From Russia with love
 | | Nick Varey: Let's Stay Together |
by Andy McCorkell
Russian fairy tales really do happen it seems though it appears that one is just about to conjure up a darker and more interesting tale.
And after lighting up Kilburn High Road, with a stunning performance at a recent open mic session at Powers bar, frontman and songwriter Nick Varey, 20, from Cricklewood, took a moment to have a chat.
He headlined at an open mic organised by the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP), impressing with three scintillating covers, including Vultures and Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayer, as well as a rip roaring finale that brought a cheering crowd to song with Let's stay together by Al Green.
Nick said: "Sometimes when you start off at a gig you can be nervous or anxious and you just want to get started, but when people are applauding you it feels good.
"It takes a couple of numbers for you to feel whether people are appreciating you. I guess that is experience - you can kind of step back and think I am in the zone, I feel good, people appreciate me.
"That's a really good feeling and it spurs you on to be better at what you are doing.
"It can be a bit daunting sometimes after a gig when people come up to you and say 'Yeah man! That was really good.'
Sometimes you don't really know what to say and you are like 'cheers, cheers.' I guess you need to have an ego, and it's important to have one, but I think you've got to be careful."
Nick's next gig is at the Old Ship in Kilburn High Road, on April 25 when he will be fronting his band.
He said: "We are called Ivan and the Wolves, it's a Russian fairy tale. I love Russia. I love the country and I find it really interesting.
"I have weird obsessions about some things. I sing with a three piece of bass, drums and guitar/vocals and we are inspired by the Foo Fighters and The Who."
Nick, who writes his own songs on guitar and keyboards, is second year vocal degree student at the ICMP in Dyne Road (www.icmp.uk.com).
andrew.mccorkell@archant.co.uk
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