On Stage with Incubus, Off the Grid: A Conversation with Nicole Row

Nicole Row has played some of the biggest stages in the world. As a touring and session bassist, she's shared the stage with artists like Miley Cyrus and Panic! At The Disco, and today, she's the bassist for Incubus. But when she's not on the road, you'll often find her somewhere far from the stage—exploring a new trail, traveling, or getting outside with her dog, Scout.

For Nicole, creativity has never existed in isolation. It lives somewhere between the stage and the trail, between the intensity of touring and the quiet of getting outside.

Her career has been shaped less by a predetermined path than by curiosity, instinct, and a willingness to follow whatever comes next. From her early days gigging around Los Angeles to touring with some of music's biggest names, Nicole has built a life around creativity, adventure, connection, and doing what she loves.

Following the Music

Nicole's relationship with music began before she was old enough to understand where it might take her.

“Music’s been with me since before I could talk. I was always singing, dancing, and picking up any instrument I could find. I landed on bass as a teenager and immediately clicked with it.”

There was never a grand plan for what came next. Instead, Nicole followed one opportunity into another, allowing her curiosity and instincts to shape the direction of her career.

“I never had some big master plan. I just followed what I loved, said yes to opportunities, and worked hard. I kept chasing each thread, honing my voice on the instrument, and trusting my gut about where to lean next.”

That willingness to follow the next thread has taken her from local gigs in Los Angeles to stages around the world, eventually leading to her current role with Incubus.

Finding Her Own Voice

Joining a band with the legacy of Incubus comes with the unique responsibility of stepping into music that already means so much to so many people.

For Nicole, the answer has been finding the balance between honoring what came before and bringing her own voice to the music.

“I came into the band as myself. Serving the songs always comes first.”

Sometimes that means honoring the original bass lines and tones that fans have come to know. Other times, it means bringing her own feel, tone, and musical vocabulary to the performance.

“The goal is always to respect the legacy while simply being myself.”

It's a philosophy that extends beyond music. Rather than trying to fit into a predetermined idea of what her career should look like, Nicole has continued to make space for her own instincts and evolution.

Getting Outside

For someone whose professional life moves at an extraordinary pace, getting outside offers a different kind of creative space.

“We live in such a fast-paced, online world. Going outside slows me down and refills my cup so I have something to pour back into creativity.”

Nature gives Nicole something that can be difficult to find on the road: quiet.

“Nature quiets the mind and reminds us that we’re human. It reminds me why I create in the first place and keeps me connected to that part of myself.”

That connection to the outdoors is part of what makes adventure such a natural extension of her creative life. Whether she's traveling somewhere new, exploring a trail, or simply spending time outside with Scout, getting away from the noise creates room to return to the things that matter.

And sometimes, she says, it's worth remembering not to take any of it too seriously.

“Going outside and acting like a crazy kid is just healthy for all of us. We can’t always take life so seriously.”

Trusting the Path

Nicole's career hasn't followed a straight line, and that's part of the lesson she's taken from it.

“Trust your gut—even when it looks crazy to everyone else.”

There have been moments when the decisions she was making didn't necessarily make sense to the people around her. But continuing to trust that intuition has repeatedly led her toward new opportunities, growth, and the right people.

“Happiness and success don’t look the same for everyone. Learning to honor my own version has changed everything.”

It's a perspective that feels especially relevant in a career—and a life—that continues to evolve. There isn't always a clear map for where you're going. Sometimes you have to trust yourself enough to take the next step without knowing exactly where it will lead.

Traveling Alone

That willingness to follow her instincts has also shaped the way Nicole travels.

Of all the places she's explored, two solo trips have stayed with her most: one through Southeast Asia and another through the Pacific Northwest.

“Traveling alone was incredibly therapeutic. There were no distractions, just the freedom to change course whenever I wanted, fully take things in, and process life as I went.”

For Nicole, traveling alone wasn't necessarily about getting somewhere. It was about creating the space to be present—to change plans, follow curiosity, and process life along the way.

“I’d recommend that kind of travel to anyone.”

The People Who Inspire Her

For all the places Nicole has traveled and stages she's played, what inspires her most right now isn't necessarily a place at all.

It's people.

“Lately, it’s been my people.”

The relationships she has built, the collaborators she creates with, and the people she loves have become a major source of inspiration.

Nature remains an important part of that equation, but connection has moved to the center.

“The relationships I have, the collaborators I create with, and the people I love are fueling everything I’m doing.”

Whether she's playing in front of thousands of people, traveling somewhere unfamiliar, or finding a quiet trail with Scout, Nicole's story is a reminder that creativity isn't something we simply turn on when it's time to make something.

It's something we cultivate through the lives we choose to live.

Sometimes that means saying yes to the next opportunity. Sometimes it means trusting a gut feeling that doesn't make sense to anyone else. And sometimes it means stepping away from the noise, getting outside, and making room to remember what inspires you in the first place.

We're grateful to have Nicole as part of the Rayco community.

Nicole is repping a few of her Rayco favorites: the Howdy Tee, Roadrunner Baby Tee, and Agave Snapback Hat.