Meet Nick Mono, the genre-fusing West Londoner and die-hard Justin Bieber fan
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Nick Mono’s TikTok hit, Effy Stonam, was just the start for the 18-year-old West Londoner. As he gears up to release his first record Rusty, Mono sits down to talk inspirations, JLS and writing from a place of honesty.
NAME NICK MONO
AGE 18
LOCATION West London, United Kingdom
STAR SIGN Libra
GO-TO SHOE ADIDAS Tyshawn Skate Shoes - I can’t skate though…
Ry Gavin: Where in the world would you like to be right now?
Nick Mono: Maybe New Zealand…everyone seems very zen over there.
RG: How would you describe your sound in three words?
NM: Developing, warm, timeless.
RG: How much of London comes out in the music you create?
NM: I’m not too sure really because all I have is my experience living in London and what that means to me which might be completely different to how most other people view and experience London. But I guess since my music is inspired by the life I live, a lot of that comes down to where I spend my time, so I’m sure London definitely plays a part in the music I’m making. I think more generally the diversity within all the music I make and certain songs feeling like they’re pulling influences from everywhere is definitely helped by the diversity of a place like London.
RG: What’s one eye-wateringly expensive piece of clothing that’s definitely worth the money?
NM: I saw this WU TANG CLAN puffer jacket one time in Selfridges and I can’t remember what it cost but I just remember the number on the price tag being high but still being really tempted to buy it. But I didn’t end up getting it so I guess it’s not ‘definitely worth the money’. And I don’t even think it was crazy expensive, actually. So this is a bad answer but I did really liked the jacket.
RG: Why did you want to get into music?
NM: The Jackson 5 performing I Want You Back on The Ed Sullivan Show. I saw that video when I was like four-years-old and I’m pretty sure that was the first thing that got me into music.
RG: How did it feel seeing Effy Stonem blow up on TikTok?
NM: It felt cool seeing it used a lot on TikTok but I think I was more focused on the fact that the song was doing really well on Spotify and Apple Music and stuff. I’d always dreamt of having a song get a million streams so having that moment was cool but I had never paid much attention to TikTok so it wasn’t something I was really processing at the time. Now I’m more aware of what TikTok can really do for artists so whenever another song I put out reaches that level again I might be more excited about it.
RG: Who has inspired you from the start?
NM: JUSTIN BIEBER.
RG: Where is the best club in London?
NM: I don’t really fuck with clubbing too much at the moment but I’ll say XOYO just cos I’m going there tonight.
RG: Talk us through the inspirations for Rusty.
NM: You probably won’t hear it too much in the song now it’s finished but when I started the process it was very inspired by Steve Lacy. The focus was just having a chord progression with a cool baseline and some simple drums. It eventually became something way bigger than that after the song developed over time. The lyrics are about not knowing where someone’s head is at but not really having the right to ask either, so overall it’s quite speculative and unsure.
RG: Is this exactly what you want to put out as a musician, or are you still finding your feet as an artist?
NM: I’m happy with the music I’m putting out but I’m also always gonna be my own harshest critic so when I listen back to my music I’m listening for things I can improve upon. I think I’m always going to be finding my feet as an artist but I think that’s also the point so I’m comfortable with that.
RG: If you could go to the pub with three celebrities - dead or alive - who would they be?
NM: LIAM GALLAGHER, DONALD GLOVER and OLIVIA RODRIGO.
RG: What was the first ever gig that you went to?
NM: JLS at the Hammersmith Apollo with my mum when I was seven.
RG: If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, which album would it be?
NM: I could never answer that. Next question.
RG: What’s one fashion trend you’d like to revive?
NM: I don’t know if they’re in fashion or not but it feels like they aren’t so imma say UGG’S. Ugg’s were cool.
RG: What excites you about the future?
NM: The fact I can make my own.
RG: Do you like the direction music around the world is heading?
NM: I have a really convoluted answer for this question in my head but all I’ll say is that I don’t think there’s ever been a time where an artist like me has had as much chance at having their music become really fucking big so I’d have to say because of that I do like the direction we’re going in.
RG: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
NM: Everywhere.
RG: Who’s one person that you’d love to be a fan of your music?
NM: KEVIN ABSTRACT.
RG: What’s your creative process like?
NM: It’s not really a linear process it’s kinda all over the place but I think it normally centres around trying to find the perfect chords to get across what I’m trying to get across and trying to write the perfect lyrics to communicate what I’m feeling in the least boring way possible.
RG: Tell us about the most embarrassing thing that’s happened this year…
NM: I genuinely can’t remember anything embarrassing happening but I’m sure shit has happened that I’m just blocking out lol.
RG: Do you write music from a place of honesty, or do you prefer to dream up worlds to escape to?
NM: I think it’s mainly just honesty. At this point in my life my mind is consumed with the things going on in my life so if I’m writing it’s usually used as a creative outlet for that stuff. I think the worlds I want to escape to are more present in my visuals and music videos. With those I’m trying to create a new world that gives the music a new life.
Nick Mono’s latest single, Rusty, is out now and available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.