Nick Sterling Releases STAND YOUR GROUND EP Proceeds Benefit

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Nick Sterling Releases STAND YOUR GROUND EP Proceeds Benefit Lone Survivor Foundation
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Nick Sterling, a singer-songwriter and Purple Heart Veteran based in Central Texas, is releasing his debut EP

STAND YOUR GROUND today. The first single from the EP, "Blood In The Water," was released to radio on Tuesday. STAND YOUR GROUND was recorded at yellow DOG Studios with producer Dave Percefull. As part of a greater effort, Sterling makes good on a promise to use his music to continue serving his country by donating all of the proceeds to Lone Survivor Foundation, which he credits for providing the tools for healing and providing an opportunity for him to share his musical message to others as he served in a new capacity.




Introducing Sterling's soulful vocals, the seven song collection that makes up STAND YOUR GROUND tells the story of overcoming vulnerability, stereotypes and perceived weakness and providing hope for others who may be struggling with the effects of service.






"This album was very deliberately written, chosen and recorded," said Sterling. "I wanted to give people an inside look into the mind of a Combat Veteran by mimicking a deployment and the feelings and experiences during a deployment. I also wanted to highlight that side that no one ever hears because we never tell anyone for fear of letting people hear how vulnerable we really are. We have been ingrained to be tough and limit complaining so expressing these feelings, in the manner that I have, is not the way Veterans are suppose to act as dictated by society."




Hoping that other Veterans hear this album and feel empowered, Sterling chose the cover for the EP with the idea of expressing a message that shouts, "I am beaten but not broken and I will stand my ground."




"My fists are scraped and bloody, I have a black eye and marks on my face that complete the image I was trying to portray," he said. "I originally didn't want my face on the cover but decided that if I am going to let my vulnerability show so that others would feel the same and follow suit, I had to go full force with it. I didn't want a picture that made me look good or make me look good to others, I wanted something that makes me look exactly how I felt while writing this album."




As an artist, Sterling wants to tell his story for Veterans but also make sure his music holds its own. Knowing that the struggles of Veterans are also the same for civilians, his aim to be relatable to everyone comes across with authenticity, honesty and character.

"One of the biggest things I want to convey with this album is that even though the experiences and moments are very extreme compared to most of the listeners that may hear it, we don't corner the market on those who deal with PTSD, anxiety and depression," he emphasizes. "While the moments from this album are unique, I want to tell people that the emotions are completely and totally relatable. Many people deal with depression and anxiety, have buried a loved one, have felt like their life lacked meaning, like they lacked a mission, like they wanted to build something. I feel that if I continue to write the truth, people will see that I am no different and that the feelings I have are just like theirs, veteran or not."

By bringing the heart and soul of a combat veteran to the Texas Music Scene, Sterling hopes to strike a chord with listeners and chose "Blood in the Water" as his first release knowing that everyone has experienced such bewilderment, loss and pain.



With an Americana/ Roots sound that diversifies the Texas Country music scene, Sterling has played Texas Frog Fest 2016 and 2017 and has been singing his way through such notable Texas venues as Cheatham Street Warehouse, River Road Icehouse, Firehouse Saloon and O'briens Irish Pub. Adding to this impressive roster, he is slated to perform an upcoming CD Release concert at Main Street Crossing and has been added to the Texas/ Red Dirt Pub Crawl in Dublin, Ireland scheduled for November. Sharing the stage alongside Zane Williams, John Baumann, Charlie Robison, Jerrett Zoch and the OSR Band, and Bag of Donuts, he has also had the distinct honor of being a semi-finalist at both the 2017 Larry Joe Taylor Songwriting Competition and the 2017 Chilifest Battle of the Bands competition.




For more information on Nick Sterling, visit his website at
www.nicksterlingmusic.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube and Instagram.