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Inside the Mind of Nick Padovani: EQUIPOISE Touring, Tech Death and Jazz Fusion

By capitalchaostv on February 12, 2020 • ( 0 )

Tom Sundgren caught up with Nick Padovani, guitarist and mastermind behind Equipoise, just after the band kicked off their whirlwind three-day “world tour.” With Mexico up next and a new album in the works, Nick opened up about the band’s evolution, writing process, influences, and what’s on the horizon—not just for Equipoise, but for his other ambitious projects as well.

Life on the Road & First Stops

Fresh from attending NAMM, Nick described a packed week filled with interviews, gear demos, and music business hustle.

“NAMM was great but exhausting. Four straight days of checking out gear, meeting companies, and hunting for endorsements. We hung around in Sacramento for a bit at our friend Victor’s house, then hit the stage for our first show—definitely a strong start.”

When asked about standout moments at NAMM, Nick didn’t hesitate:

“The Kiesel booth is always a highlight.”

Mexico: First Time, Big Hype

Although he’s never been to Mexico before, the fan energy online has been building for years.

“I haven’t gotten a lot of direct messages, but I’ve definitely noticed tons of engagement from fans in Mexico and South America. There’s always someone asking us to come to Brazil. The hype is real, and we’re excited to finally make it down there.”

Touring Memories: Montreal & Mayhem

Reflecting on their previous tour with Beyond Creation, Nick pointed to a few unforgettable shows:

“Montreal was my favorite. There were 500 or 600 people moshing—even though we didn’t have vocals. It was just insane energy. Florida was another wild one, and Oakland really stood out too.”

Touring Memories: Montreal & Mayhem

Reflecting on their previous tour with Beyond Creation, Nick pointed to a few unforgettable shows:

“Montreal was my favorite. There were 500 or 600 people moshing—even though we didn’t have vocals. It was just insane energy. Florida was another wild one, and Oakland really stood out too.”

Binge-Watching on Tour: The Sopranos

Tour life isn’t all blast beats and guitar riffs—sometimes it’s just trying to finish a TV series between shows.

“I’m halfway through The Sopranos. I’ve got about 30 hours left to finish before we’re done in Mexico. It’s such a good show.”

Social Media: The Modern Metal Lifeline

Nick credits much of the scene’s recent momentum to online communities.

“Facebook groups like Brutal Technical Progressive Death Metal have made a huge impact. There are over 35,000 members. I’ve made so many connections through it. Honestly, without social media, I don’t know how bands like us would get our music out there.”

From Flamenco to Fusion: Non-Metal Influences

Nick’s influences go far beyond death metal.

“I’m really into jazz fusion—Chick Corea, Tribal Tech, Daniel A. I wasn’t deep into it yet when I wrote Demiurges, but our next album is going to reflect a lot more of that sound—especially in the keys, grooves, and bass. I’m leaning into that Gary Willis-style approach.”

Oversaturation in the Scene? Maybe.

There’s a lot of tech-death out there—but Nick’s developed a filter.

“Honestly, I won’t even check out a band unless the album art catches my eye. There’s just too much out there. But if something visually grabs me, I’ll give it a listen. That said, I’ve never been disappointed by anything on the Artisan Era. They’re killing it.”

New Project: Black Metal with Philippe from Beyond Creation

One of the most exciting reveals? A new black metal project with Philippe from Beyond Creation.

“After touring together, we hit it off and started talking about it. At first I thought he was joking—but he wasn’t. Now we’ve got three other members from the tech-death and black metal scenes. I’ve written about 16 minutes of material so far. We’re aiming to record something by the end of the year.”

And yes—there’s a chance it’ll drop on Artisan Era.

What’s Next for Equipoise?

So what can fans expect from Equipoise in the coming year?

“We want to tour more, and Europe is on our radar. But it has to make financial sense—we can’t afford to go into the red on a tour. Outside of that, we’re trying to finish writing the new album this year and release it in 2021. Sanjay’s already written a lot of material; I just need to finish a few more tracks and get vocals recorded.”