Formed in the summer of 2012, Nearly A Nation (one of Columbus, Ohio’s most promising bands) has put a unique twist on the classical version of the piano trio; one traditionally made up of piano, cello, and violin.

By swapping out the violin for drums and then adding a host of electronic samples, the result is a large palette of musical possibility. One that mixes traditional and acoustic sounds with today’s more popular electronic flavors.

Nick Long (piano/vocals), Chris Brooks (cello) and Adam Lynskey (drums/samples) brand themselves as electronic rock, but like to describe their music as “dark and moody” for its reflections on the various conditions of personal struggle. Sonically speaking, the band’s self-titled debut is a compilation of alternative charm with classical influence.

The three tracks off the EP highlight the group’s versatility. The lead offering, “Mind Like a Gun” focuses on the importance of observing and guarding your thoughts in an unstable world. Flush with strong lead synth parts, the song shows off Long’s interest in incorporating rap into his songwriting.

“Nothing Left to Burn” highlights Brooks’ cello playing and is a song of sympathy for those who continuously struggle in life.

The EP ends on a high note with the uptempo “Miss Mary”, a track lyrically centered on being under the spell of the wrong woman and showcases Lynskey’s skills with an extensive mid-song drum solo. (Miss Mary is currently being played on WHEI 88.9 FM student radio at Heidelberg University).

Long, who majored in vocal performance at Ohio University, taught choral music for a number of years before deciding to take a leave to pursue his songwriting. He soon found Brooks after placing an ad on BandMix and the duo would rehearse together over the next year before realizing that something was missing in their sound. Enter: Lynskey.

“We knew that we wanted a unique, percussive background to go along with what we had”, Long says. “So we put the call out and auditioned probably 15 different drummers. Ironically, Adam was the first person that we auditioned. We really liked him, but since we didn’t want to close the door right away, we went through all of the other auditions but quickly realized that no one else was going to make the bar. We went back to Adam and everything has worked out great!”

Lynskey credits his percussive prowess to his worldly influences. “I try to study as many different things as I can to get the musical feeling from around the world. I studied African drumming and love a lot of jazz and funk drummers. I’m also influenced by a lot of country and classic rock like Led Zeppelin, Beatles and Rush.”

Long says it was Lynskey’s drumming that influenced his songwriting process. “Miss Mary began as simple song, but it felt short and naked. There was a lot of space that I didn’t know what to do with. Once Adam came in, it really inspired me to write the whole second half of it.”

While the band makes plans to hit the studio and record a full-on album for release this summer,  the EP is currently available on iTunes, Amazon, and many other major online music stores and streaming services.

Nearly A Nation will officially release their self-titled debut EP on Friday, April 26th at Victory’s, in the Columbus Brewery District. In addition to performing the material from the album, the band will premiere a few brand new songs as well as their own unique spin on the Beatles “Let It Be” and Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight”. If you’re in the area, be sure to check them out.

Nearly A Nation EP Release Party at Victory’s
543 South High Street, Columbus, OH
Friday April 26th, 2013. Music at 9:30 (Nearly A Nation at 11:00 PM)
For More Info on Nearly A Nation Click Here