Meet Mertz Nicolson | Music Producer

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

Hi Mertz, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I don’t know if I can cuss on this, but my initial thought on this is “Fuck it!” You only got one life to make the most happen, so why not just take a couple risks. One of the best things I did for myself was taking the risk to meet new people in college, which unexpectedly led to the chance to produce, record, and mix an entire concert performance for these two artists, A1 and OCBaller, that opened up for Ravyn Lenae. Another big risk was starting to post content on Instagram, which led to an exciting opportunity of being interviewed by Jacob Gallagher for the Wall Street Journal. Although these risks may not seem extraordinary, they presented me with opportunities I didn’t know existed. These experiences not only boosted my confidence but also opened doors I hadn’t even imagined. Even when risks don’t pan out as hoped, I believe the bravest thing you can do is take another risk, learning and growing from each experience. If my vision isn’t scaring me, I don’t go for it!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love what I do. I am a music lover at heart and having the opportunity to create it myself is one of the best things ever. I make mostly Hip-Hop and R&B music. I’ll dabble into other genres here and there, but those are my bread and butter. I have three tracks on all platforms right now. My artist name is Mertz. I have a self-produced solo track called “GRAVY.” The two other tracks are called the “Truman Show” and “Art Gallery,” which are two tracks I produced from an upcoming EP that I’m making with the best rapper I know, Romeo! And I got A LOT more songs that I think people will love.

My production style is heavily sample-based, taking inspiration from producers like COUPE, Kal Banx, Kenny Beats, and Tyler, The Creator. Reworking old samples from the 70s and 80s always creates this nostalgic feeling that I love because it’s comforting. One of my biggest strengths is being versatile. I can craft a soulful rap beat or a hard-hitting Detroit beat or a smooth R&B track. This range reflects the diverse music I was exposed to growing up. I remember two of my favorite tracks growing up as a kid were “The Way You Move” by Outkast and “Area Codes” by Ludacris. I had no idea what they were talking about, but the grooves and sonics excited me.

I would be lying if I said, my journey has been easy. Pursuing something you love always comes with sacrifices, whether that’s missing out on family time or leaving behind old friends. It’s really a difficult thing for me to deal with. Personal sacrifices can eat you up, if you let them. I personally overcome these challenges by staying true to myself and never losing sight of my passion, taking it step-by-step each day and being present every day in my journey. Doing this, you don’t really see the progress you’ve made until you look at everything in hindsight. My journey has taught me that the best thing you can do for yourself as an artist or creative in any field is to be authentic. Please don’t try to be someone you’re not! When you’re true to yourself, that’s when your best work happens. This is what I pride myself and my brand on. Everything is real and true. No gimmicks!

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.
I’m pretty new to the city, but I have some favorite spots already, which are mostly food spots because I can eat. I mean EAT. I don’t know what the exact timeline would be because I usually let the day lead the way, so I’m just going to list what we doing. We going to StormBurger. Best burger in Inglewood. We going to this taco truck next to a Ross near where I live. I don’t know what it’s called, but best tacos I’ve ever had. We going to Porto’s. It’s necessary. We going to Cafe Vida in Culver City. Bomb breakfast. We going to Winston Pies. Best pies fr. We going to Pizzana. Pizzas are on point. And we going to Cafe 5 or Coffee MCO. They got the vibes down. I can keep going on with food spots, but I think that’s a decent list. Now let’s talk places for activities and stuff like that. We going to Manhattan Beach. Swim in the ocean, drink some wine, and stick the toes in the sand. We going to Culver City stairs. Get a little nice hike in. We going to Hollywood to do some shopping. We going to The Huntington to catch a vibe in the gardens. We going to a Dodgers game because those can be fun with a michelada and hot dog. And if possible, we going to a concert or game at SoFi Stadium because that is one of the best stadiums to ever exist. But we definitely going to the beach a lot because I really love water.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I got to give a special shoutout to Tyler, The Creator, whose music and persona have influenced my life on my many levels. Beyond his musical talent–his chords, arrangements, and lyrics–I was heavily drawn to how he presents himself. His unapologetic confidence in being true to himself taught me to embrace my own authenticity in everything I do. This mindset has made the creation of music more enjoyable and has also allowed me to connect with others on a relatable level. I’m truly grateful for the impact he has had on my life as a producer and a person. I also have to give a huge shoutout to Kenny Beats. His Twitch streams during the pandemic gave me the courage to dive into music production. Watching him, I learned so much about production and how to make my music relatable. I will forever be in his debt. Without his inspiration and guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Instagram: @menacemertz

Image Credits
Josh Gonzales, Kiko Sanchez, George Nicolson, Victoria Nicolson