At the beginning of what was an insanely busy 2014 I got a phone call that no one ever wants to receive. One of my dearest friends and musical comrades Nick Balcombe had suffered a stroke and was in a coma. I had just driven back from a mates wedding in the river land and sat behind the drum set to begin day one tracking Amistat’s “Somewhere, Sometime” EP when the phone rang and my life and the lives of many changed foreverOnly a week or so earlier Nick and I had been in that same studio working on my album. His positive energy, creativity and willingness to give was a gift not many possess. Trying to understand what had happened to a great mate who was so full of life was completely beyond my comprehension…it was surreal…everything went numb. The day prior I was driving to the wedding, quite tired from a long few weeks in the studio and some late gigs so I called Nick up on the phone to talk to as the miles went by. Although he had been feeling not quite himself for a few weeks and despite my exhaustion fueled state of delirium he stayed on the phone with me talking for hours, just to make sure I stayed awake at the wheel and was safe…that was Nick. Nick sadly never recovered from his stroke and passed away…he’s never far from my thoughts and I still feel his presence, especially when I am making music. The past 14 weeks in and out of the studio has been no exception.Before nick passed away he was working on an album that I know he was very excited about and I have absolutely no doubt is a very special collection of recordings that would have been instrumental in taking his career to another level indeed. A whole bunch of beautiful friends based in Hobart have started something very special. A foundation in Nicks names that will support and nurture up and coming Tasmanian musiciansNow, we would like to finish Nicks currently unfinished album and let it be released into the world for everyone to enjoy. This is where you can help us and Nick see his unfinished dream come to fruition…Let's finish what Nick started – LINK – http://www.pozible.com/project/202403#lfwns @nickbalcombefoundation @pozible @madnes_festival @tasmania
