Nicholas John McCarthy (born 13 December 1974) is an English-German musician. His main focus is on songwriting and song production. He is also a guitarist, singer and keyboard player. McCarthy was a founding member of the

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

-based band Franz Ferdinand, and remained until his departure in 2016.

Life

McCarthy was born in Blackpool, England. He grew up in Vagen near

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

, Germany. The artist Anna McCarthy is his younger sister. As a teenager he stole a car with friends and since then has been nicknamed "McCarThief". He graduated from High School in

Bad Aibling Bad Aibling (; ) is a spa town and former district seat in Bavaria on the river Mangfall, located some southeast of Munich. It features a luxury health resort with a peat pulp bath and mineral spa. History Bad Aibling and its surroundin ...

and was trained classically as a

pianist A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...

and

double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

ist at the Munich Conservatory. On 2 July 2005, McCarthy

married Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

his Austrian

fiancée An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...

Manuela Gernedel in Bavaria, Germany. Franz Ferdinand turned down a

Live 8 Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, from 6–8 July 2005 ...

spot so that the pair could marry. They have two children.

Musical career

Before his breakthrough with Franz Ferdinand, Nick McCarthy was a member of the bands Kamerakino and the jazz band Scatter. He also played

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

and Arabic lute in the band

Embryo An embryo ( ) is the initial stage of development for a multicellular organism. In organisms that reproduce sexually, embryonic development is the part of the life cycle that begins just after fertilization of the female egg cell by the male sp ...

, whose music is described as a "fusion of jazz, rock and ethnic world music". He is active in numerous bands and music projects and works as songwriter and producer at "Flokati Studios" in Munich as well as at "Sausage Studios" in Hackney Lane in London. The Flokati Studios, founded in 2020, are where Nick McCarthy works with the musician Mario Schönhofer among others. He co-founded Sausage Studios with Sebastian Kellig in 2012.

Franz Ferdinand

In 2001 McCarthy moved to

. There he met vocalist and lead guitarist

Alex Kapranos Alexander Paul Kapranos (born 20 March 1972) is a Scottish musician. He is the lead singer and lead guitarist of Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand. He has also been a part of the supergroups FFS and BNQT. Early life Alexander Paul Kapranos ...

at a party. The two met up with

Paul Thomson Paul Robert Thomson (born 15 September 1976) is a Scottish musician who was the drummer for the Glasgow-based band Franz Ferdinand from their formation in 2002 until October 2021. Biography Thomson has always been interested in music, able ...

who had played drums with

The Yummy Fur : ''See also Yummy Fur (comic) by Chester Brown..'' The Yummy Fur were a Scottish indie rock band from Glasgow, formed in 1992, and disbanded 1999. The band consisted of lead singer and guitarist John McKeown and a regularly changing line-u ...

. With the addition of Bob Hardy, the band became Franz Ferdinand. Although McCarthy was classically trained on the

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

and

, he initially tried his hand on drumming but then became the band's rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist and (co-)songwriter. McCarthy left the band in 2016 to focus on family matters and other musical projects.

Nitsch

Together with actor Niklas Mitteregger and producer and mixer Emin Corrado McCarthy forms the band Nitsch. It´s his latest band project. They have been signed to the German label Staatsakt since 2022. Their debut single "Mutant Funk" was released in July 2022. Musically, the song is described by the label as "high-energy indie rock with Suicide's electro twist." The single "Is ok" followed in November 2022. They released their single "Ende der Welt" in Spring 2023. Their debut album ''Bar von Josefine'' was released in September 2024. They released their latest single "Beschissene Party" in December 2024.

Ströme x Nick McCarthy

In 2022, Nick McCarthy collaborated with the band Ströme. Together they released the singles "Right Now", "Stadlberg" and "Das Modul" on

Compost Records Compost Records is a German record label based in Munich and established by Michael Reinboth in 1993. The label is known for progressive downbeat dance and nu jazz releases incorporating influences of bossa nova, techno, and drum and bass. Th ...

. In these songs they used the legendary

modular synthesizer Modular synthesizers are synthesizers composed of separate modules for different functions. The modules can be connected together by the user to create a patch. The outputs from the modules may include audio signals, analog control voltages, ...

Moog IIIp, the same machine the Beatles used to record some of their greatest songs in the 1960s.

Das Lunsentrio

Together with Seb-I Kellig (among others dub producer for

LaBrassBanda LaBrassBanda is a Bavarian brass band originating from Übersee, near Chiemsee, Bavaria, Germany. The name of the band is a portmanteau of the Italian words "la banda" and the English term "brass band", both meaning the same. History of the ba ...

) and the berlin artist Hank Schmidt in der Beek, Nick McCarthy forms the band "Das Lunsentrio". Their first album "Der Lunsen-Ring" was self-published in 2011. In 2017 they released their second album "Aufstehn!" on the label Problembär Records. The album was recorded and produced at East London's Sausage Studios. It encompasses a musical palette "from sweaty post- NDW to lyrically surreal agitprop three-part and protest

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

in the musical tradition of the band

Ton Steine Scherben Ton Steine Scherben () was one of the first and most influential German language Rock and roll, rock bands of the 1970s and early 1980s. Well known for the highly political and emotional lyrics of vocalist Rio Reiser, they became a musical ...

to alpenglowy rockers reggae." Most recently, the album "69 Arten Den Pubrock Zu Spielen" was released in 2021 on

Tapete Records Tapete Records is an independent record label based in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded in 2002 by Gunther Buskies and Dirk Darmstaedter and primarily focused on Deutschpop Bands such as Erdmöbel, Niels Frevert, Tele and Anajo. Since 2005 T ...

The Nix

The Nix is a project by Seb Kellig and Nick McCarthy. Together with a variety of guest vocalists (including

Laetitia Sadier Laetitia may refer to: Mythology and religion * Laetitia (goddess), a minor Roman goddess of gaiety * One of the 16 geomantic figures, primary symbols used in divinatory geomancy Other uses * Laetitia (given name) * 39 Laetitia, an asteroid * ...

from

Stereolab Stereolab are an English people, Anglo-French avant-pop band formed in London in 1990. Led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's sound incorporates repetitive motorik beats with the use of vintage electronic keybo ...

KT Tunstall Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall (born 23 June 1975) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. She first gained attention with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on ''Later... with Jools Holland'', and h ...

and

Vula Malinga Vula Malinga (born May 15, 1980) is an American-born British singer. Career Born in the United States to South African parents, she was raised in Hackney, London. Her religious parents supported her singing talents by allowing her to join th ...

from

Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton (born 30 April 1970) and Simon Ratcliffe (born 28 November 1969). The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first ros ...

) they recorded their debut album "Sausage Studio Sessions" in 2020. It was released on the label

Moshi Moshi Records Moshi Moshi Records is a small London-based record label founded in 1998 by Adrian Pike, Michael McClatchey and Stephen Bass. The label has released music by bands including Lykke Li, Fimber Bravo, Bloc Party, Hot Chip, Late of the Pier, H ...

and produced at their East London Sausage Studios. McCarthy says about "Sausage Studio Sessions" this is an album he always had in mind to record after leaving Franz Ferdinand. Something that felt at the same time like farewell and a new start party incorporating all the amazing musicians and people he met around the world. The songs, he said, were written collectively and very spontaneously with the artists who came by Sausage Studios, and the whole record was recorded with a backing band, Motown Style on party nights.

Manuela

Under the name "Manuela", McCarthy and his wife Manuela Gernedel released the eponymous indie pop album "Manuela" on Lost Map Records in 2017. It was created at the Sausage Studios in London. Gernedel is described as the creative main force behind "Manuela" in an interview by the cultural magazine The Skinny. While she wrote the lyrics for the songs, McCarthy composed the music for them.

Box Codax

In 2003, McCarthy and his long-time friend Alexander Ragnew formed the band

Box Codax Box Codax is a band from Glasgow, Scotland. It is made up of Nick McCarthy (formerly of the indie rock band Franz Ferdinand), Manuela Gernedel, and Alexander Ragnew. The band's first album, '' Only An Orchard Away'' (2006), has been describe ...

. They released their first two singles, "Boys and Girls" and "Naked Smile" on the label The Thin Man (previously known as Thin Man Records). The band's first album, "Only An Orchard Away" was released on 4 September 2006. McCarthy's wife makes several appearances on the album. The band released the album on the label Gomma Records. In a review the music is described as "a collection of weird, whimsical and nostalgic songs - sometimes rough, sometimes punky." In May 2011,

released their second studio album called Hellabuster, which Nick McCarthy wrote and produced. The album is an eccentric take on the peculiar and young life of Hellabuster, with each song being accompanied by its own video. The music on Hellabuster moves between distorted disco,

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of music that emerged in late 1977 in the wake of punk rock. Post-punk musicians departed from punk's fundamental elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a broader, more experiment ...

and glam-prog and includes contributions and appearances by Mike Fraser,

Joseph Mount Metronomy are an English electronic music band, formed in Totnes in 1999. Their lineup consists of founding member and leader Joseph Mount (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Oscar Cash (keyboards, backing vocals, guitar, saxophone), Anna Prior (drums, ...

Metronomy Metronomy are an English electronic music band, formed in Totnes in 1999. Their lineup consists of founding member and leader Joseph Mount (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Oscar Cash (keyboards, backing vocals, guitar, saxophone), Anna Prior (drums ...

and many more. The videos for the songs, which were directed by British artists (including

Turner Prize The Turner Prize, named after the English painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist. Between 1991 and 2016, only artists under the age of 50 were eligible (this restriction was removed for the 2017 award). ...

winner

Martin Creed Martin Creed (born 21 October 1968) is a British artist, composer and performer. He won the Turner Prize in 2001 for exhibitions during the preceding year, with the jury praising his audacity for exhibiting a single installation, ''Work No. 22 ...

), contributed to the critical acclaim of the eccentric album. All video episodes o
Hellabuster
are freely available.

Collaborations

* For the opera "The Sandman" by

Anna Calvi Anna Margaret Michelle Calvi (born 24 September 1980) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her accolades include three Mercury Prize nominations, one Brit Awards, Brit Award nomination, and a European Border Breakers Award. She has b ...

and Robert Wilson which is based on the story by

E.T.A. Hoffmann Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (born Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann; 24 January 1776 – 25 June 1822) was a German Romantic author of fantasy and Gothic horror, a jurist, composer, music critic and artist.Penrith Goff, "E.T.A. Hoffmann" in ...

, McCarthy played Live-Music together with Philipp Plessmann, Theresa Stark and Lisa Wilhelm at the Thalia Theater in Hamburg in early 2023. * McCarthy co-composed songs with Polina Lapkovskaya and Federico Sanchez for the play "

Ronia, the Robber's Daughter ''Ronia, the Robber's Daughter'' ( Swedish: ''Ronja rövardotter'') is a children's fantasy book by the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, first published in 1981. The book has been translated into at least 39 languages. It was adapted as a film ...

", which premiered at the

Residence Theatre The Residence Theatre (in German: Residenztheater) or New Residence Theatre (Neues Residenztheater) of the Residence in Munich was built from 1950 to 1951 by Karl Hocheder. The renovation of 1981 by Alexander von Branca removed the decoration wh ...

in 2019. * In 2018, McCarthy produced the album "WAX" by the Scottish singer-songwriter

. McCarthy co-wrote several songs on the album. He also appears as vocalist as well as musician on bass, keyboard and synthesizer. * Together with Seb Kellig, Nick McCarthy composed the music for the police series "Heiter bis tödlich - München 7" for over 20 episodes, including the fifth season of the series, which was broadcast in 2014.

Discography (selection)

Albums

* 2001: Djaosch Macholi Orchester * 2003: Kamerakino: ''Paradiso'' * 2004: Franz Ferdinand: ''Franz Ferdinand'' * 2005: Franz Ferdinand: ''

You Could Have It So Much Better ''You Could Have It So Much Better'' is the second studio album by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand. It was first released on 28 September 2005 in Japan, and later on 3 October in the UK, through the Domino Recording Company. Recorded ...

'' * 2006: Box Codax: ''Only An Orchard Away'' * 2009: Franz Ferdinand: ''Tonight: Franz Ferdinand'' * 2011: Box Codax: ''Hellabuster'' * 2011: Das Lunsentrio: ''Der Lunsen-Ring'' * 2013: Franz Ferdinand: ''Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions'' * 2015: FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks): ''FFS'' * 2016: Embryo: ''It Do'' * 2017: Das Lunsentrio: ''Aufstehn'' * 2017: Manuela: ''Manuela'' * 2020: The Nix: ''Sausage Studio Sessions'' * 2021: Das Lunsentrio: ''69 Arten, den Pubrock zu spielen'' * 2024: Nitsch: ''Bar von Josefine''

Singles, productions and collaborations

* 2009: Single ''Inaugural Trams'' (on the album

Super Furry Animals Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band formed in Cardiff in 1993. For the duration of their professional career, the band consisted of Gruff Rhys (lead vocals, guitar), Huw Bunford (lead guitar, vocals), Guto Pryce (bass guitar), Cian C ...

- Dark Days/Light Years) * 2010:

Killa Kela Killa Kela (born Lee Potter) is a British beatboxer and rapper from West Sussex. Kela's career began in 1997 with the formation of the U.K. hip hop crew, 360 Physicals. He transitioned from a rapper and MC, to a beatboxer and vocalist, gaining ...

: Single ''Everyday (Nick McCarthy & Sugar Tons of Ferdinand Nightmare Remix)'' * 2016: Serienmusik für "Tinkershrimp & Dutch" * 2018:

: Album ''WAX'' * 2019:

: Single ''Extra Wax'' * 2019: Compositions for the play "Ronia, the Robber's Daughter" at Residence Theatre in Munich * 2022: Ströme x Nick McCarthy: Single ''Right Now'' * 2022: Ströme x Nick McCarthy: Single ''Stadlberg'' * 2022: Ströme x Nick McCarthy: Single ''Das Modul'' * 2022: Single ''The Pike'' (on the Single The Fernweh - Pas Devant Les Enfants) * 2022: Nitsch: Single ''Mutant Funk'' * 2022: Nitsch: Single ''Is ok'' * 2023: Nitsch: Single ''Ende der Welt'' * 2023: Nitsch: Single ''Ich kann nicht mehr'' * 2024: Nitsch: Single ''Bar von Josefine'' * 2024: Nitsch: Single ''Pupillen'' * 2024: Nitsch: Single ''Beschissene Party''

References

External links

Official Franz Ferdinand Biography

The Nix at discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Nicholas 1974 births Living people English keyboardists English rock guitarists English male singers Musicians from Blackpool Franz Ferdinand (band) members Ivor Novello Award winners English male guitarists FFS (band) members English expatriates in Germany