An Interview With A True Renaissance Man, NICK HAWK On His Hit Showtime Show, His Blossoming Music Career and More!

Photo Credit: Sophy Holland

Nick Hawk is best known as the star of “Gigolos,” Showtime’s hit adult comedy reality show (recently renewed for a sixth season) about the lives of five male escorts in Las Vegas. Hawk is indeed a modern day Renaissance man and serial entrepreneur and he is also a powerful, provocative and multi-talented performer, beat maker, poet and wordsmith.

Drawing on his notoriety from “Gigolos” to launch his career as an independent recording artist, Nick has now released a total of ten singles, including “Leave With Me,” “Tippin N Sippin” and “We Like to Show Off.” He calls “We Fight” his masterpiece. He also shows a sense of humor in his music. “Everybody’s Got A Little Country In ‘Em” is a quirky, steel pedal driven charmer that will be featured on “Gigolos” this upcoming season.

Learn more about this talented performer in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Where does this interview find you today?

Just finished up rebaring my jousting platforms in my pool and my waterfall, that’s going over my grotto, to get ready to pour with concrete in a few days.  Yes, I like to get my hands dirty and create things other than music.  I remodeled my entire property from the landscaping, lighting, floors, counters, cabinets, appliances, sinks, tubs, wooden Nick Hawk logo above the front entry and more.

I was about to sit down and do some work on my latest track, “Breakin’ A Sweat” when I saw this email come in.  I also built a full studio with a recording booth and have a drum set, piano, guitars and more set up at my house so I can now record from home.  I prefer recording when I’m ready, on my time and when I’m feeling it, over scheduling studio time.  And I’m able to try and do some weird shit with my vocals, where I may sound nuts before adding some effects. I incorporate some type of vocal into all of my beats now, sometimes being the beat and sometimes being the melody. And finally, I take off to Orange County for a two-day booking tomorrow to see one of my favorite regulars.

After reading your bio, it’s definitely apparent that you are a true modern Renaissance Man. Out of all your endeavors right now, what are you most proud of?

Music for sure.  Out of all of my professions and hobbies it’s the one I applied myself to the most and spent the most time with, by far.  I would love to know a word count on all the music I’ve written over the years.  It’s also the reason I choose to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in English.  I focused on creative writing.

How did you first get on Showtime’s show “Gigolos”? Can you describe the experience of being on it? How long have you been with Cowboys4Angels.com?

I’ve been with Cowboys4Angels.com for about seven years.  The show approached us six years ago and season six will air early next year.  I wasn’t sure how the response to being on an adult AND reality show would go when it came to my promising acting career, I dedicated five years of my life to, and my music, but it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.  It was a staring role on a Showtime series. I was hoping for three or four seasons; everything else has been icing.  It’s been an insane experience and ride I wouldn’t trade for anything.  It definitely has it’s ups and downs but in the end we created a great thing and sent a positive and revelating message.  I hate seeing myself edited but it makes people laugh, so I’m cool with it.  Think about the craziest day of your life.  I do that often.

Let’s talk about your music career. How did it come out of everything that you already do? How long have you been rapping?

Honestly, I remember creating music and making raps as far back I can.  I had a cassette tape player device with an attached microphone and performed songs from The Muppets as a small child.  I also have this memory, of what I believe is the first song I made, around 2nd grade, walking back to my babysitter’s from the park with my friend rapping.  I remember the chorus verbatim: “we’re indestructible/nothing can stop us/here we are/yea yeah!”  It’s ridiculous but it’s a precious and inspiring memory.  My grandma taught me how to play the piano at an early age.  In middle school I started taking music a little more seriously.  I took guitar lessons and studied song structure, patterns, started developing my vocabulary and creating complex rhyme structures.  I remember I always wanted to do something different and creative with my music.

Where do you get the inspiration for your music?

Life.  It’s hard.  It’s easy to lose focus and fall off track.  We all need daily motivation, inspiration and we all need to work towards goals and create.  Music allows me to do all of that.  Not to mention there’s no place I’d rather be then performing something I worked my ass off creating, on a stage.  I recently performed the last track I released, “We Fight,” in front of a large audience, and I want more.

“We Fight” is your latest track. Why do you think it’s your masterpiece?

It is my masterpiece.  It’s a culmination, of not only my music, but who I am and who I’ve become.  There’s not a better way to represent me, my talent, hard work and what I stand for.  I will continue to create great music and attempt to top it, but in some ways it will be impossible to top.

What artists have consistently inspired you? What rappers do you look up to?

Any and all when I was younger. I loved all rap. Some names I won’t admit to listening to and I’m pretty sure everyone knows who they are.  I definitely listened to: 2-Pac, Biggie, Wu Tang, Busta Rhymes, Beastie Boys, Heavy D, Fat Boys, DMX and of course Eminem.  Linkin Park is another.  My real dream, up until I learned how to play most instruments and produce my own music, was to be in a similar band and be the rapper dude.

Who would you love to work with in the future?

I’m open to working with any similar artist, in some form, who writes their own music and wants to be in the process of producing something creative and special.  I would still really love to team up with a great rock band as well.  On season six of Gigolos I wrote a country song and I paid a full band, including my new favorite instrument, the pedal steel guitar, to come into the studio and help me create it.  It was heaven.

Do you perform very often in and around Las Vegas?

I’ve only performed a few times in Las Vegas.  One of my big ones was at Planet Hollywood and I’ll never forget that night.  It was when I released one of my biggest hits, “Leave With Me.”  I just very recently was able to commit myself and  have enough material and time to put on a great show.  I have a few performances lined up, but my biggest goal right now is to do a serious tour in the next year.

Photo Credit: D’Andre Michael

What do you hope to accomplish with your music? What do you hope is the message of your music?

Above all, to be considered by most to be a great lyricist. I put on an intense and passionate show but my rhyming structure, patterns and creative originality is what I pride myself in, more than anything. This year I will be taking my music to another level in hopes to take a lot of people with me. It’s a new day. I’m not a bullshit wannabe artist. I’m real and I send a real message with raw and genuine-controlled-emotion. It’s time to stand on your own two feet and be held accountable for what happens in your life. It’s a struggle and it’s a fight and you must keep fighting or get beat down. I’ve been at the bottom and I’ve been beaten down. You have guides in your life but you need to learn to trust your own judgement and instincts to be able to fuck shyt up and get ahead.

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 or even 20 years?

I will be creating music and living my rock star Gigolo life indefinitely.  I love my life and can’t think of anyway to change it for the better.  I may explore different genres and instruments and it will continue to evolve.  If you’re not evolving you’re dying.  We should continually work towards becoming better people and being better at what we do. I love that I can produce and mix my music and direct and edit my music videos.  I’ll be looking to take my next one to another level. I also will pursue writing soundtracks for movies, as I did for the film, “American Justice,” acting, painting, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competitions, seeing the rest of the world and I have two other TV shows in the works. I wish there was 10 of me. There’s too many amazing opportunities life has to offer.

Thank you for the interview and if you need anything else please don’t hesitate to ask!  Also, please let people know they can find me at NickHawkExplicit.com & Watch “Nick Hawk – We Fight [Official Music Video]” on YouTube: