Christopher Swagga Nicholas

Christopher "Swagga" Nicholas (born Christopher Nicholas) is a Welsh singer-songwriter and music producer. He is believed to have perfect pitch. He's bi-lingual and sings in both English and through the medium of the Welsh language. He's worked as a remixer, an editor, a sound engineer and has also written music for video.
When Nicholas was 15 he formed the punk rock band Naked Threat playing bass, he later went on to pursue a solo career in music after various other failed bands .
Early Years
According to his MySpace Profile, it "all started out in 1996 when he received a Yamaha keyboard as Christmas present, and from then on, he was hooked on music" . In primary school he passed a Musical theory exam and was offered both choices - to play violin or harp. He chose to learn the violin, and although he attained a Grade 2 certificate, he doesn't cite it as an instrument he is competent on. These two instruments became everything to him growing up - that was until 2000 when he was given his first guitar - a red Fender Stratocaster by his father. The guitar then became his primary instrument.
Development
He formed his first band as part of a Rockschool course and played his first gig at the tender age of thirteen. He's quoted in saying "We wrote three songs in two days - they weren't any good though to be fair!" After this came a number of failed bands and projects. In 2004 he began to learn to play bass guitar as there were no other competent bass guitarists at the school, and after another Rockschool course in 2005 he formed another band. This band would achieve some success, touring the South Wales valleys with Welsh-medium bands such as Ashokan, Mattoidz and Frizbee. He also played live on radio with the band, in addition to having recorded tracks played. He left the band to look for other musical outlets. By 2006 had already learned to play the Drums in music lessons. "I wasn't very technical but I could hold a groove". He also started playing the Harmonica around the same time citing local blues musicians as influences. He decided that school wasn't for him left after a year of AS levels and started a National Diploma in Music Technology in 2007.
College Years
During this time he would add the Ukulele to his on-going list of instruments. Over the next two years he would learn to use music software such as Reason, Amplitube, BFD, AmpFarm, Steinberg's WaveLab and Digidesign's ProTools. He also learned a variety of microphone placement techniques and learned about the Physics of Sound. He also became competent in the studio using Digidesign's Control 24 mixing console. He attained a triple distinction award for the course.
University and Current Ventures
Nicholas decided to take his music education further and enroll into University and began studying a BSc (Hons) in Music Technology at ATRiuM, Cardiff. He's quoted in saying; "Here I've met some really creative musicians and producers, I've learnt to use analogue mixing consoles as well as delving in deeper into Synthesis and Computer based audio" . He passed the first year of his course, and, as of October 2010, is currently in the second year of University.
He's currently recording two Acoustic E.P's which are due for release in November. He is also collaborating with numerous other acts.
Music Lunge have described him as one of the biggest artists on the site. They said this of him:
"MusicLunge.com proudly introduces UK Singer/Songwriter Christopher "Swagga" Nicholas. From Cardiff, UK, the talented and innovative musician moved quickly through the ranks becoming the number one artist on MusicLunge.com only six weeks after becoming a member of the site. His passion for music and mastery of the craft is felt and heard on tracks like " Better Day" and " Where Are You Now?""
He hopes to continue producing good quality material and working with other people, according to his Official MySpace page and many people believe, even at his age, that he is very competent in his field.
Influences
"As a songwriter, it's usually a hybrid of styles -- taking my favorite elements from certain genres and blending them in to my tracks. As my music can be, at times, very eclectic, I usually please most listeners," Swagga said during a recent interview with MusicLunge.com . With producing influences cited as Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails, How to Destroy Angels) and Rory Meredith (Ether, Sugar Rush), Swagga also noted, "I love listening to bands such as Ben Folds Five, Gomez, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails and artists such as Jack Johnson, Newton Faulkner, Paolo Nutini and Gavin DeGraw".
According to his official MySpace page he also cites: Nine Inch Nails/Trent Reznor, Gomez, Ben Folds, Radiohead/Nigel Godrich, Alex Metric, Calvin Harris, David Guetta and John Leckie as influences.
Collaborations
*Reaper In Sicily
*Cutting The Beef
*Nothing-New
*Mystery 23
*PanicBasket
*Chris Bailey
Awards
*In 2010, Nicholas received an Award from Rhondda Cynon Taff Arts body for 'Services in Youth Development'.
*As of 18th October 2010, Nicholas is currently number 2 in the Reverbnation Cardiff Alternative chart.
*As of October 2010, Nicholas is the top viewed member of music site www.hypedsound.com, which can be viewed by following the link and clicking most viewed profiles.
*In October 2010, Nicholas became the top member of music site www.musiclunge.com.
*He has had radio plays with Voice.fm (Caerphilly), GTFM (Rhondda Cynon Taff) and various other Radio stations.
*Music Lunge awarded him with a National Press Release in October 2010 following his success on the site.
Discography
*Acoustic EP1, Self Released, 2010
*Acoustic EP2, Self Released, 2010

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