With the perfect blend of lyrics that transport you into your feels and an upbeat, hopeful tune, award-winning actor Nicholas Hamilton releases his debut single “Different Year,” and it couldn’t be more relatable.
Most known for his roles as the bully Henry Bowers in the films It (2017) and It Chapter 2 (2019) and Rellian in Captain Fantastic (2016), the 20-year-old Australian took the time at home in 2020 to further pursue his passion for music and songwriting. But this song goes far beyond your average teen actor pop song intended to be listened to once out of curiosity. “Different Year” features honest, heart-breaking lyrics co-written by Britton Buchanan (runner-up on Season 14 of The Voice) and an uplifting production that’ll have you adding it to your favorite playlists and listening again and again.
According to Hamilton, “The plucky synths and the fingerpicked guitar melody that guides the verses allows the listener to not get bogged down with how sad the lyrics are, but instead bop their head to a chill pop tune.” It’s a catchy feel-good tune I can’t get enough of.
And unlike many songs released about last year, “Different Year” isn’t only applicable to 2020. While the former may help ease the year transition or help you look forward to the future, “Different Year” offers comfort and hope to those who may need it at any point in their lives when they’re feeling down or alone.
“As much as Different Year is about how I felt during 2020, it can really apply to any point in anyone’s life where they’ve felt like they want to legitimately time travel in order to get away from the situation they’re currently in,” Hamilton said.
This week I had the opportunity to ask Nic about his debut single “Different Year,” his life in 2020 and, of course, his cute dog. Let’s get into it.
kasual kook: When did you first get into writing songs or making music? What inspired you to make the switch from acting towards music last year?
Nic Hamilton: I’ve been an actor for almost 10 years now, so my life’s revolved around entertaining and performing for a long time. I love acting but I’ve always had a special affinity for music. It was only a matter of time until I started writing my own, which came at the end of 2018 when I wrote my first few tunes with my guitarist, Ben Kuhl. I moved out to LA from Australia pretty soon after that, and I’ve spent the majority of my time ever since either auditioning, filming, or writing music. When COVID hit, those first two things went away for a little bit, and I was faced with purely writing songs, which eventually turned into recording and, now, releasing them.
kk: What was it like writing with Britton Buchanan on this debut single?
NH: I love Britton, he’s stupid talented and an absolute legend to write with. It’s cheesy but there’s no wonder he went as far as he did on The Voice a few years back. Different Year was the second song we ever wrote together, back in August. After our first session went better than we could’ve anticipated, we met up as soon as we could for the next one, which is when we wrote Different Year. We were both so proud of it, I couldn’t stop playing the demo we made that day for everyone who would listen. I’ve continued to work with him ever since.
kk: I love your cover of “Believer” by Imagine Dragons! What artists inspire you or influence your music?
NH: Thank you! That’s a fun one, it’s always interesting to do covers with Ben from the other side of the world. I listen to a ton of chill pop, similar to what I write. People like Quinn XCII, Jordan Mackampa, Ruel. Sad songs sung in an upbeat way. I also love Lewis Capaldi and Yebba, ballad artists who sing with everything they’ve got. I’ve also started to think about writing for other people, because I just enjoy writing so much, so in that sense I freaking idolise Ed Sheeran. The way he can just write for someone else and it sounds like they wrote it, how he can fit into someone else’s shoes perfectly like that is incredible.
kk: You absolutely killed it with your portrayal of Henry Bowers in It and It Chapter Two as well as Rellian in Captain Fantastic! Do you see any similarities between acting and being a musician?
NH: Thank you! 100% there are similarities, both fields are about entertaining and performing for others, but I find music’s much more personal. All of my songs have a through-line of honesty and candidness, if I go through something it’s unlikely I won’t write a pretty specifically-worded song about it. So, because of that, I haven’t really got anywhere to hide in my music. Whereas, to me, acting’s all about hiding. Making the viewer fully believe you’re someone else.
kk: One of my favorite things about your new single is the blend of heart-breaking lyrics with the upbeat and uplifting tune because it gives almost a hopeful vibe. Despite the potential loneliness from isolation and the shut down of the film industry, were there any benefits from staying home for you? Like getting to spend more time with your dog Nala?
NH: I love that you see that, it’s the main thing I love about the song. Dichotomising the sad lyrics with an upbeat track was really important to me, and that goes for most of my songs. Keeping a song innocent and hopeful, rather than just depressing, although I do have a ton of songs that do exist just to make one cry. Although Nala is my best friend and I never want her to ever leave, the main benefit of last year was being able to work on my music, 1000%. I was forced to take a break from all things acting and redirect my focus and attention to somewhere else. Music became that for me. I genuinely don’t know if I’d have made as much music or be releasing songs this year if it wasn’t for that forced time off. I would like everything to be normal again though, that’d be nice.
kk: Speaking of Nala, it seems your audience loves her in all her small dog cuteness. What breed is she? What’s your favorite thing about her?
NH: Hahahaha I love that dog so much, she’s actually sitting in my lap right now. I’m glad the audience enjoys her because too bad if they didn’t, she’s gonna keep popping up. She’s a Papillon French Terrier x Pomeranian, they call her a Paperanian I think. I rescued her from Vanderpump Dogs in LA, so she’s naturally bougie and proper. Her legs are easily the best thing about her, very fluffy legs. She also legit spoons with me every night, easily the cuddliest dog you’ll ever meet. I love her more than most human people.
kk: What got you through 2020?
NH: Music, honestly! I wrote to pass the time, I made demos as a hobby, I made it my job because I love doing it so much. But other than that, Nala helped. I played a lot of video games with friends. I dove deep into my love of making craft cocktails, hence the bar in the background of every TikTok I make. I talked to my family back home almost every day. I basically surrounded myself with a ton of coping mechanisms, which I’m only now realising. Thanks for that.
kk: Were you able to see your family in 2020? Did you quarantine in LA or Australia?
NH: I went to visit my Australian family in April with my ex, and we got back to the states a few days before the mandatory quarantine and lockdown started. So I guess I’m lucky that I was able to see them that recently, but it still feels weird to not have my mum visit every 3 months like she did in 2019. We’re all hoping they can come over for my 21st Birthday in May of this year, but that’s sounding more and more like a pipe dream.
kk: By spending more time with ourselves in 2020, we’re bound to have learned a lot. What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned in 2020?
NH: Maturity, I guess. I only have a tiny slice of it but that’s still more than I had in 2019. Going through two break-ups mid quarantine teaches you a lot about the type of person you want to be and the type of person you want to be with. I’m a big fan of love, I fall real real quick, so I’ve learnt to catch myself a little more now, instead of falling into every little bit of attraction I find. But enough about me, what are your insecurities HUH?
kk: Any goals, resolutions or anything you’re looking forward to in 2021?
NH: I’m looking forward to releasing more music. I love making stuff so much so a 2021 where I can do more of that would be ideal. 2020 taught me not to really have any crazy goals, or even take the little, seemingly certain prospects for granted. I’d like to wake up tomorrow. That’s my goal this year.
kk: If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? What kind of song would you make?
NH: I loooooove Lewis Capaldi, he’s just brilliant. If I could write a smashing ballad for/with him or even just be his mate that would be nice and lovely. He sings with so much heart and soul in every performance I’ve seen. He never holds back and I respect that tremendously. I feel like we could bond over losing our accents when we sing too, just quirky stuff coz we’re a couple of quirky lads.
kk: What do you hope listeners take away from “Different Year” or your music in general?
NH: As I said, I’ve been acting for almost half my life, so I can’t just expect people to suddenly only care about my music. I’ve built up this awesome fanbase over the years that I hope will listen and start thinking of me more personally, rather than as a character I’ve played, but that’s nowhere near a guarantee. I’ve been working hard to make the music actually good, stuff that me and my friends would actually want to listen to on repeat, because it’s quality. My biggest fear was to be one of those teen actors who go into music and make teeny-bop songs that purely exists for commercial purposes, to make a buck off of screaming stans. I want to respect the listener, as if they were listening to a completely unknown indie artist. As for Different Year, as much as the song’s about how I felt during 2020, it can really apply to any point in anyone’s life where they’ve felt like they want to legitimately time travel in order to get away from the situation they’re in. I want the listener to relate, in any way they feel natural.
kk: What’s your favorite line from the song and why?
NH: “Broke up the day before my birthday, was alone on the 4th of July”. The bridge is easily the most candid and open part of the song, which I owe in some part to the producer Arthur Pingrey. The bridge lyrics were originally “I turned 20 in 2020, was alone on the Fourth of July. In 2021 I’ll turn 21, and even if we’re still stuck inside”. He made us change it to something less time-specific, and what came out was super real and blunt.
kk: What three words would you use to describe your new EP?
NH: Coming Soon. Shh.
kk: Where can fans find you and your music?
NH: Everywhere you listen to music! I’m on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, even Napster I think, so go find me! I’ve got music coming out all of this year and I’m so so pumped to get it all out there 🙂
Listen to “Different Year” OUT NOW on your favorite music streaming platform!
You can find Nic and all the cute pictures of his dog Nala at @nicholas.hamilton on Instagram, his thoughts at @Nic_Hamilton on Twitter and his entertaining content at @nic.hamilton on TikTok.
A big thank you to Nic for being super sweet and funny in this interview! Congrats on your debut single!
kasual kook xx
Find me at @kasual_kook on Instagram and Twitter!
KASUAL KOOK 