Meet Nick
Nick Seale, also known as ITSNICKSEALEHQ, is a DJ/Producer from Brooklyn, NY. Nick draws his musical influences from his Caribbean background and New York’s diversity. He was raised in a family full of DJ’s and underground artists, and that early exposure almost destined him to pursue music. Nick’s skill expanded when he went to college and became the house DJ for the radio station at St. John’s University (he was in heavy demand at the campus parties). Nick has interviewed some pretty cool artists like Lil Uzi Vert, DMC, Mr. Vegas, Ricky Blaze, Gyptian, and Phony PPl. And the countless mixes and remixes he created lead him to release his very own mixtape: Sealeassie. Nick plans to produce an LP with a variety of different sounds; he says “he’s going to make the perfect album.”
The Interview
How did you get into DJ’ing?
“Funny thing is, I never wanted to be a DJ at first. My dad and his friends are all DJ’s, but I just wanted to rap and make beats. Every time I would go near the mixer and turntables it felt like I was being judged by everyone around me. One of my friends was having a sweet 16 and asked me to DJ because they assumed I knew what I was doing. So, I did it and kept going with it in college. I joined the college station at St. John’s and they were pretty impressed by me. They made me the house DJ and the rest is history.”
Who taught you how to DJ?
“No one really taught me, but DJ Silence showed me how to recognize sound waves and how to match them. From there I studied other DJ’s and picked up different techniques.”
What do you love most about being a DJ?
“The reaction from the crowd. I truly believe that music is the closest thing to magic. Seriously, maybe in ancient times music was spelled m-a-g-i-c. When you play a popular song or a new song in the right mix, that energy resonates with the people. It is healing and therapeutic.”
Where do you practice and for how long before a gig?
“When I first started I practiced in my college radio station for an hour every day for two years. Nowadays, I practice when I get an idea. I think spinning or DJing is like riding a bike. I really only practice when I discover a new sound or a new feature in the software that I can use to separate myself from other DJ’s.”
Who are the DJ’s that you admire?
“There are so many. Of course my dad, Scrooge, and DJ Silence. However, I also admire Electric Punany, Major Lazer, Jazzy Jeff, DJ Khaled, Funk Master Flex, Kool DJ Red Alert, and Nujabes [R.I.P].”
What can we expect from you in the near future?
“I just dropped a remix tape titled Sealeassie. But I have a surplus of albums that I just haven’t released. My dream is to make the perfect album, so I plan to take a year to book artists for the project. In between, I’ll release mixes, remixes, and new episodes of my podcast.”
Make sure to check out Nick’s interviews, weekly sets, and his mixtape Sealeassie. If you have an upcoming event and no DJ yet, you can contact Nick via Twitter or Instagram!
