Meet Nick Tillery | Singer & Pianist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Tillery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Going to therapy. Facing a lifetime of trauma head on. Grasping a better understanding of my mental health and emotional regulation. This allowed me to obtain a deeper knowledge of how I function, opening a new perspective through which I view myself and the world around me. It also added depth to my creativity and ultimately changed my relationship with music. I began to see music as a method of healing for myself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve had a long and complicated relationship with expression, spending most of life masking myself from others while I silently battled severe depression, anxiety, and complex PTSD. Ironically, I can’t hide myself when I write music. I don’t pull any punches. It’s where I feel most safe to express everything I’m fighting to survive through. To most, I’m quiet and reserved, but when I sit down in front of a piano and play people see all of me. That’s what sets my music apart from other artists I think. My music is a true manifestation of the raw emotion and trauma I’m trying to process, which is a scary thing to put out in the open for all to witness.

Despite how terrifying it is, it’s also the thing I’m most proud of. It’s something many people suppress and avoid confronting for a lifetime. My trauma is worth sharing if there’s a chance it can help others heal like it has for me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Food-wise, I’d take them to Forno 301 and Rito’s probably more than once selfishly. Drink-wise, two of my favorite places to go to for great cocktails are Highball and Garden Bar.

To escape the summer heat, I’d take them up north to Sedona or Flagstaff to a nice camping spot amongst the trees. Then, to some venues around Phoenix to see great local artists.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest supporters are my family, friends, and other incredibly talented artists in the Phoenix community. Specifically, I’d like to thank my brother Trevor Tillery, brother-in-law Michael Kelley, Nick DuPlessis, and Alex Kline for always supporting my music and collaborating with me to create. All of whom are insanely talented creatives and deserve to be recognized.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicktillery

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickTillery

Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nick.tillery

Image Credits
Alex Kline, Nick DuPlessis