A 2013 Oxford graduate, Nico McNeil, is ready to make a name for himself and break out into the world of hip-hop.

McNeil recently released his self-penned debut alternative/hip-hop album, a four-track EP (Extended Play) called “Tonight Begins,” under the stage name Nico James.

The EP was released through McNeil’s independent label, 2020 Records.

McNeil has been involved in music since he was 7-years-old, and has received a steady stream of support from his father, Oxford resident Teo McNeil.

“As years went on, I became more familiar with what music really was and how to write songs and how to play to a beat. After a few years of learning how to play the guitar, my dad really encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and attempt to become a singer. I was really shying away from that because I was very insecure at the time… but as time went along, I started singing along to my favorite songs and he kind of critiqued me on singing here and there, but I was mostly self-taught. But he was there to lead me in the right direction in how to sing,” said McNeil.

Although McNeil spent years playing in a variety of local rock bands, performing everything from hard rock to classic rock to pop rock, he said he found it difficult to fully express himself as a musician within a group setting.

After breaking away and spending some time recording acoustic rock tracks on his own, McNeil said the rock genre had begun to stale for him and he was no longer able to find inspiration.

But inspiration soon returned to him after he began to listen to notable hip-hop acts such as Travis Scott and Logic.

“I started expanding my horizon in what I actually listened to,” said McNeil. “Even though I still loved rock music, I decided I needed to switch it up and do what I want to do at this point. If I’m going to put my time and my money into recording, when my time had become very valuable, that’s what I needed to do.”

According to McNeil, he has gained a newfound sense of freedom since breaking away from the band scene and becoming an independent musician.

“Being in groups, it taught me that you have to go through things in your career that are learning experiences. Even if it’s negative, you should always take things from that,” McNeil said. “I miss being in a band and jamming with other guys, but at the same time, I had to go through that to get where I am today. It taught me how to sing in front of people, play shows and sing with emotion and make all the different elements of music work together. I took that, and knowing that I’m able to go into the studio and I can record bass, I can record drums, I know how to do these things because I was in a band.”

McNeil demonstrates prowess in playing a variety of instruments including lead guitar, bass guitar and drums; but, according to McNeil his latest project is focused on one of his lesser-explored instruments: his voice.

“The guitar and other instruments are basically the filler to the bigger picture… The instruments are just building blocks. At the end of the day, the kind of music I’m writing is all about the vocals,” he added.

For McNeil, this project served as a means to redefine himself and break away from everything he has known in music.

“That’s what the whole ‘Tonight Begins’ concept is. It’s basically the beginning of me, myself, as an artist and a producer and it was really a learning process for me. I had never produced or made beats or anything. It took me the last year and a half to make these four songs but it was something that needed to be done… It was basically this Lego effect. Every week I’d be building a little bit at a time. I went into this project with a couple guitar riffs written and I came out with four songs that I really stand behind. This project is all about what I want to do as an artist,” McNeil said.

Along with laying out the beats, McNeil also spends his time holding a full-time position at KUKA Systems North America in Sterling Heights. “I generally only get in the studio for a few hours at a time, but it’s all about making sacrifices. If it means a lot to you, you’ve got to make time for it. I’ve got a great job. I’m working, making money and investing it into music,” said McNeil.

To learn more about McNeil’s music, visit facebook.com/NicoJames11. “Tonight Begins” is now available for purchase on iTunes for $4.99. It is also available on Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music and YouTube.