“I am a dreamer from the slums of Panama City,” said Nino Augustine. Open, Positive, and Easy, this dreamer at age 11, lived in Orange, New Jersey. A place, not dissimilar from the Panama City slum, but his family moved to Montclair, New Jersey a suburb of the Jersey state. “What a transition living near mansions and things,” he said; this is how things work. The transition from nothing to something enabled Nino’s dream to take shape in the form of music.
Nino Augustine will perform at A3C festival with his band Only Positive Energy and will include various elements. Nino and OPE have a nice buzz in the Atlanta music scene. Playing as many venues as possible, their music is a progressive rap alternative with elements of jazz, rock, and soul. All of these sounds revolve around and intertwine with instrumentals lead by Nino’s sometime soft toned raps or hard in your face mixes.
As a testament to the many forms of hip-hop, Nino Augustine & OPE (alternative/rap) music fits perfectly within the diverse landscape. If we take into account Atlanta’s local scene Nino said, “I couldn’t do this anywhere else…not L.A…I choose Atlanta.” The local scene offers the band the space to create and in return the band gives up that stylized alternative sound; it’s both fascinating and important this necessary exchange.
Let’s have a conversation with Nino Augustine:
To promote only positive energy is a huge undertaking. Yet, that is what O.P.E. stands for, the band. Within that space how do you promote and creative music that also is energetically positive?
I think being aware of what’s going on around you helps. I am a student of music and I like to break down jazz albums, early hip-hop, rock and roll, salsa, and bachata music. {Laughing} Using these elements of music, are energetic and help to inspire my creative side. I think every day I try to be fully conscious. It’s not easy to promote the positive. I get sad too; it’s a daily reminder that things are gonna get better. Sad has its position too.
Let’s explore the music. “Rollin Stone” is a track you did and it highlights your rhythmic soft voice. Yet “Blow” is more recent, and highlights harsher tones. Is this an example of moving away form, a style to something else?
I am a big Bob Dylan fan. “Rolling Stone “is a piece that shadowed how my life played out. I didn’t perform this live ever… until I added the band to it. First using saxophone and a background singer added to the richness. The perspective of my life…yeah that was produced in New Jersey by a good friend.
Pushing “Blow” is different and the concept was different. I had Chilly-O to work with this time. I used live instrumental to carry over the feeling of a darker side of the business. “Blow” is really about the artist starting out alone. That’s why the mood is dark in the visuals. At the end of the day; we’re just a platform away and hope we make it or we just might “Blow”. I was blessed to have worked with such a talented film maker.
Every artist journey is different. Still, what might be common among them is hearing the roar of the crowd. Tell the A3C community, Is Atlanta the right scene for Nino Augustine’s music?
I’ve been in Atlanta for 2 years and it’s been the ultimate blessing. I have been putting on as many shows as possible, but it all started with the artist exchange last year. I knew…I had a plan to be in a position to an asset in my business rather than a liability. Atlanta is the perfect place to be organic and work hard. The scene has welcomed me with open arms. There are creative people here who believe in what I am creating too. I am with a team that’s strong and balanced. I don’t have to be put in a boxed with the alternative sound I produce. I could wake up listing to MOS DEAF; go to bead listening to FRANK SINATRA. In-between listen to NINA SIMONE; then FUTURE or DRAKE. It’s all in the mix in the scene here. I am gonna try to be consistent in the music.
A3C Festivals celebrates and highlights Hip-Hop culture; within 5 days. Besides your day on the Stage; how can the other 4 days’ work to aide in the development of your music?
First…A3C is the ‘dopiest’ festival…nothing like it. Our stage is progressive which adds more colors to everything. I think networking is the thing. There is so much talent out here. Looking forward to being in the company of other artist, and I look forward to seeing some from out of town. Like chris kills from New Jersey…yeah that’s my boy. I am blessed to be here on the stage with the Good Hearts Win Showcase.
Good Hearts Win (Showcase)
Thursday October 8th @ 7:00 PM
Music Room (Old 4th Ward)