Nick Frosst, co-founder of the Canadian AI startup Cohere valued at $5.5 billion, has always been a musician at heart. In an interview with TechCrunch, Frosst mentioned that his passion for singing has been a constant in his life. This remains true today as he balances his role at Cohere with being the lead vocalist of Good Kid, an indie rock band comprising solely of programmers.
Good Kid is not your average garage band. With a staggering 2.3 million monthly Spotify listeners and recent performances at Lollapalooza, the band has gained significant recognition. Nominated for the Juno Awards breakthrough group of the year and having opened for the likes of Portugal. The Man, Good Kid has solidified its place in the music industry.
The inception of Good Kid dates back to 2015 at the University of Toronto, where Frosst and fellow band members, mostly from the computer science program, decided to pursue music as a hobby. Their first single, Nomu, showcased a blend of indie pop rock reminiscent of Two Door Cinema Club, enhanced by Frosst’s vocals drawing comparisons to Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke, serving as inspirations for the band.
Reflecting on their initial release, Frosst confessed, “We didn’t have high expectations, but the reception surpassed our imaginations.” Good Kid continued to produce singles until releasing their self-titled EP in 2018, followed by four more albums, with the latest arriving earlier this year.
Approximately a year after the band’s debut album, Frosst, alongside Aidan Gomez and Ivan Zhang, launched Cohere, which has evolved into a prominent AI startup offering models for enterprises. Despite Good Kid’s growing success, Frosst emphasized that his primary focus lies with Cohere and AI, describing it as his life’s work.
Maintaining a balance between music and his career in AI has been achievable for Frosst. Band rehearsals twice a week help him decompress, while touring mandates a day of remote programming work before shows. Frosst believes that music enhances his cognitive abilities, providing clarity and focus which positively impacts his work at Cohere.
Playing on the finale day of Lollapalooza was an unforgettable moment for Frosst, who prior to that had never experienced a music festival, let alone performed at one. Good Kid’s set, kicking off with No Time to Explain before Two Door Cinema Club’s performance, marked a milestone in the band’s journey.
Grateful for his successful musical career rooted in creativity rather than commercial aspirations, Frosst acknowledges the unique opportunity he has found in pursuing music for enjoyment.
