Faith Crisis Rewind

    While driving down the streets of Eugene on his way to Cozmic Pizza, in his blue Suzuki Esteem, Nik inks little yellow pieces of sticky paper with his thoughts for a new song.  The ink from the pen now dry on the paper, the paper fixed upon the dashboard hiding its true leather color, and now the new lyrics pinned to an unreleased track.
    The hometown boy next door who owns a self-titled graphic design business is known as Nick Fargher.  A hip-hop Christian sensation who inspires his fans with lyrics taken from his own life, goes by the name of Nik Fury.  “My name just isn’t that cool,” chuckles Fury, who names himself after the action figure Nick Fury, a WWII-era comic book hero.
    Fury’s musical inspiration comes from listening to KDUK while driving in his car, a radio station that plays up to date hip-hop and pop music for the younger generation.  Or he may find his innovation just about the time his mind changes from reality to fantasy, when his body rests under the covers.  Fury knows that if he relies on remembering the lyrics, he will lose them.  During frequent all-nighters, Fury finds himself at his desk past 2:00 a.m., just writing and revising his newest revelation with his eyes falling heavy.
    His writing sparks from the beat he has created, and from the moments in his life that have shaped him into the husband and son he is today. Fury was a sophomore at North Eugene High School and attending a local Eugene church, when he underwent what he explains as his “faith crisis” and his faith was turned upside down.  Fury left the church, stripping himself clean of his family fed-faith and began rebuilding his relationship with the Lord piece by piece. In countless numbers of his music he speaks about the crossroads he encountered.
     In his latest album, “Lights, Camera, Accident,” Fury wrote a track, “A for Effort,” which speaks of his frustration with the church and how he was treated.  Fury sings, “Uncomfortable is an understatement as you shift your eyes over my resignation.  Don't ask me how I make these hard decisions.”  Fury does not often write about the people in his life; his inspiration comes from the experiences he personally has muddled through. Fury’s frustrations in the church now recorded in his history, not to be forgotten but forgiven. His life, now thriving with success, has become an inspiration to many fans, family and friends that have also endured a personal faith crisis.
     Fury’s musical career started at the age of 15. Fury traded $30 and a pair of old jeans for his brother’s guitar, and the trade marked a new beginning.  “As soon as I started playing guitar, I started writing songs,” said Fury. He was in a band with his brothers Jon and Steve; they called themselves the Sweatshop Ninjas and they were a punk band with potential.  The Sweatshop Ninjas started playing in 1998 and officially went their separate ways in their musical career in 2006.  Contrasting the lyrics he wrote in high school for the Sweatshop Ninjas, to those he writes and produces today as Nik Fury, it is living proof that he has molded himself into a self-assured man of God.
      When Fury launched his own musical career apart from the Sweatshop Ninjas, he changed genres from punk to hip-hop.  “I just heard some songs that I really liked and I’ve never tried rapping before - hmm this sounds fun, I wonder if I could do this,” chortles Fury.  Not realizing that one did not have to sing a traditional format to make music, but that one actually could rap the lyrics and do the same, Fury was hooked.  The new hip-hop artist went out and bought a drum sequencing and voice recording program for his computer as well as a fancy microphone.  Fury’s studio, office and bedroom are all in the same room.  Though having a separate space for his career would be nice, Fury enjoys the simple life he has. He has gone back and forth about pushing his career to the status of stardom, but the more he looks that direction, the emptier it seems.
      Fury has been married to his wife, Destiny, for more than four years.  They met while carpooling to church in 2002 and have not left each other’s side since.  With the financial and emotional support of his wife, Fury does not feel guilty about pursuing his dream.  Fury and Destiny have set aside two to five years for him to seek his passions and when the time comes for things to change, Fury looks forward to that stage of life as well.  Being a musician is a one-man show and when Fury has gone as far as he can, he is ready to take the day job duty and let Destiny attend graduate school. The hardest part of following his dream as a musician is the time spent away from Destiny.  The days when Fury is booked for a show occupy the time he would rather spend with his soul mate. “A few hours before most of my shows, I’m just like - I don’t want to do this, I don’t even want to play this show,” said Fury.  Although thoughts of confusion race through his head prior to taking the stage, after all is said and done, he is jazzed and satisfied that he performed.
     At every show Fury plays, he expects there to be a sound problem. “Test, test 1-2-3,” the microphone is responding just as it should be. But the speakers echo, signaling a problem with the soundboard or maybe some other piece of equipment that clutters the small stage, in the heart of the Cozmic Pizza building.  “It’s too bright,” says Jordan Beckett, the act that follows Fury at the acoustic show on a Wednesday night, in May. Beckett is telling Fury in musical jargon that the treble is too high. It is Fury’s job to set things straight, all technical and set-up aspects of the show are on his shoulders tonight. Since only the left side of the sound is being amplified, something is out of place.  Fury discovers that the cords to the keyboard need to be switched; with one change of the black snake-like cord, the set is ready for the show.
     The soundboard lights flash in a rhythmic language that only musicians can decipher. It seems as if everything is in place and nothing is left to hold the show behind.  The merchandise stand is assembled, the sound check is complete, and Fury has checked each aspect of the show off his list of to-dos.
The lights are dim and the smell of toasted garlic and pizza crust fills the air. Fragments of music bounce off the walls and pints of beer are foaming and the audience eager in wait for the stage to be occupied.  Dressed in jeans and red and white checkered buttoned-up shirt, Nik Fury jumps on stage, relaxed and ready to perform.  His black Vans sneakers hide under his torn jeans, balancing the dress of his button up shirt.
     Fury sits on a wooden stool, his microphone set to fit his 5’9” frame, the moments of regret are now gone and Fury is ready to entertain.  “I play music because I love to play. I was born to perform,” said Fury. Cozmic Pizza, the host venue for the night, is now full with wide-eyed fans of all ages.  The mouths of the faithful fans mumble along with Fury’s words, keeping the pulse with the body on stage.  The aroma of pizza now blankets the crowd, staining their clothes with fragrance and musical vibes.
    From Fargher to Fury, a graphic designer by day and a hip-hop sensation by stage, Nik has two different jobs but one personality. This one-man show carries his career on his back, careful to keep his priorities straight and to never lose sight of the path God has lit for him and the trials he has been carried through, both in the church and the home.