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

Hi Nicholas, what principle do you value most?
Liberty. The word doesn’t imply freedom for freedom’s sake, but implies liberation from oppression, tyrannical powers, and most importantly, the freedom to begin life anew. To escape from the prison of the mind and understand that one has the power within them to make a better life for themselves and their family.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
If you ask any of my friends or family what I do, they’d probably tell you that I love music. For most of my waking life I’ve immersed myself in learning how to master several instruments, writing & recording my own songs, and pursuing live performance opportunities.

Every step I’ve taken has led me to where I am today. Whether that’s a step in the right direction, or even the slight detours we all take from time to time. Nevertheless, I’m happy with the current progress in my career and I know that there’s always something new for me right around the corner.

In some ways becoming a professional musician has been easy. What most people consider a chore or tedious work is what I look forward to doing everyday. Things such as daily practice for my technical skills, writing even when I don’t feel inspired or motivated, and keeping track of my progress musically. I could spend hours finding the perfect guitar tone or figuring out the perfect lyric.

There will always be challenges in life, our relationships, and whatever else we become involved in. Pressing forward despite opposition or temporary setbacks has sustained me and kept me from ever failing permanently. One of the best things I can give is to keep showing up everyday. If you persist, you will never fail.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My wife and I frequent the Americana at Brand in Glendale on the weekends. After church, we like to chow down on Xiao Long Baos from Din Tai Fung and enjoy the atmosphere afterwards. It’s such a cool little shopping center.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I can attribute praise to all of the many amazing people pushing me forward all my life. Whether it was guidance from family, friends, conversations I had with people I only met once, self-improvement videos/books, etc, there’s wisdom and support all around you if you have the eyes to see and ears to hear. But above all, I want to thank the Lord, Jesus Christ. To whom I owe all of my successes and triumphs.

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