SaskMusic

Nik Porrelli

Categories: Musicians: Vocalist

Genres: Urban

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Description

Nik Porrelli is a hip-hop artist who combines quick, ever-changing flows with meticulous wordplay over high-energy production. He excels at writing freestyle-type tracks filled with nearly tongue-twister rhymes and nerdy references. Nik primarily writes about his experiences, philosophy, and the exultation of creating. He most enjoys getting his friends involved in music (especially when they’re not musicians) and live performances.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Nik Porrelli was influenced by rock and alternative music growing up. He took up drumming at a young age and sang in worship bands and church choirs growing up. In Grade 10 he discovered hip-hop and began dabbling in writing in his first year of University. His debut single “Slow Down” was produced with two high school friends and serves to signpost his evolution as an artist in a short time. Nik has continued making music while working on his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan. His second single “Negative” was recorded amidst night shift in the summer of 2021, followed by “Back and Forth” the next year. Some of his musical influences include STARSET, Switchfoot, NF, JID, Jon Keith, Joey Vantes, and 1kphew. Nik references many of his interests, from Star Wars, to hockey, to Magic the Gathering in his music. He likes to think of himself as a certified geek.

News

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  Barabbas: Nik Porrelli's New Track Set to Drop on October 29, 2024

  October 11, 2024

  Barabbas by Nik Porrelli Dropping October 29, 2024 

  Saskatoon’s own Nik Porrelli is back with his latest single, "Barabbas," and it's shaping up to be his best release yet. Produced by LethalNeedle (@lethalneedle), the track is set to drop on October 29, 2024 wherever you stream music, and promises a blend of intense lyricism, intricate production, and a unique instrumental twist.

  The track takes its name from the notorious figure Barabbas, symbolizing a larger-than-life persona grappling with philosophical introspection and personal challenges. In typical Nik Porrelli style, the song features quick flows, sharp wordplay, and layers of meaning that touch on everything from societal hypocrisy to personal growth and ambition. With references to historical and philosophical figures like Socrates and Apollo, listeners are in for a lyrical journey that goes far beyond surface-level rap.

  One of the standout elements in "Barabbas" is the presence of a vibraphone-like beat that keeps the song's pace. This choice of instrumentation brings a catchy beat to the track, adding a sonic texture that perfectly complements the introspective and critical nature of the lyrics.

  Working alongside producer LethalNeedle, Porrelli has crafted a track that merges high-energy beats with introspective, almost philosophical lyricism, giving fans something they can both vibe to and think deeply about. "Barabbas" is a track that showcases Porrelli’s versatility as an artist, blending his love for intricate wordplay with high-energy production that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish.

  Fans can expect more than just a song with this release. Nik Porrelli’s multifaceted artistry extends beyond music, and he plans to drop visuals and behind-the-scenes content leading up to the song’s release, providing a glimpse into the creative process that brought "Barabbas" to life.

  Mark your calendars for October 29, 2024 - Nik Porrelli’s "Barabbas" is a track that is not to be missed.

  About the Artist
  Nik Porrelli is a Saskatoon-based hip-hop artist known for his dynamic flows, intricate wordplay, and multifaceted creative talents. His music often blends personal experiences with philosophical reflections, offering listeners something deeper in each track. Influenced by artists like STARSET, JID, and 1K Phew, Nik continues to push boundaries in the Canadian music scene. His upcoming release, "Barabbas," marks a bold step forward in his artistic journey.

   

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  Nik Porrelli Drops Anticipated Single "Addendum"

  July 5, 2024

  Saskatoon’s very own Nik Porrelli is ready to shake up the music scene once again with his latest single, "Addendum," which dropped on July 2nd, 2024. This dynamic track will be available wherever you stream your music, and it promises to deliver a blend of introspection, braggadocio, and raw energy that is quintessentially Nik.

  "Addendum" is about manifesting what is important to you, even if it's uncomfortable. Porrelli explains, "I don't really stick to a topic when I write, whatever is on my mind just ends up coming out in the song. Hence the allusions to relationships, insecurities, the need for success, and what my definition of success is. It's also got some good braggadocio mixed in for good measure."

  This new release marks a significant moment in Nik’s career. He wrote "Addendum" in preparation for his first-ever show at Sutherland Hall in Saskatoon, where he opened for IllHumanNation. His career has pushed forward and he recently performed it for the second time at the Art in the Garden Festival in Langham on June 8th, and the anticipation for its official release has been building ever since. After a few years of being in the vault, Nik is super stoked for it to officially see the light of day.

  The production of "Addendum" features the unique style of $teev (@prodsteev on Instagram), who also produced the beat for Nik’s previous track “Negative.” The synergy between $teev's production and Nik's flow is undeniable, and fans can look forward to more collaborations between these two in the future. Nik has also been experimenting with vocal doubling, a technique he fell in love with while working with Emperor Jomei, who mixed the track. He particularly loves the doubles on the second chorus, adding an extra layer of depth and texture to the song.

  Nik’s journey as an artist has been a fascinating one. Born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he was influenced by rock and alternative music from a young age. He started drumming early on and sang in worship bands and church choirs, but it was in Grade 10 that he discovered hip-hop and began writing his own material during his first year of University. His music reflects his diverse influences and personal experiences, ranging from STARSET and Switchfoot to NF and JID​​​​​​.

  Nik's previous singles, including "Slow Down," "Negative," "Back and Forth," and the more recent "Landmine" featuring 1KPhew, have showcased his evolving artistry and garnered significant attention. "Landmine" alone amassed over 4,000 streams on Spotify in its first week, setting the stage for the excitement surrounding "Addendum."

  With his dual degrees in Fine Arts and Education from the University of Saskatchewan nearly completed, Nik continues to juggle his academic pursuits with his musical aspirations. He remains deeply involved in his local music scene, constantly pushing his creative boundaries and engaging with his growing fanbase.

  "Addendum" is now available on all streaming services. With this release, Nik Porrelli is not just dropping a new single; he's making a statement about the power of authenticity and the courage to pursue one's passions. Follow him on social media (@nikporrelliofficial) and stay tuned for more music and live performances that promise to keep you hooked.

  Listen to "Addendum" on Spotify

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  Nik Porrelli ft. tcmHoLLow to Drop "Extra Ruthless" after "Landmine" Success!

  February 8, 2024

  Nik Porrelli, a new hip hop artist on the scene, has been causing quite the buzz on Spotify with his newest single "Landmine", featuring 1KPhew, garnering over 4000 streams in the first week of release. You can listen to it anywhere music is streamed, or using this link: https://open.spotify.com/track/3mzeYO5B4fsX2xe8nCeJKU?si=5f0417cc88144ea4

  To continue with this momentum, he is dropping a brand new track, "Extra Ruthless", featuring another Saskatchewan hip hop artist, tcmHoLLow, on February 13th, 2024. You will be able to find it on any streaming service!

       When speaking to Nik about the track he said, "Extra Ruthless is the final iteration of a song that I started writing around two years ago. I finished a version for the show that I happened to first meet the IllHumanNation guys at, but I wasn't totally happy with it. So, when we were in the studio, I asked tcmHoLLoW if he had any ideas, and while I recorded my sections he came up with the hook. The title was tcmHoLLoW's idea; I say it early on in the track and it stuck out to him". Nik Porrelli is also a visual artist and in speaking about the album art he said, "When considering the cover, I had this image of a katana-wielding figure I played around with, and I'm pretty happy how it turned out. I wanted to make all the letters look like they'd been cut in half. AGAPE produced some crazy drops on this, so I wanted to take advantage of that and go in as hard as I could. The end product is a pretty great song for live shows".

       We had a chance to also speak with Zanga (a.k.a tcmHoLLoW) about the new song and he said, "To me “Extra Ruthless” displays the concept of how it feels to fight with your back against the wall and putting it all on the line to make it to your goals. Ultimately to do that you have to be not only ruthless, but extra ruthless. When Nik showed me the song I immediately had a concept for the melody. He told me there was space on the song for some more vocals so I played on his idea. I tried to add a contrast in the hook by making it a space to get you back into Nik’s verse. It has a rollercoaster type of feeling with the highs and lows. Which overall gives an energetic, electric punk vibe, which makes you get loose and better yet crazy in a crowd! We hope everyone enjoys".

  Follow Nik and tcmHoLLoW on Spotify and Instagram to be the first to hear it after its release and check out all their music!

  Nik Porrelli IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikporrelliofficial?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

  Nik Porrelli Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/370CgTRMOnzohPqzuJS5nb?si=NZTJNnXORDW562vc2Bj5Qw

  tcmHoLLoW IG: https://www.instagram.com/tcm_hollow?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

  tcmHoLLoW Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4fLteUGgaA4b4r5LocCBbT?si=M5ijoYNrSlOKqRbLt9J3QA

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