We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Dees and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from Houston, TX, born and raised. I grew up around music because my Dad played guitar, so I always had them in the house with me. I garnered interest in it and started picking them up as soon as I could probably around the age of 4 or 5. Been playing ever since. I learned how to make chords from my Dad and then he taught me (or we learned together) a couple songs over the years. In my early teen years, my oldest friend David had started playing guitar too and we started jamming together, which was a first for me outside of playing guitar with my Dad.

Around this same time, at 13-14 years old, I started going on the road with my Dad who worked as a marketing/merchandise guy for a band called the Velcro Pygmies. I’d go on Spring Breaks and Summer vacations, or take a 3 day weekend from school and get out to experience the world. I learned a lot about the music business, making and selling merchandise, and even got up on stage, in front of large crowds no less, to play a song or two with them during those years. These experiences coupled with the interest in jamming with my buddy David and other friends led to me ultimately starting my own band at 15 and I’ve been doing it ever since. My whole existence has been shaped around that time in my life, and so much has come of it since!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
With Hold On Hollywood, we make rock music. We don’t try to classify it into any one genre. Our goal when we create is to make music we enjoy listening to, that we think will really connect with others. We want it to show our influences and loves that we have discovered in life, and channel that into something familiar but fresh. Something uniquely us. We’ve had so many comparisons over the years to tons of different artists, and I think that is because we do our job well in regards to the goal I mentioned. We are really bringing in a lot of different textures and elements to our songwriting and live performance that people connect with in so many different ways.

It’s been a long road to get where we are now. I had years on the road learning with my father, and then almost 5 years of my first band which taught me a lot. A year after that band ended, I started Hold On Hollywood and it’s been going for over 8 years now. Most of my life has been dedicated to my craft and I have experienced and learned so much. The path to get where I am now has been filled with the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. I’ve done things I could have only dreamed of, and had to deal with things I wish I never had to. It was never easy in the slightest, but it has always been worth it.

Communication, determination, and being open to others will take you further than you can imagine. Being able to say what you really need to say, and your band mates or crew being able to do the same in a situation they can feel comfortable in and trust each other in is above all the most important thing to overcoming adversity within. As for struggles on the outside, being a creative is a hard path. You’re trying to find people to be interested in the specific sort of art you create. These days there are so many options to pick from. It can be disheartening when you don’t grow as fast as others, or feel you’re making the same progress as you get older. Thinking maybe you sacrificed too much for nothing, etc. These feelings are all natural, but you have to stay focused on your goals, and know that no two bands or artists walk the same path. Success comes in many different ways, small and large, and there are victories to be found and enjoyed every day if you know how to look. Your experience is your mindset, and that is the biggest thing to how you will feel day in and day out.

We’ve gone through so many things that would have killed most other bands dead in the water. But we’ve somehow always made it through. If we could do it, I promise you, you can too. Believe in yourself, your product. Do everything you can to learn about the business you’re in, and treat it as so. A business, a job. The more you put in, the more it will give back, and the more rewarding the whole process will be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’re big creatures of habit honestly. We find the things we love and let them kill us, so to speak. I’d hope my friend would be visiting on a first Tuesday of the month so I could take them to Emo Night at Barbarella. We’re mostly all big fans of that era of music and at least I go literally every month if I’m not gone on the road. Would definitely have to run them by some of my favorite bars! BFE Rock Club where we got our start as a band. Practically grew up in there. Wildcatter Saloon in Katy has become one of our favorites too. We have made great friends with the owners and staff over there through the years and countless shows we’ve performed for them. Hitting downtown would be fun to experience the city! There are so many good restaurants and things to do here. This city is massive and has a bit of everything for everyone. Maybe on a good Saturday we could do dinner at one of our thousands of amazing restaurants downtown or in the outer city limits, then to a concert at the House of Blues or Warehouse Live maybe, and cap it off with some drinks and celebrations at The Dirt Bar!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My father more than anyone is the answer, really. Anyone who knows me knows that. He got me my start into music, and really cultivated and encouraged it. To this day, he still works with us in so many different capacities from management to booking, design and promo, touring and teching, etc. He has gone above and beyond more times than I could possibly remember or count to make sure me and my band mates could have the best experience possible and perform to the best of our ability. A lot of people’s parents don’t support them when they go into creative career choices, but I never had that issue. I try to never take it for granted. I am extremely blessed and thankful.

Website: https://holdonhollywood.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/holdonhollywood

Twitter: https://twitter.com/holdonhollywood

Facebook: https://facebook.com/holdonhollywood

Youtube: https://youtube.com/holdonhollywood

Other: https://holdonhollywood.bio.to/featured https://tiktok.com/@holdonhollywood

Image Credits
Blake Ralston Pete Dattolo Chris Montgomery Candace Morgan Nathan Schweitzer Georgie Roe

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.