: What do you do now? Is this your day job?
A: Yes. I’m just working jobs here and there. I’m about to start working up at the rental shop up at the mountain this winter, but yeah, I’m pursuing a career in music, absolutely.
Q: What are your plans? Albums? Is this your first big show?
A: This is my first headlining show, so we’re super-excited about it. I’ve done a lot of shows before, but first headlining show: we’re bringing everything out for this one. It’s going to be awesome.
Q: Are you nervous?
A: For the show? You know, it’s weird; I get ... I don’t get nervous for shows, but it will be like maybe the day before for like an hour, I’ll just be like, “What am I doing? I’m crazy ...” But then after that, I just like, “OK, never mind, I’m about to have the time of my life.”
Q: I would think that would reflect in the audience, too. If you’re having fun.
A: I have a blast; I’m addicted to it. I’ve never had so much fun in my life. The thing about my shows is that I focus on the energy that I get from the crowd, like back and forth, so if I can give them all my energy, they give me their energy and we have a blast together.
katie@durangoherald.com
If you go
What:
Nikolai with special guests.
When:
9 p.m. Dec. 9. (Doors open at 8:30).
Where:
Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive.
Tickets:
$10, available at www.animascitytheatre.com.
More information:
This is a 16-and-older show.
