Interview: Nico Bones

Discussing His Band's New EP, 'Sweet Heart Break'

Oct 14, 2025

I write about Beatles-esque music so often these days that it’s easy to forget The Rolling Stones were a bigger influence on me growing up.

So, I was happy to discover a current SoCal artist slinging that brand of Beggars Banquet barroom rock. Nico Bones (vocals/guitar) first got on my radar when he curated the Shaky Town Strut festival in Long Beach last year, but his band’s swaggering new 6-song EP Sweet Heart Break kept my attention until last call.

“We started recording Sweet Heart Break in 2021 at Jonny Bell’s place in Long Beach, Jazzcats Studio, with Don Bolles producing. The other half was recorded while on the road in New Mexico at Rio Grande Studios with engineer Ken Riley in 2024,” Bones told me for the email interview below.

The sound on this new collection combines Stones-y country blues with New York Dolls/The Heartbreakers gutter glam, and a dash of outlaw country.

Bones sent his interview responses while on a flight to Spain where he and his band are about to embark on a two week tour. “Spaniards really go hard for some good old fashioned rock and roll! Live music is a huge part of the culture out there and nobody’s afraid to have a good time,” Bones said.

We discuss the new EP, a few stand out tracks, and some of Bones’ biggest influences.

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12" NICO BONES: Sweet Heart Break *PRE-ORDER* - Ghost Highway Shop

Nico Bones Interview

This EP comes strutting out of the gate with “Satin Doll.” What was the inspiration for that song?

Nico Bones: ‘Satin Doll’ is about a sex worker having to endure all the different types of clientele on a daily basis. Put a few cowboy chords together and you got yourself a rock and tonk song!

The Rolling Stones, New York Dolls, and Big Star influences are strong on “Satin Doll.” Would you consider those some of your influences?

Nico Bones: Absolutely! If it wasn’t for bands like them rock and roll as we know it would’ve turned into something completely different altogether. Outlaw country is another major influence for a few of the songs in Sweet Heart Break.

“Judy” is a Stones-y rocker with a proto-punk edge. Is Judy a real person?

Nico Bones: Ya! Judy is about my best gal when we first started dating. This song talks about the exciting beginnings when starting up a new relationship and all the ups and downs that come along with it.

“Bottle Of Luv” is another favorite. I really dig the guitar and keys on that one. What’s your songwriting process?

Nico Bones: ‘Bottle of Luv’ was a collection of throw away chords from Satin Doll! haha Just felt too good to not put them to use.

The songwriting process varies from song to song. Sometimes it’ll start with a vocal harmony or some lyrics or even just riffing around with the boys. Music gets created in such mysterious ways and you can’t really understand how it comes about, but when you know ya got something going you just gotta keep the ball rolling.

If I got in the tour van with you, what would I be listening to on the stereo?

Nico Bones: Besides the bands we recently mentioned, Alice Cooper, The Stooges, Hanoi Rocks, Ramones, T Rex, Elvis, Raspberries, David Bowie, Eddie Cochran, The Heartbreakers, etc.