Going it alone: Nick Young flies solo with new album 'Truth Is'

Nick Young says going solo was the best decision he’s ever made musically.

“I think it was a bit out of necessity. I didn’t want a revolving door of musicians,” said the 33-year-old from Seneca Falls, N.Y. whose indie alt-rock band Burning Daylight recently lost members to growing pains—family and career obligations kept drummer Jesse Sprinkle and bassist Tim Mroz from going all in, as Young explains.

“It wasn’t that they were holding me back but that I was holding myself back by using them as an excuse. Now I have no excuses.”

After Burning Daylight’s premiere album Whiskey and Romances was released in 2007 the band had a successful run of shows in Rochester venues, New York City and Boston. This usually meant a full electric band with Young as the front man. While his old band mates play with him occasionally under the title of Nick Young and Burning Daylight, you can expect to see more acoustic solo performances, as Young says he plans to tour the Northeast later this fall.

His first full-length solo album entitled Truth Is will be released in the coming months, as he finishes the mixing and mastering in Nashville with help from producer Jim Reilley and mixer Eric Fritsch in Nashville at the end of August. One track will even feature a cameo from Al Perkins playing pedal steel and Ken Coomer (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco) on drums. A huge Gram Parsons fan, Young says he was tickled by the chance to play alongside such big names.

The upcoming record will be feature less power pop and more on acoustic songs—a break from the somewhat teenage/punk sound of the last album. “Stylistically, it’s definitely more of a straight up Americana record,” said Young. Although their band has parted ways, Sprinkle and Mroz stayed on to record drums and bass at Bluebrick Recordings in Avon, which Sprinkle owns and operates. As soon as the final touches on the album are complete Young says he looks forward to touring and promotion to build his fan base and step closer toward making music his career.

“It’s time for me to put my money where my mouth is. The only one who can make you do anything is yourself—not to sound all Dr. Phil or anything but it’s true,” he adds with a laugh.

Save the date:
Nick Young with Eilen Jewell and Teagan and The Tweeds: A benefit concert for The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester.
When: Saturday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Where: The German House.