There’s no doubt about it; Nick Cassarino is on a roll. His band, The Nth Power, released their well-received, debut LP Abundance, and have had a number of high profile shows on a tireless run around the country. He and a couple of his bandmates just got done finishing an impressive run of themed, guest-laden shows in Brooklyn that had fans begging for more. Fortunately, the Nth Power are gearing up for some exciting shows along one of the most ambitious tours of their career.
With upcoming performances at the Lettuce-hosted Fool’s Paradise in St. Augustine, Florida on April 1st & 2nd, and an all star tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire late night during Jazz Fest, our own Rex Thomson caught up with Cassarino to get his thoughts on the upcoming madness.Â
L4LM: The Nth Power’s first full album, Abundance, is a decided step forward from the debut EP. You really sound more focused and open in your playing and singing. Can you think of anything you’re doing different?
Nick Cassarino: I don’t know. I’ve just been trying to grow as an artist. The band’s been in a position where it’s needed like a real front man. And I saw there was a space to step up so I tried to do the best I could do to step up.
L4LM: You definitely seem to have done that. At shows I’ve seen your singing and playing command a lot of attention.
NC: Yeah, right on.
L4LM: The Nth Power’s consistent love vibe comes through in both the lyrics and the songs themselves. Is spreading love like this a conscious decision on the band’s part, or were you folks just in a good place when you were writing that material?
NC: A little bit of both for sure. Naturally, that was what I was thinking about, and also it’s a very specific part of this band’s intention and mission in what we wanna do and what we wanna say. It’s all about the love though. A band can do a lot of healing, our band can do a lot positive stuff. I think a lot of people have been conditioned to not really feel that…to go other routes. And so we just try and bring people back home, with what is really good.
The fact is, we can heal each other and love each other and fix a lot of shit that’s fucked up. You can edit that if you have to.
L4LM: That sound be fine, it’s a valid point for sure. The thing a lot of people go to when describing your music is “Old School” and “Timeless.” Do you look to capture the spirit of the seventies funk and soul, or is that just how you sound?
NC: Again, I think it’s a little bit of both. I wanted to capture a bunch of that stuff but really, a bunch of the songs, like “Walk On Water” weren’t like that. That’s like traditionally kinda a funky soul, disco tune. But something about is really emulating that vibe. I think we’re all really grateful it has that timeless feel…that’s something we really wanna do. You want to make timeless music. That’s something we wanna do for sure. What better music to play than timeless music, y’know?
But I know we still have so much farther to go close to that really, but I’m glad some people feel that way, for sure.
Check out an exclusive stream of The Nth Power’s album, Abundance, HERE.
L4LM: You are said to have been a big fan of gospel very early in your life. Would it be safe to say you’re bringing some of that influence to your music?
NC: 100%! I love that music. I learned so from that music. Like so much ABOUT music from that music. It’s incredible…the chords and the harmonies….the groove and the worship. There’s just so many awesome things about gospel music. I try and bring that in, a little bit, at least musically.
Watch the first video release from The Nth Power’s “Abundance” album, “Right Now,” below:
L4LM: Were you playing in any of the church bands when you were growing up?
NC: I played for churches for years when I moved to New York. I moved to New York about eight years ago, in January of 2008. I was playing in a bunch of different churches all over for like three years, four years. Before that, I had done a bunch of stuff with other serious gospel bands.
There was actually a gospel fest back in Burlington, Vermont. That’s where I’m from. Around fourteen, fifteen and sixteen I started playing with one of the bands. Then I started going over to Plattsburgh State University and playing with their band. I went to the gospel workshop of America with the Plattsburgh State choir director. Next thing you know I’m playing with this dude, David Benton, who led a Baptist choir who I ended up playing with. From there, like I said, I moved to the city and played with churches a bit. And there’s my whole gospel story. (Chuckles)
L4LM: Do you remember when you got your first guitar?
NC: Yeah…so my parents play music, both of them play guitar, some keys and sax as well, and they both sing as well. So I started playing bass when I was ten or eleven, I came home one day from school. My dad had like a little cardboard, three-quarter size bass. By the time I was eleven or twelve I started playing guitar, and I learned how to play more than one note at a time.
L4LM: There have been some sad passing of some musical icons this year. Were you a big David Bowie fan?
NC: Y’know, I wasn’t as big as I feel like I am about to be. I gotta get the whole catalog and dig deep. I’ve played some of his songs over the years. I’ve always loved everything that I’ve ever heard and I know that he was a genius. He was ahead of his time. He made art. I decided that I need to check them all out.
L4LM: That’s one of the rare positives about losing someone like Bowie. It gives you a reason to go back and explore their work.
NC: Yeah totally.
L4LM: We’ve just had the announcement of an Nth Power all-star tribute show to Earth, Wind & Fire. Did Maurice White and his band have a big impact on you coming up?
NC: It was last September when we got the idea to do it. I mean…speaking of timeless music…Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most timeless bands ever. They were definitely a huge part of everyone in the band’s life. It’s been the sound track to life. We wanted to do this show, and it was just crazy to find out the Maurice had passed. I can’t remember whose idea it was, but it’s gonna be fun.
L4LM: Who all have you drafted into playing that show with you?
NC: It’ll be the whole Nth Power of course, and we’re gonna have Oteil (Burbridge of the Allman Brothers & Dead & Company), we’re gonna have Kofi (Burbridge), we’re gonna have the entire Trey Anastasio horn section Jennifer (Hartswick), Natalie (Cressman) and James (Casey). Oh, and we’re also gonna have Skerik on tenor sax and Farnell Newton on trumpet. They’re totally killing it. We’ve had a couple of rehearsals in New Orleans over the past week.
L4LM: Even though it’s New Orleans and you can go all night, how hard is it gonna be to narrow down a single show worth of Earth, Wind & Fire tunes?
NC: Well…we got a pretty good idea of what we’re gonna do. It’s gonna be a big night. It’s not gonna end early, that’s for sure.
L4LM: Speaking of cool shows you have coming up, you’re on the inaugural Fools Paradise line-up with tons of cool bands like Lettuce and GRiZ. Sounds like you heard the adage “Never miss a first year fest.”
NC: Yeah, we’re so grateful to be a part of that, it’s gonna be great.
L4LM: Lettuce is hosting the Fool’s Paradise, and they seem to be taking funk into the future. Since your band seems to be doing the same thing with electro-soul, I was wondering what your take on them is.
NC: Oh man, they’re great. I love them. Especially what they’re doing now, seeing the success that they’re getting. I’m so happy that they’re getting the recognition to reflect all the hard work they’ve put in. That’s what’s important. It’s all about the work at the end of the day. They put in the work, and now all these good things are happening for and I’m so happy for them. They’re just great musicians.
L4LM: Your set at Fool’s Paradise is on April 1st. Are you at all worried that this is just the most elaborate practical joke that’s ever been played on a band?
NC: (Laughs) That hadn’t even crossed my mind…but now I’m worried…
L4LM: Right?
NC: I’m pretty sure this is real though.
L4LM: You mentioned “Putting in the work.” The Nth Power is on a pretty crazy tour right now, running until the end of May. Is this upcoming run your longest on the road?
NC: We’re gonna take a bit off at the end of February into the start of March. I think we did a pretty long one last year about this time, but this one is a lil longer than that one, so yes.
L4LM: Is this like what you were saying about Lettuce, that you’re out there putting the work in?
NC: Definitely trying to, no doubt about it. We’re out there putting those miles on the van. We’re going to be headlining on some of these runs. We’ve been doing support a lot these last couple of years, so we’re really psyched to be doing more headlining stuff. We’re gonna keep trying to write more and get the next album out fast…put in the work…that’s what we’re thinking about.
L4LM: Yeah, the last album really whetted appetites for another taste of the Nth Power’s love vibe. When do you think a new release might happen?
NC: We’re gonna try and have a release coming out soon for the “Only Love” single…and we’re doing a video for that. Besides that, we’d like to have an album out before the end of the year. That’s our goal.
L4LM: When we spoke to Nikki at the end of last year, we asked her about how snazzy you folks usually dress on-stage. Must be hard, keeping everything looking so fresh.
NC: It’s a lot of ironing. We gotta have an iron on the van. Lotta ironing on the sides of walls, ironing on desks…pretty much ironing on any flat surface.
Nikki Glaspie Talks ‘Abundance’ Of Funk, Spreading Love In The Nth Power
L4LM: You know, they make those mini-ironing boards that can work on tables and stuff…
NC: We had one at one point. It disappeared though.
L4LM: Maybe we could get one of those Kickstarter things going to replace it. It’d be easy to fund, those things are not expensive.
NC: Yeah…a Kickstarter for a mini-ironing board…(Laughs)
L4LM: Finally, we’ve had some folks ask in the comments to previous interviews, so I thought I’d pass this along to you: “What IS the Nth Power, anyway?”
NC: The Nth Power is like an equation. It represents something that’s infinite…like an infinite power. It’s limitless potential.
L4LM: That sounds like a pretty good allegory for the band as well.
NC: Thanks man…we’re tryin’.
L4LM: Well, that’s all we’ve got. Thanks for taking the time out of your ridiculously busy tour schedule to talk with us, Nick!
NC: Absolutely! Great talkin’ to you.
Catch Nick and the rest of the Nth Power at Fool’s Paradise alongside Lettuce, GriZ, Vulfpeck, Chris Robinson’s Soul Revue, Goldfish, Cory Henry and more! It’s going to be an amazing weekend of funky tunes explosive musical collaborations, all set in scenic St. Augustine, Florida, just minutes from the beach. After a long winter, it’s hard to think of a better way to shake off those cold weather blues. Details and tickets to Fools Paradise are available HERE.
And if you’re lucky enough to be in New Orleans during Jazz Fest in the 28th of April, be sure and join the Nth Power and their special guests Oteil Burbridge, Kofi Burbridge, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, James Casey, Skerik, and Farnell Newton at One Eyed Jacks for a once in a life time tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire. Information and tickets are available HERE.