Roger Nicolas

Roger Nicolas has been an obsessive musician for most of his life. His arrangements range from progressive to indie-pop, utilizing modern acoustic fingerpicking techniques to create the illusion of an entire band on stage. His musical philosophy of focusing on a song’s arrangement promotes intellectual listening that won’t bore and improves with each listen.

Beginning his musical journey on the piano, he transitioned to guitar after the dire realization that he preferred listening to Led Zeppelin than Bach. Upon switching to his first six-string (a beat-up acoustic guitar his dad bought for a few pesos on a trip to Mexico), he began understanding musical structure and honing his own style. Although he spent his youth attached to Phyllis, his Fender Stratocaster that followed him through college, it wasn’t until a happy accident that he threw away his picks and started focusing on song-writing. In 2019, Roger accepted a job in Germany. Moving with only two suitcases, he made a fateful choice to bring only one guitar: his acoustic, Naomi.

Two years passed before he and Naomi starting making appearances at open mics, then predominantly in Maine where he moved by bad luck. These early performances showcased his distinct style of arrangements while he workshopped how to perform, what people liked to hear, and how to sing. His move to Colorado (and back to human society) provided means by which he could regularly perform and hone his style.

Roger continues to grow as a musician, and through active listening (inspirations include Miles Davis, Jon Gomm, and TTNG) and an obsessive personality, he hopes to always improve.

“Music is in constant motion. You have to understand and learn from the past, know what’s going on now, and anticipate where it will move tomorrow” – RN

Where did Roger Nicolas grow up?
He grew up in Golden, Colorado, where he specialized in tennis and eating burritos.

Will Roger play “Free Bird” during a performance?
No, and stop asking.

Has Roger always been solo?
He studied jazz in college where he played in multiple combos. After burning out of jazz (and realizing he wasn’t very good at it), he went solo.

Will Roger always be solo?
He’s always looking for a good drummer to fill in the gap!

Who would Roger like to thank for helping him along this journey?
James Albert (AKA the wizard), Brian Dean (jazz maestro who taught him the importance of rhythm and arrangements), Miles Davis (the greatest musician since Mozart), and Roger Federer (Deity)