Nick Goldston
By Ann Driscoll
Associate Editor
“I love Berklee more than anyone else I know.” At 19, Nick Goldston has a combination of self-discipline, zest for life, business savvy, and raw talent that makes him suited to reap the benefits of Berklee. Although the fourth-semester guitar principal considers himself foremost a singer-songwriter, Goldston works hard to improve his guitar chops, much like his idol, John Mayer. He has posted impressive videos of himself shedding Dream Theater licks and loves jazz.
In addition to guitar, the multi-talented Goldston plays bass, saxophone, piano, drums, and mandolin. He records and produces all of his own material on his favorite recording program, Logic. The battle to master the program took time and determination.
“I got Logic a long time ago- before it was owned by Apple. I learned how to use it by trial and error. The techniques I use to record are entirely my own, and now people say my recordings sound studio-quality.” He laughs, “But those first recordings were so far from studio-quality.”
Goldston hails from Oyster Bay, a suburb in Long Island, New York. His proximity to the city afforded him opportunities to record and network with producers. When he was 17, he released an album, “Say” on iTunes, and has made a hefty profit from digital downloads. Though MySpace is the norm for independent musicians, Goldston has used PureVolume.com, where he was a popular mainstay.
“Say” demonstrates his passion for emo, though it no longer represents his sound now, which is shimmering, well-produced, Mayer-esque acoustic pop. Goldston has posted this new batch of songs to his myspace (myspace.com/nickgoldston) and plans on continuing tweaking them as he prepares to release an EP.
An obvious Mayer fanatic, Goldston relished the opportunity to hear his hero speak when Mayer presented the Information Inspiration clinic in the fall. Goldston found the clinic so life-changing that he set up a meeting with Songwriting Department Chair Jack Perricone just to thank him for bringing Mayer to the college. Goldston admits he was disappointed that he wasn’t selected for the workshop with Mayer, but is not bitter either. “To have had that experience would have been worth every dollar I’ve spent at Berklee,” he says. Nevertheless, the clinic was “absolutely terrific.”
Goldston’s self-discipline and zest for life extends outside the realm of music to his commitment towards physical health. A fitness and nutrition junkie, he works out regularly, and has amassed a knowledgebase of health issues more akin to seasoned personal trainers than a teenage music student. “No way am I under the delusion that how you look doesn’t affect your chances in the music industry. But fitness is both for my career and for my life. I’ve never smoked in my life. I try to keep the drinking to a minimum. I don’t want to end up at 50 with some kind of debilitating disease.”
The limelight, which surrounds performers like Mayer and Jason Mraz, (another influence) is less appealing to Goldston than having a lasting career in the music industry. “I’m really into jingle-writing, and would like to write for films and television.” He adds, “If I see an opportunity to be a performer, I will take it, but that doesn’t last forever.” A summer northeast tour is in the works.
In the meantime, Goldston will get the most out of being at Berklee. “There’s nowhere else you can find people our age who are as passionate about music.” Just about the only thing Goldston doesn’t like about Berklee is tonal harmony and counterpoint. “What a waste of time!” he said. Goldston is the rare Berklee student who doesn’t seem to waste much time at all.
