Spotlight of the Week: Nick Palmer of The Rise & Fall

Ken Grand-Pierre: What would you say your first experience with music was? You're noted as a very passionate musician/music fan, so how did that come to be?
 
Nick Palmer: Well my first experience with music would have to be with my HUGE love for the band Kiss. Growing up, my family wasn't that into music. Sure they listened to it, but for some reason I always had more of an aspiration for it. When my camp counselor showed me Slipknot, it took off even more from there for me.
 
KGP: Very interesting. Would you say that Slipknot still influences you to this day? And what else helps you compose music?
 
NP: Slipknot doesn't influence me so much anymore, but to a certain degree I suppose they do. I mean, c'mon! They put on some of the best live performances besides Kiss! But influentially, I write more about my life experiences and my feelings. In my lyrics, it's kind of easy to tell past relationships and heartbreaks are easiest for me to write about. So I would have to say heartbreaks and bad relationships influence me most when I write.
 
KGP: Of course, as they do for most great musicians. Is there a song in particular you've written that is your absolute favorite?
 
NP: Well, that's kind of tough to say because a writer loves all his works. But I would probably have to say that a song I wrote titled "Azgoth, The Avenger Is a Friend of Mine" would be my proudest achievement. It's about the hardships of life and trying to find a new way while facing the difficulties that we all face in our lives. But we overcome the hardships and rise from the abyss. So it's quite possibly the most meaningful and most relevant song to all people.
 
KGP: Playing a song like that live must feel amazing, then. How would you describe performing? Do you find it to be one of the best aspects of being a musician or the worst?
 
NP: Unfortunately my band and I haven't really put those into recordings yet, but I hope we do so soon because they are great. But as for performing—it has to be the most amazing thing I have ever had the chance to do. It's hard to even describe. I guess it's something everyone should try at least once in their lives. Being up on stage and looking at the crowd singing along and having a great time at our shows is amazing and in no way the worst part about being a musician.
 
KGP: So nothing bad at all?
 
NP: The worst aspect would have to be loading up and setting up equipment since it's a tedious process but well worth it in the end.
 
KGP: [Laughing out loud] It seems like it certainly is. Alright, last question, how does it feel to be immersed so heavily into the music scene? It seems to me you're mates with every other band and I find that to be quite incredible.
 
NP: It feels great man. The scene is full of wonderful people who share the same love for being an artist as I do; whether it's being up on stage playing their hearts out or on the floor screaming their hearts out, it's amazing to be part of the scene. But as for being mates with all them, it's great. I love having the tons of friends that I do since we always help each other in anyway we can. No matter how different the band, it still feels like we all have an unspoken brotherhood. It's simply incredible.

 
KGP: Now that's certainly a wicked answer. Thank you very much for taking part in this Nick.
 
NP: Thanks a lot Ken....