Nick Hakim Nick Hakim: A Little Bit BiggerWatch at the source

Nick Hakim, A Little Bit Bigger

Nick Hakim says his songs “are like self-portraits,” and he certainly reveals himself eloquently through his soulful music. Hakim grew up in Washington, DC, and taught himself piano in high school. He moved to Boston to hone his skills, and in 2014 released a pair of acclaimed EPs, 'Where Will We Go, Pt. I & II,' before settling in Brooklyn. After solo shows and opening slots for Maxwell and King he cut the evocative tracks of his debut album, 'Green Twins.' He says the project was influenced by the likes of Marvin Gaye and My Bloody Valentine, and he strived to make it “sound like if RZA had produced a Portishead album”; NPR called it “soul music from outer space.” Whenever Hakim gets to work, the result is always inventive. In our exclusive interview “A Little Bit Bigger,” Nick talks about his musical identity, and we watch him at work in the studio, mentoring aspiring music students at Brooklyn's City-As-School. He’s all about bolstering young talent. “I enjoy being around them; they have a pureness to them. Sometimes there are kids who know more shit that I do,” he says. “It’s crazy.”