Southern California native, Nico Marks has loved his home by the sea, permanently blanketed in dingy, smog filtered sunlight. Within this veritable Mecca of style and culture Nico grew up, not unlike the weeds from the cracks in the sidewalk along Ocean Blvd. California's influence has always been inescapable for youth with half an inkling for the arts. Hard core came to the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles to die. Oldies were broadcasted 24-7 on the airways, gracing summer night backyard parties. West coast hip hop sparked to life providing the pulse of the streets. Nico first learned music from his mother who sang "Soulfish," a 4 part harmony style of gospel singing. These sacred selections came first in her life, followed closely by her devotion to Motown and the sounds of the 60s. His father had a prolific big band and swing era record collection which provided the soundtrack to summer road trips, in the form of dubbed tapes. These were then replaced by Paul Simon's, Graceland album which sparked in Nico a fascination with groove and melody. On a serendipitous trip to Tower Records with his brother at age 14, Nico purchased an album based solely on the cover art, a man with tentacles for hair who rose up out of the earth like a mighty tree. Bob Marley's, Uprising would set Nico on a musical journey in which he would never falter or grow weary. This passion for the emotive quality in music would encourage Nico to press on independently, writing songs on acoustic guitar and a busted 4-track recorder throughout his youth, honing his craft. "For 10 years," Nico penned about music, "that old lady was my mistress. I developed blister's on my fingers and soul, reaching for her in the night I was always cold, but it didn't matter, no." His songs are bitter-sweet, yet always positive and feature Motown-esque, multi-harmonized vocals sung over heavy, ‘subbed out’ rhythms, and guitars which sound like they were sampled off of old roots or soul records. Nico has worked independently and with the support of local labels. One of which, the sister of famed Sublime label, Skunk Records. This relationship granted Nico exposure and shows which would include playing Ensenada, Mexico’s Spring Carnival event. He has been given unique opportunities to act as a session vocalist, writing and singing backup for various labels' projects as well as for Continental, ex-Dropkick Murphy’s front man, Rick Barton’s band. Most recently he has been given airtime on Chuck Foster’s 90.7 fm radio show, Reggae Central. Chuck describes Nico as: "having a talent for cleverly presenting his message with touches of humor, all while stacking his harmonies with a nod to the vintage records of an analog era." Nico has most recently recorded two solo EP's in 2012, one of which was produced by Sublime/Dirty Heads producer, Lewis Richards. Presently he is playing shows as a solo act and with his band, River Jetty in support of various releases which are the result of what has felt like a quixotic errand. His sincere hope is that you will enjoy his tempest of feel-good jams and hummable melodies.