While I was out in Winnipeg for the Northern Touch Music Festival last month, I bumped into an MC from Cape Breton named Nomad Quinn. Him and his videographer were showcasing at the event and had made the grueling three day drive to get there.
Nomad (left) (Photo: Supplied)
I recently had the chance to connect with Nomad and pick his brain about his background as an artist and his plans for the future.
His latest single is the Yapuzi-produced “Dust Boy” which was released just a few days ago via Mixed Bag Collective. Check that out below along with our Q&A with Nomad.
You can find “Dust Boy” on various digital streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.
Q&A: Nomad Quinn
HipHopCanada: Where are you from?
Nomad: I’m from Whitney Pier, Nova Scotia, born and raised.
HipHopCanada: When did you first start rapping?
Nomad: I was writing random raps in school since I was like 13, but I really started taking it seriously when I was 16. Started recording in a professional studio, paying for high quality music videos, reaching out to blogs, etc. That’s when I decided I wanted this to become my life and started working towards making music my career path.
Nomad Quinn (Photo: Supplied)
HipHopCanada: What inspires you to make music?
Nomad: A desire to make a change, and to have a deep cultural impact, as well as to give my loved ones the type of life they’re deserving of.
HipHopCanada: How did you get the name Nomad?
Nomad: I was given it in Junior High, and it just sorta stuck. Fun fact, Nomad is my real name (Damon) spelled backwards. You’d be amazed how many people don’t realize that.
HipHopCanada: Tell us about some of your past projects.
Nomad: In my teens, I released two mixtapes and a lot of random songs on YouTube. Most of those have been taken down, because I’m not really fond of them anymore. My most recent project Mixed Bag was released last year on all streaming services, and is definitely a better representation of my current musical abilities. I think I really came into my own on that project.
HipHopCanada: What accomplishments are you most proud of?
Nomad: That project I mentioned was definitely a big milestone for me. I’ve performed at South By Southwest and the A3C Festival in 2017, that was really my first foray into the American market. I’ve performed alongside Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Akon, Merkules and others.
Recently, I did my first show in Winnipeg as a part of Northern Touch Music Festival. Also the music video for the single “Time Of Our Lives” from my Mixed Bag project has over 16,000 views on YouTube and is my most successful video to date.
HipHopCanada: If you could collab with any artist who would it be and why?
Nomad: Josh Ramsay of Marianas Trench, definitely. Was huge fan of him for almost 10 years, and I honestly believe he’s one of, if not the most talented musicians to ever come out of Canada. Amazing songwriter and vocalist, I can’t praise that man’s work enough. Also Denzel Curry is amazing. And Joji. There’s way too many to name them all.
HipHopCanada: What do you have planned for the rest of 2019 and beyond?
Nomad: Releasing a new EP very soon. Most of the songs are finished, gonna add maybe one or two more. Then I’m gonna buckle down to work on my debut album. I’m opening for Onyx in Halifax next month, and currently in the works of planning a trip to B.C. to perform. We’ll see what else comes after that.
Nomad Quinn (Photo: Supplied)
You can follow @TheNomadQuinn on Instagram.
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