After years, I’m back in Los Angeles, writing my debut album – the one I’ve been talking out of for so long. This time, it’s a soul record, not the rubbish I’ve been told I should make in the past. It’s the honest one, the Nick Celino album I’ve dreamt of all my life. No chasing trends or trying to fit a box; just proper songwriting and realness.
This isn’t my first time in LA, but it’s different. I’ve built something amazing with some serious industry people. Working with Grammy-winners doesn’t happen to a lad from Newcastle. Their ears are incredible, and they push the songs where they need to go with my direction and their guidance. I even had producers from Abbey Road Studios fly out to join me on this incredible journey. It’s crazy to think about where this all started – literally my living room.
So, we begin the process for the album. It’s incredible to be in a room with so many talented creatives, just throwing around ideas and seeing what works. A couple of nights later, I’m in a packed place at the iconic Roxy on Sunset Boulevard. The owner tells me to jump on the mic. The vibe was more Rap and RnB, not necessarily my style, but it was a vibe nonetheless. I gave the crowd a big vocal with no safety net. It was incredible and the audience responded amazingly. I finished singing and to my shock I saw Leonardo DiCaprio was casually watching me, talking to my mam! My mother! What the hell? Just across from the stage like it was normal. Only in LA.
