Nick Bison is a Southern Los Angeles upcoming singer/rapper who provides an array of different deliveries and styles over bubbly yet rich instrumentals.
Born Nicholas Tramel, Bison got his artist name at 15 from playing the video game Street Fighter, drawing inspiration from the game’s protagonist M. Bison. However, Tramel really started taking music seriously during his freshman year of college.
“I had already been thinking about it heavily, and then my roommates had set their goals on music too so that inspired me more to do it,” he explained.
Since that point, Tramel has dropped his 2019 EP titled Bisonverse, an explosion of “relaxed, confident, dreamy, ambient, ethereal, and bouncy” content within just five tracks. This year, Bison released the track “Lemme” with GrimDior and plans to drop another project called “PNM vol. 1” this coming February.
Check out all of Nick Bison’s music in the link below and read more from our interview with him!
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
Yea, I think it has a lot. My dad has been a lighting technician in the film industry ever since I can remember and produces music in his spare time. He showed me how to produce when I picked it up in high school and without that knowledge, I wouldn’t be the artist I am today because I produce a lot of my own songs. I also wrote poetry throughout elementary school which helps me write songs for others as well as myself. Growing up I was pretty naive, reserved, and optimistic on my own, but around friends, I felt way more extroverted. Aside from the people and english class, I didn’t really like school and I’d find myself daydreaming a lot. I was into Adult Swim, anime, video games, and being around my friends more than anything and I still am, so I draw a lot of influence in my production from them. I feel like the people I encounter in my life shape my writing specifically because of what I learn dealing with certain people. Whether it be a good or bad experience with life, love, money, morals, etc., I learn something that inspires me to create new stuff in various different ways.
What ultimately inspired you to dedicate yourself to a music career?
I really can’t see myself doing anything else other than music. Every time I’d try and envision myself in another field, I either couldn’t see myself doing it or didn’t like the position I saw for myself.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?
I’m passionate about music because it’s an outlet for my thoughts and emotions and my favorite form of expression. Also because I like how I can incorporate personal concepts and real-life events, feelings, dreams, and whatever else I want into music to make something never made before. I’m passionate about music because I can create what I want with no rules besides making sure I like it. I feel like I can get inspired by anything but I really draw inspiration from different situations in life and in love, Adult Swim, anime, nature, people, being an inspiration, perseverance, reflection, and all my loved ones, especially the ones that are artists like me.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
To be honest, these days I really just create most of the time, I love doing it every day. I used to go out a lot and meet people but covid put that on hold. If I’m not making music myself, I’m usually with my friends making music, watching movies, or just conversating about whatever sparks our interest. I’ll play smash bros every now and then and some other fighting games too. I stay creative by listening to music by my favorite artists and my friends because they’re hella creative too. It helps me try and discover new things in my music and approach songs in different ways.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Artists that influence me mainly are Childish Gambino, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Pharrell, Smino, Kaytranada, Nipsey Hussle, Young Thug, Sza, Brent Faiyaz, Wifisfuneral, Lil Uzi Vert, Mac Miller
What are some of your music career goals for the future?
My main career goals for the future are getting signed as a songwriter and building a fanbase for myself. After I establish myself as a known songwriter and artist, I plan to start my own writing/artist label.
Tell us about the project that you are promoting. What is it about? Is it a single or EP? Also, what is the name of the last project you released?
The project I’m promoting right now is called “PNM vol. 1”. It’s going to be a two-sided tape, one side mainly love songs and the other, self-love songs and it’s bout to go dummy. The last project I released was my first EP called “Bisonverse” which is on all platforms so go check that out too.
What has the response been like to that project?
The response to the last tape was great, and a way better response than I thought I’d get at first. More people than I thought loved it! It brought in a lot of fans and I’m just really grateful it played out that way. I plan to go even bigger and get way more creative with the next project so I’ve been taking some time to learn and improve my sound.
What are some projects you’ve done in the past that you are most proud of and why?
So far, I’ve only made one project and I’m incredibly proud of it. I really like the recent collaborations I’ve done too, like this one song called “WhatINeeded” by Jyyra, and “Llbby” by R98. I’ve also got some unreleased stuff I really can’t wait to drop.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music?
I want my fans to know that they can do whatever they put they mind to and to keep pushin through whatever hardships they goin through. You create your reality so focus and hone in on your goals.
Where can we follow you on social media?
On Instagram: @diggbicknick
On Twitter: @bisonhoe
Soundcloud: NickBison
