jnicolasmusic

Portland, OR, USA

In the wistful Americana ballad, Montana Luv, Nicolas sings of a journey home from Flathead County, Montana, and of the little moments of solo traveling that become tender in the presence of memory: “Tearing off the cellophane from a packet of cigarettes / I don’t really smoke but one’s alright I guess.” The song unfolds like a classic, with warm harmonies from fellow Portland artist Ezza Rose and a natural pedal steel (Steely Pete) surfacing between the words. “Oh, the night / Nothing’s ever easy in the dark / The toughest part of leaving is the start,” Nicolás sings in an affecting chorus that explores the nature of leaving a person as much as it does a place. “The hardest part of leaving a relationship is starting to leave. It's just getting to having that conversation.”