A Quick Chat With Nick Carver
Nick Carver strips blues-rock back to its rawest form on his self-titled debut solo EP, a gritty six-track collection built on lap steel guitar, stomping percussion, and a healthy disregard for convention. The Victoria-based artist moves between swampy garage-rock and intimate acoustic moments, exploring everything from love and self-doubt to the pressure to conform, all while letting the imperfections shine through. Following the success of singles Stones You Throw and Railroad, which both made waves on the AMRAP charts, the EP captures Carver's fiercely independent approach to making music. We caught up with Nick Carver to talk about the EP, his stripped-back sound, and what's next.
Your self-titled debut solo EP takes a stripped-back, unconventional approach to blues-rock. What inspired this direction, and what do you hope listeners take away from the release?
A great deal of the music I love to listen to—whether it be punk, soul, metal, or hip-hop—can have a squiggly line traced back to the blues. If someone is riffing on a minor pentatonic, they can shut up and take my money. So I just wanted to see where I could fit my own music into that, without leaning on any lame clichés. I wanted to sing from my own soul and experience.
The EP moves through everything from swampy garage-rock to intimate acoustic recordings. Is there a particular track that means the most to you, and why?
I think that RAILROAD is a special track because it perfectly represents where I'm headed as an artist. It's also the first song I wrote specifically for the lapsteel.
You've included an unexpected reimagining of Monster Magnet's ‘Negasonic Teenage Warhead’. What drew you to this song, and how did you approach making it your own?
I've always loved Monster Magnet, and stoner rock in general. Great riffs! It comes back to that bluesy sound I love. I also wanted to navigate what it was like to record a cover, something I've never done with much success before.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and why?
One of my earliest musical obsessions was Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" as it's in an iconic scene in Predator. That and John Lee Hooker as I loved him in The Blues Brothers. Hearing songs on TV and Movies was a big introduction to music for me. That took a drastic turn when i was 13 and a friend lent me their Mr Bungle CD. It was their first album which is whack! So I had this bizarre initiation into Funk/Metal/Jazz/Ska/Rock and whatever else they were mixing in. It was weird and scary. Sexual and hilarious. Anyone who's listened to their first and second albums knows what I mean.
What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording, particularly when working with such a minimal setup?
I create a small part of the song and record it on my phone, then I continue to flesh it out from there. Throw everything at it and work out a lot of ideas. Go overboard. Then strip it all back to a few instruments to really hear the soul of the song.
What do you think makes a great song?
I love music that is crusty. Like the pulp left in orange juice, or a hair in the lense of an old movie. If it's blues, keep it simple. If it's rock, make it brutal. If it's HIP HOP, get that snare on the two and four!
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Alain Johanness. I love his music, and he's an amazing producer. Everyhting he's touched is gold!
When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?
I love to draw and create little clay sculptures. I had a gig as an art teacher a couple of years ago and it really awakened my visual mind. I also love to act and sing in local community theatre, and I often play in the orchestra.
Who are some local artists or bands we should check out?
RATBIRD!!! Amazing punk band from South Gippsland. I love them so much and am always blown away by their performances.
Winter or summer and why?
BOTH! I'm lucky to live down in Inverloch. It gets bloody cold but I love a frosty morning. I'm all about extremes. I love it when it's too hot, or too cold.
With your debut solo EP now out, what's next for Nick Carver heading into 2027?
Gigging and figuring out an amazing live show centred around my lapsteel and MPC sequencer. I have funky new song in the works called Dingoes that I can't wait to play live!
Follow Nick Carver: Spotify | Apple Music | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube