The Afro Nick

His grungy, electrified hair – a symbol of freedom to do whatever he wants – a childhood rebellion translated into adulthood. It is impossible to miss the musician, the guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter whose talent surpasses even the height of his own head. The name: The Afro Nick.
This Brooklyn-based frontman is your modern-day musical Vitruvian Man! His single “Don’t Waste My Time,” probably his best-known work to date, was featured in Season 10 of PBS’ Roadtrip Nation. Nick admits he’s worked somewhat in reverse, releasing a DVD before the studio CD. In 2014, he released “Make It - Live in NYC,” a compilation of eleven live DVD recordings, and his self-titled single “Don’t Waste My Time” soon followed with his debut album “The Afro Nick.”
Nick Anastasakis was born in Crete surrounded by tradition, mythology, family, and the all-consuming Greek pride that seems to be inherent in every Greek-born native. Yet, for this native, his gods were the vinyl records from Hendrix, Zeppelin, Marley and Santana. His earliest musical influences were the Gypsies playing for coins on the Venetian streets of Chania (on the island of Crete), an ethereal city mired in history and legends even before the time of Christ.
Whether possessed by Gypsy magic or classic rock fervor, he picked up the guitar as a preteen, eventually leading to a scholarship at a prestigious music college in Boston. Despite the attraction of a formal education, The Afro Nick decided to pursue music, moving to New York City with nothing, purchasing a ‘65 acoustic Gibson, immersing himself in the nightlife playing at local venues and building his fan base.
“There is something amazing about New York filled with culture, religion, music, frustration, anger and love,” The Afro Nick said. “It’s all mixed in a cauldron on the precipice of boiling.” He found his own style, neither indie nor alternative, and the only adjective that comes to mind is “eclectic,” a style he developed purely from playing, learning, failing and rising from the ashes. Rather than submit to a label, Nick describes his music as a mashup of all his past influences and culture leading to his distinctive sound.
His true audience are the disenfranchised and marginalized, those who “don’t really fit within the normal flow of society, those who seek music as an outlet.” The Afro Nick sees much of himself in the audience he attempts to reach.