This is where I find it extremely helpful to build alliances. I always try to find out what other musicians need and if I can provide it to them. I don’t mind providing my services to other musicians, because I know down the line I will be able to call upon their help. My ethics in this are as follows: When I work for a client I am trying to get my friends paid and I won’t ask them for favors. When I have a budget I spread the wealth around. But when I need help for my own songs or productions then I approach other musicians for favors and try to barter for my services.

Over the last few years I built a great relationship with some world-class musicians, who I can call upon at any time to come in and lay down a track even if I don’t have any cash. They know I’ll do the same for them and I have already done so in the past and this way all of us get a lot more done.
Here is a project I did with a little help from my friends

My job description used to be simply artist/producer. Now it includes recording engineer, mix engineer, radio show producer, radio personality, promoter, writer, publisher, teacher/clinician, web master and finally blogger. In short I call myself “content-creator”.
When I perform at festivals I use the opportunity to interview my fellow artists for my series “Backstage Pass with Nils”. At home I then edit them into episodes of 3min and 45sec length, palatable for radio. I then contact radio stations and negotiate deals for airing my show.

I put together the Nils Songbook, a collection of lead sheets of my music including tablature of my most popular songs “Pacific Coast Highway” and “Cat Nap”. I am also thinking of recording video at home showing how I play these songs and edit these into video lessons. Those I would post on my website, where I sell my songbook and my instructional guitar book.

I know I won’t have the budget to go into a big studio to record and mix my next CD. I am fortunate enough that I have an engineering and producing background, so over the last years I invested into my studio. Since the beginning of last year I have been able to produce records at my house from conception to final mix. I realize that not every artist has the background, skill or mindset to do this, nor do I think they should. For me it was the right choice and a wise investment
I feel lucky that I am signed to a record label that supports me. But there is no big staff to take care of my career. I am glad that they spend the money for advertising and hiring a radio promoter. But to keep myself in the spotlight I am constantly looking for opportunities to help promote my CDs and my name as an artist. I see the record label more as a partner in this endeavor and no longer as the sole driving force.

Overall I think these days artists need to be more business minded and entrepreneurial as ever. The cool part about these changing times is that the rules haven’t been written yet. I am sure somewhere out there is a kid who figures out a great way to embrace the new technologies and get the music industry booming. The music business might look very different then what we are used too. But let’s not forget at the core of it is, and always will be just one thing: a great song.

In 2005, Nils changed his vocation from session guitarist with artists like The Temptations, George Benson, and Rick Braun, to recording artist, when his self-produced hit song “Pacific Coast Highway” from the same titled CD became one of the biggest hits of the Contemporary Jazz genre.

The song stayed 7 weeks number one and put Nils name on top of the list with the most-played song of 2005 ahead of Dave Koz, Boney James and Kenny G.

Following up with a second number one hit " Summer Nights", Nils ensured his position in the Genre.

His 2007 follow up CD "Ready To Play" produced another hit song “Cat Nap”. His newest offering "Up Close and Personal" was released in March 2009.

NILS changed his vocation from session guitarist ( Temptations, George Benson, Rick Braun) to recording artist in 2005 when his self produced hit song PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY from the same titeled CD became one of the biggest hits of the Contemporary Jazz genre. The song stayed 7 weeks number one and put Nils name on top of the list having the most played song of 2005 ahead of Dave Koz, Boney James and Kenny G. Following up with a second number one hit " Summer Nights" Nils ensured his position in the Genre. His 2007 follow up CD "Ready To Play" produced another hit song Cat Nap. His newest offering "Up Close and Personal" was released in March 2009.

As a Producer Nils created music for TV ( Weeds - Showtime, Undeclared - Fox, Film Independent Spirit Awards - IFC) He produced his own CDs (Pacific Coast Highway, Ready To Play and Up Close And Personal) as well as as Transmuteo and Journey to Eden for Violinist DOV on Lovestar records. He also produced the forthcoming CD of AC/Pop/ R&B group Gravity180 in collaboration with Eddie Brown.

The Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival is a truly special time to visit the island. With so menu great venues in the city of Avalon, you can always discover a few gems during your visit that aren't necessarily on the main concert listings