Seattle-based pop artist Nicky Buell is quickly establishing himself as a leading voice in the queer pop scene. He wants the LGBTQ+ community to feel seen and heard. His bullhorn of choice: music. As he puts it, “I just want to normalize a boy singing about another boy in music.
I don’t hear enough songs about boys being in lust over other boys on the radio, or in music enough. We need more representation; I want to be that representation for other queer people when I didn’t have that myself at a younger age.” Nicky has collaborated with iconic artists and producers throughout the Pacific Northwest including Phil Peterson (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey), Matthew Wolk (Dempsey Hope, Sam Lachow), and Seattle-based popstar Anna Thompson, his childhood best friend with whom he released ‘Thirsty.’
It was through this song that Nicky would publicly come out at the age of twenty. He followed ‘Thirsty’ with the releases of singles ‘Bromance’ and ‘Moonboy’ off his debut EP ‘Spongy Emerald Prince,’ a project that honors and chronicles his triumphs and heartbreak during his first year as an openly gay man. Having launched his project just four months ago, he’s already received press from major publications on the West Coast like Rage Robot and The Spokesman-Review. Sonically, Nicky draws inspiration from artists like Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande and John Legend.
He not only sits in the pop realm but also bends the genre, adding in the occasional punchy rap verse to elevate his sound. Nicky is an artist you can root for, coming into his own through the creation of fun electronic-tinged pop anthems guaranteed to be stuck in your head for days.
What’s your story as an artist?
I started singing since I could remember, my older brother was born with a natural gift of singing. He’s phenomenal. I was inspired by him growing up to sing. When I was 12, I bought my first keyboard at a thrift shop and started learning how to play independently. At 16 I started writing original music, picking up a few other instruments along the way. I struggled with my sexuality growing up gay and in the closet in an extreme religious/conservative household. At 20 I finally came out, I did this through my debut single release ‘Thirsty’, it was a huge moment for me but after that I have found so much liberation being a gay male artist and representing my community through my music. After that I have been consistently releasing music.
What do you want your music to communicate?
I want my music to communicate queer validity. I want boys, girls, they thems, and all the above to listen to my music – relate to it and dance their hearts out. Whoever it is listening to my music interpret how you want, just enjoy it.
What are some sources of inspiration for your storytelling?
I started writing poetry in school to cope with family and life issues, I also get inspiration from an assortment of genres and artists when I write.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
Right now Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Remi Wolf, Bren Joy are huge for me right now, I love
what they are doing.
What’s the record or artist that made you realize you wanted to be an artist?
This is a great question. Billie Eilish released a song called ‘bury a friend’ . The production and music video is insane, I was fixated and so inspired by the stunning dark visuals, after that I felt like I really opened my mind as an artist to different possibilities.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
My latest release is called ‘Imma Dip’
‘Imma Dip’ was written about my experience with bullies/boys in high school. “Being gay and in the closet and around toxic masculinity all of the time was really hard. I had to play the part too, now we are grown, and it isn’t “cool” to hate gay people anymore.” – Nicky.
‘Imma Dip’ is centered on the idea that none of these fallacies around masculinity or social expectations matter anymore, especially as an adult. Some people never grow out of it. It’s the departure of these ideologies, leaving them behind. dipping out.
This song was a liberation of that experience.
What inspires your sound?
I really love punchy kicks and warm pumping bass, absolutely euphoric. I like writing my music in the key of minor if its upbeat usually. Giving my song an edge, I like to think. Billie Eillish (this is a common theme at this point) she is also a huge inspiration.
What’s your favorite tune of yours?
My favorite song I’ve made so far besides ‘BOY CRAZY’ is ‘Lunatic’ which debuted on my EP ‘Spongy Emerald Prince’.
Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?
I dream of making an editorial playlist on Spotify, I would like to chart on the top 100 one day. I want to collaborate with bigger artists and ones I have been inspired by. Ultimately, I want to be known for pushing the agenda and normalizing queerness in the music space.
Favorite lyric you ever wrote?
“Used to throw dirt all on my name without me, things that rhyme maggot, you’re dramatic and now I’m hot now, gay, tall and a fa****” – this was a message to the boys in highschool who bullied me. A liberating lyric I wrote for ‘Imma Dip’
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?
I’ve struggled with depression most of my life so I have had many moments, but I will never stop.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
“Be the most authentic form of yourself you can be”
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
I think independent artists have the best chance of blowing more than ever, with Tik-tok mainly. The algorithm is choosey, but you just got to make the right song.
