Life & Work with Nick Kandelaki

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Kandelaki.

Hi Nick, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised watching and listening to the legendary musicians and artists. Thankfully to my dad and grandfather, who founded jazz and rock festivals during the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe. Since my dad and grandfather were organizing concerts, I started working as a festival runner. I met hundreds of legends and felt really blessed to have such an opportunity at 15. Later, I moved to London and graduated with a Bachelors in Business and Finance.

I felt like it was not enough for me and decided to move across the ocean to study for my Master’s degree in Music Industry Administration in Los Angeles. Famous bass player, Stanley Clarke visited the festival and his tour manager advised that CSUN had a great master’s program. Stanley wrote a recommendation letter for me and that’s how I got accepted at the university.

While I was studying, I interned for Quincy Jones Productions and later started to work for the singer Macy Gray as a Day to Day assistant. Later I got promoted as a tour manager for her. I was featured in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2020 in the Entertainment category.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were so many obstacles for me. The main obstacle was being abroad alone, being fully independent, and to meet new people, new friends and to learn new cultures, new mentality, etc. Another obstacle was of course financials. Student life is tough, but it’s even harder for the foreign student since the US dollar is three times more expensive than my local hometown currency. It was hard because in the entertainment industry attending events and concerts is crucial to meeting people and I always had to spend my pocket money on such events and sacrifice other things.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently managing the artist NIK WEST. Nik worked with Prince, Quincy Jones, Dave Stewart and more. She is an international touring star. She tours globally every year and performed at almost every major festival in Europe and Asia. We produced the album called: MOODY that got features such as: Larry Graham, Cindy Blackman Santana, Mononeon and more. I also book acts for a festival in Europe called: Black Sea Jazz Festival.

Our previous acts are: Maroon 5, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, The Prodigy, Sting, The Chemical Brothers, Robbie Williams, Jamiroquai, De La Soul, Ms Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, Quincy Jones and more…

I am the most proud of being able to thrive in Los Angeles from completely different country, living where I want to live and working in the entertainment industry with the biggest talents and managers. I feel very blessed and lucky to have such an opportunity and I feel very proud about representing my region abroad. Also, I am a Grammy voting member (only one from my country).

How do you think about happiness?
My wife and family. She makes me very happy because she is extremely hardworking woman and her achievements always makes me very proud and happy….. There were many times since our relationship when I could not see a light at the end of the tunnel, but she always did and never stopped working to get to it..

Family makes me extremely happy. Anything I do, I do for my family to make them proud. (dad, mom and grandfather).

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkandelaki/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick.kandelaki/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nickkandelaki/