Nick Martens

Though Amsterdam is often associated with its sexual promiscuity and liberal policies regarding recreational drug use, adventurer Nick Martens discovers that the city’s most stimulating feature is its bicycle culture.

This is the first installment in a series of essays by adventurer Nick Martens, who is currently studying at the University of Amsterdam. Arriving a few days before his program at the University of Amsterdam begins, Nick Martens relates a pair of anecdotes regarding the quirks of descending into an unfamiliar culture.

On his 1,500-mile road trip, Nick Martens finds comfort in LCD Soundsystem and Malcolm Gladwell while battling the frustrations of snowy weather, bad traffic, and Idaho.

Does the consistent decline in sales of recorded music mean the end of music? Probably not, but clearly the game is changing. Nick Martens contrasts the abstract value of digital music with its more direct incarnations–concerts, music videogames, and ringtones.

Exaggerated tabloid and website headlines often lead to stories that can’t live up to their promising titles. Nick Martens turns the tables on this situation and produces fittingly sensational tales for sensational headlines.

Often called indie rock’s Tim “The Toolman” Taylor, Nick Martens provides an in-depth guide on finding, experiencing, and surviving live underground music.

Major record labels are expanding their agreements with their artists. Instead of just making money on CD sales, labels want in on the touring and merchandising revenue as well. Nick Martens looks at the artistic impact of these deals in an attempt to divine their overall effect on the industry.

Can we treat books, comics, CDs, movies, or videogames as commodities? Nick Martens literally examines the monetary value of cultural items by breaking down item price by hour of usage.

Nothing screams “Halloween” more than the friendly jack-o-lantern. In a bizarre ritual, robo-pagan Nick Martens uses a pumpkin to craft a glowing idol in worship to his glimmering gods.