Genre-blending collective, Nonstop To Cairo just released the stunning LP, KAI. Vocalist/guitarist Nick Diamond joined us for a roll of the dice interview to discuss the record, coping with the death of a bandmate and what’s next for the Long Island band.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the release of KAI. For our readers not yet familiar with you, what can you tell us about the band?
Thank You! We are so glad to get this album out into the world. Nonstop is a NY based Band that dabbles in many different genres. We skirt the lines between Funk, Pop, Hip-hop, Punk, Ska in what we like to think is an Organic way, where you know you’re listening to a Nonstop song, but can’t quite place where it should fit.
What album or band or significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do” Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst?
For me it was many things. Watching my dads band play in our basement and at parties growing up and then having him teach me electric guitar at the age of 5 was a huge influence on me wanting to be in a band and me starting to write songs at such an early age. Then Going to my 1st real big concerts like Tom Petty and Rage Against The Machine and feeling the energy coming from those bands sealed the deal. Started a band and never looked back.
There is a tremendous diversity of sounds that Nonstop to Cairo bring together in their music. Is there a conscious effort to reflect the different subgenres in your work or is it a result of the band itself having multi-genre influences?
No, I wouldn’t say there is a conscious effort at all. When we’re writing, we quite simply lay a lot of songs out on the table and let the best, or ones we’re most interested in pursuing take precedence. We really have never gone into a project trying to accomplish any certain sound from the beginning and I think that has allowed us to keep open minds and let the songs speak for themselves. We usually know quickly which ones are the ones.
The band’s trumpet player/keyboardist Kevin Anand Itwaru, whose initials make up the album title, passed away shortly before the recording process. That sort of tragedy undoubtedly plays into the new record,
but there’s quite a bit of hope, as well. Was optimism an intentional choice in the process? How did the songwriting and recording process feed into the collective coping and healing of the band?
I wouldn’t say it was intentional. Subconsciously, I’m sure it was what we needed at the time. Dealing with covid and social distancing. To be able to get back with the guys and write and play and joke and cry and take the time to reflect on all that had happened. For us, it was essential in keeping the band going. Knowing we had a mission to complete and something to work towards. We had to finish what we had started with Kevin
The world has been going through some shit over the last few years. What affect, if any, have the cultural and political landscapes of the last few years had on your music?
Just a reminder that music is a truly universal language.
Where do you see the future of the music industry headed in the wake of pandemics, lockdowns and the proliferation of social media?
It’s hard to say. People still love live music. I don’t think that will ever change. So, I think there will always be a strong market for that. Social media will have more and more influence over all things life and music will most likely follow right along.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should know about?
XL the band Is a group that I’ve been listening to a lot recently. Check out our very own Blaque Alex who’s been dropping hits consistently over the last few years.
Beyond the album release, what’s next for the members of Nonstop To Cairo?
We’ve already been busy in the studio putting in work some new fresh material. Other than that, we plan on touring in support of KAI and continuing to spread Music and love wherever we touch down.
Was there anything I missed that you’d like to share or dive deeper into with our readers?
Be kind to yourselves, Love yourselves.
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
