The Nish Initiative

Jake Nishimura, the man behind The Nish Initiative, was born and raised in Southern California. As a child he spent many days at the beach and it was here where he had his first musical experiences. On several occasions the local bar, located right on the beach, even provided a PA and backing tracks so he could sing some of his early favorites like CCR and, his dad’s favorite, The Grateful Dead.

After high school he met a local musician who would turn out to be his musical “mentor." He was allowed to sit in with his band, attend their practices, and watch from backstage at their shows. With this new avenue of self-expression, Jake began writing and performing original songs at mostly house parties and occasional open mics. It was also at this point that he took the moniker 'The Nish Initiative.'

In 2005 he began attending UCLA where 'The Nish Initiative' really gained momentum. He played regularly at the student union, dorm parties, and landed appearances on the college radio station. He graduated Cum Laude with a degree in history and a new commitment to his music.

After college he stayed in Los Angeles, playing out as often as possible to anyone who would listen. He married his high school sweetheart and moved to Austin, Texas in 2009 so his wife could attend the UT School of Law. Within a year he had self-produced the EP “When I Get There” and played a handful of unofficial SXSW gigs at places like Blu Cafe and Hudson on Fifth. The Nish Initiative is currently gigging regionally and just released a new EP entitled "Shaky Ground."