An Inspired Chat with Nick Fraga of Tempe

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nick Fraga. Check out our conversation below.

Nick, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I think we are walking down a path with a certain end goal in mind. But at this particular stage in our musical journey, it feels like it’s a little bit of wandering as well! Figuring out new instruments, constantly playing with song structures, and always being open to different twists and turns is something we in The Ephemeral fully embrace.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Nick, and I sing for the band The Ephemeral. We are a progressive metal band from Phoenix, Arizona and are currently working on our third studio album.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That being in a band would be easy – cuz it ain’t! It’s fun and rewarding and just the best thing to do ever with your friends, but there’s a lot of aspects that aren’t so glamorous. It’s a quite expensive hobby, with little to no payback, and it can take a toll on you, especially if you’re juggling it with a full-time career and personal life. But in my head, I try to always tell myself “The band comes first!” And in that way, the band becomes a priority, no matter what is going on in my life.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Start singing earlier, and join choir my freshman year of high school as opposed to my senior year. I always had an inclination towards music and come from musical family, but my first instrument was guitar, and then the drums. I didn’t really start singing until I was like 17 or 18, and by then, most kids were already in bands and playing shows. And then college hit and that was the main focus, but throughout that time, I knew I wanted to sing in a band. If I had gotten that whole process started sooner, and gotten more comfortable with my voice at a younger age, then who knows honestly, but I can’t imagine it being a bad thing.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Pro-Coleslaw

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
All the time. I mean, I used to say that I could die happy if I was just in a band. And then, I auditioned for this band (I sang “Nice to Know You” by Incubus and “A Certain Death” by Misery Signals) and got the job! Then I said I could die happy if I just played a show. Then we played our first show. Then it was if we recorded an album and toured. Then we recorded “Komorebi” and toured. Then it was to open for a band that I’ve always looked up to. And then we opened for Protest the Hero, Moontooth, and The Callous Daoboys at the Crescent Ballroom for a Halloween show. The bar is always getting set higher and higher for me whenever we accomplish the next goal, and it keeps me kind of unsatisfied, but in a healthy way. Keeps me hungry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theephemeralband.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theephemeralband?igsh=MTFnNTk3Nml6MmRpeQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16aFrrgM87/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@theephemeralband?si=c5PI0yodSwwN31Pl

Image Credits
Patty Powers
Nick Gaiski
Jim Hesterman