Nick Piato CROW
Nick Piato’s CROW — A Sonic & Visual Journey Premiered at Arts at the Palace
What an unforgettable night we had in the Studio Room at Arts at the Palace this past fall. In September 2024, we welcomed Syracuse-based artist and educator Nick Piato back to Hamilton for an immersive pre-launch listening party and live performance preview of his deeply moving new album, CROW.
This black-and-white-themed evening invited guests into more than just a concert—it was an intimate, behind-the-scenes look into the creative process of music production, all set against a striking visual and sonic backdrop. Guests arrived dressed in monochrome for live performance and a post-show Q&A with the artist himself.
A Collaboration in Creation
CROW was largely crafted and recorded in our state-of-the-art studio at Arts at the Palace, as part of Nick Piato’s Artist In Residency the previous summer. Drawing powerful inspiration from Masahisa Fukase’s haunting photo series The Solitude of Ravens, the album dives into themes of isolation, identity, and resilience, transforming photographic stillness into sound.
Nick’s time in Hamilton was spent immersed in writing, recording, and collaborating with fellow musicians and artists, “the program allowed me to disconnect from everything and just focus on my own creativity,” Nick shared, crediting Arts at the Palace for providing the space, time, and support to fully dive into the project.
Special thanks go to @jill_laru, who wrote and recorded the interlude poems featured throughout the album. Her evocative words perfectly captured the mood and thematic core of CROW, adding a powerful new dimension to the work.
About the Artist
Nick Piato (@eggs_kill) is a dynamic educator, producer, songwriter, and performer. Born and raised in Syracuse, Nick brings a fresh and globally informed perspective to popular music studies. With a B.M. from the Eastman School of Music and an M.S. in Music Education from Syracuse University, his work is grounded in rigorous musical training and a deep commitment to culturally relevant pedagogy.
Nick spent three years teaching at Gunma Kokusai Academy in Japan, where he gained a firsthand understanding of how community and culture shape education. Now back in Central New York, he leads The SENSES Project at Syracuse University, an initiative that offers creative opportunities through music creation and podcasting for students in HEOP and SSS programs. He also runs a digital music program for middle and high school students at the Mercy Works Vision Center, fostering creative self-expression through DJing, beat-making, songwriting, and more.
Where to Listen
Crow is available to stream on all major platforms, including here on Spotify, and Apple Music.
We’re honored to have played a role in the development of this incredible project and to share it with our community. It reminds us of what’s possible when we open our doors to emerging artists and the power of collaboration. If you’d like to support work like this in the future, we invite you to share the videos, subscribe to our updates, or make a contribution to Arts at the Palace. Thank you for listening—and for being part of this journey.
