Nick Bryant

Fans of song-writing greats — like the Lennon-McCartney duo and Bob Dylan — have likely been a bit dismayed in recent years. Many a pop star of the “auto-tune” era often employ a team of writers just to nail down one song.

But in Brunswick at least the spirit of the singer-songwriter is still alive. Case in point — Nick Bryant.

Bryant, a Dunwoody native, has spent most of his life writing songs and accompanying melodies. Growing up in a musical family, he was inspired by giants of the classic rock era. And over time, his passion and his talent continued to blossom.

“My dad’s side of the family is very musical. My dad plays the drums and my uncle had a recording studio in his house and I would record some songs there. I think my first one was a rap song when I was 10,” he said. “And then my uncle played a Black Sabbath song and I thought ‘I have to learn how to play the guitar.’”

His uncle helped him learn and the rest, as they say, is history. Fueled by timeless tunes of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin and The Beatles, he continued to hone his craft, playing in a number of bands during high school. His writing also continued to develop.

“There was a period where I just couldn’t wait to come home so I could write. I made a little mini studio in my house and I would record a song or two a day,” he said. “I also spent a lot of time writing, a lot of it was stream of consciousness and completely random, but I could pick out a phrase or two.”

It was around that time he started seriously considering making music a career. Of course, he also wanted an education to help ensure that the path was as smooth as possible. He decided to move to the Golden Isles in 2010 to attend the College of Coastal Georgia. He graduated in 2013 with a bachelor of business administration. Ever since, Bryant has devoted himself entirely to music — both performing locally and recording.

“I play all over — Zachry’s, Tipsy’s, Bennie’s Red Barn, Palm Coast,” he said. “Really anywhere. I’ve played in St. Augustine and Fernandina. I figured out a way to make a career as a musician so I quit my job ... I was offered a managerial position after I graduated.”

He’s also been cranking out albums and uploading songs to his website www.nickbryantmusic.net via various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

His first full-length LP — the Nick Bryant LP — was recently released on Amazon.com and iTunes.

“I was using a studio in Jacksonville and it was a little out of my price range to stay for a long time so I would just record two (songs) a day,” he said.

Over a year, he racked up enough songs to fill out the entire record. And each song on the track has a different flavor. The 13-track album offers his original lyrics and music but the influences behind them are evident.

“My producer always tries to get me to think of three or four artists as influences. Artists always steal from one another,” he said with a laugh.

Listeners can hear songs reminiscent of bands like Mumford and Sons, Lunineers and Sublime. Vibes akin to solo acts Jack Johnson and John Mayer can also be felt. Of course, Bryant adds his own unique brand to the mix.

In addition to the Nick Bryant LP, he is releasing several songs for free on his website and social media early this summer.

“I wanted to do something to give back to the people who have supported me. It’s four tracks called ‘Through the Blue,’” he said. “It’s more stripped down and spontaneous. I just went in and recorded them in two days.”

As far as what the future holds, Bryant is committed to making his career as a music man fly. And he means that quite literately.“The goal is to tour, hopefully abroad. That’s the plan,” he said. - The Brunswick News

Everyone has occasionally stumbled upon a new song by an unknown artist and realized they are on the cusp of stardom. Nick Bryant is one such artist. Combining John Mayer’s melodic sense with a Dylan-esque lyricism, Bryant’s music has elements of alt-country, singer-songwriting, classic rock, and pop in tasteful equal measure. Although only 23 years old, Bryant is already a seasoned touring artist with a workhorse tour schedule.

On the road

Growing up between Atlanta and southeast Florida, Bryant received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from College of Coastal Georgia while living with his grandmother, Patricia Bryant, a retired French teacher who taught at Camden County High School.

“I figured that degree would give me a great foundation to build on as a full-time touring musician and singer-songwriter,” he says.

And tour he has. Travel is a key theme running throughout his music.

“I’ve been to Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Monaco, Switzerland, the Bahamas, and a good many of the states. Travel has shaped me. It has opened my mind to new cultures, sounds, and foods. I encourage it,” Bryant says.

Many of Bryant’s original songs flow directly out of his experiences traveling, and there are many locations in his songs on his first LP. “California” has a ’70s folk sound that was inspired by the view from his aunt’s front yard overlooking the Pacific. ‘Lost Vegas’ grew out of the plentiful options to entertain visitors in Nevada’s City of Lights.

Then there’s “St. Augustine.”

“I picked up a private party while playing in Fernandina — it was someone’s 21st birthday. Long story short, it was awful, but I got a favorite song out of it!” Bryant says.

Finding the right notes

Observant and thoughtful, Bryant has always been one to scribble down ideas as they came to him, which has served him well as a songwriter.

“I have always kept a journal, but that all changed when my uncle — an accomplished musician and producer — asked if I’d like to record. I was nine when I recorded my first song, but it wasn’t until I was 12 that my uncle showed me Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid.’ That was when I knew I had to play guitar,” Bryant reveals.

Committing himself to the craft, Bryant picked up the guitar at every opportunity afforded to him, but not for the reasons some might suspect.

“I’ve spent thousands of hours practicing, but for me, it’s not about the technical aspects of it all – it’s about getting what I feel out in a way people can connect to,” he says.

Full steam ahead

Putting in most of his hours honing his skills on the open road rather than the quiet of his room, he can perform as many as nine shows in a week. His work schedule is matched by his ambition.

“I’m making a solid living from my music, but I’d like to impact the world with it, being an advocate for peace and social justice — a voice for the people. I’d like to start a couple of music-related nonprofits and impact generations to come,” he says.

“The power that music has is incredible. It can get people out of bed. It can influence people who have the power to change everything whether they know it or not. It has a way of saying you’re not alone,” he adds.

Bryant’s latest CD, Through the Blue, dropped June 1. - Golden Isles Magazine