Terrence Nicholas AKA T.R.A.C: a passionate, motivated, and talented individual who has ventured around the globe with the intent to bring people together through music while experiencing the greater things in life. Learn about his many years in the music and nightlife scene and also about his fascinating journey that got him where he is today. The last born of five siblings and a first-generation American of Guyanese descent, throughout his career, he’s learned from the many obstacles he faced but continues to keep his passion alive and hold the power to influence and encourage people into more positive spaces. [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Now that it’s Black History Month, what does the Black experience mean to you? It’s about understanding where we are, how far we’ve come, and our contributions to the world and its many communities.[/perfectpullquote] With that said, read on to learn more about the life, music, travel, and the Black experience of MC, T.R.A.C. Taking it back to T.R.A.C’s childhood Q. Where did you grow up? Can you describe your childhood? A. I was raised in the Bedford Stuyvesant, East Flatbush, and Brownsville neighborhoods of Brooklyn. I’d say I had a pretty good childhood. My family was middle class but my parents were still working hard to make things work for all of us. I was the youngest of my siblings and it felt like I was the most protected from the environment we lived in. Every day wasn’t bad, but bad did pay a visit a few times. Still, with all the family protection, I did see a lot beyond my years — its effect keeping me more focused on the straight and narrow path. Q. How has travel changed your childhood perspective on life? What impact has traveling had on your life? A. In my opinion, all kids who grow up in NYC grow up faster than other cities. We see so much so quickly that at times we take it all for granted. It wasn’t until I started to travel that I began to picture a more balanced idea of life. Traveling still has that effect on me, even if I’m going just a few minutes out of the city. It’s a humbling thing. Let’s talk about the music scene Image via www.volume.at Q. What countries have you performed in? A. First off, I must say that I’m also thankful to music for creating the travel guy in me. Through the years, I have performed in the UK, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, among a number of other countries. Q. How do you find the time to tie travel experiences into such a busy schedule? A. Whenever I travel it’s always business first and play later, so after my shows, I always try to make time to see, feel, and taste the culture I’m in. And the beautiful part about travel is the world filled with amazing people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. Q. Would you say music has impacted your life and/or your audience? How? A. Absolutely! I believe that good music always brings out the best in people, no matter the circumstance. You could be waking up to a new day, and the first thing you might do is turn the music on to set your mood. Music can transcend past every human ignorance known. It’s one of the most useful healing mechanisms that we know about. Personally, it’s my therapy, and to know I have sonically helped people in some way across the world feels invigorating. Q. Are there any new and exciting project in the works? A. Yes, my latest project is called “Life in Motion”, and its filled with music that’s a good fusion of hip-hop, soul, reggae, and drum and bass. The theme of the album is all about life’s travels and it involved people from over 3 different continents and 7 different countries. All of whom I personally met, all from different backgrounds and cultures, and are all passionate, traveling musicians. I consider this album a personal achievement for all the work and patience it took to make it happen. Some Personal Thoughts & Beliefs Q. Have you ever experienced unwelcoming times while traveling? A. Of course, there are moments that weren’t so friendly. There’ve been many cases where I was pretty much the only black guy in the room, catching a few weird looks from strangers. There were also instances where people may have had some issues with me simply because of my skin. Racism is everywhere, but so is love. It’s all about who and what you surround yourself with. I’m all about destroying biases and stereotypes as best I can, and to my surprise so are all the people I’ve met in these countries. But you can’t fix the whole world in a day — it’s just too big. Q. Do you have anything exciting happening within the year? A. This year is certainly a very special time for my girlfriend and I. In a few months we are bringing someone new and special to our lives — our firstborn daughter! I’m filled with so much anxiety, as an expecting father, that its nerve wrecking yet still it’s the happiest I’ve ever been. I bring this up only because her soon-to-be mother is of Sicilian and Irish descent. Hence, our daughter will be one of many flavors and she will also go through her own road of travails. Our job will be to make sure she understands everything and anyone she comes in contact with. Live, learn, and travel. We’re going to make sure that her world is a better place than what we experienced. Especially in these challenging times — I’m not sure what to think about the future. We will do our best. Q. Is there anything else you’d like to include relating to Black History Month? A. I’d like to add a little more of what the Black experience means to me. It means to have pride in one’s self, it means not to be scared to chase your dreams, it means leaving your own mark in this world through all the adversities and obstacles. It means to teach, as well as to learn. It means to overcome hurdles. It means earning respect and paving the way for the future. It means friends. It means family. It means traveling. It means human. It means love. You can connect with and listen to T.R.A.C. on: Spotify: T.R.A.C. Facebook: Fb.com/tracmuzik Instagram: teenickelz Twitter: TRAC_
