Nick Luca
- exclusive agent:
- Kris Kerry
- phone: 520.481.9813
- kris@lostbarrioartists.com
Nick Luca is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, producer, songwriter, bandleader and composer. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, USA, Canada and Australia and has credits on over 90 albums.
Although Nick’s original songwriting is firmly grounded in Southwestern Americana, Folk Rock and Desert Noir, he also adds elements of Jazz, Psychedelia, and Country .
In 2010 -2011 Nick toured as keyboardist for Iron and Wine. Highlights of include performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York, headlining The Green Man Festival in Wales, UK, and appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Prior to that Nick was a multi-instrumentalist for the band Calexico. Highlights include playing The Hollywood Bowl in LA, The Newport Folk Festival and The Coachella Music Festival. He appears on several Calexico albums.
For over 15 years, Nick worked closely with Owner/Producer Craig Schumacher at Wavelab Studio in Tucson, AZ. During that time they enjoyed a string of successful and influential album releases and developed Wavelab Studio into an internationally sought destination. In 2009 the album Middle Cyclone by Neko Case was nominated for a Grammy (Best Contemporary Folk Album).
After moving to Los Angeles in 2009, Nick became Chief Engineer at New Monkey Studio in Van Nuys, CA, formerly owned by Elliott Smith. In 2010 the album Cho Dependent by Margaret Cho was nominated for a Grammy (Best Comedy Album).
Selected Reviews:
“Little Town’s main assets are the cool, breezy atmospheric sounds that would perfectly soundtrack either a nighttime stroll through downtown Tucson or a drive down one of it’s outer streets… a gem.” – Harp
“Americana alt-rock groovesters Luca breeze in and swell music into a soft roar subtle charming the weary and confusing the wicked. Based in Tucson, Arizona they have a tight musicianship probably from their former life as a trio but they are toe-tapping with rock orchestrations and lay out a near-triipt cover of Lou Reed’s ‘Walk On the Wildside’.” – San Francisco Bay Times
“Nick Luca’s past (he’s a top honcho at Tucson’s Wavelab Studio) and his present disc’s guest list (M. Ward, Jon Rauhouse, Calexico’s Joey & John) suggest Sick of Love might be a dose of airy Arizona desert country rock. Instead, Luca reveals his love for hooky power-pop”. – No Depression
“Somewhat similar to Calexico (without the Tex-Mex influences) and a less abrasive Giant Sand (without the grunge), both of whom he has worked with, Luca – the musician and the band – keeps the melodies lazy yet accessible. Nick Luca has a wispy, nearly dreamlike vocal quality that perfectly compliments this delicate music… these moody songs are deceptively simple with layers of instruments subtly bubbling under the surface. There is also a vague ‘70s feel to some tracks… It’s a disc that probably needs repeated spins in a quiet environment to fully appreciate its unobtrusive craftsmanship. Consequently, it is especially potent on late, lonely Saturday nights and rain-drenched Sunday mornings.” 3 1/2 stars – All Music Guide
“Luca’s whispery vocal, sounds like a moody track the Bad Seeds might work up while waiting for Nick Cave to show. And yes, the overriding ambience is one of brooding and reflection… (that) still convey a kind of nocturnal wooziness that is hardly characteristic of a quote-unquote ‘desert rock’ album. In that regard, Luca has carved himself a rather unique little spot under not only the bad crazy sun but its equally luminous nighttime counterpart, the Sonoran moon.” – Seattle Weekly
“Luca sings his minimalist lyrics about lonely urban nights in whispery murmurs over dreamy tempos and atmospheric backgrounds that borrow from both cool jazz and ambient techno music. He captures that peculiar, post-midnight mood when you’re still awake after the rest of the city has fallen asleep.” – The Washington Post
“Luca… tip(s) the hat to Calexico’s dreamy southwest inspired landscapes, but add to it jazz, electronica lounge, psychedelic-pop and folk influences.” – The Village Voice
“An engineer at Tucson’s famed Wavelab studios, Nick Luca regularly mans the VU metres for the likes of Giant Sand and Calexico, until now keeping his own artistic urges under wraps… his wistful debut (recorded after hours at Wavelab) proffers 10 atmospheric tracks that eschew the dustbowl twang of Tucson contemporaries in favour of ethereal keyboard vistas and frail, whispered vocals.” 3 1/2 stars – Q Magazine
“Like a walking gene splice of Elliott Smith and Curtis Mayfield, Luca makes Little Town a late night album that caresses your body as it soothes your fevered brow.” – High Bias