Pivot With Purpose Season 6 Episode 14 Nick Foxer Full Transcript
Meghan Houle (00:00.294)
Awesome. Nick, welcome to the Pivot With Purpose podcast. How are you, my friend?
Nick Foxer (00:06.038)
Thank you so much, Megan. Great to see you. Thank you for having me. Really stoked to be here. It's like the first podcast I've ever been on and I listen to a lot of podcasts. So I feel like my, I'm leveling up.
Meghan Houle (00:10.21)
my gosh.
Meghan Houle (00:14.136)
my, wow. I'm so honored. No, truly. Yes. And I feel like our connection has been so much fun because like organically we've kind of come into each other's world, you know, just through the love of all things music, wine country. I feel like you are so talented. I can't wait to tell your story. Yeah. So thanks again for being here.
Nick Foxer (00:34.54)
Thank you. Thank you. I mean, I'm, yeah, for, mean, okay, so right off the bat, I think I know what Pivot with Purpose entails, but I'd love to hear it from you, like just a brief synopsis of kinda what the theme of the podcast is and what you hope to kind of focus on.
Meghan Houle (00:53.774)
Yeah, my favorite thing. yeah, mean, as the listeners know for the Pivot With Purpose, for me and my soul, I mean, this whole podcast came out of the pandemic where, I mean, many, many, many people were affected. But in my community, I mean, I'm just somebody from a very young age that always wanted to use my voice for good.
Nick Foxer (01:16.684)
Cool.
Meghan Houle (01:16.934)
there were especially many people coming in, as the listeners know, in the community where they were thrusted into unemployment, being furloughed, being in a situation where maybe they haven't had to look for a job in 13 years and freaking out, Nick. And I was like, no, no. We've pivoted before. Obviously, we went through a massive pandemic that we didn't ask for and no one anticipated it or how long it was going to be. And I'm
Okay, we gotta bring voices together because at the epicenter of like makes us who we are. You know, we're always changing. Well, hopefully, you know, with change comes growth. And I feel like the stories of navigating, hey, I was here, but now I'm here. Whether it's, you know, aligning with like a new job, a purpose where there's a lot of people that have pivoted into entrepreneurship, that have left bad situations, they wanted to take control.
Nick Foxer (01:55.03)
course, for
Meghan Houle (02:14.072)
and forge their own destinies, like that's what it's all about,
Nick Foxer (02:17.856)
I love it. I love it. I mean, I interpret it as basically, I guess I have a feeling what you're kind of talking about is like evolving with purpose, right? Like progressing with purpose, adapting with purpose, right? What you gotta do in life anyway, even when there's not a pandemic, like if you know something's not working out in your life, you can't be scared to like shift gears, change lanes. Let me see how many analogies I can use. And yeah, find something that works better, right?
Meghan Houle (02:46.618)
Yeah, yeah. Me too. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (02:47.24)
I love pivoting. mean, I've done it a lot in my life. Because like I told you, I haven't really known what my purpose in life is for most of my life. So I've gone through a lot of really interesting and bold pivots, which hopefully we'll get into some of those.
Meghan Houle (03:03.684)
Ooh, and I can't wait to like dive them. Heck yeah. Well, tell us, where are we catching you in the here and now? Like give the listeners your little elevator pitch of like, where's Nick? What's going on in your world? What are you doing at this moment? And then we can like dive into like the early years. Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.
Nick Foxer (03:21.676)
Sure. Before I do that, the audio on my end's a little glitchy. Should I worry about that or not? Because I can deal with it. I just want to make sure it's not actually recording glitchily.
Meghan Houle (03:26.732)
Okay. Hold on. No, it sounds good. So Ben, if it sounds like weird, but am I like coming in and out or am I like fuzzy or what do I look like?
Nick Foxer (03:37.224)
I can hear you, but there's just like an overtone of like staticky, beepy, kinda like yee -lee -loo -loo -loo. Maybe it's gone now, I don't know. The good news is, I've navigated all kinds of sonic situations, so I can power through. Yeah. All right, where you're catching me. You're catching me at probably one of the best points of my life professionally and just like...
Meghan Houle (03:51.418)
you are like the master. All
Nick Foxer (04:04.842)
you know, as far as feeling like I have a purpose and I'm successful and financially stable and loving what I'm doing. This is like something that's just kind of recently happened in the past couple years. It obviously, you know, has to do with music and performing, but I'm stoked, man. I've been riding a high for like a year and a half now, because I'm just like, I get to do this full time and I get to bring in this much money and I get to
take all these skills I have and wear all these different hats that I've worn before and put them all together. it feels like a culmination of something that I've been waiting most of my life to find and arrive at. So I'm thriving in a way that I haven't for most of my
Meghan Houle (04:47.834)
love that so much and tell us though in terms of music and what you're doing today like talk a little bit about like what's really what's really lighting you up I mean I know but I won't like you know uncover it for everyone you tell it yeah
Nick Foxer (04:48.629)
Yeah, thank
Nick Foxer (04:56.62)
Sure. Sure. Yeah. So for people who don't know me, which is probably everyone listening to this podcast, I am a performer and entertainer. I'm a solo, solo performer. I don't really play with bands. Every now and then I'll play in a duo, but 98 % of the time I'm out there solo, playing piano and singing for all kinds of venues in the area where I live, which is Sonoma County, wine country, Northern California.
I play at hotels, wineries, restaurants, private events, weddings, birthday parties, but private events aren't all that often. Most of the time it's wineries, hotels, restaurants. And this is a great area, in my opinion, it's possibly one of the best areas in the entire United States to be doing what I'm doing.
because there are obviously some bigger cities with more music in them like LA and Nashville and New York, but the problem is there you're a very small fish in a very big pond. And you know, the supply is so high that you're not gonna make as much money, if any, because there are so many struggling musicians out there that are willing to perform for free that you can't really make a career doing what I'm doing in a city that has, you know, a few thousand musicians in it. Whereas here,
There's a high demand in this area because there's a lot of tourism. know, people are staying at these hotels, they're going to these wineries. It's tourists with money, because they're coming here to drink wine, you know, and that's usually elevated upper class people with a little bit of money to spend. And the supply of musicians is not that high. This is like a very aging county that I live in. There's a lot of older people in this area and a lot of the musicians are older.
and they just maybe aren't really taking it seriously or they're not really trying to go full time and lean fully into it like I am. So I found myself in a really, really fantastic situation where demand is high, supply is low, and I'm there to kind of step in and address some of this musical need that's in this area.
Meghan Houle (07:05.444)
Yes, for, my God, first of all, so many things to say about that, but Napa also, let me know if you agree with, it's kind of a place where I call it like Disneyland for adults. Like you can't go to Napa and be pissed, right? Typically also people are like in good moods, right? Disneyland for adults.
Nick Foxer (07:16.876)
It's exactly, no, no, no. I've probably said that exact thing. I've probably literally said Napa is Disneyland for adults, because it is. Is it okay if I drink my sparkling water on the podcast?
Meghan Houle (07:29.55)
Yes, yes, I have we should have wine next time and we'll do it in person and then you can sing too. It's awesome But no, I feel like I think also the energy in that but maybe people that live there full -time can like fight me fight me on DMS but like I it's so electric and every time I go there I feel
Nick Foxer (07:34.256)
Next time,
Meghan Houle (07:48.194)
I morph, you know, just into like a better version of myself and not just because I'm out drinking wine, everyone. know we, we know I love wine. However, it's just like the vibes, the beautiful scenery. I just feel like you can't be mad. Like I have so much appreciation for like, you know, kind of beauty and culture and arts and just all of it. Like when you live in a city and I know you've lived in big cities, it's like, it's a grime nick, right? You're like fighting for your lives in a million degrees.
Nick Foxer (08:12.084)
Yeah, yeah, totally.
Meghan Houle (08:15.28)
There's weirdos in cars outside trying to hit you, whatever. It's just this like magical place. So that's one also where I feel like you found this beautiful white space. And also like you're super talented. So I think that in itself lets you have such a great personality. And I know I like ambushed you, but I am all about making friends. So you're welcome.
Nick Foxer (08:26.7)
Thank
Nick Foxer (08:33.694)
No, I was so happy you did. I mean, yeah, I...
Meghan Houle (08:37.7)
I was like, wait, I need to know you. You're like, who's this girl? But maybe we'll tell the Andaz night story one another time. Aw, yeah.
Nick Foxer (08:42.611)
No, people like me rely on people like you because even though I'm good at what I do and I can turn on the charisma and turn on the extrovert social thing when I'm performing, because that's part of the job is you gotta be entertaining whether you're in the middle of a song or you're speaking in between songs, you gotta be interesting. And even though I'm good at that, definitely don't consider myself like a naturally socially extroverted, you know, networker, like, you
I'm good at what I do, but only when I have to. But on my days off, it's like I'm usually chilling in my room by myself. And so that's why I say people like me need people like you, because I can tell you definitely thrive off the whole social human side of it. The networking, the connecting, and I'm well aware that that's how the world goes around. And even though it's not always my strong suit,
I'd like to think that when those opportunities kind of present themselves to me that I'm receptive to at least saying yes and going along for the ride. So thank you. This is definitely all thanks to you. So I really appreciate
Meghan Houle (09:50.122)
Of course, why I told you. Yeah. it's my pleasure. Well, we don't, people don't meet people on accident. I know. And I only honestly give us much energy. If anyone knows me, I'm like boundary sister. I'm like, no, I'm sorry. But to people like I really truly respect and appreciate. So with that question, before we dive into early years and going back to what you just said, like because you and I at times and trust me, like I as extrovert as I am like,
Nick Foxer (10:04.458)
Yeah, right.
Meghan Houle (10:18.638)
when I, coming back from traveling, I need like two days where I just like lay on the floor. I'm like, please, no one talk to me. This like battery is drained, just like you, you know? How do you, cause I know too early on in your career, you were, you know, traveling the world and in this band, which we can talk about, but like, how do you reset and recharge? after those long weeks? I know some days you do like double gigs, like what's your ritual and where do you draw your boundaries to?
Nick Foxer (10:25.708)
Sure, battery recharge, yeah,
Nick Foxer (10:41.728)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I fall somewhere in the middle between an introvert and an extrovert. Like, I'm good at being out in social situations. I don't have social anxiety. I feel like I'm, you know, a decent conversationalist. I can meet new people and feel comfortable in my own skin meeting new people. But I'm also an only child. On my days off,
I don't have a large circle of friends. have like, you know, three or four very close friends, but it's not like my phone's blowing up all the time and I like it that way. You know, I don't get a lot of phone calls or texts only from like, like I said, my really close circle of friends. and on my days off lately, it's kind of, I've kind of had a legitimate reason to kind of go into introvert mode. And that's because I've been playing so many shows a week during the summertime, like average, maybe six shows a week.
you know, Wednesday through Sunday with maybe like two shows on Saturday, that by the end of the week these weeks, like on Sunday, my voice is usually like really shot just from performing so much. I mean, I'm not screaming while I'm performing, but just the amount of performance time, inevitably my voice is gonna get fatigued. It's gonna get hoarse. So I kind of have an excuse now on like Mondays and Tuesdays, which are my normal days off, it's Wednesdays, to just really, really kind
Like you said, lay on the floor, not literally, but you know, metaphorically lay on the floor and rest my voice. You know, I'm recharging my social battery, but I'm also physically, you know, healing my vocal cords that are just kind of like blown out from the previous week. So, but I'm really, I love me time so much. Like I am my own best friend. I'm down to do absolutely nothing for an entire day if the situation calls for
Meghan Houle (12:07.578)
rest.
Meghan Houle (12:23.234)
Absolutely. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (12:28.44)
Me too. Me too.
Yeah, yeah, I love
Nick Foxer (12:35.776)
I might go running in the mornings, but then I'm still by myself. It's nice, it's a nice dichotomy really, because I can come back to my own place, chill out, have my alone time, and then, you know, it's like a weekly cycle where it's like, once the back half of the week hits, it's like, yeah, let's go be an entertainer, let's go sparkle, let's go shine.
Meghan Houle (12:50.32)
Get back into
Meghan Houle (12:55.366)
Totally. Yeah, absolutely. No, and it's always so interesting. I think like, I mean, talking about big scale, like Taylor Swift and all these like artists that have these like crazy concerts, I'm like, how do they sing three nights back to back? I mean, they must not talk for like the rest of the week. I mean, that's such a skill. And obviously you train muscle, you know, all of that. like, yeah, I'm just blown away because I have one night out and I can't talk, you know? Yeah.
Nick Foxer (13:10.444)
Yeah. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (13:19.616)
Yeah, I actually signed up just a few weeks ago for an online singing course where the whole point is to teach you where to sing from. It's not necessarily how to sing or how to be a better singer, but yeah, how to increase your longevity and your stamina by releasing tension in the right spots. But I'm not all the way through that yet, so we'll see where I'm at in a month.
Meghan Houle (13:25.123)
wow.
Right, so you're not straining.
Meghan Houle (13:38.854)
So jealous. I always wanted to be like a better singer. No, hey, I'm cheering you on. I know that's like one talent I don't have. I was like thrusted in chorus like early on and they're like, that's cute, Megan. Like you have other talents and I'm like, no. But I'm just always in awe. So tell me early, Nick. my gosh, let's get into it. Where did you grow up? Did you grow up in Sonoma and like what brought you on this path? Yeah. Okay. Love
Nick Foxer (13:52.232)
Yeah. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (13:59.286)
Sure. I did. grew up in Sonoma County, in a little town called Sebastopol. It's a little bit further west of where I am now in Santa Rosa, but it's a quirky, know, in the 80s it used to be like a little more hippie and a little more funky in a good way. And now there's more money there like there is in everywhere in Sonoma County. yeah, grew up probably eight miles from here. Great childhood.
you know, skateboarded, played football on the street, like just kind of your normal, if there is such thing as a normal, you know, childhood. Love my hometown, love Sebastopol, still go there all the time. My parents still live there. I'm there probably once a week, once every two weeks. My mom was the one that made me take piano lessons growing up and she started me on that. I say make because, you know, I wasn't always totally on board. But.
Yeah, probably five or six is when she made me start taking piano lessons. Like she started me early. And I think actually my grandmother was paying for it. So my grandma was giving money to my mom to help pay for my, yeah, yeah, totally.
Meghan Houle (15:08.75)
Like, thanks, Graham. Yeah. Were you naturally like, did you pick it up pretty easily? Yeah, I try to play piano.
Nick Foxer (15:13.93)
I mean, I think when you're that young, anything that your parents really kind of support you and encourage you to do, you start to really kind of have this early thing for it. You know what I mean? When you're that young, I'm not sure there's something as unnatural. I don't know, I don't.
Meghan Houle (15:31.782)
Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.
Meghan Houle (15:38.616)
Right, well, but you, I don't know. Have you ever seen like David Foster's kid though, going back like the music, you know, producer or whatever, his kid like plays the drums. He's like two and he's like playing these drums. So I think some people do have this like natural talent. Others you have to bring out to it, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Tell me. Got it. Okay.
Nick Foxer (15:49.362)
Right, right. Okay, yeah, no, I know what you mean. I know what you mean. No, yeah, I know what you mean, but here's the thing is I wasn't like a child prodigy. I wasn't a virtuoso, and I'm still not. I'm like decent on piano. You know, I'm proficient, but I'm not a shredder. I can't sit down at a piano and have somebody go, whoa, you know? Like I'll play something when people are like, that's really nice,
I can't do something like Flight of the Bumblebee or some kind of classical, you know, super intricate piece where people are like losing their minds. That's just not what I do. I'm just good enough to do this full time. Yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (16:30.896)
That's good enough. That's a podcast name. Maybe that's a Nick and Megan podcast. Just good enough. Well, but also too, are you, cause I remember piano wise for me, I can hear notes and then like find them versus like reading them. I mean, are you, can you pick up like songs and just like this bank rate? Yeah. Okay.
Nick Foxer (16:45.696)
Yeah, so I don't have perfect pitch, which means if you hear like, you know, a fan making a buzzing, you can be like, that's an A, or that's a B flat or whatever. I don't have that, but what I do have is like relative pitch and really good music ear theory training where I can hear a song and if it's a fairly simple pop song like most pop songs are, yeah, I can hear the chord changes and then I can transpose it and I can play that back for you in a different key.
Meghan Houle (16:53.428)
Mmm.
Meghan Houle (16:56.91)
Right, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes.
Meghan Houle (17:07.608)
You can play it. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (17:15.019)
And that's just because I'm really good with music theory. And that's from going to school for it and stuff. And that actually really helps me a lot. It helps me with singing too, because I'm also not an incredible singer. I'm a good singer, but I'm not one of those people that's gonna come in the top 10 on American Idol. I can't do crazy melismas or crazy R &B runs. Again, there's anything that will blow people's minds,
Meghan Houle (17:20.376)
Yeah, yeah, so,
Nick Foxer (17:40.78)
Because I've got great music theory knowledge, I know like what scale degree I'm on. I know what my range is. I know if there's a note that I'm just not gonna be able to hit. And so I'm a very, just like my piano playing, I'm a very solid, proficient singer. You know, that I'm good enough to do what I do. And yeah, a lot of people say, you got a great voice. But I don't have that kind of voice that's like,
Meghan Houle (18:04.068)
Right, well, I mean, yeah, so like Aguilera, like Christine Aguilera, we'll give her props, whatever, but we all have our place in the world. You're freaking amazing. So from childhood piano playing to then where you're thrusted into like school plays and like doing all like the musical things are like, where did it go from there? Yeah. Dang.
Nick Foxer (18:14.834)
Yeah. Thank
Nick Foxer (18:22.868)
I didn't really have to do school plays. No, I was in band in freshman year of high school. I was never in choir, because even though I was like kind of singing, it wasn't like a strong passion and my parents weren't like, you gotta be singing. I probably took piano lessons until right before high school. And then after like years and years of taking piano lessons, I think I was getting increasingly like restless.
Meghan Houle (18:28.932)
Yeah. Okay.
Nick Foxer (18:49.62)
with doing it, you know, and I would like argue with my mom a lot, like, I don't want to do this, you know, I don't want to do this. I would still do my homework, piano homework. So even though I was like arguing with her the whole time, I was still improving, you know, being diligent about the craft and everything. But I think when high school came around, she, she was like, okay, you really don't want to take piano lessons anymore. Go do your own thing. I picked up the guitar around then, you know, as one does in high school, cause a guitar is a cooler instrument when you're that age.
So I, you know, I'm decent on guitar as well, but piano, there is a familiarity to it when I sit down at a piano, a comfort level and a confidence level that I don't have with guitar probably because of how young I was when I started playing
Meghan Houle (19:34.276)
Yeah. So where did this kind of next level sort of music come in for you? Did you get through college? Like, where did you go to school? And like, how did that maybe catapult your career on that end in other ways?
Nick Foxer (19:43.36)
Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Well, I had a pop punk band in high school called Absolute Zero. And we were like the one real band at my high school at the time. Like there were a couple other kids that were trying to make music, but we were like, we did. Yeah. We also played at project graduation. yeah. Yeah. We were, we were not bad for a high school band. I was the lead singer. kind of put the band together. I was the songwriter.
Meghan Houle (19:55.6)
Hell yeah.
Did you play at dances?
Nick Foxer (20:11.774)
I played guitar in the band. was two guitars, a bass and drums, a classic punk four piece. We were called Absolute Zero because three of us were in honors physics and absolute zero is a physics term for like the coldest something can be when all the molecules stop. They can't really get anything to absolute zero. I know I am a smarty pants actually. Yeah, I've always been an overachiever. But yeah, so I had a pop punk band in high school. Still wasn't really like thinking about doing music as like a life path.
Meghan Houle (20:28.048)
Barney pans.
Meghan Houle (20:33.286)
That's awesome.
Nick Foxer (20:40.796)
and just went to UC Santa Barbara for a couple years without any idea what I wanted to do. Just like doing GEs and partying a lot and like enjoying life in Santa Barbara and taking music classes, but not like aiming for a degree in music. And then after a couple of years, I was like, you know, I'm going to transfer to a music school. I don't really need to be here at UCSB. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm having a blast. You know, I'm like drinking beer and getting high every day, but like, I got to
start to pick a direction. So I went to music school, a small music school in the Midwest. I got a two year degree in songwriting, an associate's degree in songwriting, which is, know, the paper itself is, I've never had to show it to anybody. Nobody cares about that. But it was a great opportunity to start to really focus on music for the first time, you know, as an, as an adult or, you know, after being over 18. So that was a great experience. I really started to learn more
you know, the lyrics and the craft and the melody and how it all comes together. Cause songwriting is a weird art, a weird craft. You're putting like language together with music and those are like kind of two totally different mediums and you're kind of like trying to fuse them. So, yeah, got this music degree, then headed to Hollywood to like figure it all out, to like play music in Hollywood. was there for, let's see early two thousands.
Meghan Houle (22:01.956)
Yes, you did. What year was this, Nick? Like, what are we talking? Baby. The good fashion years, no.
Nick Foxer (22:08.652)
Maybe 2003? Yeah. Yeah, right, the Ed Hardy affliction Von Dutch hats. Everyone was wearing Von Dutch hats. Like, yeah, when I got to LA. No, I've never gotten a spray tan in my life. I've used a tanning bed once or twice, but I've never gotten a spray tan. Yeah, I prefer all natural.
Meghan Houle (22:15.76)
Did Dutch? Yes. Everybody spray. Did you ever get spray tanned? Spray tanned. Damn. Okay. Well, we'll change that. I know me too. We didn't know. We didn't know any better back then. No, if we only knew, but we're still standing, right? We're doing
Nick Foxer (22:33.992)
Right. We are, yeah. Yeah, we're doing okay. Anyways, I goofed around in LA for seven years. I was in a bunch of bands. I started a couple bands. I played keyboards for a couple larger bands as a backup keyboardist. I also had odd crappy jobs. I worked at a cafe in Hollywood for a while. I was also a caterer, those part -time temp caterers for fancy events. So I
I was just being a scrub in my 20s in Hollywood without much idea of what I wanted to do other than music, I guess, in some fashion. But I had a blast. I got into all kinds of fun stuff, being single in 20s in Hollywood. Everyone's there to make it. Everyone's there to, it's just a lot of, be seen. Yeah, right.
Meghan Houle (23:12.646)
Hmm, okay, yeah.
Meghan Houle (23:19.536)
Of course.
Meghan Houle (23:23.598)
Yeah.
Be seen. -hmm. Yeah. Cool.
Nick Foxer (23:30.069)
So I ended up getting a really good gig at one point playing keyboards for a band that was big for a brief moment in the early 2000s. They're called the All American Rejects. They had like two or three hits, maybe two hits. Swing, swing, dirty little secret, move along, it ends tonight.
Meghan Houle (23:47.076)
I feel like they're more than it. I like Google the American read. I feel like there's some good
Nick Foxer (23:52.672)
Yeah, there are some good bops. Yeah, they were like fun, up -tempo, pop rock. I don't even know if you could call them pop punk. They were like pop rock.
Meghan Houle (23:53.956)
All right. Right. Yeah. Now I can't get that damn song out of my head now. We're not going to sing it. I won't embarrass you, but I
Nick Foxer (24:00.916)
Yeah, don't sing it, don't sing it. But that was nice, because that kind of really shifted my perspective of what's possible if I apply myself and kind of really, you
Meghan Houle (24:08.998)
Mmm. How did you land that? Like, tell us your path to all American rejects. It's amazing. Yes.
Nick Foxer (24:15.122)
Sure, I was living with a couple other musicians that I met on Craigslist. And I think I originally met them because they were looking, yeah, because they were looking to start a band. And I was like, well, I just got to LA. I could be a singer. I could be your singer. play guitar, you know. And then I moved in. They were living in a warehouse in North Hollywood, like an industrial warehouse. And I moved in with them. And one of the guys had a manager and his manager was the All American Rejects manager.
Meghan Houle (24:20.226)
Craig's List, yes. Okay.
Nick Foxer (24:44.554)
So he hit me up one day, left a voicemail on my phone and just said, hey man, I talked to my manager and it sounds like All American Rejects are looking for a keyboardist, a backup musician. So I gave him your name and if you want to feel like auditioning, like let me know. So got the audition, really studied hard for it. You know, they sent me like the sheet music, even though it was like really simple pop stuff. was like, meh, meh, meh, know, like really boring stuff. But still like,
Meghan Houle (25:08.966)
You're like, I got this. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (25:13.3)
I knew they were gonna have three keyboards if I ended up playing for them. So I like borrowed two other keyboards from my friends, set them up in the same way, and then really brought a lot of energy to the audition. was like dancing while I was playing and I just wanted to show like that I could be part of the vibe, the stage vibe. And I got the gig like a few days later, they called me and I was working in a cafe at the time and like I quit that day and was like, hey, I gotta go.
Meghan Houle (25:31.482)
Yeah? Yeah?
Nick Foxer (25:42.102)
do this way cooler thing. Yeah, sorry, I gotta go catch a flight to Florida where the tour's starting. And yeah, it was incredible. We went to Japan and Australia and the UK. I think we did Germany and Netherlands, but I had never really traveled before then, so that also opened my eyes up to traveling. Yeah, it was an insane year. was for someone like me who wasn't in that world at all to go from like cafe to, know,
Meghan Houle (25:42.544)
Sorry guys, I'm joining a boy band.
Meghan Houle (25:51.75)
Yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (25:59.686)
That's cool.
Nick Foxer (26:10.636)
touring the world with a band was wild.
Meghan Houle (26:13.744)
But I feel like it all goes back to like proximity to people, greatness, like right place, right time, timing, belief in yourself. And I mean, that applies to like anything. I feel like you undersell your skills a little bit, sir. I'm gonna push back on that. But, Well, as you should, yes. I mean, and you show up. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (26:19.115)
Mm -hmm.
Yeah. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (26:28.672)
Thanks. Well, I'm a... I appreciate it. I will say I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I like to prepare for things, and I like to do the best possible job that I can for the given situation, you know? And I've always been like
Meghan Houle (26:43.726)
Yeah. And then you had this incredible opportunity, which do you feel like that was your first big pivot? And I would say, what do you feel like you took away the most? And how did you transition out? Talk to us a little bit about some of your big takeaways.
Nick Foxer (26:58.838)
Sure. It was absolutely a huge pivot. And not only was it a pivot, it was an unexpected pivot. And those are what most of the pivots in my life have been because I like to consider myself an opportunist and to say yes to things that might feel scary, you know? But like, being a, yeah. Also, you know, because I've been single most of my life, I don't have any kids, it's easier for me to like say this kind of stuff like,
Meghan Houle (27:06.34)
Right? Yeah.
Nick Foxer (27:27.878)
I just was able to just do that or go there, you But that is a nice thing about me and my situation and it does allow me to be more of an opportunist and not really be afraid or say no right off the bat and say, well, I could never do that or, you know, that's just not something that I'm capable of doing. Instead, it's way better to at least try really hard. And then if you try really hard and you're bit of a perfectionist like I am and you prepare,
You never know what's gonna happen, right? So yeah, I am an Aquarius. I'm February 17th, so I'm right at the end of Aquarius.
Meghan Houle (28:00.214)
Amen. Wait, what sign are you? Do we talk about this?
So you're water, right? I'm Virgo, so I'm earth and fire, obviously.
Nick Foxer (28:11.25)
Right, right, yeah. No, I'm a bit of an Aquarius. I can be really quirky, I'm a bit of a loner, I'm a bit of eccentric. I don't know if Control Freak is in there, but anyway, I don't know. So yeah, that was a huge pivot. My big takeaway was that the world is big and
Meghan Houle (28:13.92)
Okay, yeah
Yeah!
Meghan Houle (28:22.042)
Yeah, I like that though. Yeah, know. Yeah, okay. Well, what was your big takeaway? Yeah,
Meghan Houle (28:33.73)
-huh.
Nick Foxer (28:37.174)
decided I love to travel and I've been traveling ever since and I owe that to the rejects basically because they Were the ones that opened my eyes to that whole thing. The other takeaway was that I definitely operate better solo I'm you know, I can function in a team environment, but I definitely that's not where I thrive the
Meghan Houle (28:51.438)
Okay, yeah.
Meghan Houle (29:00.016)
Okay. Yeah. Well, yeah.
Nick Foxer (29:01.376)
And I was the black sheep of the tour, because I wasn't quite a band member. I was like the backup band member. So I'm like not doing the radio interviews. I'm not doing the photo shoots. I'm not doing like the really glitzy, glamoury band member stuff, because I'm just meant to hang out in the background and be heard and not seen. And then I'm also not quite a crew member, because I'm not like hauling the gear around or looking out. So I was like the black sheep of the tour. And I often had a lot of free time by myself, because I wasn't doing band responsibilities, and I wasn't doing crew responsibilities.
Meghan Houle (29:19.269)
Right.
Aww.
Nick Foxer (29:30.058)
I'm just like this like eighth wheel, like backup musician. So I would go out into the world during the day and like check out a new city. know, if we're in a place I've never been, I would go out and so yeah, my takeaways were yes, I'm definitely an only child and thrive more in a solo environment. I like to be alone, yeah. And that there are a lot of ways to exist in the music business. You know, I think a lot of kids grow up and they think like,
Meghan Houle (29:37.958)
That's cool.
Meghan Houle (29:46.774)
You're like, yes, I like to be alone. Thank you. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (29:56.688)
Love her.
Nick Foxer (29:59.05)
Well, if I wanna do music, I gotta like just sing and play and like maybe be in a band or be a rock star or be a vocalist, you know, like some kind of thing. And that's true, you can do that, but there's a long list of people waiting to do that and there's a lot of, yeah. But the, throughout, I mean, and I'm still continuing to learn this. Like there are, you can be an engineer, a producer, a sound tech, you know, an editor.
Meghan Houle (30:14.32)
that are waiting, right? Yeah, yeah.
Nick Foxer (30:27.882)
You can play music for background on TV shows. There's a lot. And yeah, when you're young, I don't think you always realize that, especially in music, because everyone just wants to be famous.
Meghan Houle (30:32.038)
There's a lot. Hmm. I love that. No, I mean, a hundred percent. And I think from fame to, you know, making windfalls of cash, whether you're doing anything in life, it can't be tied to something like that. I think when you go into it being like, I'm going to be a billionaire. I'm going to be this, like the outcome is never amazing. And I love that in
opportunity that you had, you sort of pulled out a little, kind of like doing this solo. I mean, same, Nick, because I was somebody in corporate America that I'm like, don't tell me what to do. No, no, no. So hence Megan Juan Fener and I kind of just write my own way. God bless. So I love that. What do you feel like are some of the most misconceptions about being in a boy band or when people are like, my God, and you're just like, no, you shut it down.
Nick Foxer (31:05.61)
Yeah.
Nick Foxer (31:29.532)
Yeah, right. I'll be honest, a lot of the cliches that people have of musicians is they are true. Like there is definitely a certain musician type out there because I've worked with a lot of them. And it is kind of that right brain head in the clouds, creative, maybe slightly dysfunctional, know, maybe tends to have a little bit of like either anxiety or depressive things going on. You know, you're, you're a stereotypical artist. Like that's
Meghan Houle (31:29.68)
What are some of those misconceptions? Yeah.
Nick Foxer (31:59.446)
Stereotype is alive and well in the music industry and I've worked with a lot of them. I'm not Quite. I'm not really in that world as much. I've considered myself a pretty functional, you know even keeled grounded individual and that was actually part of What the part of my insecurity as a songwriter because I was also a songwriter for a long time in Nashville I moved there to like write for other people and with other
And I was really good at it, but one thing that kept hitting me, that kept nagging at me was I would go to all these seminars and workshops and listen to hit writers and the creative process and all this stuff. And they would all talk about songwriting as like something we have to do, know, like this need, this dysfunction in us where we just have to release what we're feeling. And I was always like, I don't have
You know, like I like songwriting and I'm pretty good at it and it's fun to like craft a well -crafted song, but I don't have like this burning desire to get something off my chest. And that was honestly one of my biggest weaknesses as a songwriter. I mean, I don't know if you want to use the word weakness, but it definitely hung over me the entire time when I was like, okay, yeah, I'm motivated to write a song. I'm motivated to schedule co -writes and write with other people and like really get into the community and
Meghan Houle (33:04.558)
Right, interesting. Yeah. Hmm.
Nick Foxer (33:22.622)
and do what I'm supposed to be doing here, but I don't really like have this artist struggle that like drives the
Meghan Houle (33:31.556)
No, I mean, I hear that. mean, think about some of the most well -known, I mean, that's their, that pain and that messaging is like those hit songs, you know, AKA Taylor Swift. So yeah, no, totally. Yeah. Right.
Nick Foxer (33:39.914)
Yeah. Yeah. And it obviously applies to more than just music. When you think of like, you know, your painter or sculptor, whatever, like Van Gogh cut off his ear, like, you know, the, yeah, the best artists were always the most, you know, tragic kind of. And that, and in a way it speaks to what I do now because I don't have to worry about that. I really enjoy just being an entertainer and a performer and playing cover songs, well -known hit songs. I have absolutely no problem with that despite
Meghan Houle (33:47.586)
authors like totally yeah
Meghan Houle (33:54.572)
my gosh, that's so interesting. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (34:09.024)
having a history that involves a lot of songwriting, I'm thrilled to just play well -known songs and I see nothing wrong with it. I thrive in that environment. Yeah. So that was another pivot. That was a big pivot for me to kind of come around and to say like, I don't really need to be a song. I don't need to be anything in particular in the music biz if I can figure out a way to do something that I love to do and make money doing
Meghan Houle (34:21.936)
You bring so much joy. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (34:36.828)
I love that. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (34:37.408)
So it's kind of, it's been me circling, like circling, you know, what I'm meant to do for like two decades.
Meghan Houle (34:41.142)
Right, and trying, yeah, wow. So what year was it where you left All American Rejects? Was that also where you were in natural writing? And then like, what were those transition years afterwards? Yeah. Okay.
Nick Foxer (34:51.051)
So I left Rejects in 2006, still hung around in LA for another couple years, had a band for a while called PhonoCast that was piano rock. Again, I was the lead singer and songwriter, played the piano, yeah, PhonoCast. This was before Spotify, so I don't know if any of our stuff is on Spotify or Apple Music.
Meghan Houle (34:57.869)
Mm -hmm.
Meghan Houle (35:01.862)
What?
Meghan Houle (35:09.126)
like is there a YouTube or no? Come on Nick. Is there an old Apple phone hanging around? I'm just kidding. know the Nokia flip phone was not in. I think it was seven. Yeah. So I mean thankfully there's no documented social media of Megan before 2006. Thank God. Yeah. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (35:12.652)
There's probably not. Dude, this was like pre -smartphone. Smartphone, the first iPhone came in out in like what, 2007 or eight? And this was like 2006. Yeah.
No, was on YouTube back then. No one was posting to YouTube back then. It was like a whatever, like a novel thing. But so yeah, I hung around in LA for a few more years. I also played very briefly for Selena Gomez when they were first putting her band together. It was called Selena Gomez and the Scene and I was only in the band for like a week. I was in the first music video. I'm in the background of her first music video. Yeah, it's called Fallen Down.
Meghan Houle (35:33.71)
Yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (35:49.172)
no. Wait, what? Yes. Okay, I'm going to find it after
Nick Foxer (35:56.108)
You're down, you're falling down. Yeah. They fired me a week later and they didn't tell me why. They fired me a week later and they didn't tell me why. I feel like I'm clipping. Hang on, let me maybe turn my gain down just a hair. I don't want to be clipping. I'm getting excited about all this stuff we're talking about. Because we're talking about me! We get to talk about me the whole time.
Meghan Houle (36:02.476)
All right, what happened there? Where's that pivot? You're like, I just want to be on my own.
Meghan Houle (36:17.828)
I mean, we're so excited. We're so excited! No.
Nick Foxer (36:22.896)
no, they called me and we're just like, Hey man, we think you're a great guy. We just don't think you're quite the, quite the right fit for the band. And I was like, I know that that's like corporate speak for like, you're firing me and you won't tell me why, you know? So I was like, can you please just tell me why they're like, no, no, really? Like we it's just not. But then again, we're talking about Disney where they like throw people away. Like, you know, like they're nothing. Yeah. Musicians are disposable to them.
Meghan Houle (36:33.242)
Yeah.
Meghan Houle (36:45.2)
Yeah. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (36:48.236)
So it could have been that I wasn't tall enough, it could have been whatever, maybe I was too old, anything. But I don't think it was because I wasn't good enough on keys, because I was crushing it on keys. So I can at least say that, that I think it didn't have to do with my talent, or lack thereof. So anyway, that's okay, yeah. So I left LA in like 2010 and moved to Nashville.
Meghan Houle (36:56.058)
Yeah. You're like placed. Mm -hmm.
Yeah.
Nick Foxer (37:13.628)
just to like, once again, kind of like do a LA round two, version two, except in Nashville. you know, still didn't know anybody in Nashville, didn't know a single person, found my roommates on Craigslist again, just knew that that's where songwriting happens and I really liked country, I liked the craft of it and how professional it is and I still do. A lot of it's kind of, you know, the stuff on the radio is a little
derivative or homogenous or whatever you want to use, whatever word you want to use. But there is some incredible songs and songwriters in country. You just don't always hear them if you just listen to country radio. But yeah, I went there, jumped right into the songwriting scene. Once again, not making any money in music. It was a valet for a while. I rented my second room out on Airbnb for some extra money. I had a small business, mobile coffee business for a while.
Meghan Houle (37:51.746)
Right. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (38:11.98)
So I was still like doing other stuff to pay the bills. I was just chasing a dream, you know? And at this point, I'm in my 30s. So it's like, okay, where's the dream? When's it gonna happen? know? And again, just like LA, I loved Nashville. Never really made any good money there, but had a blast just kind of like being in the music scene. And I did, I also did get a role in the background on
Meghan Houle (38:14.694)
Mm -hmm. Mm -hmm.
Meghan Houle (38:33.712)
Yeah.
Nick Foxer (38:39.286)
for like three seasons on the show Nashville on ABC. I was a guitarist for Hayden Panetteer. Once again, opportunist. I was in the right place at the right time. I chased down the opportunity. I was playing at the Bluebird Cafe and the assistant producer was there of the show. And he's like, man, you'd be great. You got a good look. Like we'd love to like maybe get you on the show. So I got his email and I had a follow -up with the email for like two months. And eventually he was like, yeah, we got a spot for you. So it was a non -speaking role. All I did was learn the songs that we were gonna perform.
Meghan Houle (38:44.249)
Yes. I
Meghan Houle (38:51.654)
Hell yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (38:57.392)
You like say less.
Nick Foxer (39:09.332)
And then like a music video, just know how to play the part and you're not actually recording the sound. But it paid well because it was through the musician's union. I wasn't just an extra. I was like considered a musician on the show. So, so yeah, for like two, see two and a half, three seasons, whenever there was a performance on the show Nashville, you'll see me in the background just kind of
You know, like doing that kind of thing. Offertunist. Offertunist. Thank you. I have a really...
Meghan Houle (39:34.842)
my God, I have so much homework to do after this. No, but I'm so proud of you. I mean, you see it and you don't give up until you're like, I want to do this. I'm going to make the connection and I'm going to freaking make it happen for myself because I'm sure you've seen so many people in your life and super curious of those. And I know you have a small circle, me too, but you've been out there in the world of like individuals that are in this victim mindset that are like, nothing's happening for me. my God, my life.
Nick Foxer (39:45.972)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm gonna make it happen. Yes.
Nick Foxer (40:01.386)
Yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (40:04.614)
flip the mirror around, look at yourself and be like, am I the problem? Like, what are you doing that's holding yourself back? And I don't feel like there's enough people at certain levels. And I understand, you know, we go through a lot of heavy shit in life, but like at the end of the day, how you deal with it and how you react is like truly what makes you who you are. And dealing with rejection, dealing with the nose, it's not always gonna work out for us people.
Nick Foxer (40:08.948)
Yes. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (40:29.722)
But I mean, there is an opportunity for us to like create our own destinies, but it's not gonna just fall on our laps. mean, truly, like sometimes serendipity comes into play, look at us. However, you you do something with it and you like keep going. So I give you a lot of freaking credit, because where I know you were is like not easy. And it's also not an easy business where I'm sure there's a lot of cutthroat people, a lot of negativity, just a lot of everything, you know?
Nick Foxer (40:34.858)
You're right.
Nick Foxer (40:43.905)
Thank
Nick Foxer (40:52.394)
Yeah, yeah, I completely agree with everything you just said. Yeah, and sometimes you gotta make sure you're asking yourself the right questions, know, because sometimes people will, if they don't have a lot of like, you know, self -esteem or positive self -talk or whatever, the questions you ask, if you're asking yourself questions like, why is the world conspiring against me or why do I have such bad luck? Like, those are the wrong questions, right? You gotta be asking stuff like, what can I, what am I good at? What could I be better
You know, what are my strengths? How can I use this as an opportunity? How can I use this as a lesson, even if it's really like crappy? Like, how can I use this information or this thing to pivot to a better, you know, in a better direction?
Meghan Houle (41:38.456)
With my situation. Yeah. No, I love that. my gosh. Well, when did you come full circle to come back to where you are today? What was that pivot after Nashville? Did you take a few more years to find some soul searching or when were you like, okay, this isn't it. I'm coming back and I'm putting myself in this scene. So curious.
Nick Foxer (41:57.876)
Yeah, so I was in Nashville for seven years, which is completely coincidentally the same amount of time I was in LA. It's not like I had a yearly calendar that I was like, okay, I'm gonna spend seven years here and seven years here. Yeah, no, no. had my, you know, the entire time that I was in Nashville, when you're in the songwriting community and in a city like Nashville where everything revolves around music.
Meghan Houle (42:01.337)
Mm -hmm.
Meghan Houle (42:08.218)
Lucky sevens. -hmm, like times up. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (42:23.542)
you're kind of forced to have your finger to the wind most of the time and be like, okay, how is this industry changing? How is it evolving? What's going on with it? Who's success, who's becoming successful, who's not? And at the time, after I'd been there for a while, it was right around the time where the industry was shifting from buying music, buying MP3s, to these new streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music. And I remember a couple of years before anyone had even really started
Meghan Houle (42:47.59)
Yeah.
Nick Foxer (42:53.226)
to use those where people would talk about them in workshops and be like, you know, guys, it's possible that in the next few years, people are gonna switch to a streaming model, a subscription model. And everyone was like, yeah, right, that's not gonna happen. And then lo and behold, it did. And it totally messed with a lot of the financials and the income streams for songwriters. And a lot of people in Nashville were freaking out. Because as a songwriter, you make maybe even less than the artists do on
Like it's really, so.
Meghan Houle (43:22.662)
Okay. Because what do you, you like own the rights to the song every time it plays, you get paid or you sell that song to the artist and then they pay you like, how does that even work? Like talk to us. Yeah. Okay.
Nick Foxer (43:27.176)
Yeah. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (43:32.082)
Rarely do you ever get paid upfront for a song. Like I don't think the entire time that I was ever in Nashville, I don't even think I ever heard of somebody like getting paid for a song. What happens is if you're a songwriter, if you're a songwriter and you are graced with artists that wants to record your song, if they're big, then the hope is the song gets big and you get paid on the back end once it's a hit. Which is a whole lot of speculation and it's not very fun.
Meghan Houle (43:40.88)
Hmm. Well, how would you like present them? You're like, Katy Perry should sing this. Yeah. OK. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (43:52.11)
Okay, okay.
Meghan Houle (43:56.646)
Got it, got it. Interesting. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (44:01.588)
And on top of that, there's like different ways that you get paid for a song that's on radio versus a song that's on Spotify versus a song that gets placed in a movie. Like the paperwork and just all the minutia of the different income streams is like insane. It sucks. So a lot of people like, you know, we're up in, we're freaking out about this whole musical consumption revolution.
Meghan Houle (44:18.768)
Yeah, wow.
Nick Foxer (44:28.18)
I also just saw like not only were none of my peers really having success, like the people that I co -wrote with a lot, but I just didn't see like the imbalance in that town between the supply and the demand for songs is really out of balance. There's like thousands of songwriters in that city writing thousands of songs every day. And if you think about the number of songs that you really need on like major label albums for a year,
or the number of hit songs on the radio for a year, it's not that much. Like a few dozen songwriters in that town could take care of the entire need of all the songs in Nashville. So it's like being an actor in LA, but maybe even with the odds stacked even more against you. So I was like, after seven years, I was like, I've had a great time here. I did my best to chase down this dream. I'm not really getting anywhere.
Meghan Houle (45:01.424)
Not that much, right?
Meghan Houle (45:07.984)
Wow,
Meghan Houle (45:15.927)
huh.
Nick Foxer (45:26.814)
I think I'm good at what I do, but I don't define myself as a song. It wasn't, I didn't attach too much Goic identity, yeah, to it. I was like, liked writing songs, but I could easily pivot away from songwriting and be totally okay with it and not consider it like a failure. I did my best here. The landscape is changing. I learned lessons, whatever.
Meghan Houle (45:35.278)
It's not your identity, right? Yeah, totally. Yeah, yeah,
Nick Foxer (45:53.652)
So seven years just felt like the right time to just kind of like move on. I missed California too. I'd lived my whole life in California up until those seven years. And I missed the culture, the people, the weather, the, you know, the landscape, everything. I'm a California boy at heart, you know. So I moved back still with no idea what I wanted to do. And really no closer to honing in on like what exactly was gonna be my aha moment in the music biz.
to like, you know, find my place or, you know, be the missing puzzle piece to whatever needed to happen. I was, I was day trading for a while. I got really into stock trading. Like, it's like really like hardcore intense stuff. yeah, charts and, and like apps and programs and like just all that like really techy goofball stuff. I might have to plug in my,
Meghan Houle (46:36.326)
Yeah, I mean, why not? know, amazing.
Meghan Houle (46:48.742)
Yeah.
Nick Foxer (46:50.91)
My laptop, I didn't realize this is my older laptop. are you still there? Where'd you go? Actual recording in higher quality. Where'd you go? Is it a coincidence that you just disappeared?
Meghan Houle (47:04.617)
Wait, here we go. I know I told you to shut up. So wait, do you have to plug in your computer? Do have to plug it in? Did you plug it
Nick Foxer (47:08.428)
Okay, you are back. I do, I got the cable like right over there. It's gonna take like 30 seconds. No, sorry, I thought my battery would last longer. You sure?
Meghan Houle (47:14.215)
No, go ahead. Go plug it
Now, yeah, go plug it in. We have time. This is like a whole other situation. So go plug it in. I might change my Wi -Fi thing too. Hi, Ben. Thank
Meghan Houle (47:33.151)
We're on a delay.
Meghan Houle (47:54.985)
Hey. Yeah, no worries, we're here. We can dive into California. Makes me wanna sing that damn song. I love that song. California.
Nick Foxer (48:08.428)
Plugged in and we're
Meghan Houle (48:11.411)
That's right, we're just getting to the good California parts where it you want to sing that song from the O .C. Do you sing that? Isn't that like your... Wait, can you play
Nick Foxer (48:15.466)
Yeah, the good California parts.
Nick Foxer (48:21.63)
I loved that song when it came out, dude. California, California. Do do do do do, do do do do do. Okay, that song brings back nostalgic memories of the early
Meghan Houle (48:27.101)
No, but can you play it on the thing? It's all keyboard, isn't it? You got this. it next time and play it and record it for me. bye.
Meghan Houle (48:39.647)
I feel like people would lose their shirt. Like you already have like Congo lines, know, with Elton John,
Nick Foxer (48:45.928)
I once went to Jay Leno taping with a few friends when I lived in LA and Rachel Billson was the guest. She was on OC. Yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (48:53.097)
Yeah.
I know. All right, so pivoting to California. So you go up, you go up and back. Yes. Okay.
Nick Foxer (48:58.752)
Pivoting in California, trying to be a day trader, not really losing or making any money, like breaking even, like learning the things, like not, you know, not really making any progress. And this was around COVID time. Now we're like COVID, you know, getting into COVID. And a few months after the initial, the real hardcore lockdown where everyone was basically in their homes,
Meghan Houle (49:14.121)
Great.
Meghan Houle (49:25.299)
Yeah. And were you in Sonoma or Sevastopol? Like, did you come all the way back? Yeah.
Nick Foxer (49:28.592)
Yeah, yeah, I was in Sebastopol. Yeah. And there was a, there was, there's a local music spot in Sebastopol called Hot Monk Brewery. They had an open mic. It was one of like the first places to kind of open back up. Everyone was still freaked out. Everyone was still like staying six feet away. Like they literally had these little disposable mic covers. So everybody that came up for, for open mic after each person, they changed the, yeah.
Meghan Houle (49:51.285)
I'm sure.
you'd taken off. Well, do you remember Nick, like in COVID? I, you know, we're watching and it's like scare TV and all the things, but like you ever think of like, will we ever go to concerts again? Like, will we ever like, it looked like disgusting. Like when you looked at those like sporting games where I can like, how do we ever get together like that? But here we are, but no one knew. You're just being safe. It was so weird. I
Nick Foxer (50:05.002)
Yeah,
Nick Foxer (50:11.646)
Yeah, yup. It was so weird, dude. It was such a weird time. So anyway, yeah, was just, for like something to do, I was going out to a couple of these open mics playing guitar, because for a long time, in Nashville, I mainly played guitar. I haven't always kept up with piano my whole life. There's been like phases and seasons of me playing piano, but like there's been a lot of years where I didn't even cross my mind.
Meghan Houle (50:23.358)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Foxer (50:38.07)
So I was playing guitar, doing some open mics, met another guy there who was also playing open mics. His name is Josh Martin, just a local musician. And he was like, hey man, you're pretty good. You wanna like team up with me and we can like go play some gigs as a duo? You know, I can book some shows for us. And I'm like, hell yeah, dude. Like I can like make a little bit of money, you know, like playing a show around town. Yeah, let's do
Meghan Houle (50:54.013)
Awesome. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (51:03.19)
So I teamed up with him. I started going out to like a lot of these local venues. Granted, they weren't the same places that I play now. They're more kind of dive bar -y places, road houses. He's more of like a country bluesy, honky tonk kind of guy. So we're out there, we're doing these duos. Not quite. Touche, touche. No, no cages. No.
Meghan Houle (51:22.216)
Were you playing behind cages? So it's only Roadhouse if you're playing behind a cage.
Just kidding. Did you see the new Roadhouse with Jake Gyllenhaal? Not too off tangent, but like, it's wild. I'm like, it's like, cause like the Patrick Swayze one, I go back to that and I was like, you forget how like violent it is. And like in that violent part where I was like, go Patrick Swayze, but then like Jake Gyllenhaal, they, they kind of take it to the next level. Cause I think Conor McGregor, like one of the USC guys is in there they have this like huge fight scene. I'm like, okay. Like everyone just calmed down with the violence. It's like next level.
Nick Foxer (51:32.99)
I know they made one, I haven't seen it. Is
Nick Foxer (51:40.34)
I have seen the Patrick Spacey one. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (51:57.897)
But I love Roadhouse. It's super violent, but also, yeah.
Nick Foxer (51:57.964)
That's interesting. So it is still nice and violent. Because I remember when I saw the original Roadhouse, I probably didn't see it. It was from the 80s, right? Yeah. I didn't probably see it till 2010, but I remember when I saw it, I'm like, this is so of that era when it was violence and macho and everyone was into karate. it was like, you know that thing in the 80s where it was just
Meghan Houle (52:08.5)
it's totally easy. I'm like, my god, we're watching this as kids.
Meghan Houle (52:18.814)
Yes.
Nick Foxer (52:27.75)
Mm -mm, you know, like it was so in to just be like doing kung fu and stuff.
Meghan Houle (52:28.392)
Yes.
Yes. Dead. All right, so you're playing in the roadhouse, not behind a cage. Nobody was throwing bottles at you. Fine.
Nick Foxer (52:39.404)
I'm playing in these road houses, not behind a cage, right. And you know, like, we're bringing in a little bit of money and it's not much, like maybe the venue pays us 200 bucks and we split it. So it's like, I'm making a hundred bucks and then we like split the tips. You know, it's not a large amount of money, but it opened my eyes to like, okay, there are opportunities in this area. And also during that time I was like, I'm kind of a better musician than Josh. He's a great guy, but he's definitely rough around the edges.
Meghan Houle (52:59.557)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Foxer (53:09.172)
What I learned a lot from him, we only played as a duo for probably maybe six or eight months. But I really watched how he booked gigs, how he got out there, how he hustled. He would hit me up on a Sunday if we didn't have a show and he'd be like, hey man, I just wanted to drive around the county and go into places and give our cards to people. And I'm like, wow, how fricking proactive. Yeah, guerrilla marketing.
Meghan Houle (53:32.03)
Yeah.
Meghan Houle (53:36.511)
like tactics. Yeah, you're like,
Nick Foxer (53:38.964)
And I still use some of those tactics that I learned from him. And to some people, it's gonna be totally obvious. But to me, I was like, I can like, kind of start to do this myself. know, like, yeah, you can really get it. So I, somewhere on this duo thing with Josh, was A, thinking in my head, I sure would love to be doing this by myself instead of as a duo. And, cause that's my, yeah,
Meghan Houle (54:05.663)
because that's your pivot. You're like, I'm a solo artist.
Nick Foxer (54:08.384)
That's right, yeah, that's my brand. And then also this thing in the back of my head was creeping in like, hey man, it might be fun to return to piano. Like yeah, I think I like playing piano a little more than guitar and there's no reason I can't do that. And it might differentiate me as an artist and kind of help me build a different brand than just another acoustic guitar player, you know, which there are tons of out there.
Meghan Houle (54:31.881)
Yeah. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (54:33.812)
So I think I even started playing piano with Josh as a duo and he was very cool. He was cool with anything. I think I told him, hey man, what if we do a duo, but I play piano instead of guitar. He's like, yeah, sure, whatever, man, let's do it. So I started to ease into that, got back into the swing of the piano, felt really good playing it. I was just really happy with all the other options and the different things you can do on a piano that you can't do on a guitar.
And I was like, hey man, hey Josh, I'm gonna start booking some solo shows by myself, is that all right? And he said, yeah dude, totally fine. So from there, that was like the impetus of the current version of myself. And I slowly but steadily, know, booked more gigs, better paying gigs. And then along with that, I started to do things like develop a wardrobe, a look, more of a brand, a website.
Meghan Houle (55:08.393)
Wow.
Nick Foxer (55:27.358)
a business card, like just do all the kind of entrepreneurial things to help myself, you know, along the way. And that just kind of steadily grew and increased at a very nice even slope to where I am now.
Meghan Houle (55:27.367)
Yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (55:43.613)
Right, wow. And I think just the whole sort of mission and story behind this is just continuing to go back to what you know, even early on, being alone and knowing you wanted to really go out there and kind of put this own professional brand, but you tried a lot of things and you learned a lot of lessons. And I give you so much credit because it's really tough when you feel like there's something nagging at you, but you're like, sure, I'll try this, sure, I'll try this. I think also so many people
Nick Foxer (56:02.952)
Yeah. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (56:13.245)
do all the things and they kind of get stuck in this like niche and then they don't think that there's anything else more or they're capable of more, but we are. building your own brand is like not easy. And what I will say for you as a brand strategist and talent strategist, whatever, like I think also, you know, in the short time I've known you and just kind of like following you, you know, the evolution of you and elevating yourself and getting into these like bigger rooms and more elevated situations and hotels and like,
Nick Foxer (56:25.407)
No.
Nick Foxer (56:39.35)
Thank
Meghan Houle (56:43.123)
all these like really amazing things. I mean, I feel like it's like just like just the beginning, even though I know you've been doing this, but I even in the short time, like I see like you're continuing to elevate. So I think it's amazing. And it seems like you feel like you're in a good spot, right?
Nick Foxer (56:52.992)
Thank you. I'm a big fan of, thanks. I'm a big fan of the term kaizen, which is a Japanese word. don't know if you've heard it. I'm sure it probably has a broader definition, but in the business sense, they use it a lot with business. And kaizen means like the slow and gradual and continual improvement of any aspect of your business. know, whether it's like a better business card or an updated website or
a necklace, a new necklace, like, you know, just no matter how small, just incremental improvements so that your overall trajectory is heading upward, you know? You gotta be doing that. There are little things that I do that probably don't matter, like, even like, for example, if someone Venmo tips me, every Venmo tip I've ever received, I go on there, I like it, and I leave them a message. And I say, thank you so much, you
Meghan Houle (57:33.683)
Yeah, ugh, I love that so much. Well,
Nick Foxer (57:51.628)
And that's something that probably 95 % of people who Venmo tip me might not even go on back on Venmo to read. They probably will never read it. But for the few people that do, it's a nice acknowledgement. It's a nice symbol of gratitude. Like, hey, you didn't have to do that. know, no one was forcing anybody to take out their phone and give me their hard -earned money. So it's, yeah, yeah.
Meghan Houle (58:10.847)
building a client base. Yeah. And that's what makes you memorable. And I think those are, you know, just now hear your story, like, you know, what, what makes me stand out? That's like authentic to me. And I see it. mean, and again, the short time I know you, like you have had to repeat customers and people that will come probably years and years to come, like, can't wait to see Nick. And I hope you continue to like evolve and don't go anywhere or I'll like drag you to Boston. But
Like what are you most excited about for the future? like, guess, what do you want your legacy to be? Like, tell me, I know I'm asking you the heavy questions now, but like right now I'm talking to you like five years from now, like where do you see this progressing and whatever that awesome Japanese word is that kai -ba -ka -kin -er -ji? Yeah.
Nick Foxer (58:43.68)
Sure. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (58:51.572)
Yeah, well, like I said at the beginning, yeah, like I said at the beginning of the podcast, there was a pee, there was a poppy pee. I do feel like I'm in an incredible place in my life right now that I haven't really been in before where I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I feel like I'm good at what I'm doing. And in hindsight, maybe it was super obvious. Like now when my parents come to my shows, it's like, man, you
Meghan Houle (59:00.223)
That's okay.
Nick Foxer (59:20.084)
We, you took piano lessons as a kid. Now you're back in your home area playing piano full time for a living. Like to somebody else, it might seem obvious like that was the choice all along, but I didn't really have it in my head because nobody told me that was an option. I had to figure that out. You know, it's not like I went on monster .com or indeed, or whatever the hiring websites are and like filled out an application for this job. had to like create it from nothing out of thin air, you know?
Meghan Houle (59:37.247)
Yeah.
Meghan Houle (59:47.497)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Nick Foxer (59:49.834)
which also makes me feel really good. And there's a lot of pros to that, like doing what I want and being my own boss and stuff. I am looking forward, like right now, I'm, sky's the limit. Yeah, and I don't have this thing where like, I need to be famous. I need to be playing in arenas. I am super happy to be a local performer, entertainer, sleep in my own bed at night, not have to worry about.
Meghan Houle (59:51.763)
Hell yeah.
Meghan Houle (01:00:02.399)
Sky's the limit.
Meghan Houle (01:00:12.179)
You are
Meghan Houle (01:00:16.713)
Have
Nick Foxer (01:00:17.856)
dealing with other people, like I really am a lone shark. I show up to the gig by myself, I unload my equipment by myself, I play the entire show by myself, I load out by myself, I get back in the car by myself and I go. So it's like, it's so, it's, right, right, right, yeah, yeah.
Meghan Houle (01:00:34.565)
And that makes you are surrounded by people. Sometimes you play wild Bachelorette. I am like, my God, Nick, I'm obsessed. But like, and then you do your thing, but that's okay. But that's who you are. Stay authentic to what you want to be doing. Not societal norms. That's a whole other thing about people with a purpose is like, there are so many people that will tell you, you should be doing this. You should be doing that. You know, if I followed the shoulds, I'd probably be dead. So, you know, I think like good for you and it's okay to come back
Nick Foxer (01:00:45.79)
It is who I am. And I'm authentic, yeah,
Meghan Houle (01:01:03.347)
because sometimes in that journey landing where maybe you started, there's a lot of shame of like, I'm back home, I'm doing this, but like, no, you learn the lessons of like what you wanna do and what you don't wanna do, my friend, and that is clarity, and that honestly is like pivoting to your true purpose. So you are amazing.
Nick Foxer (01:01:18.582)
Thank you. No, I don't feel that at all. Yeah, I don't think that like I'm settling or like I'm, you know, like failed because I'm back in my hometown. It happens to be that my home area is like the best place to be doing what I'm doing. And I didn't realize it for most of my life. And I love it anyway. I have a new appreciation for it. You know, this area like feels so comfortable and familiar to me, like the vineyards, the mountains, like the weather, it's all like, yeah. So.
Meghan Houle (01:01:23.155)
Yeah. No, you're just getting started. It's the best.
Meghan Houle (01:01:33.545)
Well, like anything. Yes. Hell yeah. And I, it's the best. Yes. Yes. Don't get me started. I'll cry. I know. I know. I'll see you soon. I'll be out there in November. Yes.
Nick Foxer (01:01:47.902)
I mean, I know what you're asking about, like what's next and what the next step is, but in the past two years, I've already like completely changed my whole, like where I'm at and my whole career trajectory that I'm just happy riding this wave right now. It's possible that in a few years I'll get tired of it and then I'll have to reassess and figure out where I'm gonna pivot from there. But for the time being, I'm now playing
Meghan Houle (01:02:04.457)
Yeah.
Meghan Houle (01:02:11.507)
Okay, now you have me. Yeah.
Nick Foxer (01:02:14.998)
places that pay really well. I'm probably making one out, you know, I'm probably one of the most successful solo entertainers in this area, because there aren't that many. But yeah, I've figured out how to get my foot in the door of the places that are high end, pay well, places where tips are great. I've also had some other peers who are very good at, you know, asking for what they think they're worth. So I've just been watching, learning from my friends around me.
Meghan Houle (01:02:38.911)
Mm -hmm.
Nick Foxer (01:02:43.862)
taking the lessons I learned from them and just using that to kind of maximize my potential, my income, and my exposure. Yeah.
Meghan Houle (01:02:54.705)
Amen. love that. Well, I just, it's like such an amazing story and for sharing all the things and I'm just so excited for you. And I know again, you're just getting started. For anyone listening and like wisdom drops before I let you go. Sorry, my stupid computer again. Hey, man. So wisdom drops before I let you go. What would you say to somebody today who is maybe feeling really stuck,
Nick Foxer (01:03:04.225)
Thank
Meghan Houle (01:03:19.263)
or wanting to make their pivot with purpose, feeling like they don't have clarity or the shame behind it. What advice would you give anyone today? Being like, Nick, I don't know what I want to do.
Nick Foxer (01:03:28.564)
Yeah, yeah. So this might apply more to the music scene than other areas, but I think it applies to, it's fairly universal. And that is, if you have a direction that you wanna head in or an area that you want to be productive in or be successful in, I think it's important, at least it was for me in the music industry, not to
too romantic about this one very specific thing that you wanna do. Like I'm not saying settle for doing something you don't like, that's not what I'm saying, but I am saying like be aware that there might be more opportunities out there for you than you're aware of if you're willing to step back just a couple steps and say, okay, maybe I don't have to be doing exactly this. Maybe I don't have to be an emo artist who's like pushing people to my Spotify and.
trying to get my songs in movies, maybe I can do this slightly different thing, you know? Because that will allow you to be more of an opportunist and to explore and to say yes to more situations. And if it's like, if it doesn't work out, no harm, no foul, like, it's reset again. But yeah, being overly romantic about the specific way that you want your career to go can sometimes, I mean, it might be good in that it keeps you focused, but too much of
I think can kind of hinder your ability to say yes to opportunities.
Meghan Houle (01:05:02.333)
Yeah, get out there. that's such, such good advice. Well, thank you so much for sharing all of this. And what's your favorite platform? my gosh, obsessed. my God, come back. We'll do a series. Where are the best, what's the best way, Nick, for people to engage with you? I mean, I know, you you have your website, we're going to link everything, but I don't know, the DM's coming through. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, me neither. It's okay.
Nick Foxer (01:05:09.078)
Thank you for letting me talk about myself for an hour. As an only child, this was like the best hour of my life. I just get to talk about me?
Nick Foxer (01:05:22.944)
Yeah, it's really just my website, nickfoxer .com, Facebook and Instagram. I'm not really on TikTok. And part of that is just because what I'm doing, it's not really as dependent on social media as some other music avenues, because I'm just local, you know?
Meghan Houle (01:05:38.557)
Right, totally, yeah, totally. Well, and I feel like anyone visiting in Napa, what Nick does, and he's all over the valley on his Instagram, he posts where he is and always kind of puts out his calendar. So check him out in downtown Napa, know, shout out to like a Honda is my favorite place and jam cellars, boy. But like there's, he's amazing there. Those are great hotels, like, you know, not just for the wine,
Nick Foxer (01:05:58.218)
Yes, yes.
Meghan Houle (01:06:05.349)
California, like you said, is so special and I feel like I have such a special connection there and I'm so appreciative of our connection. So thank you for being with us and sharing your voice. I can't wait to see what's next.
Nick Foxer (01:06:13.472)
My pleasure. I'm really grateful to be on the podcast. Thank you so much, Megan. It was was an honor and the time flew by, yeah.
Meghan Houle (01:06:18.505)
Thanks, Nick.
You're the best. Yay.