 |
| Nick Lion, Mystery Man |
Nick Lion is a NYC promoter/ entrepreneur/ songwriter/ music producer with a captivating background. He recently released a new single, "Love Goddess," sung by Ari Gold, and his new club, ICON, in Astoria, will have its Grand Opening in October. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to do this Q&A with him. He may be a mysterious figure for the moment but, hopefully, when I get to ICON, the mystery will be over.
Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: Hi, Nick. So glad I could arrange this interview with you. I think
you're such a fascinating character on the NYC nightlife landscape right now.
And, to me at least, such a mystery man!
Nick Lion: Hi Charles, I'm so happy to be interviewed by you, I'm a fan of yours.
I'll be sure to try to be as vague as possible in my answers so
that I will still remain somewhat of a "mystery man" to you. [Laughs.]
DBB: We'll keep you under wraps for now.
DBB: Let's discuss your song, "Love Goddess," now available at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Goddess-The-Remixes-EP/dp/B00F3LHEFK/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1380068461&sr=8-8&keywords=love+goddess+gold I understand more remixes are coming via Sobel Nation. What inspired you to do this? And how did you get Ari Gold on board?
NL: The Love Goddess project has been a personal journey and true labor
of love. Marilyn Monroe has been my fabulous obsession and inspiration
since childhood. She is the great American success story, the Orphan who
became a Legend. I felt, as a writer, I needed to express my feelings of
love and admiration for her, hence my song tribute the "Love Goddess." I
also had a family connection to Marilyn. Joe DiMaggio was my
grandfather's second cousin, so when they were married, Marilyn was a
distant in-law. How cool is that?
DBB: Very!
NL: I always had a certain voice in mind that I knew would be perfect
for "Love Goddess," and that was Ari Gold's. I was a big fan of his though
we had never met. I learned he usually wrote and sang mostly his own
songs, but I decided to take a chance anyway and send him the demo with a
note saying "if you love the song and the concept, we'll make it
happen!" Two weeks later he replied and the rest is history. Ari is a
real old school singer, he can actually sing.
I truly believe he's a great artist who's sometimes underrated and
undiscovered by the mainstream, but I know they will catch up.
http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/08/exclusive-buddy-beaverhausen-q-with-ari.html
DBB: Can we discuss your upcoming club opening in Queens in October. What has
that been like? Has anything prepared you for an undertaking like this?
NL: My father was always in the restaurant and bar business, and owned the
iconic NYC celebrity nite spot, the Loser's Club Bar on the corner of
64th & Lexington ave. back in the '60s. To me, a club should be like
an extension of your home. Everyone in my home is treated like a special
guest and everyone at my club, ICON, will be treated like a VIP guest
also. I've undertaken many successful promotional nights and parties through
the years for other club owners. It feels good to finally do it my
way for my own club.
DBB: Nick, you have the distinguished, polished and gentlemanly good looks
and style of a classic-era Hollywood star. Is that by design or can you
just not help it? And do you consider yourself a high-maintenance kind
of a guy?
NL: Yes,... I just can't help it. [Laughs.] Actually, my mother was referred
to as the Marilyn Monroe of our neighborhood. She even shared Marilyn's
hairdresser, Kenneth, back in the '60s. She was beautiful, sexy,
glamorous and had great style. So, if I do have good looks and style, I
owe it all to her. As far as being high maintenance, all I'll say is that
I'm a Leo.
DBB: Could you tell us about your background? Where you grew up? What influenced you creatively?
NL: I'm Italian American, a native New Yorker,
and an out and proud Mama's boy. I was born and raised in Queens. My
family moved around a lot but the majority of my childhood and adult
years was and is spent in Astoria, Queens. My father was a frustrated
singer and writer, and my mother was a big pop music lover. Music was a
big part of my household growing up and a great influence. Today, it's my
life's blood, can't get through a day without it. But it didn't start out
that way. I first started modeling, then acting, followed by some
attempts at a singing career, then finally realizing my real strength
and true passion was for songwriting and producing.
