Nac

NAC

WRITTEN BY: MELISSA MALOON

PHOTOS BY: LACQUAN SCOTT

Brick, New Jersey’s very own passionate, creative and selfreflective artist Nicholas Callas, better known by his moniker NAC, is one of the few reintroducing passion and meaning to music. Meticulous and particular, NAC goes into every project with meaning and purpose all while paying close attention to detail. His most important message: you’re not alone. NAC has been a beacon of hope for those who struggle and battle mental health.

NAC is no stranger to music as he’s been creating music since 2010. In 2019 NAC released his first body of work “I Am Error” where he showcased his ability to tell a story through his music. 2021, “The Midnight Album” was released where NAC had honed his skills in storytelling and gave us a different side to him. NAC bared it all with “The Midnight Album” as it is a very personal project, NAC really opens up and becomes vulnerable with his listeners. This body of work is known to be a story of growth, selfawareness and acceptance.

Throughout the album, we are taken on a journey of despair, the character of the story is at first hopeless and depressed and eventually seeks help. It was so important for NAC to tell this story because it is a story that is closely related to his own. As someone who combats mental health, NAC wants for his supporters to know, “You are not alone!” “The Midnight Album” is dark, emotional, understanding and introspective, it serves as a safe space for many who experience the same feelings of loneliness and despair.

NAC’s ability to tell a story through music is a skill that was inspired by the same artist who had introduced him to hip hop/rap, Eminem. It wasn’t too long after that NAC fell in love with the genre and was soon fully submerged in hip hop that he emulates some of his other favorites such as Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, and Joey Bada$$ as well.

As an independent artist, creative freedom is a blessing for NAC as he is able to take full and complete creative control, this is something he was able to practice with his latest released project, “The Midnight Album.” He has then the ability to be as precise and detail oriented as he pleases being that NAC loves to leave a lot of “Easter eggs” in his projects. The process is fun to NAC which is why he is so passionate about it; he was able to create a platform and space for others all through the passion he enjoys: music.

NAC is a fully self-motivated artist as he took it upon himself to be a student of the craft and completed an audio engineering course at Lake House Studios in Asbury Park, NJ. This monumentally helped in allowing NAC to have that creative independence. His patience and loyalty to his passion has gained him a following in his home state of NJ, respect amongst his peers as well as hitting over 7,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, it is safe to assume that NAC is on the rise.

A particular aspect that sets NAC apart from other artists is his authenticity. NAC highly values people who remain true to themselves, especially in music. This is why NAC’s approach to music is different. He doesn’t concern himself with brag rap, he restores an element of dimension and complexity to music. He shows that even artists are complex and can be victim to mental health too. He doesn’t want to be remembered as an artist who had a hit song, but rather an artist who can stir emotions and have a lasting effect.

With that being said, NAC hopes to continue dropping more music and more full bodies of work following “The Midnight Album.” We are still excited to see the visuals for this last project which will out soon so stay tuned!

Make sure to keep up with the latest of NAC via Instagram @nac_nj