Today, we are interviewing Nico Rudu, a 21-year-old artist (and college student) born in Colombia. Raised in Portland, Oregon, influenced by the city’s rock and alternative music scene and uses that to create his unique style of hip-hop.
How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey.
I have always been into music. As a little kid, I was always singing. I joined the Portland Boys Choir in 5th grade, and that was probably my first real push into music. I started getting into making my own music more when I got to college. And, I decided that I wanted to do this so that I could have an excuse to drop out, I didn’t drop out haha.
Who are your role models?
My role model is my dad because his work ethic is like no other, and he does everything he can for my family and me – but when it comes to music, there is none other like Juice. If I am stuck with writer’s block, I will just listen to a juice album. It gets my creative juices flowing because everything he has written is so real and so raw, and that’s what I strive for, so it just helps me open up.
What inspires you?
I think everything inspires me. As I said, I like my music to be real and full of true emotions no matter what they are. I have written about my depression, my girlfriend, police brutality, my dad’s stroke. Just about anything that makes me feel strongly in some sort of way, I will write about because these are the most real feelings for me.
Please tell us about what you do.
I’m a musician, but I’m also a YouTuber. My girlfriend and I run a couple’s channel up on YouTube called Nico & Natalie.
What’s your most memorable experience?
My most memorable experience had got to be when I wrote, “Save Me, I’m Damaged.” It was my first song that I wrote where I showed to my entire family. The song is about a journey I took with depression and drinking my problems away and then therapists that helped me through my issues until I saw the light, and the song was surprisingly very well received by my family, who I was scared to show.
Which social media channels work best for promoting your work? What exactly do you do on the social media channel that makes it work for you?
I am on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, to promote my work, and have my music on every music streaming platform. So far, I’ve just been posting and sharing and hoping to pick up recognition from bigger names.
What’s your greatest fear?
My biggest fear in life is failing. I am someone that doesn’t ever see failing as an option. I will work at something until I make it happen. So I think that not being able to pursue music as a full-time career scares the shit out of me.
Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?
One thing I wish I understood when I got started is that people will always hate, no matter what you do, so do what makes YOU happy and do it loud and proud. I was scared to post on social media at first because I didn’t know how people I’ve known all my life would receive that, but everyone is supportive. And, if they aren’t, then they probably aren’t really your friends.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
The best strategy to be successful is to keep pushing forward, keep writing, keep recording, and keep posting. Everything will work eventually.
What keeps you going when things get tough?
My girlfriend, for sure. She is my rock and my world, there’s no way I could do anything that I do without her support every step of the way.
Any message for our readers.
If you love making music, make music. If you post your music on YouTube or other platforms, give me a DM I would love to listen!
How can people connect with you?
Y’all can connect with me by emailing ruedaagent@gmail.com or sending me a dm on any platform. You can check out my Instagram and Linktree.