Album Notes

Singing the vocals and performing electric cello parts on a self-built instrument of his own design, Nick Ogawa creates an ethereally catchy sound throughout his self-produced 5 song compilation. Beautiful and dark baroque pop for the new millenium, fans describe his hook laden songs as halfway between MGMT and Of Montreal. The album title recalls an actual criminal event, when the artist's employer was burglarized and all employees were sent home to work. "I was stuck at home for a few days while they replaced all the stolen equipment. While I was home something just clicked and I was able to produce "Light the Flame" in a single burst of creative energy."

Classically trained from a young age, Nick branched away from classical music as he became interested in the blues. He began writing music for cello, gradually incorporating singing and lyrics while he played. "When a friend taught me Shady Grove [as performed by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman], things really started to come together." He began writing songs, drawing heavily from early blues structures and incorporating a straightforward lyrical delivery to his songwriting. He took a year off from college to live in Japan with his father, playing cello exclusively, to the point of developing severe tendonitis. "I was absolutely flying during that time. The insane practice hours let me reach a new technical and songwriting level, but my arm did almost fall off." After a 6 month hiatus to recover from his injury he was able to return to playing. In 2007, he released a full length, self produced acoustic album under the name "Takenobu" (his middle name), featuring "Shady Grove," which still receives national and international radio play in the AAA and Folk/Roots radio formats.


With "Crime Pays for Nick Iguana," Nick's production and songwriting skills have matured. The new EP morphs through cinematic and industrial styles, at times becoming electronic Beatles-era dream pop, and at others straightforward radio-ready rock. Rarely repeating a single trope, he maintains a unifying soundscape, and the new project reveals a fuller more modern realm of music making.

"Cellist/songwriter Nick Ogawa returns for another shot of his fantastic, indescribable music. Not a Performance Place favorite, THE Performance Place favorite!" Michael Eck, Host, WAMC NPR "Performance Place"

“Nick Ogawa is a genuine talent...While the songwriter can clearly hold his own solo, like a modern day Robert Johnson, his heart lies in complex, orchestral arrangements .... The impressive performances and fidelity suggest the new project will be nothing short of astounding” Ben Krieger, JezebelMusic.com


"Ogawa’s smooth, smoky singing voice is deliberate and haunting on traditional tunes like “Shady Grove.” Highlight that with the occasional heady classical breakdown from the cello and you have something like Japan via the Wild West, and in this case, Brooklyn, too." DowntownExpress.com