XLR8R - logo

Doctor Nick

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Tips for Working with Vocalists and the Audience Adds to Some of the Doctor's Past Advice

We're not ashamed to say it. We love Nick Hook. And not just because he's funny or cool or knows lots of rad DJs and producers (although all those things are true). It's because he genuinely wants to help. He's been around the music game for a while, has picked up a lot of wisdom along the way, and is truly happy to pass along the knowledge he's accumulated. That's certainly what happens here every Thursday morning, when the good doctor answers questions from our readers about music, DJing, travel, production, gear, romance, and more. Hit him up doctornick@xlr8r.com. He just might help you too. Hey y'all. Hope all is well. It's hard to believe that May is already halfway over. I've been hiding out since Term One of RBMA ended. I'm just trying to learn some new stuff over here. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - A Doctor's Guide to Buying Your First Bits of Analog Gear

Nick Hook is here to help. More specifically, he's here to answer our readers' questions. Regardless of where he is in the world, regardless of the topic, regardless of what projects he's working on, our resident advice columnist takes time out every week to field inquiries from people in search of his knowledge about music, DJing, production, travel, gear, and more. Got a question? Send it to doctornick@xlr8r.com. As we've said, the good doctor is here to help. Aiiiiiite. First off, I almost completely forgot to write this column, but our favorite superheroine Jubilee reminded me that we are working together to keep music journalism thriving. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Air Miles, Saving Money on Coffee, and Letting Your Demo Find Its Way to the Right People

Nick Hook's time is valuable. Our resident advice columnist is a busy dude, someone who's constantly in the studio, DJing parties, making beats, or hopping on a plane for something—that's why he's got so much knowledge rolling around in his head. Doctor Nick can talk music, gear, DJing, romance, fashion, travel, and more. Here's the thing though—you have to ask him questions. Hit him up at doctornick@xlr8r.com. Admittedly, this week's crop of inquiries was admittedly subpar, but even that didn't stop the good doctor—he just skipped the questions entirely and let the wisdom flow. Yooooo. It's 1 a.m. My editor Shawn is gonna kill me. The questions were really bad this week so I gotta make some stuff up. Can you guys please send me questions? doctornick@xlr8r.com. It would suck to get fired. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - What to Do When You Feel Like Quitting and the Real Payoff of the Music Game

Every Thursday morning, we sing the praises of Nick Hook, and though we may be in danger of sounding like a broken record, our resident advice columnist is simply an incredible resource. Regardless of the topic, be it music, DJing, production, gear, romance, travel, fashion, or just about anything else, the good doctor almost certainly has something valuable to say. That's why readers in search of a little wisdom should send questions to doctornick@xlr8r.com—after all, Doctor Nick is here to help. Hi. It's been a busy week. I've been back in the studio with Killer Mike and El-P. I also had an awesome night at the new Red Bull Music Academy space in New York. It looks fantastic, and I spent some time with fellow alumni Salva, Jesse Boykins III, and Brenmar. It's gonna be an amazing month of May in New York. Kudos to everyone for working so hard so that we can enjoy such things. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Balancing a Relationship with a Music Career and the Value of Music Theory

Everyone loves Nick Hook. Granted, it's just about impossible not to, as he's not only one of those impossibly positive dudes, but he's also a student of the world, a man who knows about music, production, gear, DJing, travel, romance, and living life. Thankfully, he's also willing to share this knowledge, which is why we have him answer questions from the XLR8R audience each and every Thursday morning. Those looking for a bit of Doctor Nick's special brand of wisdom should send questions to doctornick@xlr8r.com. He's here to help. Yoooo. What's good y'all? I hope you did your taxes if you live in America. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Playing in a Band You're Not Vibing with and Knowing the Right Time to Go Solo

At this point, we all know that Nick Hook is a rad dude. But he's also a sort of renaissance man for 2013, an artist who produces, records, engineers, DJs, travels the world, parties, and never ceases to stop broadening his horizons. Somehow, he also finds the time to answer questions from the XLR8R faithful, popping in every Thursday morning to shell out nuggets of wisdom he's picked up over the years. Doctor Nick is a veritable treasure trove of information, which is why our readers shouldn't be shy about dropping him a line at doctornick@xlr8r.com. He's our resident advice columnist, he's here to help, and he's happy to do it. Sup y'all? Good vibes. I'm in the studio with Zebra Katz and L-Vis 1990 right now. Shout to Tokimonsta, Suzi Analogue, and Branchez for a super fun show in Brooklyn this week. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Tips for Becoming a Better DJ and the Dangers of Dating Mothers

Nick Hook is a modern-day jack-of-all-trades, a man who somehow finds the time to produce, record, engineer, DJ, travel the world, party, and just be a genuinely rad guy. Amidst all the chaos, he amazingly finds the time to answer questions from the XLR8R faithful, popping in every Thursday morning to shell out nuggets of wisdom he's picked up over the years. Doctor Nick is a veritable gold mine of information, which is why our readers shouldn't be shy about hitting him up at doctornick@xlr8r.com. Our resident advice columnist is here to help, and more importantly, he's happy to do it. Hi. I don't have too much to say this week. Spring regressed in New York and that's pretty wack. The questions have actually been getting better and better, and I salute everyone who been writing in and showing love. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Hustling for DJ Gigs When No One Wants to Book You and Ear Plugs 101

Nick Hook knows how to hustle. The dude wears about 42 different hats—DJ, producer, engineer, street shaman, and, of course, advice columnist—and even when he's having a crazy day with multiple sessions in the studio, the good doctor takes the time to help out the XLR8R faithful. Doctor Nick is here every Thursday morning, so send him your questions at doctornick@xlr8r.com. He wants to help. Yo. It's almost spring in New York. I'm waiting for that one day when it hits and we all go nuts. I can feel it. It's close. Shout out to the supermoon outside. Shout out to a good session earlier today with L-Vis 1990. I'm writing this as I engineer a session with Killer Mike and El-P right now at 1:20 a.m. The music is incredible. It's kind of surreal because I grew up riding my bike listening to Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Proper Email Protocol, Production Schools, and the Truth About RBMA

After a hectic week at SXSW, most people require some major down time, simply to recharge their batteries. Luckily for us, Nick Hook is not most people. Our resident street shaman and advice columnist is always moving, always hustling, and always willing to lend a hand. That's why anyone with a question about music, DJing, production, travel, romance, or just about anything should feel free to hit him up at doctornick@xlr8r.com. The good doctor is always on duty, and he's especially lively this morning. What's good y'allllllllllllllllll? Okay. This might be a long column. Before I get too long winded, I just copped this free plug-in from Soundtoys, one of my favorite plug-in companies, and I suggest you do the same. I just got back from SXSW. It was really fun this year. Shout out to Ableton for putting me up. I think the thing I took back from it is that WAYYYY more people read this column than I thought. I got a hot dog and this dude was like, "I fuck with you, Doctor Nick." Ahhhh. I can't decide if I should take this more seriously or not. Hahaha. Anyways, yeah. It's dope. I'm glad everyone likes it. I'm having fun. … Read more »

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Mastering Tips and and the Importance of Bringing in a Professional Engineer

As we've said many times before, there's no stopping Nick Hook. Even while immersed in the madness of SXSW, he still took the time to dole out advice to the XLR8R faithful. There's no topic our resident advice columnist is afraid to speak on, so anyone out there with questions about music, DJing, production, travel, romance, or whatever else should drop the good doctor a line at doctornick@xlr8r.com. Wassup y'all? I'm writing this live and direct from Austin, Texas. It's already been a blast after one day. B. Bravo, Kastle, and JETS all smashed it at the Surefire showcase. Even before SXSW, I had an amazing week. I saw Rustie and The Deftones smash it in New York, then I hopped in a car and drove 30 hours down here. … Read more »

1|2|3|4|next|LAST

Follow us on...

Get the lowdown weekly newsletter

XLR8R Downloads Player