Meet Wren Silas | (aka Josh Nichols) Musician, Storyteller, Sun-Chaser

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wren Silas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wren, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
If you had asked me this question a year ago, I probably would’ve said making music. Honestly, I might’ve said that just a couple weeks ago. And while music definitely does make me happy, I’ve realized lately that it’s actually the connections that mean the most to me.

I love music with this deep, obsessive kind of passion — the kind that makes me hyper-focus for hours, sometimes even days, on a single idea or project. It’s fun, but it can also be overwhelming, especially when I start to feel like I’m losing control of everything else. I have ADHD, and while that’s helped me creatively, it’s also made it hard sometimes to stay on track in this industry.

But recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about my path as an artist, and I’ve realized that without those struggles — without the ADHD, without the frustration — I wouldn’t have found the kind of self-expression I have now. And I probably wouldn’t have the deep relationships I’ve built with people who care about me and my art. That’s what brings me the most happiness: feeling understood, seen, and supported. It keeps me inspired and reminds me why I keep creating.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Wren Silas is actually an alter-ego I created just over a year ago. I was in the middle of rebranding my music because my previous sound and identity weren’t feeling authentic anymore. After a big change in my life — transferring schools to be closer to home — I realized I needed a fresh start. I wiped the slate clean, took down all my old music, and went on a year-long hiatus where I didn’t release anything new.

During that year, I was adjusting to a new environment, trying to connect with people, but still navigating past trauma and undiagnosed ADHD — which had been mistaken for depression and anxiety. I spent a lot of time alone, creating in this tiny space where I started experimenting with new sounds. It was fun in the middle of everything I was going through. And then I discovered Ethel Cain. Her music showed me the power of slower, emotionally honest songs — how they could heal and transform you. It helped me realize that success in music isn’t about commercial potential, but about the kind of impact you choose to make.

Even though I was writing and producing a lot at the time, I kept comparing myself to others — especially to Ethel. Then, I had a class project that gave me the chance to revisit a song I had originally written back in 2021 called “WOLF.” I decided to take it further and produce it in a style inspired by Ethel Cain. It wasn’t the first time I’d done everything myself, but it was the first time I felt truly proud of the result. I produced, mixed, and mastered the whole thing — even taught myself guitar for it — and I genuinely loved how it turned out. That gave me the confidence to finally release it as the debut Wren Silas song on July 5th, 2024.

Even then, I was still figuring out what I wanted this project to be. Some of the music I was making leaned more dance-pop, which I liked, but it didn’t match the vision I had for Wren Silas: a space to make meaningful, emotionally layered music with no limits — just the intention of building conceptual albums that felt cohesive and clear. So I stepped back again — the longest break I’d ever taken from music — and started listening more, living more, and letting new influences in.

That summer, I was finally diagnosed with ADHD and started treatment. And in November, I started writing again — this time with zero pressure. I wasn’t trying to make something catchy or polished. I just needed to feel. That one song led to a creative outpouring. I started writing a conceptual album rooted in personal experiences, and for almost two months, I wrote and produced a new demo every week. The story took shape quickly and naturally. For the first time, I felt like I had found my sound — and it felt healing, exciting, and fun again.

There were still hard moments. Some days were heavy. But it was all part of the growth.

In the last six months, I’ve started sharing more of my work publicly, collaborated with incredible artists, made new friendships, and released a full song and music video. One of the most surreal moments was hearing my song on an indie radio station — something that felt like real, earned validation. I also got accepted into two artist contests and formed a band of amazing musicians to help bring Wren Silas to life both in the studio and live.

There’s still a lot ahead, but I’ve never felt more grounded in who I am and where I’m going.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting, we’d basically plan the whole week around food, drinks, and fun experiences — those are my love languages. I’d probably kick things off by taking them to a kava bar in Dallas or Denton. I like bringing friends there because it’s the perfect way to hang out and talk without the chaos of alcohol. The vibes are always calm, and the drinks make you feel relaxed and social without turning your brain into soup and destroying your bliss the following morning.

Since I grew up in Plano, we’d definitely spend a day in Historic Downtown — walking around, popping into little shops, and probably spending too much time in stores that sell things we don’t need but suddenly feel emotionally attached to. Not far from there is The Wooden Spoon, which is a Scandinavian gift shop and also the oldest house in Plano. It’s the kind of place where you walk in for candy and walk out wondering if your dentist is gonna be mad at your next appointment. But I always grab some Swedish sweets (Bubs are the best by the way) and let the sugar do its thing.

We’d hit Poor Richard’s Café for gingerbread pancakes — a must. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, and nothing screams “this is a core memory” like those pancakes for breakfast.

I’d also take them to Activate, which is this indoor high-energy gaming place that makes you feel like you’re on a game show like Big Brother or BrainSurge (if you grew up watching that). It’s chaotic in a fun way — competitive, slightly disorienting, and a great way to remind yourself you’re not as coordinated as you thought. After that, we’d go to the indoor archery range at Mission Ridge Academy. I’m not amazing at it, but I give it everything I’ve got. One time (multiple) I accidentally launched an arrow 15 feet behind the target and into the wall… and they didn’t even blink. It was oddly reassuring. Alongside the thousands of holes in the plaster left by previous archers.

We’d also go on a few park walks — I really love being outside and just wandering, especially when the weather’s good. Nothing too structured, just a chance to talk about life and get grounded; it’s the best source of inspiration.

So yeah — the week would be part nostalgia, part new memories, a little bit of nature, and a couple arrows wildly flying off course. Just how I like it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ethel Cain. No question. Her music has done more than inspire me — it’s helped me heal and gave me the courage to take my own music to places I never thought I could. For a long time, I was really confused about what artistry should and shouldn’t look like, but with her as someone I look up to and hope to meet one day, alongside the incredible mentors and people in my personal life, I’ve come to realize that all the answers have been inside me this whole time. Honestly, without Ethel Cain, I’m not sure Wren Silas would even exist the way it does now. Her influence has been a massive part of my journey, and I’m forever grateful for that.

Website: https://www.wrensilas.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wren.silas/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/wren-silas

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Wren-Silas

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrensilas

Bandcamp: https://wrensilas.bandcamp.com/