PREMIERE | Nico Play, "Bluff"
Rolling the dice with Nico Play’s Nic Perea; press photo courtesy of Farrah Fox.
Rejoice as one of the biggest singles of summer 2021 has arrived. The sleepy, heavy sandbag laden eyelid reopening to the light of a new slowly healing world rises like the golden rays of the sun that holds promises of generous truths — yet to be revealed in full. The consciousness holds and cradles the experiences and feelings had and felt during the lockdown, carefully and cautious setting forth into the universe with an inquisitive wonder of what new beauty and challenges will be embarked upon with each step forward from the confines of our collective abodes and the protective sanctuaries of our domiciles. Gradually returning to a new changed society in the grips of flux with still many (to countless) looming dangers, edges of adversity and opportunities of inclusive enlightenment and humanitarian advancement; we look and listen to the artists of today and tomorrow of whom both inspire and illuminate the pathways ahead.
Introducing Nico Play with the big breakout single “Bluff”. The solo moniker of Camp Howard bandleader Nicolás Perea, based out of Richmond, Virginia by way of Mexico City; the artist brings some of the brightest bilingual songs that holds tight to the genuine incandescent light of kindness shown by loved ones from these tough times as we venture into the great unknown of the earthly (and otherworldly) experiment of today, the present and the hopes of tomorrow. Nico Play deals in high emotive tones that sweep and whisk the audience into their world of amour, intrigue and unrelenting fantastical fascination.
“Bluff” is the big pop tune track essential for everyone’s playlist this summer and every other season thereafter. Nico Play arranges the keys in heartfelt hooks that pour out the feelings of gratitude, a heightened degree of unconditional love, reflecting and reconciling connections of greater truths that defy adjectives and semantic descriptors alone. The joy, laughter and holistic thrills of time spent in quarantine playing games of dice with family and the profound appreciation para una vida bonita con mucha suerte y esperanza reverberates throughout “Bluff” like a timeless love song spelling out grateful dulcets for all blessings (and all the blessings yet to be bestowed). “Bluff” is a testament to the inherent gifts that have seen us through the gravest hours of doubt. “Bluff” is an ode to the light in the proverbial lantern that never goes out in the face of a seemingly endless nocturne. “Bluff” is an aria to cling to when it seems as if the entire world around us is consumed with sorrow and the gnashing of teeth. “Bluff” is the aura and promise of the lessons we have witnessed and learned that lead us into the ever loving arms in the dawn’s breaking light of a new day’s awakening.
The sweet synth styles and sounds of Nico Play; press photo courtesy of the artist.
Nico Play, aka Nic Perea, provided some insights on the debut solo single “Bluff”:
During lockdown I played a lot of dice with my family — specifically a Mexican dice game called Mentirosa.
The theatrical lit glow of Nico Play; press photo courtesy of the artist.
I got the concept for the song, art and music video during that time as a means of understanding the dynamics between the people I love and myself during a difficult and complicated time.
Nico Play’s single “Bluff” is available now everywhere.
Single cover art for Nico Play’s “Bluff”, courtesy of Claire Adams.