Taking on the role of producer, Southern CA’s Nico Marks has released a collaborative album titled Summer Unity. The album features a few members of Long Beach Dub Allstars, The Aggrolites and more — Grab the first track, “Unity,” for FREE, featuring Opie Ortiz, Tippa Lee and Tim Wu on sax…
You can download Nico Marks’s new song “Unity,” (feat. Opie Ortiz, Tippa Lee & Tim Wu) for FREE on our home page under the MP3 Leak of the Week on the right hand column! This Download will only be available until Sunday, July 30th, 2017.
Nico Marks – “Unity” (feat. Opie Ortiz, Tippa Lee & Tim Wu) — Download HERE (on The Pier homepage)
Nico Marks “Unity” Background:
Nico Marks is a singer, songwriter, and producer based out of Southern, CA. He had the idea of releasing a collaborative album full of guest appearances and he did pretty well with his 15-track record Summer Unity that dropped on July 4th, 2017. The album includes guest appearances by Ras MG, Opie Ortiz, and Tim Wu of Long Beach Dub Allstars, as well as Roger Rivas (also with LBDA) and Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites as well as Anthony B, Tippa Irie, Chuck Foster, and so many more! This album features the most Dub Allstar members on a record that isn’t an actual LBDA album.
In 2014 Nico traveled and lived in Kingston, Jamaica, specifically in Kingston 6, up on Jack’s Hill, where he worked as a plumber by day to record at night and pay for studio musicians at Tuff Gong, Bob Marley’s studio. “It was a brilliant, wonderful, scary and perspective-altering experience,” Nico tells The Pier.
When Nico returned to the US, he released his album, the California-Jamaica Sessions. From there, he frequented the Dub Club in Los Angeles, CA where he was able to connect & network with DJ’s there. This is where he met Tippa Lee who is a resident DJ there. He was able to bring Tippa Lee, Opie Ortiz & Tim Wu together on the albums now opening track, “Unity”.
Tippa Lee, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, is an original dancehall artist from the 80’s & 90’s and was part of a duo called Rappin’ Roger. “I wrote ‘Unity’ and invited Opie Ortiz to sing the hook, Tippa Lee on the verses after me, and again, Tim Wu on sax… Opie has done some art for me and so I just called him up at the right time. I programmed beats on the track and felt the whole process went so smooth, why not write an album in the style of a massive mashup, and feature a collection of guests? And so, a year and a half later, ‘Summer Unity’ is here.”
The only bummer with albums that feature a ton of collaborations is that a lot of the songs seem less likely to be enjoyed and absorbed in a live setting. Nico is working on that as he tells The Pier “I’ve assembled an all-star cast to perform it on Aug. 13th at 5 pm at the Slidebar in Fullerton, free show where I’ll be opening for the Aggrolites.”
You can purchase Nico Marks new album, Summer Unity, via iTunes, by clicking HERE!
Listen: Nico Marks – “Unity” (feat. Opie Ortiz, Tippa Lee & Tim Wu)
Nico Marks Background:
Nico Marks is a southern, CA singer, songwriter & producer. Nico’s songwriting and producing prowess has advanced substantially since his days as a performer, sharing the stage with acts like Fishbone and Shortbus (formerly the Long Beach Dub All-Stars), and contributing to numerous studio projects for a diverse array of artists including ex-Dropkick Murphys’ lead singer Rick Barton. On a dare in 2007, he even made it to the 5th round of American Idol singing only Bob Marley songs. Not currently active with a backing band, you can find Nico performing sparingly throughout Southern, CA and with him is a diamond in the rough, flying under the radar with a collaborative record that is Summer Unity.
Related Links:
Nico Marks Website
Nico Marks Facebook
Huge thanks again to Nico Marks for allowing us to share new song “Unity” to post up for FREE download. Free music is a privilege that we’re grateful for and we appreciate the work these artists do! Please feel free to download this song for FREE and spread the awareness to your friends!
Enjoy the FREE track on the homepage!
Article By: Mike Patti
Listen: Nico Marks – “Slow & Steady” (feat. Warrior King, Ras MG & Tim Wu)