Austin-based entertainer Nakiaâs debut EP, âPlaying the Cards,â stacks the deck with an infusion of songs rooted in old-school soul, the Allman-Skynyrd school of rock and his Southern Baptist-church-choir upbringing. Formerly a member of "The Small Stars"

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ROCK: Roots Rock, URBAN/R&B: Soul



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The son of an Alabama couple who named him after a TV character, Nakia Daniel Reynoso has held more jobs in
his 31 years than most of us will in our lifetimes.

Nakia, as he prefers to be known, has worked in sock factories, fast-food joints and nearly every retail store in
Anymall, USA. Heâs been a tavern bouncer, a cavern guide, a show rider and a missionary in Africa. Heâs also
sold Apple computers to Willie Nelson, promoted John Mayer albums for Aware Records, studied singing and
theater in college, modeled, acted and helped budding songwriters on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.
Along the way, Nakia managed to survive being rear-ended by an 18-wheeler, a drinking and drug habit, a suicide
attempt and other hardships before finding sobriety and his path to happiness: a full-time career as a singer, song-
writer and entertainer.

Nakia (pronounced nuh-kee-ah) had already built a presence on the Austin music scene as Vic Odin, sleazy man-
ager to the Small Stars, the campy revue fronted by Guy Fantasy (aka Fastballâs Miles Zuniga). Heâs now earning
notice via performances with his band, the Southern Cousins, appearances with Will Taylorâs Strings Attached and
productions like the Zach Scott Theaterâs âThe Rocky Horror Show.â And with the release of his debut EP, âPlay-
ing the Cards,â heâs ready to make a broader impact. The disc features four originals, a never-before-recorded
contribution by hit songwriter Monte Warden and a not-to-be-missed cover of Billy Prestonâs âThatâs the Way
God Planned It.â

His version of the latter is so good it would blow away Billy himself, much less George Harrison, were they still
around to hear it. Nakia pours his Southern Baptist heart into each note, letting loose every gospel-loving minute
of hellfire, damnation and salvation heâs ever experienced. You donât grow up in the shadow of 3614 Jackson
Highway, original home of the Muscle Shoals sound, and not pick up a dose of the same Southern-seasoned soul
that pumped through the veins of Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Boz Scaggs, Shelby Lynne and a
long list of others who tapped that musical well.

Nakiaâs originals are also a mix of his rock, soul and blues influences â he likes to call it Appalachian soul, a ref-
erence to his upbringing in the foothills of those majestic mountains. Heâs got pop influences, too, courtesy of his
early infatuation with his sisterâs Duran Duran and Culture Club albums and a fling with Kiss. (His favorite child-
hood memory is standing atop the backyard playhouse his dad built for him and belting out âRock and Roll All
Niteâ â and perhaps a few other songs he couldnât perform in the church choir.) His mom turned him on to blue-
grass, country and Prince; his dad contributed Freddy Fender and Neil Young. Nakia later discovered Jackson
Browne, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles and the Allman-Skynyrd school of Southern rock.

Like so many music disciples do, Nakia got his first taste of Austin during South By Southwest. It didnât take him
long to become a resident â or to hook up with some of the cityâs finest players. His EP, partially recorded at Nel-
sonâs private studio, features Barry âFrostyâ Smith, Landis Armstrong, Matt Hubbard, Mac McNabb, Kevin
Remme, Josh Gravelin and the late David Zettner â some of whom have also pledged kinship as his Southern
Cousins. KGSR-FMâs Jody Denberg is also a fan; heâs the one who insisted Nakia record Prestonâs signature song
after hearing him do it at a Concert for Bangladesh tribute.

âI receive dozens of demo recordings from aspiring Austin musicians,â says Denberg, the stationâs influential
program director. âNakia's submissions have always stood out from the pack. I am excited that his debut album is
coming out so that all can hear his magic. He's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve.â

Then thereâs Zuniga, whom Nakia thanks âfor doing me the biggest favor anybodyâs ever done for me.â
That would be delivering a pink slip â a verbal kick in the pants to get out there and pursue his solo career.

âHe sat me down and said, âYouâre a super-talented singer and youâve got a lot of energy. Go and get your own
band.â He knew he had to pull away the security blanket in order to make me go after my dream.ââ

With âPlaying the Cards,â Nakiaâs definitely got the deck stacked in his favor.