Lipscomb resides in the heart of Music City and sophomore Nordista Freeze has single-handedly brought that music mentality to campus over the past two years.
Not only is he a prominent member of the contemporary music program, but he has also taken over as host of SGA’s weekly “Coffeehaus” live music night, started an annual music festival geared specifically for college students and performs constantly in Tennessee and surrounding states.
“When I make music, I want to make something that’s beautiful, something that resounds, something that people can experience in their heart,” Freeze said. “Whether it’s for healing purposes or something that inspires them, I want to be a part of that cultivation, sewing seeds in their heart of beauty, love and ideas that unify everyone and help us to all move forward as better people.”
Freeze began his journey as a musician in junior high. He would make music and upload the content to YouTube before making CDs and sharing them with his friends and family.
Making and sharing music always been a passion of his, and he recognizes growth in his music as he matures from a teenager to a young adult.
“[My music has] evolved just from understanding it more and observing music more,” Freeze said. “I’ve definitely started to understand the the theories; I’m studying songwriting and wordplay, focusing on what makes me like a song and how I can mimic that or adopt that idea, whether its like melody or a type of song or style.”
In the name of making music, Freeze has traveled cross-country, performing with friends and fellow musicians in houses, churches, dorms, coffee shops and more.
Over the summer, Freeze traveled with Zac Swann and sophomore Grant Parker to put on the “Mama I’m A Star” tour. They played locally and managed to travel to larger cities including Chicago, New York and Washington D.C. for shows.
“It’s the most fun I have ever had in my life,” Freeze said. “It felt surreal at times. Like the time we were performing at a high school’s World Culture Day in Chicago; we are set up next to booths about China and Mexico and we, some random dudes from Nashville, are singing harmonies and selling t-shirts.
“That was a beautiful moment and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
For the second half of the summer, Freeze opened for The Arcadian Wild on the first half of their “Living Room Tour.” Freeze said performing alongside his classmates was a big shift from the kind of shows he booked for his tour.
“That was the real deal,” Freeze said. “They definitely have momentum and the ability to execute a beautiful tour.”
In addition to touring cross-country and performing locally, for the past two Aprils Freeze has hosted his annual “Freezefest.”
This is a festival featuring the music community in Nashville, and it is meant to celebrate the bands, both upcoming and established, that play on campus and in coffee shops and dive bars across the city.
Freezefest is a donation-only event. Last year, Freeze purchased refreshments for the crowd each night on his own dime and charged nothing.
“I am taking it upon myself, through Freezefest, to create an annual moment of celebrations that points towards our artistry,” Freeze said. “When we come together, it’s clear to see how powerful we really are.
“Freezefest is not the end goal, but a vessel that focuses us together. It exists to shape our local music scene towards community and celebration.”
In just a year and half at Lipscomb, Freeze has become an ubiquitous name across campus. There’s a bit of mystery involved concerning his “real name,” but for all intents and purposes, “Nordista Freeze” is much more than a stage persona.
“I didn’t really come up with the name Nordista Freeze,” he said. “It more or less just came to exist.
“You have to consider what my legal name is, etymology, pop culture and other subconscious factors that kind of trickled down into Nordista Freeze. People just started calling me that.”
Fans can find Freeze’s music, including his most recent album entitled Space Travel on iTunes, Spotify, Bandcamp, Loudr and more.
Follow Freeze on Instagram at @nordistafreeze and like his page on Facebook at “Nordista Freeze” for exclusive updates on upcoming concerts and tours.
“I sound like muppets from space, pizza parties, neon swimming pools, and college football,” Freeze said. “I only exist as a vessel to channel goodness and mercy to those around me.
“I exist to help cultivate seeds of peace and love in a way that will impact Nashville, specifically its local music scenes, for generations. That is the purpose I have been given and the impact I am experiencing.”
Photos courtesy of Nordista Freeze