Multi-hyphenate artist Nick van Hofwegen – aka Young & Sick – has thrived at the intersection of art and music. Known for creating stunning visuals & unique sound, over the past year he made a seamless transition into the NFT space. Young & Sick managed to secure his legacy as a one of the market’s trailblazers, constantly reinventing and laying the groundwork for a new generation of multi-faceted NFT artists.
Now, with the release of his brand new album “BROTHER”, a highly anticipated new drop with Nifty Gateway, and his first NFT fanclub in the works, Young & Sick is ready for another successful year of innovation and creative freedom.
We caught up with Nick to chat about his new record, as well as his artistic and personal journey.
SSW: Let’s start with your background. When did you first discover your passion for music? How did it transform from something you loved into your career?
Young & Sick: My father has the biggest record collection. A full library of records. Since I was a kid, he used to sit with me and play music. I started playing guitar in my young teens. I started playing in punk bands, and would draw when not playing. As soon as I loved music, I tried to create it.
What type of music did you grow up listening to? Who has had the greatest influence on your taste in music over time?
My Brothers (Jero & Caleb). Otherwise my musical taste truly spans the gambit. I credit that to my father as well.
Aside from music, you are very well known as a visual artist. Have you always pursued both?
For as long as I can remember I’ve been scribbling and yodeling. When I hit a block with one I simply switch to the other. It helps the process.
You’re originally from a small village in the Netherlands, then moved to the UK and the U.S, and from what I have read you were splitting time between LA and NYC. Tell us a little more about your journey – where do you call home these days?
Brooklyn, thankfully. I moved to London when I was 18 to make music and work. I eventually moved to LA. I had to leave America as I had no visa… until I did get a visa and moved back. Eventually I landed in NYC. I love it here. I’m constantly inspired by this beautiful beast.
How would you describe your sound in terms of feelings?
Wearing a wool sweater some bored child bedazzled, wading through clean yet sticky substance (petroleum jelly maybe? Or some sort of antiseptic jello.) The air smells of bees.
You just dropped your new album “BROTHER.” Congratulations! I’ve had it on repeat all week pre-release and I’m absolutely loving it! What was the inspiration behind it and what was the creation process like?
As far as creative process/work schedule, we have a pretty strict schedule that we fall into- we usually like to be done before dinner, and we usually write on two or three tunes simultaneously (to both avoid burnout and because we are ADHD gremlins.)
My favorite song on your album is called “ANGELS”, can you tell us more about it?
That was the first piece we wrote for this album. It’s a gratitude jam. It features, in addition to MUNYA’s incredible voice, the incomparable drumming of Steve Bryant. He just put out an album called Live/Work (under his Cru Jones moniker) which Is so so so good.
I started following your work very closely because of NFTs, and I got to be in several Clubhouse rooms with you during your amazing NFT drop that helped raise funds for struggling independent music venues during the pandemic. It was such an amazing effort! Could you share how you initially started out in the NFT space?
Thank you. Aaron Saltzman deserves all the credit for this one; he is an incredible manager and a tireless advocate for the projects he believes in. He discovered the space in 2020, and saw a path for digital artists there. We got connected to Tommy at Nifty Gateway who welcomed us to the platform. After our first drop back in March, Matthew Ferrick on their team has spoken to us on the phone weekly to strategize our growth in the space. Now NFTs and the digital art renaissance are what occupy a lot of my brain. It’s exciting that for the first time in art, I have an opportunity for a good idea to truly be a ‘first of something.’
Recently, you completed your second drop on Nifty Gateway, and you are getting ready to introduce your NFT fanclub this fall, tell us more about what you are working on!
Top secret for now, but all will be made clear soon. Stay tuned.
NFTs have been truly reshaping the music industry and it’s been such a wild ride to participate in this process and be part of the community. What are you most excited about? Any predictions on what we are gonna see in the NFT space next year?
I see the Metaverse really expanding. I see a much wider adoption of NFTs. Twitter will verify profile pictures to NFT ownership. I think this pushes others to want to verify / own their profile picture. I see a lot of gaming evolving into an area where players can earn money while gaming. I see the radical transparency the blockchain allows transforming a lot of old industries for the better. I see a lot of smart people changing careers and joining this movement. NFTs are so much bigger than art, but this is a great place to start.
Let’s talk more about your personal journey. What is the hardest lesson you’ve learnt in life so far?
Don’t assume people will gaffe down their cable runs. It’s easy to trip.
How do you use your intuition in your creative process?
To be aware of intuition means suppressing intuition, right? So if intuition is part of the process, it’s not a conscious part of the process.
We’ve got one last question for you! Thinking of yourself as a soul on Earth, what do you think your purpose is?
To create meaningfully that which elevates community and pushes the cultural conversation forward.
Interview by Irina Liakh
